For men, picking out a new watch can be tricky. The sheer volume of brands out there can be overwhelming. While nice watches can be expensive, a lot of them are affordable. What’s nettling however, is that some men still opt to buy replicas of expensive watches instead of just buying what they can afford. So, which affordable watches can get you ‘Mr Nice Watch’ compliments? Which ones actually matter? EMY’s Gentleman Guide has gone through the trouble of identifying a few of those affordable watches worth your attention, so you can leave the replicas alone.
Across this article, you’ll find different types of watches – dress watches, field watches, chronographs – whatever you’re looking for. Below are some of my favourite affordable watches.
STORM
Storm Hydron V2 Rubber Grey 47462/GY is an amazing and attractive gents’ watch from AW19 collection. The bezel and lug are made of stainless steel, which accounts for the high quality of the item. The mixture of analogue with chronograph, grey dial and blue hour marker give it a futuristic look.
The dial features of the watch include a date function, 24hr time functions and minimal markings. The open case design is 50-metre water resistant. For anyone looking to make a striking fashion statement, this Storm watch is the perfect choice.
Best for: business casual, casual wear and sport wear. From GH¢1270 on www.stormwatches.com
ROTARY
This Rotary men’s watch is the perfect watch for the big occasions. It features a Miyota quartz movement with a stunning white dial. This watch has a PVD rose gold plated case and black alligator leather strap. It’s water resistant to the Rotary Dolphin Standard so you can take a dip whenever you please.
Rotary is a household name in the UK and for good reason. A number of their timepieces are water resistant, unwaveringly reliable, and feature classically beautiful designs. For a stunningly vintage timepiece, leather strap design in soft blacks with a gold bezel and nice dial, this is your best bet.
Best for: black tie, business formal, business casual, casual wear. From GH¢920 on www.hsjohnson.com
TISSOT
Tissot Everytime T1094101107200 is an amazing and classy unisex watch from T-Classic collection. It’s made of stainless steel with a rhodium dial, black hands and Arabic numeral hour markers. The watch is water resistant at 30 metres. It can withstand brief immersions or splashes but is not suitable for swimming or bathing.
Tissot continues to push the limits of both fashion and timepiece development, creating watches that are reliable, luxurious and, of course, truly beautiful.
Best for: business formal, business casual, casual wear. From GH¢1850 on www.tissotwatches.com
ACCURIST
A brave choice in all black, the London ceramic watch from Accurist will look bold on anyone’s wrist. The strap, ceramic in material, comes in glossy black and the unique rectangular-shaped dial amalgamates this timepiece as a true standout. Its features include scratch-proof ceramic bracelet strap, powerful quartz movement for superb time accuracy and a unique rectangular dial.
English watch manufacturer Accurist has made itself a household name thanks to its production of high-quality, attractive wrist wear. Their delicate and innovative watches are encrusted with stones to catch the light and add timeless glamour to your outfit.
Best for: black tie, business formal, business casual, casual wear. From GH¢900 on www.thewatchhut.co.uk
COACH
Coach 14602401 is a functional and very impressive men’s watch. It’s made of stainless steel with a blue dial. It’s water resistant up to 30 metres – it can be worn in scenarios where it is likely to be splashed but not immersed in water. A Coach watch stands for relevance, innovation and authenticity and each individual design remains true to this core identity – aiming to provide a new, affordable and accessible form of luxury.
Best for: business formal, business casual, casual wear. From GH¢1190 on www.thewatchhut.co.uk
CITIZEN
Citizen Axiom’s refined yet sleek tank design offers a different look for the avid trendsetter. It combines a black ion-plated stainless-steel case, mesh bracelet and black dial with the intriguing feature of edge-to-edge glass and 4-piece diamond indices to create the perfect wrist-wear. It’s my personal favourite. With the watch’s Eco-Drive technology (powered by light), you never need a battery. Innovative, technologically advanced and award-winning, Citizen has been an iconic name in watches for years, and for very good reason. The brand offers best value for money.
Best for: black tie, business formal, business casual, casual wear. From GH¢1500 on www.citizenwatch.co.uk
VIVIENNE WESTWOOD
Vivienne Westwood Lexington VV177GDBK is an outstanding analogue men’s watch designed by Vivienne Westwood. This retro styled timepiece is crafted in stainless steel with a gold PVD plating. The piece features a contrasting black textured dial with gold plated luminescent hour markers, hands and the Vivienne Westwood Orb.
The 50-metre water resistance ensures that the watch is protected and allows it to be submerged in water. It can be used for swimming and fishing.
Best for: business formal, business casual, casual wear, sport wear.
From GH¢2373 on www.beaverbrooks.co.uk
CAVEMAN
Borne of the Kingsman line, the Kingsman Turbo is a watch manufactured by a respected Ghanaian brand, Caveman Watches. This watch is more sustainably and economically focused. Helps that it’s nice to look at too. This marque rethinks performance. Instead of just standard dials, this piece flaunts golden ones with a semi-skeleton surface that sits under sapphire glass and operates using automatic movement caliber. If you want to flaunt throughout 2021, the Caveman Kingsman Turbo is an excellent watch to kick off proceedings.
Best for: business formal, business casual, casual wear. From GH¢1800 on www.cavemanwatches.com
VITAE
The Vitae Ada Midnight, named after a town in Ghana, pairs minimalist design with stylish modernity. The watch features include a stainless-steel band, a black dial, golden markers and is equipped with elegant scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass. The 42mm face is ideal for men.
Because the Vitae London brand was birthed out the need to create stunning watches at affordable prices, it is not surprising it’s on this list.
Best for: business formal, business casual, casual wear. From GH¢1650 on www.vitaelondon.com
EMPORIO ARMANI
Emporio Armani Aviator AR11201 showcases a beautiful 43mm stainless steel case with scratch-resistant mineral glass and a stunning blue-coloured dial featuring Baton hour markers, protected by a smooth set bezel.
Other features include an elegant stainless-steel bracelet, a reliable movement, and a secure deployment clasp for added protection. This watch is also water resistant up to 50 metres, which means you can go for dip without worrying about causing damage to it.
Bold and stylish is exactly what you would expect of Emporio Armani. Specialising in high-fashion and crafted from quality materials, Armani watches showcase beautiful aesthetics and elegant engineering to offer a range of timepieces that will transcend each season.
Best for: business formal, business casual, casual wear, sport wear. From GH¢1450 on www.watchshop.com
