Everyday Carry

15 Best EDC Watches Under 40mm in 2022

Authored by:
Jonathan Tayag
Reviewed by:
Bernard Capulong
Founder and Editor-in-Chief
14+ Years Reviewing EDC Products
15 Best EDC Watches Under 40mm in 2022

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While many of the best EDC watches tend to measure in on the larger side, more brands have started releasing small men’s watches, and for good reason. The smaller case size and proportions help better highlight certain design features. You might also just have a small wrist and want something that fits it more proportionally. Smaller watches also tend to be much lighter, less bulky, and more comfortable to wear than popular overbuilt dive watches and larger tactical watches. This guide covers some of our favorite sub-40mm watches that are excellent EDC watches in their own right. They're stylish, low-profile, and durable enough to earn their spot on your wrist.

Casio W59-1V Waterproof

Casio W59-1V Waterproof

Purchase
Key Features
Affordable
Lightweight
Backlight
Specifications
Case Diameter
36mm
Movement
Digital Quartz
Water Resistance
50m
Reviews


Price
$
This is one of Casio’s classic digital wristwatch designs, and it’s still relevant for EDC use today. It’s a lot lighter and less bulky than some of Casio’s other options, and at 36mm in length the case diameter is slimmer as well. You get a full-featured digital display with day and date, alarm, timer, and stopwatch, and the watch is rated for water resistance down to 50 meters.
Seiko SKX013K2 Midsize Diver

Seiko SKX013K2 Midsize Diver

Purchase
Key Features
Classic design
Day and date complication
Stainless steel band
Specifications
Case Diameter
37mm
Movement
Automatic
Water Resistance
200m
Reviews


Price
$$$$
You might think that all diver watches are big and bulky, but you’d be wrong. Take this Seiko Automatic mechanical diver for example, with a case diameter of just 37mm total. It’s rated for water resistance down to 200 meters, with a screwdown crown and a caseback that keeps the water out. And the 21-jewel automatic movement will keep on ticking whether you’re down in the depths on a dive or just walking to and from the office.
Apple Watch Series 3

Apple Watch Series 3

Purchase
Key Features
iPhone integration
GPS + cellular connectivity
Versatile interface
Specifications
Case Diameter
38mm
Movement
Digital Quartz
Water Resistance
50m
Reviews


Price
$$$$
Not so much a watch as an extension of your iPhone, the Apple Watch is a great choice if you want the watch on your wrist to do way more than just tell you the time. The Series 3 in particular is the smallest of the lot, with a 38mm case diameter that’s sized just right for most people’s wrists. You can accessorize with the watch band of your choice, and you can even change out the watch face whenever you feel like, making the Apple Watch continuously versatile for everyday carry.
Timex Classic

Timex Classic

Purchase
Key Features
Indiglo
Highly-legible partial Arabic legends
Leather band
Specifications
Case Diameter
39mm
Movement
Quartz
Water Resistance
50m
Reviews


Price
$
Legibility is the name of the game with this classic-styled watch from Timex, with huge roman legends at the 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’ clock positions. The distinctive stainless steel case measures 39mm in diameter, and it contrasts well with the sunray finish on the dial. And for when the sun’s not out, the Indiglo technology that backlights the watch face makes it easy to read the watch in the dark. The leather strap works well with both casual and formal wear, and the 50 meter water resistance means you won’t have to scramble to cover or pocket the watch if you get caught in the rain.
Bulova Aerojet Camo

Bulova Aerojet Camo

Purchase
Key Features
Camo design
Thin profile
NATO strap
Specifications
Case Diameter
39mm
Movement
Quartz
Water Resistance
30m
Reviews


Price
$$$
If you’re a fan of NATO-style watch straps and quality American watches, Bulova has the perfect setup for you with their Aerojet Classic 39mm watch. This particular model features an elegant black-on-black stainless steel case and dial, with a red second hand for contrast and legibility. A date complication lets you keep track of where you are in the month at a glance as well. In keeping with the military origins of the NATO strap, the one that comes with this watch has a camo style, and with its mineral crystal and splash resistance down to 30 meters, it’s ready to go with you pretty much wherever and keep on ticking.
Nixon Staple

Nixon Staple

Purchase
Key Features
Minimal styling
Day/date calendar, alarm, timer
Two-year warranty
Specifications
Case Diameter
38mm
Movement
Digital Quartz
Water Resistance
100m
Reviews
No reviews yet
Price
$$
If you’re looking for a low-profile, slim, minimalist digital watch for everyday carry, the Nixon staple is a solid choice. It packs a discreet black-on-black styling with a high-contrast backlit digital LCD screen for the important stuff. Aside from telling you the time, the Staple provides a day/date calendar, alarm, and timer functions, and it’s water resistant down to 100 meters or 10 ATM, making it good for adventures wherever you find yourself.
Timex Waterbury Classic

Timex Waterbury Classic

Purchase
Key Features
Indiglo
Stainless steel watch band
Two-year warranty
Specifications
Case Diameter
36mm
Movement
Quartz
Water Resistance
30m
Reviews
No reviews yet
Price
$
If you’re looking for an affordable quartz movement watch, the Timex Waterbury line is a good place to start, and their silver stainless steel model provides a touch of class that’ll dress up your ensemble for more formal affairs. And with a case length of 36mm in diameter, it’s not too big or bulky like other metal bracelet watches. This Waterbury model also features high-legibility full Arabic numeral legends, as well as luminous hands and Timex’s hallmark Indiglo backlight technology for night operation.
Skagen Aaren Colored Silicone

Skagen Aaren Colored Silicone

Purchase
Key Features
Minimal single-color design
Small seconds dial
Silicone band
Specifications
Case Diameter
36mm
Movement
Quartz
Water Resistance
30m
Reviews


Price
$$
Skagen is best known for their ultra-slim minimalist watches, and their Aaren is no exception. But where most Skagen watches have a mesh stainless steel watch band, the Aaren comes with a silicone band and a unique monocolor style, which ranges from flashy to this particular model’s grey-white understated aesthetic. It has full Arabic legends, but they’re small and don’t take away from the otherwise very minimalist design language of the watch. And aside from the tasteful look, the Aaren features a manageable 36mm case diameter, and a small seconds dial that makes for a quiet quartz movement.

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Swatch Skin Irony

Swatch Skin Irony

Purchase
Key Features
Thin profile
Swiss-made
Two-year warranty, free battery exchange at retail locations
Specifications
Case Diameter
38mm
Movement
Quartz
Water Resistance
30m
Reviews


Price
$$$
Swatch watches were definitely a fad of yesteryear. Today they get a bad rap for their plastic construction and eclectic styles that are sometimes more suited for more youthful wearers, but they do make serious watches as well once you dig deeper into their catalog. Take their Skin Irony, which features a stainless steel case and a leather strap with an elegant black case with rose gold tone accents to round everything out. And it’s not just the 38mm case that’s slim, its height is svelte as well, making this one of the easiest and lightest analog quartz watches you can wear.
BOLDR Venture

BOLDR Venture

Purchase
Key Features
Titanium case
Sapphire crystal
NATO strap
Specifications
Case Diameter
38mm
Movement
Automatic
Water Resistance
200m
Reviews


Price
$$$$
For the price you pay, BOLDR’s Venture is a complete package of a watch for EDC. It starts with the reliable Japanese-made NH35A automatic movement, built into a lightweight 38mm diameter titanium case. The titanium design is durable, but it also means people who might react to certain stainless steel alloys on the casebacks of metal watches shouldn’t have a problem with this one, due to the natural properties of the metal. The angled crown and the sapphire crystal glass prevent damage to the mechanism from normal everyday bumps and scrapes, too. The design of the watch features classic field watch styling, with clean and legible full Arabic legends and easy 24-hour conversion. The blue dial matches nicely with the blue nylon NATO strap as well.
Seiko SNK809

Seiko SNK809

Purchase
Key Features
Field watch design
Day/date window
Shock and water resistant
Specifications
Case Diameter
37mm
Movement
Automatic
Water Resistance
30m
Reviews


Price
$$
The Seiko SNK809 is one of the most popular entries in the Seiko 5 lineup. With water resistance, shock resistance, a day and date display, and a reliable automatic movement, this little watch punches well above its weight. You’ll appreciate the classic field watch styling and multitude of available color options. The case measures in at a comfortable 37mm, hitting the perfect balance between legibility and wearability.
Timex Weekender

Timex Weekender

Purchase
Key Features
Affordable
Legible dial
Plenty of designs
Specifications
Case Diameter
38mm
Movement
Quartz
Water Resistance
30m
Reviews


Price
$
Timex’s Weekender collection is known for being easy to wear, highly legible, and very affordable. For around thirty bucks, you get a solid watch that’s available in a ton of different colorways. One feature that makes the Weekender unique is Timex's Indiglo technology. With a push of the crown, the entire face of the watch lights up making it easy to read in low-light conditions. You get all of the classic military field watch size and looks without having to hunt down a vintage model (which can sometimes be less reliable given its age).
Marathon Field Army Watch

Marathon Field Army Watch

Purchase
Key Features
Mil-spec toughness
Hi-vis lume
NATO strap
Specifications
Case Diameter
34mm
Movement
Quartz
Water Resistance
30m
Reviews


Price
$$$$
If you’re looking for a smaller watch that’s built to withstand hard use and abuse, consider this Military Field Army Watch by Marathon. Marathon builds watches specifically for military applications, so you know it’s going to be tough enough for day-to-day wear. Packed inside this 34mm case, you’ll find a reliable high-torque quartz movement, luminescent paint treatment on the hands and indices, and strong sapphire crystal. The case itself is made from an impact-resistant fibreshell material that’s both ultra light and ultra strong.
Citizen BM8180

Citizen BM8180

Purchase
Key Features
Eco Drive
Field watch design
Canvas strap
Specifications
Case Diameter
37mm
Movement
Quartz
Water Resistance
100m
Reviews


Price
$$$
This take on the field watch features Citizen’s Eco Drive technology. The BM8180 recharges itself by way of tiny solar panels mounted on the watch's face. This tech is ideal if you never want to worry about your watch dying or needing its batteries replaced. In addition to the self-charging capability, the BM8180 has a stainless steel case, stitched canvas band, and a durable mineral glass crystal.
Victorniox INOX V

Victorniox INOX V

Purchase
Key Features
Tough construction
Swiss-made
Paracord strap
Specifications
Case Diameter
37mm
Movement
Quartz
Water Resistance
200m
Reviews


Price
$$$$
The INOX line of watches from Victorinox are specifically built to withstand as much abuse as possible. Each watch passes a litany of stress tests: everything from freezing it in a block of ice to dropping it from extreme heights. Even though it’s smaller in size, the 37mm INOX V is just as tough as its 43mm counterpart. The INOX V features a stainless steel case, paracord strap, screw-down crown, and reliable Swiss quartz movement.

Do you prefer wearing a smaller watch? Which one do you like that wasn't on our list? Share it with us in the comments below!

Jonathan Tayag

Senior Contributor


About the Author
Jonathan Tayag is secretly an information technology and corporate security expert who prefers to moonlight as a creative event and commercial photographer whenever possible. His varied experience and substantial travels have led him to seek, without even thinking about it at first, the best gear for the best use at the best price available. Before the concept of EDC (everyday carry) firmly took hold, Jonathan already spent untold amounts of time optimizing for the best-in-slot pieces of gear, from cameras and lenses to pocket knives, pens, and bags and packs. In November 2015, Jonathan joined EverydayCarry.com and has since written numerous articles and guides to help impart his knowledge to the community as a whole.

Jonathan's photographic works have appeared on numerous online websites, print, video, and television outlets for over a decade. Jonathan's previous clients include Blizzard Entertainment, Red Bull, ESL, Razer, and several other endemic and non-endemic esports sponsors and brands. His work also features heavily in online competitive gaming communities, especially those of the StarCraft and Fighting Game genres. You've likely seen his work if you've spent time in a stream or in-game chat over the years.

Bernard Capulong

Founder and Editor-in-Chief


About the Reviewer
Bernard Capulong is an everyday carry (EDC) gear expert, entrepreneur, all-around nerd, and the founder and editor-in-chief of EverydayCarry.com—the largest online community for EDC gear enthusiasts. Since founding Everyday Carry in 2009, he’s built over a decade of experience in the industry, reviewing and highlighting brands and products, including pocket knives, flashlights, wallets, watches, bags, pens, and much more.

Bernard is known for bringing everyday carry out of obscurity and into the mainstream, having been published or featured in various publications such as GQ, TIME Magazine, The New York Times, VICE, HYPEBEAST, Outside, and many others. He has also played a part in curating, designing, and developing digital and physical products, resulting in successful crowdfunding projects or limited edition collaboration products with established softgoods brands. He stays on the pulse of the EDC industry by attending trade shows, participating in online interest communities, and actively engaging with fellow gear enthusiasts on social media.

In addition to being the editor-in-chief and main social media personality for EverydayCarry.com, Bernard is an avid gearhead and collector in general. His personal collections span technical bags, fountain pens, digital cameras, retro gaming hardware, personal hi-fi audio gear, and mechanical wristwatches, to name a few. Bernard Capulong is a prominent figure and trusted authority in the everyday carry industry with a career dedicated to helping people discover this hobby and stay prepared with quality gear.

Discussion (16 total)

Jacob Jared Kenworthy ·
The BM8180-03E will always be king. It is so affordable and it has almost every feature you could ask for: day-date, good lume, solar quartz, etc. The only thing that could make it better is a screw-down crown.
Charlie Bown ·
I strapped on a CWC G10 many years ago and apart the odd NATO refresh, it’s still my “go to watch”. At 36mm with a proven military pedigree, is a tough little beastie. CWC have released a 100m waterproof model but the price hike that comes with the increased peace of mind, takes this particular G10 beyond the realms of “trusted beater” in my opinion. If you want true military issued styling and a little piece of military history strapped to your wrist, pick up a “previously loved” issued version.
I just picked up the Seiko SNK 809 a few weeks ago because I was looking for a nice field watch without breaking the bank (I really want the Hamilton Khaki and the Marathon Mechanical General Purpose watch). I am very impressed with it so much, that I have shelved my TAG and my Swiss Army Officer's watch for the time in favor of it.
David Doheny ·
Bought a Timex weekender a few weeks ago and haven't stopped wearing it yet! Love the design and the way it fits on my wrist. When people talk about how loud the ticking is they aren't joking!
Ken Shapero ·
The Seiko 5 is my beater watch (work in the yard, under the car, etc) Takes lickin' and keeps on tickin'. (Apologies to Timex)
Lilith Mckenzie Nightinga ·
still no vostok was it you guys have against them
Yogi ·
Have both the Seiko SKX013 and Citizen BM8180 but what is on my wrist more than any other is the now discontinued Seiko 38mm Seiko SARB017 Alpinist. A great field, explorer watch with screw down crown, 200M water resistance and sapphire crystal for less than the Hamilton Khaki with 50M water.
Lloyd Fehr ·
Christopher Ward C5 Malvern MKII. Ronda 515 quartz engine. (almost HEQ) Anti-reflective Sapphire crystal. The watch itself makes me a savvy business man haha
Jerry Coffey ·
I've had my BM8180-03E for 14+ years and despite the addition of many new watches I just can't stop going back to this as my go-to watch. To me it's a perfect watch. Easy to read, classic style that I never get tired of, perfect accuracy, and no battery changes. I've tried a few different nylon straps but am now using a Perfit Citizen Essential Perforated Tropic Diver Watch Band (AMZ) which has a nice solid feel without the normal stickiness of silicone straps. My other go to watch is the epitome of minimalism: the Casio MQ24-7E.
Creighton ·
The SNK 809 hasn't been $65 in a looooong time.
Orwell ·
i have now 2 watches, both under 40mm, Citizen BM8180 as a rugged militaryheritageinspired watch and the Aristo Messerschmitt KR200 as a more retro dressy but EDCable watch. Both serve me well, the Citizen does look classy enough with polished parts so look gentlemanly, with quartzmovement and 100m WR solid enough for active tasks. The Aristo is for leisure, when i want to enjoy the vintagelike domed crystal and sunbeam dial.
Dirk Frentzel ·
I have the Bolder Venture. Great Watch nice price.
Mike P ·
The 38mm Hamilton Khaki Mechanical is one of my all-time favorites!
Goldthunder ·
Solid list, good read. Timex weekender is a nice , lightweight watch. Word to the wise for anyone who does physical labor or jobs. Band will hold sweat.
GWB NYC ·
the marathon is a great watch, quartz movement.

if you want an automatic, get one that hacks. the seiko 7s-26 movement is a workhorse, but it does not hack. the seiko automatics that do are the NH-35 (sold by seiko to other manufacturers for their watches), and the 4R and later movements. educate yourselve before buying.
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