The word “affordable” is very subjective since what seems cheap to one woman may seem expensive to another. While wealthy watch collectors drop thousands of dollars on a single “affordable luxury” watch, a first-time watch buyer may not want to spend more than she would on a new pair of jeans, purse or other fashion accessories.
We’ve compiled this list of ladies’ watches with our readers in mind. If you’re looking for a reliable, quality watch made by a reputable watchmaker without spending more than a few hundred on your next watch then you’re in the right place.
The following list of recommendations all come from affordable watch brands that have a proven track record of making quality timepieces. If the prices on these watches below are still more than you planned to spend or you have a very specific budget, then also check out these top women’s watches under $100 or these under $200 for more affordable options.
Table of Contents
Best Affordable Watches for Women
Timex Indiglo Easy Reader Quartz
A popular brand known for creating simple and reliable quartz watches, Timex is the one to consider if you’re looking for a no-frills everyday watch.
One of the brand’s most popular ladies’ watches is the Timex Indiglo Easy Reader, a 25mm analog model with a white dial and legible Arabic numeral markers, and a date window at 3 o’clock. The strap is a 12mm black leather
The watch is powered by the Timex Indiglo light-up dial, making it easy for the wearer to see the time easily. This model is water-resistant to 30m. This watch is also available in a slightly bigger size at 35mm.
Citizen Silver-Tone Quartz EQ0540-57A
A quartz watch with a sophisticated design, the Citizen EQ0540-57A watch has a stainless steel case and a fold-over clasp. An elegant watch that can be worn daily, but will also be an excellent dress watch.
This 25mm model is has a silver sunray dial, luminous hands, and a day/date window at 3 o’clock. The water resistance is up to 50m, so it can be used in still-water swimming. Other key features include a mineral crystal glass and a push-button buckle.
To learn more about Citizen watches for women
Solios Solar White
Solios refers to its creations as small accessories that have a big impact. The brand promotes solar-powered watches that were created using sustainable processes. Aside from producing high-quality watches, they also give back to the environment by partnering with the Rainforest Trust in protecting endangered lands (read more about it here).
Solios line of women’s solar watches is composed of a simple yet elegantly designed dial (white, black, or blue), with thin index markers.
One of these is the Solios Solar White watch, which has a white dial, silver mesh bracelet, and is available in 36mm and 40mm sizes.
The watch has a hypoallergenic stainless steel case with hardened mineral glass and sapphire crystal. The mesh strap has an eco-friendly coloring and has a magnet that provides a good fit on any wrist size. The solar cell has six months of power reserve, and the water resistance is up to 30m.
Stuhrling Winchester 3982 Automatic
This one’s a watch for those looking for something unique. Stuhrling is known for making skeleton watches, and this one’s from their women’s collection.
The Stuhrling Winchester 3982 has a skeleton dial that exhibits automatic movement. The watch has a 40mm case with Arabic numeral markers at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock, Dauphine-style hands, and an elegant onion-style crown.
Another special feature of this watch is the strap. Available in a variety of colors (pink, green, brown, beige, rose), the strap is a twill-covered leather. This has an exhibition case back, and a water resistance to 50m.
Nordgreen Native Gold
Scandinavian watch brand Nordgreen creates minimalist watches with classic designs. The watches, designed by award-winning designer Jakob Wagner, have a modern classic look, with clean designs that promoted both form and function.
One of these watches is the Nordgreen Native watch, a line that has a white dial, thin index markers, and a variety of interchangeable leather strap and case color options. This is a good watch for those looking for something casual and elegant.
Available in 32mm, 36mm, and 44mm sizes, this is perfect for those looking for a unisex-style timepiece. The watches are powered by a Japanese quartz movement and have water resistance to 30m.
Victorinox Swiss Army Maverick Small
If you’re looking for a model that’s robust but has just the right size for smaller wrists, this watch by Swiss brand Victorinox is a good model to consider.
The Victorinox Maverick Small watch has a stainless steel case and bracelet with a reliable Swiss quartz movement. The watch has a 34mm dial, a triple-coated and anti-reflective sapphire crystal, and a unidirectional bezel. The dial has a combination of Arabic and index markers, with a date window at 6 o’clock.
This model has a blue dial with a silver stainless steel strap, but there color options available, such as black and blue dial, and strap options such as steel gold, steel black, and blue rubber.
TRIWA HU34 Ladies Casual 34mm
Triwa is a Stockholm-based watch company that was founded in 2007. The brand, which stands for Transforming the Industry of Watches, creates watches with contemporary design and classic silhouettes.
The Triwa HU34 watch is under the brand’s Super Slim Line. One of the special qualities of this watch is it’s made from Humanium Metal, which was made from destructed illegal firearms. The brand highlights the issues of gun violence and supports IM, their Swedish Development partner that provides help in supporting societies in conflict.
The watch is a 34mm model with a dark grey dial and a steel case. The strap is made from organic leather and has a durable mineral top cover. The movement is a Citizen Miyota Japanese Quartz.
Casio Women’s Classic LA-11WL-7ACF
Casio is one of the go-to brands if you’re looking for an affordable and reliable everyday watch. Known for the classic square/octagon digital watches, the brand has a wide range of sizes and styles to choose from.
This all-white model—a Casio Women’s Classic watch—is a simple digital quartz watch, with a case made of resin and a white artificial leather band. The key features include a daily alarm, countdown timer, 1/10 second stopwatch, and an hourly time signal.
This is water-resistant and can take minor splashes of water, but should not be submerged in water.
Seiko Stainless Steel Dress Watch (SUP250)
This watch by Japanese brand Seiko has a model for men and women—the former is called the Seiko SUP880, and the latter SUP250—nicknamed “Tanko” because of its similarity with the classic tank watch made popular by Cartier.
This, however, is a way more affordable option. Like the Cartier Tank, the Seiko SUP250 is a rectangular model. The Seiko SUP250 has a gold-tone case with a textured white dial and leaf-style markers. The markers are Roman numerals and the strap is a Croco-embossed black leather. The water resistance is up to 30m.
Both men’s and women’s models of this watch use the V115 in-house solar movement, so there is no need to change batteries or wind.
Orient Ladies’ Elegant Open Heart
Orient is a watchmaker that is often compared with Seiko—both Japanese, and both create quality watches (the brand is actually owned by Seiko Epson, a parent company of the Seiko group).
The brand has a distinct style and produces high-quality automatic watches. One of these is the Orient Contemporary Ladies Semi Skeleton watch, which runs on an in-house manufactured automatic Calibre F6T22 movement with a 40-hour power reserve.
This 36mm watch has a stainless steel case, a white dial, and the Orient skeleton window at 9 o’clock, which gives you a peek at the movement. Other features include leaf-style hands and a combination of index and Roman numeral markers.
Another similar version of this is the Orient Bambino Open Heart model.
Amazfit GTS 2 Mini
“Mini size, max power” is how Amazfit describes the GTS 2 mini watch, a stylish ultra-slim model with an Always-on AMOLED display and a longer battery life.
The watch uses heart rate data and other health metrics to calculate a Health Assessment System. With this, the wearer will be able to view a customized health analysis. There’s also the SpO2 and Stress Level Measurement, which can be used after every activity to get a better understanding of one’s condition (ie. stress level after a workout). This is a lightweight model with curved 2.5D glass. Packed with over 70 sports modes like cycling, swimming, the watch also allows the wearer to view their sports data on the Amazfit app.
While the watch is marketed as unisex, it’s could be more attractive to female wearers, as it has a Female Cycle Tracking feature, which can predict the time and length of menstrual and fertile periods. This will allow for a better understanding of monthly cycles.
The watch, which has a 220mAh battery, boasts up to 14 days of battery life. It also has a 24-hour heart rate monitoring, and over 50 watch faces to choose from (you can also customize by uploading your own photo).
Luminox SEA Turtle 0301
Swiss watchmaker Luminox is known for two things: producing extremely durable watches and using long-term luminescence by using tritium inserts on the watches.
The brand makes large and robust models, but the women’s line has watches that are better suited for smaller wrists. One of these is the 39mm Luminox SEA Turtle 0301, a smaller version of the 44mm men’s watch.
The watch has a tempered, scratch-resistant mineral crystal, a water resistance to 100m, and a black carbon compound case back and unidirectional bezel.
You can read more about tritium watches here, where we explore the technology and list watch brands that use it.
Garmin vivomove 3s
Garmin, one of the leading GPS and navigation developers in the world, specializes in sports and fitness watches—wearables, smartwatches, and hybrid smartwatches.
The Vivomove 3s is a from Garmin’s hybrid smartwatch line. Available in 39mm, 42mm, and 44mm cases, this model has a rose gold stainless steel case and case, and a silicone band (there are more color options available on the Garmin website).
The watch has the traditional look of an analog watch but has smartwatch functions as well. There is a hidden touchscreen display—simply tap or swipe the watch to view it. The smart features include GPS tracking and smart notifications. It also has a calendar view and can be synced with Garmin Connect.
Fossil Suitor 36mm
American fashion brand Fossil is known for making leather products that don’t break the bank. These everyday watches are casual and elegant models with a wide array of strap and color choices to choose from.
A watch from the brand’s Suitor collection, this Fossil Women’s dress watch is a 36mm model with a white dial, rose gold case, and three-hand movement. This has a blue leather strap, but there are other color options like pink, beige, black, and brown.
This quartz model has a mineral crystal lens and water resistance to 30m.
Invicta Pro Diver Women’s
Invicta is another American brand known for good quality, affordable watches. The more popular models of the brand are big watches, but their women’s line has a good selection of smaller models as well.
The Invicta Pro Diver Women’s watch is a 24.5mm model powered by a Japanese quartz movement. This watch has a stainless steel case and bracelet and a black dial with round markers and a date window at 3 o’clock.
This model also has a mineral crystal and a unidirectional bezel. The watch is water-resistant to 100m.
Bulova Classic Bangle
Bulova is a respected American watchmaker that has been around since 1875. The brand is known for producing watches with unique designs and reliable movements, as well as reasonable price tags.
A watch from the Classic collection is the Bulova Classic Bangle watch, a stainless steel model with a black enamel dial and a bangle bracelet with an adjustable link. This watch has an 18mm case with a metalized faceted mineral crystal and a water resistance of 30m.
This model has a minimalist design, with just four index markers at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock, and small silver-tone hands.
Tissot Lovely Square
Swiss brand Tissot is known for being an innovative watchmaker since the 1930s. The brand is categorized under the luxury category but is also known to offer models at relatively low prices.
A tribute to the small women’s watches from the ’60s, the Tissot Lovely Square watch has a unique square shape, a 2x2cm model with an elegant mesh bracelet.
The watch runs on a Swiss quartz movement and has a stainless steel case with a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. The dial is an elegant blue with simple silver hands and index markers.e
The Lovely Square line has a number of strap and dial choices, like a silver case with a white dial, or a black case with a black leather strap.
Alpina Comtesse Sport
Founded in 1883, Alpina is one of the pioneers in the Swiss watchmaking industry. The brand boasts of having invented the concept of the Swiss sports watch, the Alpina 4 which was introduced in the late 1930s.
The Alpina Comtesse Sport is from the brand’s line dedicated to women. This model runs on a quartz caliber AL-240 movement, with a battery life of up to 45 months.
The watch has a stainless steel case and straps with a striking blue and sunray dial, which has a combination of applied Arabic numeral markers and diamond indexes. The seconds hand has the famous Alpina triangle that brings a pop of color to the watch.
G-Shock GMAB800-7S
Casio, known for its big digital watches, has a separate brand for those looking for the same design but for smaller wrists (Baby-G). The brand, however, also has a women’s G-Shock line, which is excellent for those looking for a robust watch that doesn’t have the usual all-black theme.
One of these is the GMAB800-7A model, which is 3mm smaller than the GBA800. This is an analog-digital watch, so you’ll get the best of both worlds. The case is a 45.2mm white resin with a white resin strap and rose gold-tone accents.
The main features include health and fitness support, step count, a Bluetooth feature that can be linked to smartphones, 5 daily alarms, and a memory of up to 200 lap records. The water resistance is up to 200m. IF you like the look of this watch be sure to check out these G-shocks for small wrists and our recommended women’s G-Shocks.
Movado Serio
Movado is a Swiss watch brand that has been around for more than a century. They are known for inventing the uniquely-designed Museum watch, designed by American designer Nathan George Horwitt in the late 1940s. Inspired by the Bauhaus movement, this design has the iconic dot at 12 o’clock.
The brand has released many versions of this famous design. One of them is the Movado Serio, a 26mm model with a stainless steel case, link bracelet, and the black Museum dial with a concave dot.
Powered by a Swiss quartz movement, this watch also has a sapphire crystal and a water resistance of up to 30m.
Mondaine Women’s Classic
Mondaine is another brand that is known for a very distinct design. The company is a Swiss watchmaker that created the Swiss Railways watch design, a dial face that took inspiration from the railway clock design. This is the Mondaine SBB design, one of the most recognizable watch dials in the world.
The Mondaine Women’s Classic watch with the famous railway design is a 30mm model with a black leather strap (which is red on the inside). Inspired by the Bauhaus style, the white dial has thick index hands and markers, and a red seconds hand.
This watch is powered by a Ronda 763E movement and has water resistance to 30m.
Nixon Siren SS
Nixon creates fun analog watches that have fresh, youthful designs. The Nixon Siren SS is what the brand calls a “where the beach meets street” design. This watch has an octagonal case and a digital display—the time on the center, and the date below it.
The main features include a custom negative LCD on a 36mm case, with an ultra-soft silicone band. It has a 12 or 24-hour time, basic tide and chronograph features, and a date calendar to 2099. The water resistance is up to 100m.
The Siren SS model has a black dial and fatigue-colored strap, but Nixon created a number of versions with different cases and straps (silver, gray marble, navy, and white).
Swatch Ultraviolet LK390
The Swatch 1904 Energy Boost collection is composed of watches with bright and fresh designs—some with prints (like this one with a strawberry print), while others concentrate on unique color combos.
The Swatch Ultraviolet Energy Boost LK390 is for those looking for a fun and playful everyday watch. This one has a violet Solar Spectrum glass on the black dial, a transparent plastic case, and a purple strap.
Running on a quartz movement, this 25mm model has a water resistance of up to 30m. If you’d like to learn more about Swatch watches, you can also check out our article on the Best Swatch Watches For Men & Women.
Skagen Freja
Skagen is known for designing minimalist and elegant watches. The brand originated in Denmark but is now actually a US company, with headquarters in both US and Denmark, as well as Hong Kong.
One example of the brand’s minimalist designs is the Skagen Freja collection, a line of watches with a clean dial and small markers—like this Freja stainless steel mesh model, with a 26mm case with crystal markers.
This has an elegant, two-tone mesh band design, with a silver case and dial, and a fold-over clasp closure. This one’s perfect for those looking for an everyday watch that can also be used as a dress watch.
Michael Kors Access Gen 5 Lexington Smartwatch
Known for sophisticated designs, Michael Kors is a fashion giant that has a wide range of collections of clothing, bags, shoes, jewelry, and watches.
The brand’s women watch line is composed of elegant models with quartz movements, and in 2016, the first smartwatch line was released—the Michael Kors Access.
The newest Access models are the Gen 5 Lexington. One smartwatch from this collection is the Lexington Gold-Tone, a watch powered by Wear OS by Google, and has updates on features like heart rate tracking and speakers.
This has a 44mm stainless steel case with smartphone features like app notifications, text and email alerts, fitness tracking, and social media alerts.
