Editors’ Picks: The Best Budget Watches Of 2024
It’s the end of another fun year in the world of watches, and that means it’s time to kick off our annual round-up of many of our favorite watches from 2024. To kick off our end-of-year programming, I asked the Hodinkee editorial team to pick their favorite budget watch, something great for less than $1,500.
This year, we have plenty of variety from 70s LED styling to a blacked-out MoonSwatch, classic divers in a smaller sizing, a fav Hodinkee Limited Edition, a stone dial stunner, and more. After you finish the list, be sure to hit the comments to let us know your pick for the budget watch of 2024.
Swatch x Omega Mission To The Moonphase – New Moon [Mark Kauzlarich]
Watches are supposed to be fun. It can be hard to remember that with all the money that gets tied up in these very cool, superfluous little things. So why is it that the MoonSwatch, of all the harmless, affordable little watches, seems to have deeply offended so many people? Well, not me. I’m fun, aren’t I?
Well, I don’t know about that, but I will say that if affordability is the name of the game, the MoonSwatch changed everything. All of a sudden, I’m seeing them on the wrists of everyone around New York – and worldwide, for that matter – and striking up a conversation with waiters, neighbors, and people waiting for the train. Yes, okay, I’m weird. But what was the last watch that became both a cultural “moment” that bridged the gap between watch lovers and general consumers? Paul Newman’s Daytona? Yeah, if only we all had $17.8 million lying around. Nearly anyone can buy these watches and scratch about a dozen different itches, depending on who you are.
There were a few different MoonSwatch releases that caught my eye this year. The blue Snoopy was one that I meant to pick up but just forgot to go out of my way to get. So why pick the black Snoopy Moonphase? Because it was the one I actually did buy – in a post-Watches & Wonders haze at the airport, no less. I don’t wear it often, but when I do, it makes me smile, and for a shade over $300, that’s all I can ask for.
– Mark Kauzlarich, Editor + Photographer
The Casio G-Shock Reference 5600 By Ben Clymer [Ben Clymer]
I mean, do I really have to explain why this is my favorite watch of the year (under $1,500 or not)? I’ve had a Casio watch in my life just about as long as I’ve known what a *watch* is – so to get to design one and put my name on one was an absolute dream for a dork like me. I’ve been so proud to see where these have ended up, and I can’t wait for the day I’ll give one to both of my children. I wear mine basically every single weekend, and in the reference 5600 format, it just works so well.
–Ben Clymer, Founder + President
Hamilton “Mini” PSR 74 [Malaika Crawford]
The Hamilton PSR was launched in 2020 and was based on the Pulsar Time Computer, the world’s first watch with an LED (light-emitting diode) display. This year, Hamilton released a smaller PSR for both stainless steel and yellow PVD-coated steel. Admittedly, the downsize enticed me to check out a reissue that I would otherwise have likely skimmed over. Additionally, my Pulsar attention span likely peaked this year when I took a deep dive into Tiffany’s watch retail archive and came across the P1 model sold by the blue-box American retailer.
When the Hamilton Pulsar Time Computer was first unveiled in 1970, it was hailed as one of the most groundbreaking timepieces ever created. However, it was also among the priciest. Introduced two years before hitting the market, the watch debuted in a solid gold case and cost $2,100—more costly than a gold Rolex at the time.
While today’s “mini” PVD-coated pulsar comes in at a very democratic $845, I am attracted to the watch for the same reasons I am attracted to its original 1970s ancestor. It’s a piece of retro-futuristic design that is akin to the Beatles wearing Pierre Cardin’s catsuits and André Courreges’ 1964 Moon Girl collection. One wonderful thing about “space-age” design is how, over time, it’s gone from futuristic to retro-futuristic. Nobody today thinks the future is going to look like The Jetsons. But however charmingly ungainly those 1960s and ’70s designs might appear in retrospect, they do retain a glimmer of glamour. Clearly, watchmakers are still playing with the aesthetic.
–Malaika Crawford, Style Editor
Dennison A.L.D. Malachite [Rich Fordon]
While a MoonSwatch or something (just about anything) from Unimatic were the first budget picks to come to my mind, the combination of a longer, more considered contemplation, as well as Mark and TanTan squatting on their picks early, landed me on Dennison’s A.L.D. Sure, this is the latest watch I went Hands-on with, I’ll admit that. But the product is one that I am happy to recommend for the whopping $690 retail price. The case is designed by Emmanuel Gueit, the dial options are gorgeous, and the resulting watch is differentiated enough to earn wrist time in any collection.
In our latest Hodinkee Radio, I declared 2024 the year of the “shaped watch,” and here I am backing it up – letting you in on the “trend” at an accessible price point. Don’t say I never do anything nice for you!
–Rich Fordon, Editor
Unimatic x MoMA Modello Cinque U5S-MoMA-Y [TanTan Wang]
This one is easy because it’s the watch I bought this year that’s brought me the most joy every time I wear it. For those who might have missed this under-the-radar release, this is the second collaboration that Milan-based Unimatic has done with the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan. While the first trilogy was inspired by the color schemes of MoMA’s tickets, this second trilogy is loosely based on the De Stijl art movement and sports all the colors you’d find on one of Mondrian’s iconic works.
When I found out about this release, I ran straight to the MoMA Design Store the same day, before the team there even had the chance to put any of them out on display. I have to give major thanks to the lady who helped me, as she took the time to open up one of each to show me the color combinations of the three watches, even though the store was absolutely swamped with tourists.
The use of primary colors is quite restrained on the dial and makes the design work well. The Modello Cinque case is also growing on me a lot more, and this collaboration shows me how good this smaller-wearing case might be for future designs. With a Sellita movement and 300m of water resistance, it also is a fun, almost toylike watch that can actually be put up against anything you throw at it – I threw mine on a yellow rubber strap. And the cherry on top is the double-signed dial, which is very fitting as MoMA is also the retailer.
–TanTan Wang, Editor
Doxa Sub 200T [James Stacey]
Hey, I picked it as my favorite sport watch at the mid-point of 2024, then I bought one, and here it is again as my budget watch of the year – the Doxa Sub 200T. Yes, it’s actually about $50-100 over the budget limit depending on the strap/bracelet option, but I think this one’s worth a small stretch of the budget. Here we have a shot of the 39mm Sub 200T in the blue dialed “CArribean” spec, which is a fav of mine and was the strongest competition for the color I eventually seleceted as my own – Divingstar – aka. yellow.
I adore Doxa and love that the brand launched a smaller, less expensive, but still just as charming alternative to the 300 and the 300T. At ~$1,550, you just have to figure out which of the 14+ colors suits your mood. Hard to skip any of the classics, like Sharkhunter, Searambler, or Professional. But don’t sleep on Carribean or Divingstar. These are such sweetly fun watches for this price point and the 200T manages to capture the 300’s core appeal in a way that the preceeding (and still very good) Sub 200 simply couldn’t.
This could have easily been my sport watch of the year, or even my watch of the year, but it certainly rocks in the budget category.
– James Stacey, Editor-In-Chief
Hodinkee
