Best Quartz Watches Under $100

The best quartz watches under $100 are the ones that get the basics right: a case that will not shed its plating, a strap you actually want to wear, and a dial you can read without squinting. This guide is for anyone who wants a reliable daily watch without spending three figures, and every pick below is a quartz watch in stock at One Good Watch today. Prices run from $27 to $79. We do not list watches we cannot ship this week.

What to look for

Movement first. Quartz is the right call at this price because it is accurate, cheap to run, and does not care if you leave it in a drawer for a month. Several of our picks use Japanese quartz movements. Then look at the case: stainless steel is better than alloy because there is no plating to wear through, but a well-finished alloy case is fine for a watch that costs less than dinner out. Most watches under $100 carry a manufacturer rating of 30 m, which covers rain and hand washing but not swimming. If a listing says 50 m, that is a small step up.

Size matters more than people expect. A 39 mm to 41 mm case suits most wrists. Anything past 43 mm reads big, especially with a wide bezel. Finally, check the crystal and the strap. Mineral glass is standard here. A steel mesh bracelet or a good nylon strap will outlast a thin leather one, and both are easy to adjust at home.

Our picks

Casio MTP-1370L-7A Day-Date Analog Watch, Black Leather

The grown-up option. A silver sunburst dial with the day spelled out in full at twelve and the date at six, a polished stainless steel case, a Japanese quartz movement, and a manufacturer rating of 50 m. The black crocodile-grain leather strap sits flat under a cuff. $79.

NIBOSI Classic Steel Quartz Watch, 2 Colors

For someone who wants an all-steel watch on a bracelet without paying steel-bracelet money. The 39 mm stainless steel case and brushed bracelet have no plating to wear through, the markers are applied rather than printed, and there is a date window. Rated 30 m. $49.99.

KASTAR K7101 Day-Date Field Quartz Watch, 41mm

The cheapest sensible field watch we sell. A 41 mm alloy case, a slim 9.5 mm profile, day and date, and a 21 mm nylon strap in six dial-and-strap combinations, including full-lume dials. Rated 30 m. $29.99.

WWOOR Ultra-Thin Quartz Watch, Steel Mesh, 3 Colors

For the person who wants a dress watch that disappears under a shirt cuff. A 40 mm stainless steel case at 9.5 mm thick, a two-hand dial with a date window, and a Milanese steel mesh bracelet that adjusts anywhere along its length without tools. Rated 30 m. $26.99.

Speidel Eco Color Pop Watch 40mm | Mimosa

A bright yellow 40 mm three-hand quartz with large 12-hour numerals and inner 24-hour markers, on a silicone band that wipes clean. The case and band are recyclable. If you want a watch that lifts a plain outfit and shrugs off sunscreen and kitchen work, this is it. $39.99.

MEGIR 2247 Canvas-Strap Quartz Chronograph, 42mm

The sport pick. A 42 mm alloy case with mineral glass, a working quartz chronograph with a date display, and a canvas strap on a pin buckle. Four dial-and-strap styles, 20 mm lugs for easy swaps, rated 30 m. $49.99.

Mark Fairwhale World-Timer Quartz Watch, Rubber Strap

For someone who wants a dial with something going on. City names run around the outer ring, the face is built in layers, and the track is fully luminous. It is 43 mm with a 10 mm case and a rubber strap, so it wears large and suits a medium wrist upward. Rated 30 m. $49.99.

How to choose between them

If you want one watch that works with a jacket and a t-shirt, buy the Casio. It has the best case finishing on this list and the highest water rating. If you would rather have steel on the wrist, the NIBOSI on its bracelet and the WWOOR on mesh are the two to compare: the NIBOSI is the sturdier everyday piece, the WWOOR is the thinner dress piece. The KASTAR is the one to beat up on weekends, and the Speidel is the one to wear when you want people to notice. The MEGIR and the Mark Fairwhale are for anyone who finds a plain three-hand dial boring; just know that both wear bigger than the Casio or the NIBOSI.