Recommended as a gift! 5 men's watches under 20 yen (mostly Japanese brands)

Prices for watches continue to rise. It's now common for "luxury models from famous brands" to cost over 1 million yen. Meanwhile, advances in machine tools have led to an increase in high-quality models in the basic price range. In this article, we'll introduce five excellent men's watches that can be purchased for under 200,000 yen. While I hope this article will be read by men looking for their own watches, as I'm a woman, I've written it from the perspective of a woman looking to buy a gift for her partner, such as a boyfriend or husband.

Many good watches under 20 yen

　Due to factors such as the global rise in raw material costs and the weak yen, luxury watch prices have continued to rise in recent years, and it has become commonplace for famous luxury watch brands to cost over 1 million yen. Meanwhile, advances in machine tools and the establishment of stable production systems backed by substantial management resources, including facilities and personnel, primarily from major groups, have led to an increase in the number of high-quality models in the basic price range. Therefore, this time, I have selected five recommended models for men, priced under 200,000 yen, from among current models. As I mentioned at the beginning, I am a woman. I hope this article will be read not only by men who are thinking of purchasing a watch for themselves, but also by women who are unsure of what to choose as a gift for their partner, such as a boyfriend or husband.

Seiko Prospex "Diver Scuba" Ref.SBDC203

　Diving watches are popular not only for their high performance, including their airtight cases designed for diving, but also for their design, which is derived from tool watches, such as unidirectional rotating bezels and bold hands and indices. As it is a genre that many companies are focusing on, there is a huge variety of models available on the market.

　Among these, the model I chose that can be purchased for around 10 yen is the Seiko Prospex "Diver Scuba."

　Incidentally, Seiko released the first Japanese-made diver's watch, the 62MAS-010, in 1965, and has since produced a number of masterpieces, including the first Japanese-made saturation diving model and a hybrid diver's watch with an alarm, chronograph, and bilingual display. Seiko Prospex is a collection that inherits the company's history of diver's watches and is expanding its field of use from "a companion at sea" to "a companion in the city."

　This is the 2024 model of the Seiko Prospex, featuring an octagonal bezel and a dial with a wave pattern reminiscent of the ocean. The deep blue of the bezel and dial, along with a case that's not too thick for a diver's watch, give it an elegant feel, making it a watch you'll want to wear not only at the beach but also around town. In fact, when you hold the watch in your hand, it's compact and will make a subtle statement under your jacket cuff.

　Equipped with the automatic movement Cal. 6R55, it boasts a power reserve of approximately 72 hours, even at a price of under 20 yen. This is a diver's watch that can be worn by anyone and in any situation.

Casio "Oceanus Manta" Ref. OCW-S400RA-3AJF

When you set a budget like "under ¥10,000," you're inevitably going to find a lot of models from Japanese watch manufacturers. However, there are many excellent domestic brands in this price range, so it's understandable (although labor costs and the weak yen mean that domestic products have a price advantage over imported products). So, next up is the 2025 Casio Oceanus Manta model.

　The Oceanus Manta is the flagship collection of Casio's Oceanus series, which has been in development since 2004 and is known for its thinness and aesthetic appeal. While the majority of models have been equipped with world time functions, in recent years the company has also introduced the S-400, a model with a simple three-hand display. This watch is an addition to the S-400 line, and features an eye-catching gradient green dial.

　It's worth noting that, like other Oceanus watches, this model is solar-powered. High-end quartz watches, which use mechanical or button batteries, often use metal materials such as brass for the dial. These dials are painted or plated to create unique colors, and in recent years, there has been a growing degree of freedom in the expression of these colors. On the other hand, solar watches are limited in their "expression," as they need to generate electricity by receiving light from a solar cell placed underneath the dial. This means that the dial needs to be transparent, and traditionally, materials such as polycarbonate have been used, which can easily end up looking cheap.

　Japanese watch manufacturers have been improving the quality of these polycarbonate dials, giving them a luxurious feel, and the Oceanus is one prime example. At first glance, this watch also has a coloring that makes it hard to believe it is made of polycarbonate, and it is also noteworthy that the three-dimensional resin indexes and powerful hands, made possible by Casio's molding technology, create a luxurious design.

　The bezel is made of sapphire crystal, a material that is hard and scratch-resistant, but difficult to process. This model has been laser-processed to give it a semi-matt finish.

　Incidentally, three colors including this model have been released at the same time, and variations are also available for the existing models. It's fun to be able to choose a watch that suits the recipient.

Citizen Promaster "Mechanical Diver 200m" Ref. NB6025-59H

When talking about "good watches," Citizen is an essential part of the conversation, along with Seiko and Casio. Last year, Citizen celebrated the 100th anniversary of the birth of the brand name, and this year marks the 55th anniversary of titanium technology. We would like to introduce the titanium "Mechanical Diver 200m" from this company.

　By the way, the reason why they are celebrating the anniversary of the development of titanium technology is because the "X-8 Chronometer" released by the company in 1970 was the world's first mass-produced wristwatch made of titanium. Although titanium is now widely used as a material for watches due to its light weight and excellent corrosion resistance, it was difficult to refine, and it took time for it to be put into practical use outside of military use (for more details, please refer to the article by Editor-in-Chief Masamasa Hirota:http://www.webchronos.net/features/132865/However, Citizen began using titanium with the X-8 Chronometer, and has since produced a number of masterpieces using this material.

　Citizen continues to specialize in titanium watches, and has adopted "Super Titanium™" with its proprietary surface treatment "Duratect," which enhances wear and scratch resistance. At the same time, the company has titanium technology that allows for a wide range of expression, such as coloring titanium and giving it a bright shine.

　This model, manufactured using Citizen's proprietary technology, inherits the design of the Challenge Diver, an automatic diver's watch released by Citizen in 1977. The tool-like exterior is made of Super Titanium™ with Duratect DLC coating, giving it a black color. The dial, which is easy to read even while diving, features a gradation from gray in the center to black on the periphery, which is said to represent the subtle sunlight filtering through the ocean.

With a diameter of 41mm and a thickness of 12.3mm, the case is compact for a 200m water-resistant diver's watch, and combined with the lightweight nature of titanium, it is also comfortable to wear, making it a recommended point.

Tissot "Tissot PRX Automatic" Ref. T137.407.11.041.00

　Tissot is a watch brand that belongs to the Swatch Group, along with Omega and Breguet, and is a mid-range brand within the group. Utilizing the management resources of a major group and under a well-developed production system, Tissot produces high-quality, original watches at affordable prices, making it an essential part of this so-called good value watch topic.

　One of Tissot's signature collections is the "Tissot PRX." It's based on a model created by the company in 1978, and its main feature is its incorporation of the luxury sports watch aesthetic, which was a major trend at the time and continues to be so today. Incidentally, PRX stands for "Precise and Robust X" (Roman numeral 10), and conveys the meaning of "high precision, robustness, and water resistance to 10 bar."

　As the company's flagship collection, it offers a wide variety of options. I personally think that all models are great, but if you're unsure which one to choose, I recommend the most classic automatic model with a three-hand display. Because it's basic, it's easy to use, and it's equipped with the Powermatic 80 movement, making it easy to handle even for first-time mechanical watch users.

　The Powermatic 80 is based on the Swatch Group's ETA Caliber ETA2824-2, but boasts a power reserve of approximately 80 hours. Its Nivachron balance spring also makes it highly resistant to magnetic fields. Being resistant to magnetic fields is a welcome feature, especially in today's world. Our daily lives are filled with magnetic fields, from smartphone speakers to magnets on bags and elevator walls. It's not uncommon for mechanical watches to become magnetized and lose their accuracy.

　The edgy case and bracelet, with their "luxury" feel, create a seamless form that is also appealing. Its thin construction makes it comfortable to wear, making it a watch you'll want to wear every day.

Orient "Classic Collection Orient Bambino 38" Ref.RN-AC0M04Y

Although the price of the Orient Bambino is a little low in the "under 200,000 yen" category at 42,900 yen including tax, I have personally decided that if such a project were to come up, I would definitely introduce it, so I would like to ask for permission to include it.

　As its name suggests, the Orient Bambino is a collection produced by the Japanese watch brand Orient, characterized by a classic yet dressy design. The most popular genre in the watch market is sports watches, or wristwatches with a sporty design. In recent years, the trend in the watch industry has been toward smaller and thinner cases, and coupled with the return of classic styles, dress watches have gradually increased in number, but they are still largely niche. Furthermore, most of the brands producing these watches are in the high price range, and many are delicately crafted. For this reason, there was a desire for a "casual dress watch," and the Orient Bambino is a prime example of that genre.

　The not-too-large case, measuring 38.4mm in diameter and 12.5mm thick, is polished to create a look reminiscent of a classic dress watch. The domed mineral glass crystal, bombé dial, and blued hands further enhance the vintage feel, making this a must-have design for watch enthusiasts.

　Even for users who don't usually dress up, owning a dress watch like this will come in handy when the opportunity arises for business or formal occasions. Purchasing a dress watch that costs hundreds of thousands of yen can be a psychological and financial hurdle, but the Orient Bambino is an easy and practical way to get started.