The budget we get asked about the most when it comes to purchasing a watch is between $3,000 and $5,000. While you might think you need to spend tens of thousands of dollars, in 2023 there are plenty of excellent watches under $5000 that not only look great but are great quality too.
Because at the end of the day, around AU$5,000 is a sensible amount to spend on a watch. It’s an amount you can comfortably tell your partner you spent, without signalling to your boss that they’re paying you too much.
Fortunately, there are also a lot of quality brands to be explored and enjoyed at this budget, so here’s our list of the 15 best men’s watches under $5,000 you can get today. If your wallet has wiggle room, here’s our comprehensive list of the best watches for men.
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- Tissot PRX
- TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 200 Solargraph
- Baltic MR01
- Serica 8315 GMT Chronomètre
- Tudor Royal 41 Salmon
- Sinn U50
- Rado Captain Cook
- Mido Ocean Star Tribute
- Longines HydroConquest GMT
- Seiko “King Seiko” SPB281J
- Grand Seiko SBGN029
- Cartier Tank Must Medium
- Baume & Mercier Riviera 10660
- Breitling Endurance Pro Breitlight
- NOMOS Glashütte Club Sport Neomatik
- Best Watches Under $5,000 — Frequently Asked Questions
Tissot PRX
- Case Diameter: 40mm
- Case Thickness: 10.9mm
- Case Material: Steel
- Bezel Material: Steel
- Bracelet/Strap Material: Steel
- Dial Colour: Blue
- Water Resistance: 100m
- Movement: Powermatic 80
- Power Reserve: 80 hours
There’s a very good reason that the Tissot PRX collection (including the new 35mm references) has been so successful around the world. It hits all the spots, from a sporty design with an integrated steel case and bracelet to its interesting dial pattern and rock-solid movement. We can’t recommend this Tissot highly enough.
- Authentic 1970s integrated case and bracelet design
- Impressive movement with long power reserve
- Difficult to adjust bracelet size without a watchmaker
TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 200 Solargraph
- Case Diameter: 40mm
- Case Thickness: 10.96mm
- Case Material: Titanium
- Bezel Material: Titanium
- Bracelet/Strap Material: Titanium
- Dial Colour: Grey
- Water Resistance: 200m
- Movement: TH50-00
- Power Reserve: 3yrs battery life
One of the newest members of the TAG Heuer catalogue, the Aquaracer Professional 200 Solargraph is a super impressive watch with a dial that doubles as a solar cell and a case and bracelet made from titanium. Boasting a dark grey appearance and light blue highlights, it marks the beginning of a new era for TAG Heuer and we’re all here for it.
- Innovative solar powered movement
- Lightweight titanium construction
- Will need to be serviced by TAG Heuer
Baltic MR01
- Case Diameter: 36mm
- Case Thickness: 9.9mm
- Case Material: 316L Steel
- Bezel Material: 316L Steel
- Bracelet/Strap Material: Leather strap
- Dial Colour: Salmon
- Water Resistance: 30m
- Movement: Automatic Hangzhou CAL5000a Micro-rotor
- Power Reserve: 42 hours
As far as classically styled dress watches go, the Baltic MR01 is truly special when you consider how affordable it is (Baltic is one of the best affordable watch brands out there). Featuring a detailed dial design with polished Breguet numerals and an off-centre small seconds subdial, perfectly proportioned case and visually impressive movement, there’s just so much to love.
- Incredible value for money with a detail-focused classic design
- Excellent looking movement
- Honestly very little to fault
Serica 8315 GMT Chronomètre
- Case Diameter: 39mm
- Case Thickness: 12.3mm
- Case Material: Steel
- Bezel Material: Ceramic
- Bracelet/Strap Material: Leather
- Dial Colour: Black
- Water Resistance: 200m
- Movement: Soprod C125
- Power Reserve: 40 hours
Just like Baltic, another relatively young watch brand doing affordable watchmaking the right way is Serica, which released the 8315 GMT Chronomètre in 2022 to critical and collector acclaim. Featuring a thoughtfully designed two-tone ceramic GMT bezel and a finely finished steel case, it could be the only travel watch you ever need.
- Interesting GMT bezel design that offers something truly different to other GMT watches
- Finely finished steel case with razor sharp case lines
- Would be nice if it arrived on a steel bracelet
Tudor Royal 41 Salmon
- Case Diameter: 41mm
- Case Thickness: 10.6mm
- Case Material: Steel
- Bezel Material: Steel
- Bracelet/Strap Material: Steel
- Dial Colour: Salmon
- Water Resistance: 100m
- Movement: Calibre T603
- Power Reserve: 38 hours
Launched earlier this year at Watches & Wonders (alongside a host of other winners from Tudor), the Tudor Royal hasn’t received the praise it probably deserves, with dive watch highlights typically stealing the spotlight (we’re guilty of it too). However, with an extremely attractive salmon dial, an angular integrated case and bracelet that speaks to the charm of the 70s, and a reliable 100m of water resistance, there’s absolutely no reason why it shouldn’t make the perfect daily companion.
- Attractive and historically collectible salmon dial
- Great case and bracelet design that wears comfortably
- Power reserve could be improved
Sinn U50
- Case Diameter: 41mm
- Case Thickness: 11.15mm
- Case Material: German Submarine steel
- Bezel Material: German Submarine steel
- Bracelet/Strap Material: German Submarine steel
- Dial Colour: Black
- Water Resistance: 500m
- Movement: SW300-1
- Power Reserve: 42 hours
A classic from German watchmaker Sinn, the U50 is about as hard-wearing as dive watches come thanks to its German submarine steel case and bracelet, which are highly resistant to saltwater corrosion. With a wearable 41mm case that’s as bulletproof as they come, and a reliable and easy-to-service movement, it’s a winning combination.
- Very robust German submarine steel case
- High level of water resistance
- Design of hands can be polarising
Rado Captain Cook
- Case Diameter: 42mm
- Case Thickness: 12.1mm
- Case Material: Steel
- Bezel Material: Ceramic
- Bracelet/Strap Material: Steel
- Dial Colour: Black
- Water Resistance: 200m
- Movement: Automatic
- Power Reserve: 80 hours
A famous member of the Rado catalogue, the Captain Cook dive watch is based on a 1962 design with a legible dial, sloped bezel and comfortable beads-of-rice bracelet. It features a comfortable 42mm steel case and matching bracelet, reliable automatic movement with a solid power reserve and a timeless look that will remain charming for decades to come.
- Timeless historic design
- Supremely comfortable bracelet design with quick-change mechanism
- Sloping bezel makes the dial look larger
Mido Ocean Star Tribute
- Case Diameter: 40.5mm
- Case Thickness: 13.4mm
- Case Material: Steel
- Bezel Material: Steel
- Bracelet/Strap Material: Steel
- Dial Colour: Black
- Water Resistance: 200m
- Movement: Automatic Mido Caliber 80
- Power Reserve: 80 Hours
The Mido Ocean Star Tribute is another classic dive watch that won’t break the bank, featuring a very wearable case and comfortable bracelet, with plenty of details to get excited by on the dial. With 200m of water resistance, it’s an ideal everyday watch that can handle anything you throw at it.
- Classic dive watch design
- Quality workhorse movement with great power reserve
- Bezel can be a little difficult to turn
Longines HydroConquest GMT
- Case Diameter: 41mm
- Case Thickness: 12.9mm
- Case Material: Steel
- Bezel Material: Steel
- Bracelet/Strap Material: Steel
- Dial Colour: Green
- Water Resistance: 300m
- Movement: Automatic L844
- Power Reserve: 72 hours
As a new addition to the Longines family in 2023, the HydroConquest GMT is a sensational collection that blends the best of the bulletproof dive watch collection we know and love, with the most functional wristwatch complication there is: the GMT. It arrives with a number of different dial colours and bracelet/strap options, and with its 41mm steel case, ceramic bezel and 72-hour movement, you can’t go wrong here.
- Excellent GMT design
- Solid water resistance
- Might be a little big for those with smaller wrists
Seiko “King Seiko” SPB281J
- Case Diameter: 37mm
- Case Thickness: 12mm
- Case Material: Steel
- Bezel Material: Steel
- Bracelet/Strap Material: Steel
- Dial Colour: Silver
- Water Resistance: 100m
- Movement: 6R31 automatic
- Power Reserve: 72 hours
In the history of Seiko as a watchmaker, King Seiko is a collection whose story deserves to be known better. Bringing back the range in recent years, the Seiko “King Seiko” SPB281J is a classic example of a Seiko dress watch design, with super sharp case lines and a clean dial appearance that gets better the closer you look at it.
- Classic Seiko design with sharp case lines
- Very comfortable bracelet
- A little thick for its diameter
Grand Seiko SBGN029
- Case Diameter: 39mm
- Case Thickness: 12.3mm
- Case Material: Steel
- Bezel Material: Steel
- Bracelet/Strap Material: Steel
- Dial Colour: Blue
- Water Resistance: 200m
- Movement: 9F86
- Power Reserve: 3yrs battery life (accurate to +/- 10 seconds a year)
While some folks turn their noses up at quartz watches, Grand Seiko produces the very best there are and the SBGN029 is no exception, with remarkable accuracy of +/- 10 seconds a year (most quartz watches are +/- 15 seconds per month) and a GMT function to track multiple time zones. If you’re not a snob about quartz watches, then you won’t be disappointed by the SBGN029.
- World-class accuracy
- Independently setable GMT hand
- Quartz movement, if you only enjoy mechanical watches
Cartier Tank Must Medium
- Case Dimensions: 33.7mm length, 25.5mm width
- Case Thickness: 6.6mm
- Case Material: Steel
- Bezel Material: Steel
- Bracelet/Strap Material: Leather
- Dial Colour: White
- Water Resistance: 30m
- Movement: Quartz
- Power Reserve: 3yrs battery life
An iconic design from within the Cartier Tank family, the classic Tank Must is the traditional Tank we all know and love, with a rectangular steel case, powered by a quartz movement and featuring a blue synthetic spinel in its crown. Unless you’re spending tens or hundreds of thousands, Cartier is a brand you’re buying for its iconic design so don’t worry about the quartz movement.
- One of the most iconic watch designs ever
- Medium size is the Goldilocks zone
- Quartz movement, if you’re worried about that kind of thing
Baume & Mercier Riviera 10660
- Case Diameter: 42mm
- Case Thickness: 10.66mm
- Case Material: Steel
- Bezel Material: Titanium
- Bracelet/Strap Material: Rubber
- Dial Colour: Grey
- Water Resistance: 100m
- Movement: Swiss Made automatic
- Power Reserve: 38 hours
A classic sports watch design arriving on a comfortable rubber strap, the Baume & Mercier Riviera 10660 offers something interesting with its dark grey titanium bezel and intricately patterned dial. With a solid 100m of water resistance and a touch of warmth thanks to the rose gold-tone hour markers and hands, it’s an under-the-radar watch with plenty to love about it.
- Lightweight titanium bezel
- Comfortable rubber strap
- Power reserve could be longer
Breitling Endurance Pro Breitlight
- Case Diameter: 44mm
- Case Thickness: 12.5mm
- Case Material: Breitlight
- Bezel Material: Breitlight
- Bracelet/Strap Material: Rubber
- Dial Colour: Black
- Water Resistance: 100m
- Movement: Thermocompensated SuperQuartz
- Power Reserve: 3yrs battery life
If you’re after a watch that was built to last no matter the environment, the Breitling Endurance Pro Breitlight is the chronograph you need on your wrist. The star of the show is the proprietary Breitlight case, which is more than three times lighter than titanium and nearly six times lighter than steel and is supremely comfortable on the wrist when paired with its rubber strap.
- Extremely lightweight and robust case
- Comfortable rubber case
- Case size may be too big for those with smaller wrists
NOMOS Glashütte Club Sport Neomatik
- Case Diameter: 37mm
- Case Thickness: 8.3mm
- Case Material: Steel
- Bezel Material: Steel
- Bracelet/Strap Material: Steel
- Dial Colour: Green
- Water Resistance: 200m
- Movement: DUW 3001 Automatic
- Power Reserve: 43 hours
If you don’t like massive watches, but still want something that’s reliable, mechanically powered and serves up solid water resistance, the Club Sport Neomatik is one you need to take a closer look at. With a 37mm case diameter that stands just 8.3mm tall, it still has 200m of water resistance and an in-house manufactured automatic movement. Very impressive stuff from NOMOS Glashütte.
- Reliable in-house movement
- Very impressive water resistance despite case thinness
- Polished bracelet may get scratched over time
Best Watches Under $5,000 — Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best watch for 5000?
For $5,000 there are a number of great value watches, including the Cartier Tank, the Longines HydroConquest GMT, and the TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 200 Solargraph.
What is the best watch for value?
You can find the best value watches from brands including Seiko, Tudor, NOMOS and many more.
