Automatic watches are still a big deal in the watchmaking industry today, even though the 1960-born electronic quartz watches are more accurate than mechanical watches.
It is a fact that many expensive collectible watches with elaborate craftsmanship, astounding aesthetic appeal, and exceptional designs are mechanical watches.
Mechanical watches are either manual or automatic, though the more recent mechanical watches are automatic or self-wound rather than manual.
If you have used a manual watch, you may recount how many times you’ve had to adjust the timing by rotating the crown just to ensure accurate time-telling.
Automatic watches, on the other hand, work with human movement. That is, they are wound as the bearer moves from place to place, unlike manual watches which have to be manually wound.
Even though quartz watches offer more accurate time-telling, much improvement is being made on automatic watches to improve their accuracy over long periods.
Not to bore you with the simple history and mechanism of automatic watches, let’s head straight into the best, durable, stylish, accurate, and highly functional automatic watches that are suitable for every occasion.
Below are the 10 best automatic watches under 1000 that everybody is talking about in 2020:
1. Hamilton Men’s H64455533 Khaki King Series Stainless Steel Automatic Watch
Hamilton is a brand that is known for sophisticated and super-functional watches, and the Hamilton men’s H64455533 automatic watch is no exception.
It comes in a beautiful, brown leather band with contrast stitching and buckle closure; a scratch-resistant synthetic sapphire crystal; and a protected steel crown.
I really like this watch because it also features a black analog interface that’s very lovely and perfectly complements the luminous hands. The dial houses a day (fully spelled out) and a date function at the 12 o’clock position, which makes it look really stylish.
There are many other things I can recommend about this watch, including the minute markers around the outer rim for ease of time telling.
The functions are super great as an automatic watch – it’s no wonder that several people are purchasing the watch day in day out.
Considering the functions ranging from the automatic movement with long periods of accuracy to a 50m water resistance that makes it suitable for recreational swimming but not diving or snorkeling, the watch is a wonder! Though I wish it could also come in stainless steel bands.
Price is incredibly affordable for the functions.
Link to Product: https://amzn.to/2Pb8Qvm
2. Tissot T-Classic Ballade Automatic Black Dial Men’s Watch T108.408.16.057.00
Tissot brand has a spirit that inspires me personally, and their wristwatch brand is a growing competitor among other exceptional watch brands all over the world.
The things that attracted me to the Tissot T-Classic ballade automatic watch include its high-quality stainless steel case, a black leather strap with a butterfly clasp, a fixed stainless steel bezel, a transparent case back, and a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal.
The black dial is breathtaking with two patterns that seem to blend so well, silver-tone hands, index hour markers, Arabic numerals mark at the 6 o’clock and 12 o’clock positions, and date display at the 3 o’clock position.
Sadly, I don’t like to use this watch for night occasions, mainly because it doesn’t feature luminescent hands that can help me easily tell the time at night and in the dark.
There’s something about Tissot T-Classic ballade automatic watch that makes it worth the price, and that is its unique 80-hour power reserve as an automatic movement watch.
It is also interesting to note that it is labeled ‘Swiss Made,’ which affirms that it is of very high quality. It’s a kind of watch I like to show off to my friends when we get to see.
Get this watch and you’d have a timepiece that’s suitable for all your occasions.
It goes for less than $1,000.
Link to Product: https://amzn.to/2SMuSXy
3. Seiko Men’s SARB033 Japanese-Automatic Watch
The first time I bought a Seiko watch was because of the story of Seiko became a big brand, but I was completely satisfied with using the watch.
Interestingly, the first Seiko watch I bought seven years ago still looks very neat and is also very functional.
Seiko Men’s SARB033 is made of a stainless steel case, a silver-toned stainless steel bracelet, a synthetic scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, and a push-button deployment clasp.
The black dial is something to write home about with many beautiful features such as date display at the 3 o’clock position, luminescent hands and markers.
Though the design is reduced to only a stainless steel band and a simple black dial, it is stylish and attractive. The only thing that makes me unhappy about my SARB033 is the ease with which the case back scratches, but that’s not even a visible feature anyway.
When it comes to functionality, Seiko men’s SARB033 is exceptional with so many amazing features like 100m water resistance, which makes it suitable for swimming and snorkeling but not scuba diving.
It also features a 23-Jewel automatic movement that combines both manual and auto-winding capabilities with a power reserve of approximately 50 hours.
It’s incredibly affordable for the kind of beauty and functionality it offers.
Link to Product: https://amzn.to/2HUvuDY
4. Seiko Men’s Presage SRPB41J1 Automatic Blue Gradation Cocktail
Like the Seiko men’s SARB033 automatic watch, this one also comes in a silver-toned stainless steel band featuring a push-button deployment clasp.
In my opinion, however, I think the crown is too big – at least bigger than those of the other watches I’ve used. It is also made of stainless steel and a see-through case all for durability and convenience.
The dial is something that can attract even someone who hardly appreciates good design. The analog dial has a really great blue gradient sunburst dial that gives it a beauty of its own.
The dial is protected by a spherical/domed hardlex crystal glass, but I would have been happier if it was a sapphire glass crystal. It also features a date display at the 3 o’clock position.
Its functions are superb and are also adapted to a great level of accurate time-telling. The amazing functions it offers include its 23 Jewel movement that helps it combine both manual and auto-winding capabilities.
It also supports a magnetic resistance up to 4,800A/m, a power reserve of approximately 41 hours, and a second-hand halt mechanism. There’s so much to say about it that can’t be expressed in words.
It goes for a really affordable price less than $1,000
Link to Product: https://amzn.to/3a8Omvo
5. Feice Men’s Bauhaus Automatic Watch
Feice men’s Bauhaus automatic watch is a truly beautiful timepiece with a style that reminds me so much about the cowboy life.
It is made of a stainless steel case, a brown high-quality leather band with hook buckle band clasp, and even more, it has a style that perfectly blends with its functions.
I consider it a great watch except that it doesn’t do well as a waterproof watch, and the band also gets deformed over a period.
It has a really attractive white dial that houses two sub-dials with very minimal design. One of the sub-dials helps to determine the running energy of the watch, and that’s why it’s usually called the energy dial.
It features a stylistic date display at the 6 o’clock position. It also features a 2.5D domed mirror that helps to point out the watch’s exceptional charm.
The automatic self-winding movement function that this watch possesses is one of the reasons why the number of buyers increases by the day.
You only need to wear it for 10 straight hours or more, and you’ll no longer have to manually wind it for life. However, it’s important for you to manually wind the watch when using it for the first time.
The price goes for less than $1,000
Link to Product: https://amzn.to/2VyVM79
6. Orient Men’s Neptune Japanese-Automatic Watch
Orient brand has been in the league of high-quality automatic watchmakers for over 65 years. Its Neptune collection is particularly adapted to divers and is specially crafted to resist shocks that are common while diving.
I’m not a diver, but I’m yet to figure out the charm with which this watch attracted me. Perhaps, the reason I couldn’t resist buying it is the very stylish look it comes in.
This particular Orient automatic watch has a stylish blue analog dial with large luminescent hands and hour indicators. It features a date display at the 4 o’clock position.
It also features a diving bezel, mainly because it’s a diver’s watch. The dial is also protected by a scratch-resistant synthetic sapphire crystal. The only thing I don’t like about the watch is that it feels quite heavy.
Other physical features that make the watch irresistible include its silver-plated stainless steel band with a “push-button foldover clasp with safety” clasp.
It also has a 200m water resistance that makes it durable as a diver’s watch. One of the strong selling points of the watch brand is that all its automatic watches use the Japanese-automatic movement, which is a strong guarantee for unparalleled automatic functionality.
The price is incredibly affordable and below $1,000.
Link to Product: https://amzn.to/2wPPHsz
7. Citizen Eco-Drive BL5400-52A Men’s Watch with Perpetual Calendar and Date
There’s something about Citizen watch brand that is beyond what it claims to be, and that’s why I really love it.
I love everything about this particular watch, except that I get confused sometimes because the hands and the dial are of the same color.
This watch comes in handy as attractive, highly functional, and fully detailed. Both the case and the band are made of steel and are also both silver-toned.
It also comes in a breathtaking silver analog dial that houses three sub-dials, which carry out functions such as 1/20-second chronograph, alarm, and a perpetual calendar.
It has a stationary, marked bezel; luminescent hands that helps me know the time in the dark; minute indicators around the outer rim; date display at the 4 o’clock position; and so much more.
It has a special automatic movement developed by Citizen watch brand and is called the Eco-Drive E820 movement.
With water resistance up to 100m, it’s safe to use it for swimming or snorkeling but not scuba diving – I have no problem with that because I hardly engage in aquatic activities.
There’s so much to say about this watch, but I guess the reviews that follow it are already big enough reasons why you shouldn’t hesitate to get yours.
It comes at a really affordable price.
Link to Product: https://amzn.to/2HYpw52
8. Victorinox Automatic Watch (Model: 241820)
This watch is around $1,000, but the value is really worth the price. Though many people complain about its accuracy and packaging, I didn’t experience such problems when I purchased mine.
According to the company, the series – Airboss series – was made with pinpoint accuracy, reliability, and precision in mind. It is made of a stainless steel case and a blue nylon band with buckle closure, and it is very comfy when you wear it on your wrist.
Perhaps the reason it is so expensive is that it is Swiss-made and can possibly be regarded as a luxury watch. It has a blue dial with an analog interface, luminescent hands, and date display at the 6 o’clock position.
It comes in sharp, clean lines, and a look that specially highlights features for easy readability and functionality.
It’s marked as a Swiss automatic movement watch that ensures accurate and reliable time-telling. It also has a water resistance level of up to 100m, which makes it suitable for swimming and snorkeling but not scuba diving.
Once when I had to fix a problem on the watch and sent it to the company, it took weeks to get my watch back, but I’m still very much pleased with it and I don’t regret paying such amount for the watch.
The price is less around $1,000.
Link to Product: https://amzn.to/37Z6nuC
9. Citizen Men’s Eco-Drive JY8030-83E Navihawk Atomic Timekeeping Watch
I love this great watch from Citizen with out-of-the-world features like silver-toned, mesh stainless steel band with push-button deployment clasp, a sophisticated and highly-functional dial interface, and lots more.
Though the watch didn’t perfectly fit my wrists when I first bought it, I took out a number of links, but it was too tight; then I added one more link, and it was loose but better.
The dial looks quite complicated but with little patience, you’d get to know that it is as simple as A, B, C. Moreover, the dial is protected by an anti-reflective mineral crystal, which many modern watches also use.
The bezel is stationary and is made of stainless steel. And finally, before I talk about some other exceptional features, it has luminous hands that helped me to tell the time even in the dark.
Besides being a watch with atomic time-telling, the watch enables you to tell the time in different time zones coupled with other simplified time-telling possibilities.
Its water resistance ability is 200m, which makes it great for aquatic activities asides from scuba diving. Believe me that its more sophisticated than I can describe, but it’s a great time-piece if you like something with a bit of technicality.
The price is really affordable and under $1,000.
Link to Product: https://amzn.to/3908DTr
10. Versace ‘Dylos’ Automatic Stainless Steel Watch (VAG030016)
The reason I tried out this watch is that I love the dresses made by Versace as well as other fashion accessories. Guess what? I wasn’t disappointed at all.
The Versace Dylos VAG030016 watch is a perfect proof of the brand’s commitment to very fashionable timepieces. It features a two-tone stainless steel band with a push-button deployment clasp.
The watch is furnished throughout with gold and silver-tone. Moreover, the gold-tone also extends to the blue dial with gold-tone hands and hour indicators.
The watch also features a date display at the 3 o’clock position. I love all these features so much that I didn’t think twice about buying it after reading up the features.
The watch could be a luxury watch, mainly because it uses the Swiss automatic movement. But I noticed that the watch loses time consistently, and I wish the company corrects the fault in subsequent production batches.
Moreover, avoid contact with water because it’s not waterproof. Notwithstanding, this is a wonderful product from Versace that beats the imagination.
Price is about $1,000.
Link to Product: https://amzn.to/2HTcGoV