Best watches under £300: time is (not very much) money

Despite what many people assume, watches don't have to cost a fortune. This is why we've searched far and wide to find the best watches under £300, for those on a budget who still want a fabulous timepiece.

Watches are statements of intent, a fashion piece that can make the drabbest of outfits drip with style and swagger. That is, if you can afford a good watch. As much as you’d love to buy a watch advertised by a smirking Formula One driver and tennis player, the price tags mean they aren't always attainable. And, while that's still true of proper mechanical timepieces, you can pick up a respectable, fashionable watch without breaking the bank.

Here are our top picks for the best watches you can pick up for less than £300. If you're looking for slightly more expensive watches, you can read our best watches under £1000 and best watches for men guide. If you're really looking to spend big bucks, you can read our guide to the 5 best watches to invest in right now. 

Best watches under £300

Carrying a racing retro aesthetic, the Rotary Avenger Sport features a stunning analogue silver face, bubble mineral glass and a useful date window. There are applied indices and Arabic numerals at 12, and a strong black leather strap pulls the entire timepiece together. It's clear that Rotary has drawn on its rich heritage with this watch, and for the price, you're certainly getting a lot for your buck. The curved side of the case might not be to everyone's liking, but nevertheless, we're a fan. 

A masterpiece of timeless style, this Bulova Surveyor Stainless Steel Automatic Men's Watch is right on trend with its stunning green dial. On a practical level, its 39mm stainless steel case comes with 30m water resistance and it's powered by an automatic movement. Now this is what we call luxury on a budget. 

This Casio G-Shock really is the ultimate beater watch. It sets the standard when it comes to toughness, and we love this understated ‘Black Out’ colourway. It comes with a Cordura nylon fabric band that is stronger than nylon, whist also providing extremely high resistance to stretching, wear and tearing. It's not the smartest watch on this list, so if you're looking for something to complement a suit, keep scrolling. 

If you're just getting into horology (or you're trying to get someone into horology), this could be the ideal watch. It's a stylish quartz piece from legendary Swiss brand, Tissot. It features a timeless design, with a sleep, clean, classic face. We adore the interesting 'beads of rice' bracelet it comes on.

Another one from Rotary? Oh yes. This Oxford timepiece is ideal if you're looking for a classic, everyday dress watch. The perfectly balanced black dial is complemented by a soft calf leather strap, and you'll be matching with Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock Holmes. 

Nothing says classic better than a vintage throwback, and the redesigned Citizen Vintage Sport timepiece is just that. Not only does it feature a beautiful green dial (one of 2024's current watch trends), but its stainless steel case and date display will allow it to stand out on your wrist. Its Eco-Drive technology is powered by light, meaning it'll never need a battery. 

We love Mr Jones Watches, and from its collection of unique, handmade pieces this might just be our favourite. It tells the time by pointing at the hours with the outstretched foot of a man lazing in a swimming pool, while a rubber duck swims in circles to act as the minute hand. It’s brilliantly daft, and with every glance it’ll remind you of that upcoming summer holiday.

Read our  week on the wrist with the Mr Jones Watches A Perfectly Useless Afternoon if you're interested. 

You surely know all about the MoonWatch by now. A collaboration between Swatch and Omega saw the former’s price point blended with the latter’s design. It was a match made in heaven (or, more specifically, an office at parent company Swatch Group) that saw every model sold out for months.

The strap could be better, but we think it’s still fantastic value, and there are plenty of third-party brands that elevate the MoonWatch’s aesthetics even further. Pricey for a Swatch and lacking water resistance, but a fun must-have for any collection.

Yes, we know, it’s a smartwatch. However, since Apple’s wearable is one of the most popular on the planet, we thought the cut-price Watch SE is worth including in this buying guide. It lacks some of the flagship Apple Watch features, but still packs health and fitness tracking, sleep tracking, music streaming, interchangeable straps and a nice range of watch faces to pick from that are both smart and stylish.

This Mens Casio timepiece from the Edifice collection epitomises true Casio inspired aesthetics. It's an outstanding analogue watch for its price, and it features a sporty stainless steel case and bracelet. It's also combined with a black carbon fibre effect dial and reliable Quartz movement. It's on the chunkier side, but if that's what you're going for, you've found a good one. 

If you’re looking for a budget timepiece, there really is nothing more affordable than the Casio digital watch. Sure, it’s not the last word in sophistication, but the design is iconic and perfect if you're going for a retro/hipster vibe. As well as telling the time, the Casio features an alarm, calendar and stopwatch. 

 There’s a backlight, for telling time in the dark, and the acrylic window is shatter-resistant, so it’ll probably last longer than you will. All for under £20? That’s a steal, and everyone should have one, quite frankly.

There's no denying that the Orient Bambino 38 Small Seconds looks a lot more expensive than it actually is. With a delicate 38.4mm case that’s even thinner than previous models, this stunning dress watch is extremely comfortable to wear. Its elegant sunray-finished silver dial is further enhanced by a small seconds subdial, which adds to the balance and harmony of its design. Powered by the F6222 advanced automatic 24-jewel movement (with hand-winding), it's a reliably accurate timepiece that anyone would love.