Everyday Carry

The 10 Best Military Watches Under $100 in 2022

Authored by:
Jonathan Tayag
Reviewed by:
Bernard Capulong
Founder and Editor-in-Chief
14+ Years Reviewing EDC Products
The 10 Best Military Watches Under $100 in 2022

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Watches are an integral part of many everyday carry setups. Beyond their primary use of telling time, they’re also a reflection the wearer’s personality and style. These watches have rich historical appeal as they were made for and worn in the field by infantry, Special Forces, and WWII pilots. Nowadays, military style watches are popular amongst the EDC community for their features, legibility, durability, and aesthetic. They go hand in hand with tactical gear you might already be carrying, but can easily be dressed down due to their timeless designs. In this guide, we’ll show you our recommendations for good looking, rugged watches that won’t break the bank.

3 Styles to Look For

Field Watches: The Field Watch is usually presented with a slim case, with large, easy to read indices. The thinness keeps the watch from snagging on other gear and will easily tuck under a shirt sleeve. Commonly seen with 12 and 24 hour numeral markings, these watches make telling military time an effortless task.

Pilot Watches (Flieger): The signature mark of a Flieger is the triangle at the 12 o'clock mark. These pilot watches have large faces and are reminiscent of WWII aircraft gauges that they are inspired by. Also known as “observation watches,” these timepieces make it easy to keep track of time elapsed whether you’re in the air or on the ground.

Heavy-Duty Digital: When you need a timer, calendar, stop watch, alarms, and more on your wrist, there are few better options than a heavy duty digital watch. Shockproof, waterproof, and nearly bombproof, these watches are seen in the field in modern military applications.

Now that we’ve got you acquainted with these common types of military watches, here are six of our favorite examples — all coming in at under $100 (at the time of writing):


Timex Expedition Scout Military Watch

Timex Expedition Scout Military Watch

Purchase
Key Features
Mineral glass crystal
Indiglo dial
Luminous hands
Specifications
Movement
Quartz
Case Diameter
40mm
Strap Width
20mm
Water Resistance
50M
EDC Rating


Price
$
With its high-legibility 24 hour watch face with black dial and white arabic legends, the Timex Expedition Scout is one of the community’s favorite picks in this category. Aside from the classic field watch styling, Timex’s Indiglo technology plays a large part in this watch’s popularity. With a light press on the crown of the watch, an electro-luminescent panel built into the watch face offers a backlight that makes reading the watch in the dark an easy task to accomplish. And of course the watch hands themselves have some luminescence as well for at-a-glance reading for some time after things go dark.
Seiko 5 SNK805 Military Watch

Seiko 5 SNK805 Military Watch

Purchase
Key Features
Scratch-resistant Hardlex crystal
Day and date complication
Specifications
Movement
Automatic
Case Diameter
37mm
Strap Width
18mm
Water Resistance
30M
EDC Rating


Price
$$
If you are a fan of automatic mechanical watch movements, the Seiko 5 SNK805 offers classic field watch styling with an entirely analog movement that has offered great value for money for decades now. Seiko 5 refers to the five basic functions provided by the watch: automatic winding that will reserve power as you wear the watch throughout the day, a day and date complication, water resistance, a protected crown, and a durable case. This particular model of the watch also features legends that emphasize the minutes instead of the hours, a skeleton back which lets you look at the internals while it ticks away, and outdoor-friendly green styling and canvas strap.
Citizen Avion AW1361-10H Military Watch

Citizen Avion AW1361-10H Military Watch

Purchase
Key Features
Mineral crystal
Eco-Drive
Date complication
Specifications
Movement
Quartz
Case Diameter
45mm
Strap Width
22mm
Water Resistance
100M
EDC Rating


Price
$$$$
The Citizen Avion brings classic military styling to your wrist along with the company’s Eco-Drive technology that charges the internal battery with solar power without disrupting the overall aesthetic of the watch. This keeps the internal quartz Caliber J810 movement ticking for far longer than its peers, and it reduces the times you have to open up the case to change batteries out. The watch itself features 24 hour and minutes legends, and a date complication too. The dark grey dial contrasts well with the orange hands and index markers, and the brown leather strap gives you a touch of class that matches with any ensemble whether casual or more dress-oriented.
G-SHOCK GA-700UC Military Watch

G-SHOCK GA-700UC Military Watch

Purchase
Key Features
Mineral crystal
Resin band
Hand shift for digital readout
Specifications
Movement
Quartz ana-digi
Case Diameter
57mm
Strap Width
N/A
Water Resistance
200M
EDC Rating


Price
$$
When it comes to rough and ready EDC watches, nothing beats the durability of a G-SHOCK. Their overbuilt cases are highly impact resistant and their internals are also tested against severe shock and other extreme conditions ensuring that they will keep on working pretty much no matter what. Their GA-700UC series was built with military users in mind, with color schemes that match service uniforms too. And at its heart you get the combination analog and digital design that gives you access to multiple time zones and other functions including an alarm mode.
INFANTRY 35mm Field  Military Watch

INFANTRY 35mm Field Military Watch

Purchase
Key Features
Mineral crystal
Aluminum alloy case
NATO strap
Specifications
Movement
Japanese Quartz
Case Diameter
35mm
Strap Width
18mm
Water Resistance
30M
EDC Rating


Price
$
When it comes to military style field watches, larger isn’t always better, and smaller cases allow for easy movement and fewer chances of snagging on equipment when you’re on the move. With its 35mm diameter case the INFANTRY analog watch sticks to that classic styling, and its a strong contender in this category with a Japanese quartz movement, a watch face that features 24 hour time, and an anti-scratch mineral crystal built in.

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Timex Command Digital Military Watch

Timex Command Digital Military Watch

Purchase
Key Features
Shock-resistant case
100-hour chronograph
Resin band
Specifications
Movement
Quartz digital
Case Diameter
54mm
Strap Width
24mm
Water Resistance
100M
EDC Rating


Price
$$
The Timex Command Digital features a large and highly legible digital readout that features a 100 hour chronograph, 24 hour countdown timer, 24 hour time, and even a hydration alarm to help you stay ready throughout the day. It’s available in three camo stylings which help you blend in especially if you’re in uniform, and you can get it in black, navy, and olive drab. Its internal quartz movement is contained in a rectangular 54mm resin case that’s shock-resistant to ISO standards, and water resistant to 100 meters.
Mil-Tec Aviator Military Watch

Mil-Tec Aviator Military Watch

Purchase
Key Features
Brushed stainless steel case
Scratch-resistant crystal
Leather strap
Specifications
Movement
Japanese Quartz
Case Diameter
41mm
Strap Width
20mm
Water Resistance
30M
EDC Rating


Price
$$
The design of the Mil-Tec Aviator harkens back to the highly-legible German fleiger watches of the last century, with a retro design that’s easy to read at a glance. But unlike those watches of yesteryear, the Mil-Tec aviator features a Japanese quartz movement that will keep time more accurately than a vintage timepiece, and its price point means it’s available for far less.
Orient Flight Military Watch

Orient Flight Military Watch

Purchase
Key Features
Mineral crystal
Stainless steel band
Fold over clasp
Specifications
Movement
Quartz
Case Diameter
42mm
Strap Width
20mm
Water Resistance
50M
EDC Rating


Price
$$
If you like pilot-style watch faces for their high legibility but you prefer a stainless steel band, the Orient Flight is the choice for you. Its 42mm stainless steel case diameter fits most hands well, and the safety release clasp helps keep the watch on your wrists even if you lead a more active lifestyle. The internal quartz movement is contained in a case that features 50 meter water resistance and a fixed bezel. A date complication is also included for your convenience.
Timex MK1 Chrono Military Watch

Timex MK1 Chrono Military Watch

Purchase
Key Features
Mineral crystal
Chronograph
Date window
Specifications
Movement
Quartz
Case Diameter
42mm
Strap Width
20mm
Water Resistance
30M
EDC Rating


Price
$
The Timex MK1 is part of their archive series, and its styling is based on the military watches the company developed during the Vietnam War era. This model features a chronograph function built into its quartz movement which gives you a stopwatch on hand without having to fumble through any smartphone menus. The top button starts the process, the bottom button allows you to split; press the top again to stop and then the bottom to reset the function and you’ll see all of the needles move to the top. The small seconds hand makes for a quieter movement compared to most Timex watches as well. And of course you get the Indiglo technology built in which sets Timex watches apart from the competition in the dark.
Bertucci A-3P Military Watch

Bertucci A-3P Military Watch

Purchase
Key Features
Fiber-reinforced polycarbonate unibody case
Hardened mineral crystal
Swiss Super Luminous hands and markers
Specifications
Movement
Quartz
Case Diameter
42mm
Strap Width
22mm
Water Resistance
100M
EDC Rating


Price
$$
The Bertucci A-3P’s design is based on classic American field watches, but what truly makes them special in this category is the inclusion of Swiss Super Luminous material on the hands and markers that last longer than more-affordable options. The crown of the watch is also ergonomically-placed at the four o’clock position for wrist comfort and long term wear, and the fiber-reinforced polycarbonate unibody case helps insulate the quartz movement inside from damage during hard use.

We’ve just barely scratched the surface of all the military style watches out there. Do you have an affordable favorite for everyday wear, or has your smartphone made the wristwatch obsolete? We’d love to hear what’s on your wrist 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 (13 total)

GWB NYC ·
some nice ones in the line-up.

another suggestion, at Amazon:

Seiko Men's SNE095P2 Stainless Steel Watch
5 more comments