Best Field Watches Under 500 Dollars: Quartz to Automatic

Our pick is the Timex Expedition Field Post Solar at about $210. It has a 36mm steel case, a sapphire crystal, 100 metres of water resistance and a solar movement, for less than half the budget. For an automatic, buy one of the Seiko 5 Sports field models at about $315. For a watch you wind by hand, the Timex MK1 Hand-Wound at about $290.

The best-known field watch no longer fits. Hamilton’s US site lists the Khaki Field Mechanical at $675. Hamilton’s quartz version, at $445, still does.

Every price below is the maker’s own US price, and each was under $500 on the day we looked. Case sizes, movements, water resistance and crystals are as the makers state them. We have not handled any of these watches.

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The watches compared

Citizen and Bulova were both running a 20% sale on their own sites, which put the Garrison at about $236 and the Hack at about $396. The table shows the full prices.

What a field watch is

A field watch is a plain, tough, easy-to-read watch that descends from military issue. Seiko describes its models as inspired by classic field and military design. Timex says the Scout gives you twelve or twenty-four hour time, a date, and nothing you do not need. Two on this page are closer to the source: Marathon says its General Purpose watches are built to a US military specification, and CWC says its G10 was developed in 1980 as the general service watch of the British Armed Forces.

In practice that means Arabic numerals, a small case, lume on the hands and a fabric strap.

Quartz

Timex Expedition Scout, about $95

The cheapest real option. Timex lists a 40mm brass case, a mineral crystal, 50 metres of water resistance and its Indiglo backlight. Timex Expedition Scout on Amazon

Bertucci A-2S Field, about $145, and A-2T Vintage, about $325

Bertucci sells its field watches through its own store. The A-2S is a 40mm steel watch with a screw-down crown and 100 metres of water resistance. Bertucci A-2S Field on Amazon

The titanium A-2T was on this page in 2021. The plain A-2T Original Classic is $195 and was out of stock at Bertucci. The A-2T Vintage, in stock at about $325, has a Swiss quartz movement, an anti-reflective sapphire crystal and 200 metres of water resistance, the deepest rating here. Bertucci A-2T Vintage on Amazon

Vaer S3 Calendar Field, about $190

A 36mm watch with a sapphire crystal, a locking crown and 10 ATM of water resistance. Vaer says the aim was the best outdoor watch it could make for under $200. On paper it beats the Scout on crystal and water resistance, for twice the money. Vaer S3 Calendar Field on Amazon

Marathon General Purpose Quartz, about $420

A 34mm watch in a light composite case, with a Swiss quartz movement, a sapphire crystal and tritium gas tubes for the glow. A version with Marathon’s MaraGlo lume in place of the tritium is about $350. It is rated to only 3 ATM, so it is the wrong watch for swimming. Marathon General Purpose Quartz on Amazon

Hamilton Khaki Field Quartz 38mm, about $445

The way to a Hamilton inside the budget: a 38mm steel case, sapphire crystal and 50 metres of water resistance on a fabric strap. Some versions are $495. Hamilton Khaki Field Quartz on Amazon

CWC G10

CWC sells from its own British store and prices in pounds: £299 in the UK, and about £249 with UK tax removed for an order sent to the US. At the Federal Reserve’s latest published rate that is roughly $330 before any import charges. CWC lists a Swiss quartz movement, an acrylic crystal, 5 ATM and a hatch in the back for changing the battery.

Solar

Timex Expedition Field Post Solar, about $210

Our pick. Timex states a solar movement with up to four months of reserve, an anti-reflective sapphire crystal, 100 metres of water resistance and a screw-down crown and case back. It comes in 36mm and 41mm at the same price. Nothing else here matches that list for the money. Timex Expedition Field Post Solar on Amazon

Citizen Garrison BM8180-03E, about $295

A light-powered field watch: 37mm, a day and date window, 100 metres and a mineral crystal. Citizen says its Eco-Drive movement never needs a battery. At the full price the Timex gives you sapphire for less. At the sale price of about $236 it is closer. Citizen BM8180-03E on Amazon

Vaer C5 Field Solar, about $350

A 40mm watch assembled in the US, with sapphire and 10 ATM. Vaer says six hours of sunlight gives six months of running. The black-dial version showed as sold out on Vaer’s store and the C5 Recon Field Solar, at the same price, was in stock. Vaer C5 Field Solar on Amazon

Automatic and hand-wound

Seiko 5 Sports field models, about $315

The SRPG29 on a bracelet and the SRPG39 on leather are both $315 on Seiko’s US site, and the black SRPG41 is $350. Each has a 39.4mm steel case, Seiko’s 4R36 automatic movement with hand winding and about 41 hours of reserve, 100 metres of water resistance and a glass back. The crystal is Seiko’s Hardlex, not sapphire. It is the only automatic here rated to 100 metres. Seiko 5 Sports SRPG29 on Amazon

Timex MK1 Hand-Wound, about $290

A 36mm steel watch with a hand-wound movement and a domed acrylic crystal, rated to 50 metres. Timex’s instruction is to wind it once a day. Timex also sells a 40mm MK1 Automatic at about $310. Timex MK1 Hand-Wound on Amazon

Bulova Hack 96A246, about $495

A 38mm automatic with a 21-jewel movement, 42 hours of reserve and a domed mineral crystal. It only just fits the budget at full price, and its 30 metres of water resistance is the lowest here. Buy it on sale or not at all. Bulova Hack 96A246 on Amazon

Now over the budget

• Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical 38mm: $675 on Hamilton’s US site, with a hand-wound movement and 80 hours of reserve. It is the cheapest mechanical Khaki Field there.
• Marathon General Purpose Mechanical: $525 on Marathon’s store.
• Vaer A5 Field automatic: $599 on Vaer’s store.
• Merci LMM-01: the mechanical versions are €530 to €560 on Merci’s own store, which is more than $600 at the Federal Reserve’s published rate. It was on our 2021 list.

What changed since 2021

• MVMT Field AT: MVMT’s store now sells the Field II, a 41mm watch rated to 10 ATM, at about $150.
• Seiko 5 SNK series: a search of Seiko’s US store for the SNK809 finds nothing. The SRPG models above are the current Seiko 5 field watches.
• Timex MkI Mechanical: the current hand-wound model is the MK1 Hand-Wound above.

Which to pick

• For most people: the Timex Expedition Field Post Solar.
• The least money: the Timex Expedition Scout, or the Vaer S3 if you can stretch to sapphire.
• An automatic: the Seiko 5 Sports SRPG29.
• Hand-wound: the Timex MK1 Hand-Wound.
• A watch built to a military specification: the Marathon General Purpose Quartz, or the CWC G10.
• The Hamilton name: the Khaki Field Quartz 38mm.

If you want hands on the dial and step counts as well, see our guide to the best hybrid smartwatches.

Quick answers

What is the best automatic field watch under $500?

The Seiko 5 Sports field models at about $315, for the 100 metres of water resistance. The Bulova Hack is the other automatic under the line, at $495 before any sale.

What is the best mechanical field watch under $500?

For hand winding, the Timex MK1 Hand-Wound at about $290. The Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical, the usual answer, is now $675.

What is the best quartz field watch under $500?

The Hamilton Khaki Field Quartz at $445 if you want the name, and the Vaer S3 at about $190 if you want sapphire and 10 ATM for the least money.

What is the best solar field watch under $500?

The Timex Expedition Field Post Solar at about $210. The Vaer C5 Field Solar at about $350 is the step up.

Is the Hamilton Khaki Field under $500?

Only some of the quartz models. Hamilton’s US site lists the Khaki Field Quartz at $445 on a strap and the Khaki Field Mechanical at $675.

Prices move, so confirm on the maker’s store before you pay.