Affordable Watches for Father's Day 2026

Father's Day is Sunday, June 21, 2026, and a watch is always an appropriate gift for the occasion.  A watch is both functional and a keepsake.  But, in these inflationary times, finding a watch that is a nice gift and affordable on a child or young adult budget can be a challenge. I've put together a list of a few watches that are both affordable and respectable as gifts. Here are three watches that cost $50 or less that will be great Father's Day gifts.

1. Timex Expedition

The Timex Expedition is currently on sale for 34% off and it is being offered at an awesome price.  It's less than $25! If you are on a kid's budget, this is the watch to buy.

Timex Expedition Scout (Amazon Photo)

This watch has a 40mm diameter case, 50 meters of water resistance, Indiglo backlighting, and a fabric strap. You can get it here via my affiliate link.

2. Timex Easy Reader

This Timex Easy Reader can ship quickly and costs less than $50. This one has a 35mm diameter case, 30 meters of water resistance, and a date window.

Timex Easy Reader (Amazon Photo)

You can see this one here via my affiliate link and, if you poke around, you can find many other color and case size combinations.

3. Casio Enticer

The Casio Enticer (Model MTP-VD01D-1BV) is one of the nicest looking budget-priced watches around. It still costs $50 or less and it looks great. I've got a similar model in blue and you can read my full review in my post here.

Casio Enticer MTP-VD01D-1BV (Amazon Photo)

To get the Casio Enticer, you can find it here via my Amazon affiliate link. For more great Father's Day watch ideas, poke around on this blog. Most of the watches highlighted in my posts are very affordable.

Watch Spotlight: Casio MTP1183E Analog Watch with Date

It's not often that you see a Casio watch with the style of a timeless classic, but I found one.  It's the Casio MTP1183E Water Resistant Watch with Date. I know. I know. A catchy beautiful name would help them sell more watches. Then, they could charge more, too.  Let's take the cool watch and a great price.  It's a basic Casio analog watch with 50-meter water resistance, a simple date window, and a mineral glass crystal. Voila!

Casio MTP1183E Analog Watch with Date

To me, there is something special about the shape and the patina of the case and the simplicity of the dial, that gives this watch a classic look. To see it for yourself, use my affiliate link to it on Amazon. You might see what I see. I've added it to my wishlist.
 

TGIF: Two $50 Watches to Buy For Father's Day

Father's Day is June 15th. That's practically right around the corner. A watch is almost always an appropriate gift choice for Father's Day, too. But, kids aren't made of money. Depending on their age, they are often buying with allowance, odd job, or minimum wage money. In some cases, Dad's money is paying for Dad's gift. For most families that means a Rolex is right out. Instead, let's look at some decent watches that are priced for less than $50.

Father's Day Watch Choice: The Casio MDV-106 Series Dive Watch 

This Casio is a perennial favorite among watch collectors. Often priced at less than $50, the MDV-106 (informally called the Casio Duro or Marlin) offers dive watch features and performance. It has a stainless steel case, a Japanese quartz movement, 200-meters of water resistance, a unidirectional rotating bezel, a date window, and a fish right on the dial. It's a great choice for an active father and makes a great bang around watch.

Casio MDV-106 Duro Dive Watch

Father's Day Watch: Timex Men's Highland Street Watch

Watch collectors are gaga about simple watches like the Rolex Explorer. They go on and on about the readable dial and substantial build quality. At some point, you just want to raise your hand and say, "A Timex can do that, too." Take the Timex Men's Highland Street watch with Expansion Band. It has a 39mm diameter case.  For those counting that's 3 more millimeters than the typical 36mm Rolex Explorer I. Of course, Rolex came out with a 39 and 40mm case options at various points after 2010. But, by then, they were just trying to keep up with revered brands like Timex.

Timex Highland Street

A quartz watch like the Timex Highland Street is exactly the functional tool watch that most dad's need. As an added benefit, after buying this watch, kids will still be able to have a college fund.

Both of these watches are attractive gifts for Father's Day. They are practical, attractive, and affordable.

WATCH DEAL ALERT: Bulova Marine Star Series A Automatics Discounted!

[This article has been updated a couple of times. The most recent update was updated May 20, 2026 to help readers who want to see the current discount and get one more great offer.]

Did you know that Bulova is offering a great Amazon deal on a couple of their best Marine Star watches?  They are available in Orange and in Blue.  (As a Florida Gator, I can totally get on board with this idea.) The every day price of the Bulova Men's Marine Star "Series A" Automatic watch in Orange is has been lowered to just over $350. (Once upon a time, that would have been considered 45% off.)

Bulova Marine Star Series A in ORANGE! (Amazon photo)

This watch has maritime looks, an automatic movement with a front aperture and an exhibition caseback. It even has a small seconds subdial. You can get this one here via my Amazon affiliate link.

I thought the blue version was gone, but I was wrong.  It's now being offered at 46% off.  It's dial remains a mix of silver and white tones offset with beautiful blue Roman numerals and the vaunted Bulova tuning fork at 12 o'clock. It's a very cool looking watch! I'd give this watch a sharp watch shout out, but I wanted to lead with the great deal!

Bulova Marine Star "Series A" in BLUE! (Amazon Photo)

This Series A has a 21 jewel movement and 200 meters of water resistance.  Inspired by the sea, but not for SCUBA diving in the sea. This is for the yacht captain. At 46% off, the watch costs just over $350. It's a respectable price for a respectable timepiece, expensive but within the range of many middle class Americans. If you'd like to check this Bulova bargain out, see it here on Amazon.

[This post was updated April 2026]

Sharp Watch Shoutout: Citizen Men's Eco-drive Avion Weekender Watch

If you are looking for a sporty, casual, watch with a sense of style and history, check out the Citizen Men's Eco-Drive Avion Weekender Watch.  It comes in two color combinations, but the one with a khaki nylon strap is a currently a great deal on Amazon.  It also gives the watch a purposeful, but casual, look that is perfect for summer.

Citizen Men's Eco-Drive Avion Weekender Watch

The compass design on the bezel and just outside the minute track are what give this watch a sense of exploration and expeditionary purpose.  The military-style arrowhead at 12 o'clock and other field watch markings further that sense of adventure.  The eco-drive power for this watch will help owners avoid annual battery swaps and make this watch hassle-free for many years.

If this watch interests you, it's available here on Amazon:  Citizen Men's Eco-Drive Avion Weekender Watch.

Affordable Watches for Father's Day

3 Great Watches for Under $50 for Father's Day

When it comes to Father's Day gifts, one thing to remember is that often Father's Day gifts are bought by kids.  Kids have limited funds.  If allowance money is going towards a watch purchase, those funds might be very limited.  So, what kind of watch can a kid actually buy for Father's Day?  When I look for affordable style and lasting value, three companies come to mind:  Armitron, Timex, and Casio.  You can often find a nice watch from any of these companies for less than $50.

A Timex Expedition with wood-grain dial

Armitron.  One company that makes affordable and stylish watches is Armitron.  They make lots of digital watches, but they also make good looking analog watches.  For example, the Armitron 20/1925 is a classically styled watch with a gold tone, readable markings, a day and date window, and a nice leather strap.  Its simple dial evokes the classic military field watches of the past, but remains dressy enough for the business casual office.  It is also available for less than $50.  Armitron watches vary in style from store to store.  But, I've found some very attractive Armitron watches at Walmart over the years.

Timex.  There is nothing wrong with a Timex watch for Father's Day.  The venerable Expedition line has plenty of models that straddle the line between office worker and outdoor adventurer.  They can play many roles just like your dad.  Timex makes great watches for everyday wear.  If you father is an outdoors man, this Timex Expedition Gallatin watch is an excellent choice because it looks perfect for a weekend camping trip.  It can also be found for less than $50.

Casio.  If you are looking for value and a watch with real capability.  Casio makes a dive watch with 200-meters of water resistance, a stainless steel case, and a rotating bezel for less than $50.  It's the Casio Marlin. It's a great value and a rugged watch that would look great in the office or at the beach this summer.  It's one of my three favorite affordable diver-style watches.

If you can't find this watch or your budget is even tighter, don't forget the classic Casio MRW-200H Dive watch for $25 or less.

Where to Buy A Father's Day Watch

Of course, if you read here, you can buy here.  But, it's getting very close to Father's Day.  If you need an affordable watch for Father's Day and you are a last minute shopper, I suggest you try Walmart for a great price on Armitron, Timex, or Casio watches.  They usually have a great supply at awesome prices.  If you are dragging Mom along to make the watch purchase, Kohl's usually has a good selection of watches.  However, you need to watch the sales and learn how to get a good deal at Kohls.  Finally, if you want a watch with a little more snob appeal, TJ Maxx is a great place to search.  If you get lucky, you might be able to find a watch that costs a lot of money for an affordable price. 

If you're allowance is even tighter, here are seven great watches for less than $30. Good luck and happy father's day shopping!

A Father's Day Watch - The Timex Easy Reader

If you are looking for a watch this Father's Day, I spotted this Timex Easy Reader (EZ Reader) on a recent trip to Walmart.  It's a nice watch because it has a stitched leather strap and an eminently readable dial.

Timex EZ Reader with Stitched Leather Strap

Watches for Older Collectors

Depending on the age of your dad, he might not be able to read all the tiny sub-dials that many watches display.  I know that as I get older it becomes more and more difficult to read subdials.  According to the American Optometric Association -

Beginning in the early to mid-40s, many adults may start to have problems seeing clearly at close distances, especially when reading and working on the computer. This is among the most common problems adults develop between ages 41 to 60. This normal change in the eye's focusing ability, called presbyopia, will continue to progress over time.

Initially, you may need to hold reading materials farther away to see them clearly. Or you may need to remove your glasses to see better up close. Print in the newspaper or on a restaurant menu may appear blurred, especially under dim lighting.

It sucks to switch to bifocals or reading glasses just to check the time.  Fortunately, the Timex EZ reader watches help wearers avoid all that by simply having big numbers and broad hands. 

Timex EZ Reader

Timex EZ Reader Features

I like this EZ Reader because it has the brown dial and strap that are so common on military-style field watches.  While I have a smaller Timex EZ Reader, this one has a 43 millimeter diameter case which is a a mere 8 millimeters thick.  This is a nice contemporary watch size.  For night time use, the EZ Reader also has Indiglo back-lighting for the dial.  Finally, the EZ Reader is water resistant to a respectable 50 meters.   The specifications are quite respectable for a watch in this price category.

For this Father's Day, you might want to check out the whole family of Timex EZ Reader watches for men.  As of June 14, 2026, you can see the complete line of Timex Easy Reader Watches here on Amazon via my affiliate link.

A Watch for Father's Day

It isn't too early to start shopping for Father's Day and a watch often makes the perfect gift. But, getting the right watch is a process, and there are a lot of things to think about in buying a watch.  When you are buying a watch as a gift, you have to think about the recipient's tastes and preferences.  Here are some key things to think about when buying a watch as a Father's Day gift:

How to Choose the Perfect Watch for Dad