American Watch Brands Like Timex, Bulova, Hamilton and More
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 these watches 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 Japan's Citizen has owned it since 2008.
- Hamilton was founded in Pennsylvania but is now Swiss; its hand-wound H-50 caliber offers an 80-hour power reserve.
What we mean by "American watch brand"
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 any of the watches below are made in the USA.
Most of the watches here use Japanese movements, such as Miyota calibers and the NH35A; the exception is Hamilton's H-50 caliber. 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 Citizen Watch Co. of Japan since 2008.
The price bands below come from Amazon US in October 2026. Prices change, so check the product cards for current pricing.
Timex is the everyday starting point
Timex traces its roots to 1854 and the Waterbury Clock Company in Waterbury, Connecticut, and Timex Group is headquartered in Middlebury, Connecticut. In our catalog it's the most affordable American brand, with battery-powered quartz models from under $50 to around $160.
The Timex Weekender (T2N651) is the simplest pick: a 38 mm brass case that's 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 Band
View productIf you want a field watch you can swim with, the Timex Expedition Scout 40mm (TW2T94700) steps up to 40 mm, adds a date and is rated to 50 m, all for around $60. You'll find more options on our field watches page.
Timex Expedition Scout TW2T94700, 40mm, Green Dial, Leather Band
View productFor sturdier materials, the Timex Waterbury (TW2V74100VQ) has a 39 mm stainless steel case with 100 m water resistance and costs around $100 to $110. The Timex Marlin Jet (TW2W57100) adds a moonphase in a 40 mm steel case for around $150 to $160, though its crystal is acrylic.
Bulova for a quartz chronograph and Japanese automatics
Joseph Bulova founded Bulova in New York City in 1875. The Bulovas we feature 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 astronaut David Scott wore on the Moon during Apollo 15 in 1971. It's a chronograph powered by the Bulova High Performance Quartz caliber, 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. It costs around $250 to $275, and its 30 m rating and mineral crystal make it a daily-wear watch rather than a swimmer.
Bulova Military Hack 96A246, 38mm, Black Leather Band
View productThe Bulova Oceanographer Snorkel GMT (98B407) is the sporty option. It pairs a Miyota 9075 GMT movement with a 42-hour power reserve, a screw-down crown, a box sapphire crystal and 200 m water resistance in a 41 mm case, and it runs around $800 to $850.
Hamilton makes Swiss watches with Pennsylvania roots
Hamilton supplied watches to the US armed forces during the World Wars, and that's where the Khaki Field look comes from. Both Hamilton models here use the hand-wound H-50 caliber, which Hamilton 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: a 38 mm steel case just 9.5 mm thick, 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 Band
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, the same H-50 and a sapphire crystal. It costs around $1,050 to $1,100.
Fossil, Invicta, Stuhrling Original and Bertucci
Fossil was founded in Texas in 1984 and is still headquartered there. Both Fossils we feature are 44 mm wide: the Fossil Minimalist (FS5304) is a slim, 8 mm-thick quartz dress watch 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 1837 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, 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, mostly makes field-style quartz models in our catalog. 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 | Our pick | 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.
From $100 to $300, the Timex Waterbury gets 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 also worth comparing the best Japanese watches.
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 around $1,100, the Boulton fits the bill. For a wider view beyond the US, see 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 beater.
- Bulova: the range spans a quartz chronograph, Miyota automatics and a 200 m GMT diver.
- Hamilton: the H-50 caliber has an 80-hour power reserve, and both models featured here get sapphire crystals.
- Invicta and Stuhrling Original: steel bracelet watches with 100 to 200 m water resistance for under $100.
Cons
- Timex: the cheaper models use mineral or acrylic crystals, and everything is quartz.
- Bulova: the Lunar Pilot case is 45 mm wide and 15.5 mm thick, which is large for slim wrists.
- Hamilton: prices start around $650, and the brand is now based in Switzerland.
Verdict
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 pick, while the Lunar Pilot suits buyers who want a chronograph with space history. If you want a hand-wound mechanical watch and can spend more, the Hamilton Khaki Field 38mm is the best fit.
Watches we recommend
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 models we feature don't give a country of manufacture, so we don't claim they're made in the USA. All of these Timex models are battery-powered quartz watches.
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 during the 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?
Joseph Bulova founded Bulova in New York City in 1875, but Citizen Watch Co. of Japan has owned it since 2008. The Bulova automatics featured here use Japanese Miyota calibers, 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 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.
