{"id":854,"date":"2020-08-13T09:21:23","date_gmt":"2020-08-13T09:21:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mrellis.co.uk\/?p=854"},"modified":"2021-07-19T07:55:57","modified_gmt":"2021-07-19T07:55:57","slug":"best-watches-for-men-under-300","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mrellis.co.uk\/best-watches-for-men-under-300\/","title":{"rendered":"Which Are The Best Watches For Men Under 300?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Not every guy can afford a Rolex or Hublot watch, or even wants to spend thousands of pounds on one. But that doesn’t mean you can’t be stylish while going easy on your bank account.<\/p>\n

There are plenty of affordable luxury watches on the UK market that look just as good as the pricier brands. In this buying guide, I review the five best ones that cost less than 300 pounds. If your budget is even lower than that, check out my article with watches under 50 pounds<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What to Consider When Buying a Budget Luxury Watch<\/h2>\n

A. Authenticity<\/h3>\n

Before you consider anything else, check whether you are about to buy an authentic or fake watch. A couple hundred or more pounds is still a lot of money to spend on a watch; don’t risk buying a fake.<\/p>\n

Check the seller of the watch. I recommend buying from brands that are selling the watch directly on Amazon rather than from third party sellers.<\/p>\n

To be 100% sure you are buying a genuine luxury watch, look for one that comes with a certificate of authenticity.<\/p>\n

B. Materials<\/h3>\n

Next, consider the materials.<\/p>\n

Most budget luxury watches have a stainless steel case. Stainless steel is affordable, has high scratch resistance, doesn’t rust and it lasts long.<\/p>\n

The band material is usually the same stainless steel material or leather (make sure it is real leather, not PU leather or some other synthetic alternative).<\/p>\n

Also, check the material of the watch face cover. Cheaper watches use acrylic, which is a type of plastic. The advantage of an acrylic watch is that you can buff out shallow scratches.<\/p>\n

Mid-range watches use mineral crystal glass. It’s highly scratch resistant.<\/p>\n

High-end watches use sapphire crystal glass, which is much stronger and scratch-resistant than mineral crystal.<\/p>\n

If your budget is under 300, you are unlikely to find a sapphire crystal watch; mineral crystal watches are more common.<\/p>\n

C. Style<\/h3>\n

Style is subjective. The best style comes down to your preferences. Some watches have a sporty look, others look very formal while others go perfectly with a casual outfit.<\/p>\n

When considering style, consider things like colour, the design of the hands and the band style and width.<\/p>\n

D. Case Thickness and Diameter<\/h3>\n

Watches for men tend to have a thicker and wider case.<\/p>\n

Because men generally have thicker hands, you don’t want to get a watch that’s too small. It’ll look dainty and closer to a bracelet.<\/p>\n

If you have small or medium size wrists (6-7 inches), look for a case diameter between 36mm and 42mm. If you have a large wrist, a 43mm to 46mm case will do. For extra-large wrists, a 48mm case will be the right fit.<\/p>\n

Generally, case thickness goes up with case diameter. If you get a watch with a large diameter, expect a thick and chunky case.<\/p>\n

Case thickness starts at 4-6mm for thin cases, 7-11mm for medium, 12-14mm for large and 15-18mm for extra-large.<\/p>\n

Tip: <\/strong>While band width doesn’t affect fit, it’s essential for proportionality. A nice-looking watch should have a band that’s roughly half as wide as the case diameter. For instance, a 46mm watch case should be paired with a 23mm (or close) wide band.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

E. Type of Movement<\/h3>\n

The movement of a watch is its engine; what makes it tick, literary. There are three types of watch movements:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Quartz: <\/strong>The most accurate and cheapest type of watch movement. A good number of watches under 300 quid are quartz. Quartz movements are highly accurate and require no winding. The only thing you need to do is replace the battery after some time.<\/li>\n
  2. Mechanical: <\/strong>Mechanical movements are used in most luxury watches. A mechanical watch will last a very long time. The only downside is that you’ll need to wind it often, usually daily, to ensure it keeps accurate time.<\/li>\n
  3. Automatic: <\/strong>An automatic watch is a type of mechanical watch that doesn’t require the daily winding routine. The watch uses the movement of your hands to spin a rotor whose motion automatically powers the winding mechanism. However, if you stay a few days without wearing the watch, you’ll have to wind it manually and reset it as well. You can put the watch in a watch winder to avoid this.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    F. Features (Stopwatch, Alarm etc.)<\/h3>\n

    Apart from showing time, check what other features the watch offers such as alarm, a stopwatch, a 24h mode and calendar.<\/p>\n

    G. Water Resistance<\/h3>\n

    Finally, check whether the watch is water resistance or waterproof. Most luxury watches under 300 pounds are waterproof.<\/p>\n

    However, there’s a limit to how much water pressure they can withstand before they lose their water resistance.<\/p>\n

    It ranges from 3 bar or ATM (30 metres of water) to 10 bar (100 metres of water).<\/p>\n

    H. Gift Box<\/h3>\n

    If you are buying the watch as a gift for your partner, friend or family member, look for one that comes with a gift box. A branded gift box is much better than a generic gift box.<\/p>\n

    Best Watches for Men Under 300<\/h2>\n

    1. Emporio Armani Men’s Watch<\/h3>\n

    \"Emporio<\/a><\/p>\n

    CLICK TO CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON<\/a><\/p>\n

    Emporio Armani is one of the best brands for guys looking for a watch under 300 quid. Their watches look great and are well made.<\/p>\n

    This particular one has a case diameter of 46mm, perfect for men with large wrists. Case thickness is also on the higher end at 12mm. The band is 24mm wide.<\/p>\n

    As for material, the 46mm Emporio Armani\u00a0uses stainless steel for the case as well as the band. This gives the watch a chunky and commanding look. It also makes it hardy and durable.<\/p>\n

    The watch face covering is mineral glass. It has a very high resistance to scratches and can resist pressure up to 5 bar or 50 metres of water.<\/p>\n

    The style of the Emporio Armani is formal. It features a black dial with chrome indexes and hands for contrast. The eagle on the 12 o’clock mark is a nice touch.<\/p>\n

    The Emporio Armani\u00a0watch features a stop watch, 24-hour mode and date.<\/p>\n

    The watch comes in Emporio Armani gift box along with a certificate of authenticity to guarantee it’s a genuine watch.<\/p>\n

    Note that the Emporio Armani watch uses a quartz movement, so you don’t need to wind it.<\/p>\n

    What I like about it:<\/h4>\n