Timex, Bulova, Hamilton and Other American Watch Brands
Serdar D.Watch EditorThe main American watch brands are Timex, Bulova and Hamilton, with Fossil, Invicta, Stuhrling Original and Bertucci as smaller options. Buy Timex for quartz watches under $160, Bulova for Japanese automatics and its Lunar Pilot chronograph, and Hamilton, now a Swiss brand, for hand-wound mechanical watches. Most of them run on Japanese or Swiss movements.
Key takeaways
- In this guide, 'American' means a brand founded in or run from the United States, not watches made in the USA.
- Timex is the budget entry point, with quartz field and everyday watches from under $50 to around $160.
- Bulova mixes high-performance quartz with Miyota automatics, and has been owned by Japan's Citizen since 2008.
- Hamilton was founded in Pennsylvania but is now a Swiss brand; it uses the hand-wound H-50 calibre with an 80-hour power reserve.
What we mean by 'American watch brands'
In this guide, an American watch brand is one founded in the United States or run from there today. Where a brand started and where its watches are built are often two different things, and we don't claim that any of the watches below are made in the USA.
Most of the watches here use Japanese movements, such as Miyota calibres and the NH35A, while the Hamiltons use the H-50 calibre. Hamilton was founded in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1892, but today it belongs to the Swatch Group and is based in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, so it's fair to call it a Swiss brand with American roots. Bulova started in New York City and has been owned by Japan's Citizen Watch Co. since 2008.
The price bands below are taken from Amazon US in October 2026. Prices change, so have a look at the product cards for the current figure.
Timex, the everyday starting point
Timex traces its roots back to 1854 and the Waterbury Clock Company in Waterbury, Connecticut, and Timex Group is headquartered in Middlebury, Connecticut. In our catalogue it's the cheapest way into an American name, with battery-powered quartz models from under $50 to around $160.
The Timex Weekender (T2N651) is the simplest pick: a 38 mm brass case 10 mm thick, a 20 mm nylon strap, 24-hour military time and Indiglo, the electroluminescent dial light Timex introduced in 1992. Its 30 m rating covers splashes, not swimming.
Timex Weekender T2N651, 38mm, Black Dial, Olive and Beige Fabric Strap
View productIf you want a field watch you can swim in, the Timex Expedition Scout 40mm (TW2T94700) steps up to 40 mm, adds a date and is rated to 50 m, for around $60. You'll find more options on our field watches page.
Timex Expedition Scout TW2T94700, 40mm, Green Dial, Leather Strap
View productIf you're after sturdier materials, the Timex Waterbury (TW2V74100VQ) has a 39 mm stainless steel case and 100 m water resistance for around $100 to $110. The Timex Marlin Jet (TW2W57100) adds a moonphase in a 40 mm steel case for around $150 to $160, though it has an acrylic crystal.
Bulova, a quartz chronograph and Japanese automatics
Bulova was founded in New York City in 1875 by Joseph Bulova. Our picks run from around $250 to about $850 and mix high-performance quartz with Miyota automatic movements.
The Bulova Lunar Pilot (96A225), from the Archive Series, is based on the Bulova chronograph that astronaut David Scott wore on the Moon during Apollo 15 in 1971. It's a chronograph powered by Bulova's High Performance Quartz calibre, with a sapphire crystal and 50 m water resistance. At 45 mm wide and 15.5 mm thick, it suits larger wrists. Expect to pay around $450 to $500.
Bulova Lunar Pilot 96A225, 45mm, Black Dial, Black Stainless Steel Bracelet
View productFor a smaller mechanical watch, the Bulova Military Heritage Hack (96A246) has a 38 mm case, an 18 mm lug width and a Miyota 8215 automatic with hacking, which stops the seconds hand while you set the time. Its 30 m rating and mineral crystal make it an everyday watch rather than one for swimming. It costs around $250 to $275.
Bulova Military Hack 96A246, 38mm, Black Leather Strap
View productThe Bulova Oceanographer Snorkel GMT (98B407) is the sporty one. Inside is a Miyota 9075 GMT movement with a 42-hour power reserve. The 41 mm case has a screw-down crown, a box sapphire crystal and 200 m water resistance, and it costs around $800 to $850.
Hamilton, Swiss watches with Pennsylvania roots
Hamilton supplied watches to the US armed forces in both world wars, which is where the Khaki Field look comes from. Both Hamiltons here use the hand-wound H-50 calibre, which the brand rates at 80 hours of power reserve. A manual-winding watch is powered by turning the crown, so you'll need to wind it every few days.
The Hamilton Khaki Field 38mm (H69439931) is the one to start with. It combines a 38 mm steel case just 9.5 mm thick with a sapphire crystal and 50 m water resistance, for around $650 to $700. Our guide to the best field watches puts it in context.
Hamilton Khaki Field H69439931, 38mm, Black Dial, Green Nylon Strap
View productThe Hamilton American Classic Boulton (H13519711) is the dressier choice, with a compact 34.5 mm case (the listing gives 34 x 38 mm), a white dial, a leather strap, and the same H-50 and sapphire crystal. It sits at around $1,050 to $1,100.
Fossil, Invicta, Stuhrling Original and Bertucci
Fossil was founded in Texas in 1984 and is still headquartered there. The two Fossils we've picked are both 44 mm wide: the Fossil Minimalist (FS5304) is a quartz dress watch just 8 mm thick, at around $60 to $70, and the Fossil Townsman (ME3270) is an automatic with a skeleton dial at around $150 to $160.
Invicta was founded in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, in 1837, and Invicta Watch Group is now based in Florida. The Invicta Pro Diver 8928 is a 40 mm diver with an NH35A automatic, a screw-down crown, a unidirectional bezel and 200 m water resistance, all for under $100. According to the listing, it's assembled in Malaysia.
Invicta Pro Diver 8928, 40mm, Blue Dial, Silver and Gold Stainless Steel Bracelet
View productStuhrling Original, founded in 1999, offers the Stuhrling Original 3953 (3953.2), a 42 mm steel quartz watch with a Miyota 2315, a date, a steel bracelet and 100 m water resistance for under $100. Bertucci, founded in 2003, is represented in our catalogue mainly by field-style quartz models. The Bertucci A-1S Super Field (10601) has a 36 mm steel case, a screw-down crown and case back, a large date and 100 m water resistance for about $150.
American watch brands compared
| Brand | Founded | Base today | Buy it for | Featured model | Movement | Price band |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timex | Roots in 1854 | Middlebury, Connecticut | Affordable field and everyday watches | Weekender (T2N651) | Quartz | Under $50 |
| Bulova | 1875 | Owned by Citizen since 2008 | Quartz chronograph, Miyota automatics | Lunar Pilot (96A225) | Quartz | $450 to $500 |
| Hamilton | 1892 | Biel/Bienne, Switzerland | Hand-wound field and dress watches | Khaki Field 38mm (H69439931) | Manual winding, H-50 | $650 to $700 |
| Fossil | 1984 | Texas | Large dress and skeleton styles | Minimalist (FS5304) | Quartz | $60 to $70 |
| Invicta | 1837 | Florida | Budget automatic diver | Pro Diver 8928 | Automatic, NH35A | Under $100 |
| Stuhrling Original | 1999 | Not listed | Steel quartz on a bracelet | 3953 (3953.2) | Quartz, Miyota 2315 | Under $100 |
| Bertucci | 2003 | Not listed | Compact quartz field watches | A-1S Super Field (10601) | Quartz | About $150 |
How to choose by budget and use
Under $100, go for the Timex Weekender or Expedition Scout if you want a light field watch, the Invicta for an automatic diver or the Stuhrling for steel quartz on a bracelet. Our list of the best watches under $100 has more.
Between $100 and $300, the Timex Waterbury gives you 100 m in steel, the Bertucci offers a 36 mm case for outdoor use, and the Bulova Military Heritage Hack makes a sensible first automatic. Since many of these use Japanese movements, it's worth comparing them with the best Japanese watches too.
Above $450, choose the Lunar Pilot for a chronograph with history, the Oceanographer GMT for travel and swimming, or the Khaki Field 38mm for hand-wound heritage. If you want a dress watch at around $1,100, the Boulton fits the bill. For a wider view beyond the US, have a look at the best watch brands for value.
Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Brands covered | Timex, Bulova, Hamilton, Fossil, Invicta, Stuhrling Original, Bertucci |
| Case sizes | 34.5 to 45 mm |
| Movements | Quartz, automatic and manual winding |
| Water resistance | 30 to 200 m |
| Crystals | Acrylic, mineral, Krysterna and sapphire |
| Price band on Amazon US, October 2026 | Under $50 to about $1,100 |
Pros
- Timex: low prices and Indiglo lighting make it an easy first watch or knockabout.
- Bulova: the range spans a quartz chronograph, Miyota automatics and a 200 m GMT diver.
- Hamilton: both featured models have the H-50 calibre with an 80-hour power reserve and a sapphire crystal.
- Invicta and Stuhrling Original: steel bracelet watches with 100 to 200 m water resistance for under $100.
Cons
- Timex: the cheaper models are quartz only and use mineral or acrylic crystals.
- Bulova: the Lunar Pilot's case is 45 mm wide and 15.5 mm thick, which is large for slim wrists.
- Hamilton: prices start at around $650, and the brand is now based in Switzerland.
Verdict
If you're on a tight budget, start with the Timex Weekender or Expedition Scout. For a first automatic with American roots, the Bulova Military Heritage Hack is a sensible choice, while the Lunar Pilot suits anyone who wants a chronograph with a link to space history. If you want a hand-wound mechanical watch and can spend more, the Hamilton Khaki Field 38mm is the best fit.
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Frequently asked questions
Are Timex watches made in the USA?
Timex is an American brand: its roots go back to 1854 in Waterbury, Connecticut, and Timex Group is headquartered in Middlebury, Connecticut. The listings for the Timex watches in this guide don't give a country of manufacture, so we don't claim they are made in the USA. Every Timex here uses a battery-powered quartz movement.
Is Hamilton an American or a Swiss watch brand?
Both, in a sense. Hamilton was founded in 1892 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and supplied watches to the US armed forces in both world wars. Today it belongs to the Swatch Group and is based in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, so it's best described as a Swiss brand with American roots.
Is Bulova still an American company?
Bulova was founded in New York City in 1875 by Joseph Bulova, but it has been owned by Japan's Citizen Watch Co. since 2008. The Bulova automatics in this guide use Japanese Miyota calibres, the 8215 and 9075, while the Lunar Pilot runs on Bulova High Performance Quartz.
Timex vs Bulova vs Hamilton: which should I buy?
Buy Timex for quartz watches from under $50 to around $160. Choose Bulova for Miyota automatics from around $250, or the Lunar Pilot chronograph at around $450 to $500. Pick Hamilton for hand-wound H-50 watches with an 80-hour power reserve and sapphire crystals, starting at around $650.
About the author
Serdar D.Watch Editor
View profileSerdar D. is the editor at BraveryWatch. He believes a good watch should be not just expensive but right. He gets deep into the details, then turns them into something that is genuinely a pleasure to read. He gives relaxed, useful advice through the eyes of someone who truly cares about watches.
