The Best Watches for Beginners

How to choose your first watch

The right first watch is not the most expensive one, it is the one that fits your life. Start with three questions. First, will you wear it every day or only now and then: daily wear puts durability and water resistance front and centre. Second, do you want the living motion of a mechanical movement or something that simply runs without a thought: that is the choice between an automatic and a quartz watch. Third, your wrist size: 36 to 40 mm sits safely on most wrists, and the figure that really matters is the lug-to-lug length.

The good news is that across all four of these types, Japanese brands have the value worked out: Casio, Seiko, Orient and Citizen. Below I give one clear pick for each type.

Best cheap digital

If you would rather not think about your first watch at all, the answer is a Casio digital. The battery lasts years, it shrugs off water, you will not flinch when you drop it, and it reads in the dark. The classic resin-cased Casio F-91W has more than enough alarm, stopwatch and everyday function; its lightness and simplicity make it the safest first watch there is. If you want a more metallic, retro look, the stainless-steel-bracelet Casio A168W gives you the same reliability in a smarter case.

Look at the Casio F-91W, or have a look at its metal-cased sibling, the Casio A168W.

Best entry automatic

For your first step into the mechanical world, the pick is the Seiko 5 Sports, no contest. It is an automatic movement that runs without a battery: it winds from the motion of your wrist, and when it stops you give it a few shakes or turn the crown to start it again. It brings its own Seiko calibre, a display caseback and solid everyday durability. It offers everything you want in a first mechanical watch at a price that will not frighten you off.

See the Seiko 5 Sports.

Best everyday diver

If you want one watch that goes everywhere, the answer is an Orient diver. The Orient Mako 40, with its 39 mm case, sits even on a slimmer wrist, carries its own automatic calibre and holds a genuine 200 metres of water resistance. Being able to wear the same watch at the office, at the seaside and at the weekend is the best value you can get on a first purchase. If you want to go deeper on dive watches, my guide to dive watches under $500 gives you the full tour.

Look at the Orient Mako 40.

Best no-maintenance pick

If you want to deal with neither a mechanical movement nor a battery, the answer is a Citizen Eco-Drive. It is a quartz watch that charges from light: as long as the watch sees light, there are no battery changes, and it keeps the accuracy of quartz. The classic Citizen Classic Corso, with its slim, refined case, suits both the office and daily life, and it is a watch you can put on and forget.

Look at the Citizen Classic Corso.

How much to spend

The sensible approach for a first watch is to pick the type and then buy that type's value point. On the digital side, Casio gives you the most reliability for the least money. Stepping up to automatic, the Seiko 5 is the ceiling of entry level with its own calibre. If you want one watch for every day, an Orient diver offers more than you would expect from a mechanical watch. If you want to escape upkeep entirely, a Citizen Eco-Drive is the calmest choice over the long run. Live prices change, so always check the current figure on the product page. If you want a broader view of Japanese brands, my best Japanese watches piece lines the brands up side by side.