12 Best Chronograph Watches Under $500

A high quality chronograph for under $500?! Impossible! Well, not really. While you might not be getting a chronograph with automatic movement (or even mechanical movement) at this price-point, you can still get something pretty nice. In this guide, I decided to pick 12 of my favorite chronograph watches, all under $500. From modern to retro designs, there is something for everyone.

Brew Metric

Price: $450 USD; Material: Stainless Steel; Diameter: 36mm; Thickness: 10.75mm; Lug-to-Lug: 41.5mm; Water Resistance: 50m; Movement: Meca-Quartz; Crystal: Sapphire.

I would argue that the Brew Metric is the lodestar for chronographs in the under $500 price-point. It mixes design and quality in a way you wouldn’t expect at such an affordable price. And about the design. The retro-70s aesthetic includes a single link bracelet and tonneau-shaped case. The dial has two asymmetrical subregisters that are different in size. And, there is always a unique blend of different colors that work playfully together. For example, on the new Metric Star, the gold dial is complimented by red and blue accents. It just works. You can pick up the Brew Metric for $450 USD. You can also check out my review of the Brew Metric here.

Orient RA-TX0203s10b

Price: $320 USD; Material: Stainless Steel; Diameter: 42.8mm; Thickness: 13.1mm; Lug-to-Lug: 48.1mm; Water Resistance: 200m; Movement: Solar Quartz; Crystal: Sapphire.

Look, not all (or even most) of us can afford a vintage Paul Newman Rolex Daytona. Or even a modern white dial Daytona. But if you want the look for significantly less, you can’t go wrong with the Orient. The RA-TX0203s10b has an attractive panda dial design (that is, a white dial with black subdials) and a unidirectional dive bezel (it has 200 meters of water resistance). Along with all of this you get a solar powered movement that boasts 6 months of power reserve. So unless it’s daylights savings, you won’t have to reset the watch every time you pick it up. All in all, you get a lot of watch for $320 USD.

Seiko Essentials SSB429

Price: $250 USD; Material: Stainless Steel; Diameter: 41.5mm; Thickness: 12.09mm; Lug-to-Lug: 46.5mm; Water Resistance: 100m; Movement: Quartz; Crystal: Hardlex.

Leave it to Seiko to make one of the most attractive chronographs on this list. The Seiko Essentials SSB429 features a reverse panda design with a black dial and white subdials. However, the 6 o’clock subdial is actually also black, adding just a little bit of funkiness to the design. Overall, the watch has vintage, racing chronograph look, without the price often associated with such watches. It retails for just $250 USD.

Citizen Zenshin Chronograph

Price: $468.75 USD; Material: Titanium; Diameter: 42.5mm; Thickness: 11.7mm; Lug-to-Lug: 44mm; Water Resistance: 100m; Movement: Eco-Drive; Crystal: Sapphire.

Even though Citizen has gone a bit upmarket in recent year, releasing watches such as the Series8 GMT and Series8 890 Diver, they still have many watches in their catalog that are much more affordable. One of my favorites is the Zenshin Chronograph. This watch not only has a chronograph functionality, but it is made of titanium, including the bracelet. Not to mention, the light blue textured dial adds a bit of pop to the integrated bracelet watch. All in all, the Citizen Zenshin Chronograph punches above of its weight at its current sale price of $468.75 USD.

Omega X Swatch Speedmaster MoonSwatch

Price: $270 USD; Material: Bioceramic; Diameter: 42mm; Thickness: 13mm; Lug-to-Lug: 47.5mm; Water Resistance: 30m; Movement: Quartz; Crystal: Mineral.

What list of the best chronographs under $500 would be complete without the MoonSwatch? I mean, it is probably the most sold watch over the last few years. And I completely understand why it’s been so popular. It takes the extremely popular look of the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch and makes it much more accessible price-wise. Plus, ever since the original 11 MoonSwatches were released in 2022, Swatch has continued to add different models to the collection. So if you want Speedmaster look for a reasonable price, the MoonSwatch retails for between $270 and $325 USD. Make sure to check out my review of the Omega X Swatch MoonSwatch Mission to Mars.

Vaer R1 USA Rally Chronograph

Price: $339 USD; Material: Stainless Steel; Diameter: 40mm; Thickness: 13mm; Lug-to-Lug: 48mm; Water Resistance: 100m; Movement: Meca-Quartz; Crystal: Sapphire.

Looking for a vintage-inspired racing chronograph? Well, the Vaer R1USA Rally Chronograph is a great option. It features a nice cream dial, oval subdials. All the subdials are different colors, and the watch also features red, blue, orange and yellow accents. At 40mm in diameter and 11.8mm thick, the watch is will fit pretty much everyone. And the $339 USD price-point only makes it that much more appealing.

Depancel Allure Stradale

Price: $295 USD; Material: Stainless Steel; Diameter: 39mm; Thickness: 11.5mm; Lug-to-Lug: N.A.; Water Resistance: 50m; Movement: Meca-Quartz; Crystal: Composite.

If you’ve read my other buying guides, or my review of their Swiss automatic version, you would know I am a big fan of Depancel, and notably, their Allure chronograph. And the Allure comes in many different varieties and many different price-points. The only one that comes in under $500, however, is the Allure Stradale. The watch stays true to Depancel’s racing-inspired aesthetic but adds a beautiful sunray blue gradient dial. Something you’d expect to see on watches for above it’s price-point. And to me, the orange accents just puts this watch over the top. It retails for just $295 USD.

Boldr Rally SRW

Price: $299 USD; Material: Titanium; Diameter: 38mm; Thickness: 12.2mm; Lug-to-Lug: 44mm; Water Resistance: 200m; Movement: Meca-Quartz; Crystal: Sapphire.

For a more modern chronograph, check out the BOLDR Rally SRW. The watch features a titanium case with black dial and light blue accents. My favorite part of this watch is probably the lume. Not only are the hour markers and hands lumed, but the rings of the chronographs are also lumed. Matched to a black and baby blue NATO-style strap, the Rally SRW is a steal at $299 USD.

Timex Q Chronograph

Price: $229 USD; Material: Stainless Steel; Diameter: 40mm; Thickness: 13.5mm; Lug-to-Lug: 46mm; Water Resistance: 50m; Movement: Quartz; Crystal: Mineral.

Timex’s Q Series has taken the collecting community by storm. You won’t find a fashionable, integrated bracelet design at a better price. Full of that 70s-era aesthetic we’ve come to expect from an integrated bracelet sport watch, the Q chronograph adds a reverse panda dial pattern. Offered in a reverse panda with black dial and cream subdials, or blue dial with white subdials, I would probably go for the latter. It adds a little bit of fresh modernity that really looks great on the wrist. The Timex Q Chronograph retails for $229 USD.

Dan Henry 1972 Maverick

Price: $370 USD; Material: Stainless Steel; Diameter: 41mm; Thickness: 12.7mm; Lug-to-Lug: 45.7mm; Water Resistance: 50m; Movement: Quartz; Crystal: Sapphire.

One of my favorite chronographs definitely has to be the Porsche Design Chronograph 1. Famously worn by Tom Cruise in Top Gun (and he wore the same exact watch again in Maverick), it has become an iconic watch to hardcore collectors. But at close to $10,000, it just not attainable by most. So, what’s the affordable alternative? Well, the Dan Henry 1972 Maverick. The inspiration is clear. The Porsche Design Chronograph 1 was first released in 1972, and as we discussed, was worn by Maverick in Top Gun. So it makes sense that it would be a faithful recreation of the watch, from the black PVD stainless steel case, the day and date complications, and the orange chronograph seconds hand. Of course, the Dan Henry version features a Japanese-made quartz Miyota movement instead of an automatic movement. But what do you expect at $370 USD?

Spinnaker Hull Chronograph

Price: $235 USD; Material: Stainless Steel; Diameter: 42mm; Thickness: 15mm; Lug-to-Lug: 48mm; Water Resistance: 100m; Movement: Quartz; Crystal: Sapphire.

One of the more unique watches on this list is the Spinnaker Hull Chronograph. Featuring a cushion shaped case, the watch has recessed subdials, a sandwich dial and a big date at 12 o’clock. Because of the 42mm case diameter and the cushion case shape, the Hull Chronograph wears a little larger on the wrist. But I really like that it comes in a variety of colors, including my personal favorite, napier green. This green is a pistachio-esque color, something you don’t see on that many watches. The Spinnaker Hull Chronograph retails for $235 USD.

Islander Bridgehampton Racing Chronograph

Price: $450 USD; Material: Stainless Steel; Diameter: 40mm; Thickness: 14mm; Lug-to-Lug: 48mm; Water Resistance: 100m; Movement: Manual Wind; Crystal: Sapphire.

Long Island Watch has made a name for itself as a dealer of affordable watches with great customer service (as well as a fledgling YouTube account). And like us at Wrist Enthusiast, Long Island Watch has a house watch brand. Long Island Watch’s brand, Islander, stays true to the company’s ethos, offering high quality watches at affordable prices. And the Bridgehampton is a great racing chronogrpah to add to your collection. This bicompax watch features a traditional panda dial layout, with just a little twist. The baby blue chronograph seconds hand, and subdial hands and numerals, give watch is ostensibly a vintage-inspired design a modern twist. You can pick up the Islander Bridgehampton Racing Chronograph for $469 USD.

For more check out our 50 favorite watches under $500, our 50 favorite chronograph watches, and our 12 favorite chronograph watches under $5,000.