The Best Automatic Watches for Men 2020

The newest iteration of the Orient Defender field watch features all the complications and features that the original was known for, including the date display, 60 second/minute marker ring, weekly-, and 24-hour sub-dials, all arranged in a new, easier-to-read format, packed in a slightly larger 42.4mm case. The new Orient F6B22 movement features hacking, meaning you can stop the second hand as you adjust the time, allowing for better synchronization with your other time-telling devices. A brushed stainless steel case with a screw-down crown and 100 meters of water resistance is paired with a rugged nylon strap to create a look that matches this model’s simple yet reliable performance.

Part of the new line of revamped Seiko 5 models, this sporty model pays homage to the venerable SKX007, often regarded as the gateway model for automatic watch enthusiasts. While it features a similar case, bezel, and day/date complications, the SRPD55K1 is equipped with the newer 4R36 movement, which allows for hacking seconds and hand-winding capability. This is one of the brand’s biggest launches yet, so if you don’t like the more traditional look, there are over 20 other case, dial and strap combinations you can choose from to match your personal EDC style. The SRPD line provides great variety to the already immense value that Seiko automatic watches are known for.

It’s hard to leave out Seiko’s Prospex line when there’s a discussion about professional dive watches. Prospex means “professional specification” and the new Prospex SBDC063 lives up to the moniker with 200 meters of water resistance, great accuracy, and an impressive 50 hours of power reserve. Nicknamed the “Baby Marine Master,” this new model commands a lot of wrist presence with its distinctive turquoise-colored bezel, creamy Lumibrite indices and 44mm-wide screw-down case. If you are looking for a watch that delivers highly on both style and performance, this Prospex should be on your list.

This model from Hamilton recreates the very same watch that they created for the character “Murph” from the movie “Interstellar,” down to the word "Eureka" printed in Morse code on the seconds hand. This vintage-inspired design combines a simple field watch dial with brown-lumed cathedral-style hour and minute hands, encased in stainless steel body featuring a transparent caseback, long lugs and a combination of brushed and polished surfaces. And while your own adventures might not be as interstellar as the movie this watch was made for, the Swiss-made Hamilton Calibre H-10 inside offers an extended 80 hours of power reserve, ensuring all-day accuracy and reliability wherever you may go.

Victorinox watches have a very distinct design language, and the I.N.O.X. Mechanical model 241836 brings some new and unique elements to the table. The triple AR-coated sapphire crystal protects a hobnail-patterned dial reminiscent of the handle of a Swiss officer’s knife. The indexes and hands use Swiss-made non-radioactive Super-LumiNova C1 for low-light readability, and the date display has a rather unique placement, between the 4 and 5 o’clock positions. Inside, it features the easy-to-service ETA Caliber 2824-2, recognized by watch enthusiasts as a workhorse movement with hacking and hand-winding features. Finally, the eco-friendly wooden strap is made from the linden tree, features the same hobnail pattern as the dial and closes via a Victorinox signed deployant clasp.

This Maratac Field Watch houses a Seiko NH35 automatic movement in a 39mm-wide case made from titanium, machined directly from a solid block. This translates into a compact, lightweight and durable watch that is sized a bit smaller than most watches in this class, allowing it to fit a wider variety of wrists. It features a domed sapphire crystal, a screw-down crown to improve water resistance, and a tough nylon Maratac Mil Series band. The plain, logo-less, matte black face with no complications allows the user to just focus on the time with no other distractions. The minute and second hands as well as the numerals on the dial are triple-coated with high-grade Super-LumiNova, providing great lume for low-light situations. Very few watches fit the role of the light, tough, simple, easy-to-read EDC watch like the Maratac Titanium Field Automatic Watch.

Recently, Timex has been reviving their more classic designs, as well as releasing more automatics for the enthusiast market. Their new Waterbury Classic collection represents their foray into the affordable automatic watch segment. The brushed stainless steel case holds a well-known Japanese Miyota movement inside, a reliable—if a little thick and chunky—engine to power this economical daily wearer. Very clean, wall clock styled faces include a simple date complication, and this gives them a timeless appeal. This particular variant features a steel mesh bracelet, and the collection also features different case and strap combinations, including a slightly larger 42mm design.

If you are looking for a more contemporary and motorsport-inspired design for an automatic watch, the Oris Artix GT Day Date, with its sporty, yet elegant lines may just fit the bill. The stainless steel body and bracelet contrast with the black dial and bi-rotating bezel, and the domed scratch-resistant crystal is AR-coated to give you a clear view of the highly legible watch face with silver baton markers, Super-LumiNova coated hands, and a novel day/date complication. A see-through caseback lets you see the bi-directionally rotating red rotor that winds the heart of this watch, an 26-jewel Oris 735 movement with stop-second hacking that is their version of the venerable Sellita SW220-1.

This edition of the Promaster is limited to 1,989 pieces—a reference to the year that the Promaster model line was introduced. Inspired by the Japanese puffer fish (“fugu”) this design is very much dive-worthy and features a distinctive bezel reminiscent of said fish, with serrated edges to help with grip underwater, even with gloved hands. Inside, the in-house Caliber 8203 beats in the traditional 21,600 beats per hour, while allowing for hand-winding to start and charge the watch. A tough stainless steel case and 200 meters of watch resistance make this a great diver’s and tool watch that fits any collection, while being robust enough for daily use.

Designed with input from combat dive instructor Scott Cassell, the Luminox Deep Dive 1521 is a full-fledged automatic dive watch that you can take to the depths and back. The corrosion-resistant 316L steel case features 500 meters of water resistance, and the watch complies with strict ISO 6425 standards. A 3mm-thick sapphire crystal—double that of 200m water resistant designs--and screw-in crown keep it watertight for the depths, while a patented bezel locking device doubles as a crown protector. The dial is highly legible, featuring both tritium-based Luminox Light Techonology and Super Lumi-Nova coating on the indices, ensuring you can tell the time wherever or however deep you go.