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Good dive watches are more affordable than ever these days, so there’s no reason why you can’t get a decent timepiece for less than $200! Of course, you’ll have to know where to look.
For every affordably-priced gem, there are 20 overpriced hunks of junk! In this guide, we’ll show you all the best dive watches under $200, as chosen by our team of experts.
Below, you’ll find in-depth reviews of all our budget-friendly recommendations. We’ve also included a handy buying guide section, to help you figure out which is the best dive watch for you!
Make sure you read our entire guide to see all our affordable picks, and to find your ideal timepiece!
Best Dive Watch Under $200: Our 2019 Reviews
| Product | Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Citizen Men’s Eco-Drive Promaster Diver Watch With Date (BN0151-09L) |  Editor's Choice | Accurate, Solid & Classy
| Check Price |
| 2. Invicta Men’s 0070 Pro Diver Collection Chronograph |  Most Informative | Looks Expensive
| Check Price |
| 3. Casio G-Shock G100-1BV |  Most Popular | Rugged, Built Like a Tank!
| Check Price |
| 4. Casio MRW-200H-98VDF |  | Affordable
| Check Price |
| 5. Stuhrling Original Swiss Quartz Men’s Diving Watch (Aquadiver 395.33U16) |  | Looks Classy, But Waterproofing is Unimpressive
| Check Price |
1. Citizen Men’s Eco-Drive Promaster Diver Watch With Date (BN0151-09L)
Our top recommendation under $200 is this Citizen Promaster dive watch. It’s by far the best option in this price range, and our recommendation to anyone who can afford it. The MSRP is technically over $200, but it’s usually available for less (and more than worth the extra spend)!
Pros:
It’s much, much better in the construction department than our cheaper picks. The stainless steel case is both rugged and reliably water-resistant. That’s why this is the least expensive steel dive watch we actually recommend diving with!
It’s dead-on. The Stuhrling and Invicta are generally good, but their cheaper quartz movements aren’t perfect. This one definitely is. Sure, it’s not as sexy as an automatic, but it’s extremely practical.
The Eco-Drive system is much more convenient than the battery setups in the Stuhrling or Invicta models.
Just leave it in sunlight once in a blue moon, and you’ll never have to worry about it losing power.
It looks fantastic, and the quality control is wildly better than on cheaper models.
Cons:
The only real downside to the Citizen is that it may cost you slightly more than $200, depending on current prices. However, it’s a much more solid investment than the Stuhrling or the Invicta (or anything else in this range, for that matter).
2. Invicta Men’s 0070 Pro Diver Collection Chronograph
This Invicta is our top recommendation under $150. It’s quite similar to the Stuhrling, but it has better construction quality and a larger case size (48mm compared to 42mm). There’s a lot of value here, given both the size and the amount of information on its face!
Pros:
It looks very snazzy for the price. The Invicta definitely looks like a more expensive dive watch than it actually is, though any true aficionado won’t be fooled. We really like the way it balances all its information with a simple color scheme.
This one’s a great choice for folks who like a lot of information on their watch face. It has chronograph and date windows as well as the main dial.
It has a stopwatch built in.
Cons:
As with the Stuhrling, the Invicta’s construction quality pales in comparison with something like the Citizen model below. The bezel feels fairly cheap, and the crown isn’t exactly reassuring. Having said all that, it’s still the best in its price range.
It’s pretty massive. This is as big as dive watches get, so make sure you know what you’re buying! The Invicta is definitely not for people with smaller wrists or anyone going for an understated look.
3. Casio G-Shock G100-1BV
This Casio G-Shock is perhaps the most popular entry-level dive watch ever sold. It continues to be our favorite under $75.
Pros:
It’s as rugged as you’d expect from a G-Shock. Sure, this is far from the sleekest thing on the market, but it’s built like a tank! You can plan on having one of these for years.
It packs plenty of information, including a compass and chronograph. For something this inexpensive, that’s excellent value.
It’s accurate.
It’s got twice the water resistance of the cheaper Casio above! This is the least you can pay for something that’s really dive-ready.
It’s still available for less than $75!
Cons:
It’s not very legible in dim or dark conditions. The lume has a very short lifespan, and it tends to run out pretty quickly once you leave ambient light sources.
The look is not exactly what you’d call refined. This is all about ruggedness, and it shows. Don’t plan on bringing this to the boardroom.
4. Casio MRW-200H-98VDF
This Casio watch is the cheapest we recommend on this site. It’s the least we think you can pay for a decent timepiece that’s not going to be ruined by going for a swim.
Pros:
It’s incredibly affordable. You can buy one of these for well under $50, let alone under $200.
It’s full-sized, with a 45mm case and a big, bold aesthetic.
It’s waterproof and ready to rock in the water! In fact, this one’s much better from a waterproofing standpoint than the pricier Stuhrling and Invicta models below, despite having a lower rating.
It’s very accurate at keeping time.
Cons:
It’s not technically a dive watch. This one’s perfectly suited to swimming and snorkeling, but the depth rating is only for 100m. You wouldn’t want to take it for any kind of a real dive.
5. Stuhrling Original Swiss Quartz Men’s Diving Watch (Aquadiver 395.33U16)
This Stuhrling model is our cheapest recommendation in a classy stainless steel format. We think this is the least you can pay for a dive watch that looks like an approximation of classic Rolex models, with decent build quality and accuracy.
Pros:
It looks the part. While nobody’s going to mistake this for a thousand-dollar timepiece, it has all the classic elements of a great dive watch. The stainless steel frame and elegant face are a lot nicer than anything else for the price.
The Stuhrling is water-resistant to 200m and boasts both Swiss quartz action and surgical-grade stainless casing.
It has surprisingly good specs for something so inexpensive. All in all, it’s a very respectable piece for its price range.
It’s available for well under $100.
Cons:
It’s not all that well-made, though it’s certainly better than anything else for the money.
While the general look and feel emulates classy dive watches, the fit and finish is far from perfect.
The waterproofing is unimpressive. We wouldn’t take this one for any serious dives. It looks a lot more dive-ready than it actually is.
Conclusion
Which of these budget-priced dive watches should you buy?
The Casio is the obvious choice if you’re on a tight budget. It’s the least you can pay for a decent, water-resistant timepiece that won’t let you down.
However, it only has half the depth rating as our pricier models, and the black and yellow look is certainly not going to be for everyone.
The Casio G-Shock is the least expensive model we recommend that you can actually take diving. Unlike the cheaper Casio, it’s rated to 200m.
It’s rugged as hell, and will last practically forever. Get this if you want the least expensive dive-ready option.
On the other hand, it’s not exactly the most elegant timepiece on the market. It’s nowhere near as easy to read as our pricier picks, either.
The Stuhrling is our cheapest recommendation for a stainless steel dive watch with that familiar, classy look. Get this if you’re after looks on a budget. However, it doesn’t have a stellar track record for durability.
We wouldn’t take this one diving, either, though it’s certainly marketed as being a dive watch. This is the classiest option under $100, but it’s not as practical as the pricier timepieces in this guide (or the Casio’s, for that matter). If you can afford to spend more, it’s a good idea to do so.
The Invicta is a more durable, water-ready timepiece than the Stuhrling, for only slightly more money. We think it’s your best bet under $150. It ought to last longer, and the fit and finish is certainly a step up.
Having said that, it still pales in comparison to the Citizen. If you can get the Citizen on sale, we strongly recommend spending a bit more for that model. It’ll last longer and give you a much, much better experience.
The Citizen is definitely pushing the $200 mark (the MSRP is actually higher but sales often take it below $200), but we think it’s the best option for this general price range.
It’s absolutely enormous, and gives you plenty of bang for your buck in more ways than one. It’s accurate, solid, and oozes class. If you can afford to be a little flexible with your budget, or to wait for a good deal, it’s by far the best buy for around $200.
It can be difficult to find the best dive watches under 200, however we think the Citizen is a good choice; thanks to the bang you get for your buck.
Buying Guide
Here are a few of our top tips for finding a great dive watch for less than two Benjamins…
Know What You’re Getting
While we think it’s perfectly possible to find a high-quality timepiece for $200 or less, you do have to be somewhat realistic about what you’ll end up with. Below, you’ll find a few of the caveats to bear in mind when you’re shopping in this price range.
For starters, you’re not going to see record-breaking water-resistance on dive watches in this price range. Most of the timepieces in this price range won’t be rated for actual scuba diving. However, they are water-resistant to 200m, which is generally considered good enough.
The point is that you won’t see anything rated for 300m or 500m for this kind of money. In general, the waterproofing on the cases simply isn’t as well-executed as you’d see on pricier models.
So, while the rating may be the same as a Seiko costing $500, we’re a lot more confident taking the Seiko for a dive as opposed to an Invicta with the same depth specs.
You should also be realistic about what kinds of makers you’ll be considering in the <$200 range.
Don’t plan on getting the nicer makers, like Seiko or Omega. Trying to find crazy bargains on those is asking for trouble! You’ll end up with knock-offs.
The best bet is to go for a decent budget maker, like Casio or Stuhrling, or to find a deal on a Citizen (typically out of this price range, but often discounted to around $200).
Be realistic about the actual type of watch you can find for less than $200, too. You’re not going to find anything with a decent automatic movement for this kind of money.
Trust us – steer clear of anything mechanical priced this cheaply, unless you want to end up at work 20 minutes late. Plan on getting a quartz model. They’re not as prestigious, but they keep time accurately and can still look great.
Finally, be aware that (with the exception of the Citizen), the recommendations in this guide are going to be entry-level dive watches.
While you can get some very nice watches for less than $200, nothing in this price range is likely to be the last watch you ever buy. If you’re after something to keep for decades, you’ll realistically want to plan on spending a minimum of $300-$500.
You can always check out our guide to the best dive watches under $500 for some perspective!
Think About Your Preferences
As with any watch you buy, you want to make sure your affordable dive watch suits your own preferences. Think about what kinds of color schemes you want.
Are you looking for something sleek, or something more technical? What size case is best for your wrists? How much information do you want to be looking at? Answering all these questions for yourself up front will help you pick between the options.
What’s Next
Well, here we are at the end of our guide to the best dive watches for under $200! By now, you should have a solid idea of exactly what to expect from a timepiece in this price range. We also hope we’ve been able to point you in the direction of at least one model that seems like a good fit for you!
To find out more about any of the dive watches we’ve recommended in this guide, simply click on the convenient links in our reviews or in our comparison chart at the top of the page. That’s your easiest way to check current prices, warranty details, and all that other good stuff.
Don’t forget to check out our other helpful buying guides, such as our roundups of the best Seiko dive watches or the best dive computers! Be sure to check out all our dive watch reviews here.
