Like jewellery and accessories, the price of a watch can vary wildly.
There are luxury classics like a Rolex or Philippe Patek, which may cost the best part of a property deposit, but promise to become family heirlooms to pass down to lucky generations.
There are smartwatches, able to track and monitor exercise, fitness and sleep patterns, while making contactless payments and keeping you on top of your inbox when you’re on the move.
And there are fashion watches, merely pretty faces that do the rudimentary job of telling you if it’s time for a G&T yet. Some are studded with diamonds, others have changeable straps so you can customise them to your look.
A watch is an excellent option if your brain’s sore from trying to think of a birthday, graduation or Christmas gift. Not just for pensioners and retirees; pick a great watch and it could light up the face of the most inscrutable teen, too.
While luxury watches have an audience of their own (the kind with deep pockets), there are plenty of smartwatch and fashion watch brands that come in at an accessible price point too. We’ve gone through the trouble of putting together an online directory of affordable watch brands to make shopping for one in your budget a much more pleasant experience.
Below you’ll find brands that offer timepieces at £200 or less, from established brands as well as a few niche labels.
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Wolbrook Watches
Wolbrook describes its watches as ‘tool watches’ a.k.a. those that are designed to perform in any situation – whether it’s a diving watch working 200 metres deep in the ocean or a field watch with enhanced impact resistance thanks to hesalite glass and shock absorbers. In fact, Neil Armstrong himself owned one of the brand’s signature Skindivers back in the sixties.
So, if you consider yourself one of life’s adventurers, this is the brand for you. You could choose from bracelets in leather, stainless steel or a military-inspired webbing. Either way, you’ll be investing in a quality timepiece that you can use in basically any environment going.
Buy now, Wolbrook Watches
Monbrey
Relatively new to the game, Monbrey was founded by two watch designers, Henry Kwong and Austin Lee, in 2021. In the three years since, they’ve developed two collections of watches – MB1 and MB2.
The former is a collection of automatic watches which takes style cues from the eighties – think coloured chrome and minimalist markers – while the latter is inspired by samurai weaponry and armour. We want both.
Buy now, Monbrey
Heron Watches
Héron Watches is Canadian through and through. Not only is the label founded and based there, but the designers take inspiration from the country and its beautiful landscape.
You’ll find steely blue faces reminiscent of the glaciers as well as watches which promise to work in even the trickiest of terrains – take the Mariner, for example, which boasts 300-metre water resistance. Better yet, all of the brand’s timepieces feel are built to last so, whichever you choose, it will be in your wrist rotation for years to come.
Buy now, Heron Watches
Baltic
A direct-to-consumer watchmaker, Baltic’s MO is creating luxury watches at a more accessible price point with more transparency. So, while they’re certainly not cheap – starting at £300 – they’re considerably more affordable than those which cost more than most house deposits, and you can actually see the manufacturing process.
Better yet, each of the watches is designed with longevity in mind. From the sporty collection to the dress watches, those with a Milanese strap to those with vulcanised rubber, each and every style is an investment you’ll wear for years as opposed to an impulse buy that’s around for a season or two – and we think it’s totally worth it.
Buy now, Baltic
Void Watches
Though Void Watches is mainly known for its original V01 silhouette – a square, sci-fi-coded digital design – its range now includes more classic wristwatches, namely the V03 and PKG01.
What ties them together, though, is the minimal Scandi philosophy – which makes sense, seeing as the brand was founded in Sweden. Clean lines, simple markings and classic straps are the common factors across the board. So, if you’re into a Scandi aesthetic, this is the brand for you.
Buy now, Void Watches
Tusenö
If you’re in the market for watches with masculine appeal, Tusenö should be on your radar. An expert in the chunky stainless steel strap, the Swedish label’s designs span the classics with black and white faces as well as bright, colourful designs. Since 2020, the entire collection has been manufactured in small quantities in Switzerland so you can count on quality.
Buy now, Tusenö Watches
Casio
From the initial groundbreaking Casiotron watch to the G-Shock that followed and the Baby-G watches that dominated the Nineties and Noughties, Casio has always been on the cutting edge of watch electronics.
Most are sub-£200 and come in a huge swathe of styles and colours, making it all the more appealing to build a collection or buy one for a certain occasion.
Though the metallic gold- and silver-coloured options remain a stone-cold classic, the Casio watch family has countless collaborations with popular brands and franchises, giving you a double zeitgeisty whammy for your money.
Buy now, Casio
Swatch
Creating styles that don’t take themselves too seriously, Swatch – belonging to the eponymous group that also owns Omega and Longines, amongst others – is colourful, fun and creative.
Fifty-one parts are used to make each watch; hundreds of millions have been sold to date; and, on average, a new design is conceived every one-and-a-half days. Because of its industrial-scale production, the price of a timepiece is kept affordable, meaning it really is a Swiss-made brand for the people.
Playful rather than luxurious, Swatch is considered a blank canvas for artists around the world, with a series of collaborations making this a stylish watch to collect.
Buy now, Swatch
Larsson & Jennings
Hailing from the Swedish capital Stockholm, this cool watch brand offers straps, bracelets and watches for him and her.
A big part of the appeal is the minimal look of the watches; square, rectangle or round faces set on black, white or gold-coloured straps. The men’s chronographs are particularly striking, looking like a much pricier design at a glance.
Buy now, Larsson & Jennings
Samsung Galaxy Smart Watches
The Korean tech giant has a number of models in the Galaxy series that are innovative enough on their own but really shine when paired with the brand’s other wearables, like its sizable collection of handsets and earbuds. Customised with different faces and straps, you can opt for the midnight and silver or rose gold tone.
The watch syncs with the Samsung Health app, can store Spotify playlists and is compatible with Samsung Pay, so you can leave your wallet at home when you’re wearing it. With all its techy features this watch means business — but it still looks like fashion.
In terms of cost, the needle goes from below £100 to over £400, so swim in the shallow end if you’re hunting for bargains: Samsung Smart Watch Gear Sport (£80), Galaxy Fit2 (£89.99), and Galaxy Watch4 Classic (£199.99).
Buy now, Samsung
Abbott Lyon Watches
Catering for him and her, jewellery and accessories brand Abbott Lyon is all about tasteful designs that you’ll continue to wear for many years to come.
Watch designs are simple with round or square faces and in timeless neutrals and metallics, with rose gold continuing to reign supreme.
The bracelet-style watches are all well below the £200 quid mark, making it a particularly good choice for gifts.
Buy now, Abbott Lyon
Daniel Wellington
We’d bet good money that your favourite fashion or beauty influencer has worked with this watch brand at some point. The Swedish company believes in a new way of reaching its audience through the Insta-famous and A-listers, all of which cleverly work together to make their watches some of the most desirable accessories for Gen Z right now.
Interchangeable straps mean you can mix up your look as the occasion calls, and many of the women’s watches come with a matching bracelet too – perfect if you’re after a birthday gift for anyone aged 16 – 28.
Buy now, Daniel Wellington
Skagen
Simple watches with bold pops of colour, Danish Skagen is clean, uncluttered and super streamlined, championing a less is more approach. From 90s rave bright watches with silicone straps, to its latest charity collab with Save The Waves Coalition, there’s plenty of choice all tipping the £100 mark.
Buy now, Skagen
Timex Watches
From little kids who are just starting to learn how to tell time to adults who need a reliable watch at a decent price, Timex has you covered. The brand is widely stocked at other retailers like Watch Shop, H. Samuel and Argos and designs are typically simple with minimal adornments. That said, Timex does do collaborations that result in limited edition, collectors-items timepieces; think Snoopy, Peanuts and 70s re-issued designs.
Buy now, Timex
Olivia Burton London
Bumblebees, wildflowers and soft pastels; spot any of these things on a watch and you’re probably admiring an Olivia Burton design.
Offering jewellery as well as wristwatches for a teen-and-twenties market, the watches are exceptionally pretty with rounded faces and thin straps in leather or mesh bracelet that render them superb bridesmaids’ gifts as well as Sweet Sixteen presents.
Vegan? Look out for the animal cruelty-free watches, marked with the vegan leaf symbol.
Buy now, Olivia Burton
Cluse Watches
Popular on Instagram, Cluse is a great watch for young professionals, thanks to its affordable price point (in the £70 - £150 ballpark) and clean, elegant styles. It’s a brand that caters for both sexes, with jewellery-type bracelets for women and leather straps for men.
Beach, bar or boardroom, you can wear a Cluse anywhere.
Buy now, Amazon
The Camden Watch Company
Steampunk sass paired with Roman numerals, the Camden Watch Company is a winning blend of the old and new.
Watches are largely unisex although the women’s collection does feature smaller faces and thinner straps. Designed in and inspired by Camden Town, the brand’s motto is ‘Not For One But For All’, demonstrated through its affordable price and quality timepieces.
Buy now, The Camden Watch Company
