It's fun to collect watches. But, it can be demoralizing to read watch magazines and watch websites that are often focused on watches that lie far beyond comfortable middle class price points. It's no fun to read about watches that we can't afford and where our collection might be limited to just a handful of very high quality timepieces.
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| A used Nivada watch that is out of my price range |
While the dream lingers out there on the edges of our imagination, in reality, the median household income in the United States in 2025 was just under $84,000. The average income was a little higher at $121,000 annually. This means a Rolex watch could easily be priced at 10% of a year's annual household income. That's a significant financial commitment. When you think about the chronic underfunding of American retirement accounts, the high cost of housing, and the purchasing power than many American's have lost due to inflation, luxury and ultra-luxury watches as defined by the watch industry become an impossible dream.
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| A Pair of Timex Waterbury Watches |
Fortunately, we don't have to give up watch collecting. There are many watchmakers that provide interesting watches at far more affordable price points. In my years of perusing watch advertisements, Amazon listings, and collecting watches on my own, I've found 11 watch brands that provide affordable watches. Most choices from these brands are prices at far less than $500. Many regularly offer nice watches for less than $100. Here are the 11 watch brands that watch collectors on a budget can count on for attractive, affordable, watches:
- Timex
- Orient
- Invicta
- Mathey-Tissot
- Peugeot
- Harry Williams
- MVMT
- Skagen
- Diesel
- Swatch
- Vostok
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| The Diesel I didn't get when I had the chance! |
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