The best-value automatic watches

12 watches, from €115 to €620 in indicative price. 4 of them have sapphire crystal. The one with the most power reserve is the Citizen Automatic NJ0190, with 42 h.

Criterion: each watch earns points for its figures (sapphire 3, Hardlex 1.5, mineral 1, acrylic 0.5; hacking seconds 1; hand winding 0.5; 70 hours of reserve or more 2, 50 or more 1; 200 m 1.5, 100 m 1; 28,800 bph 0.5; display caseback 0.3), divided by its average indicative price in hundreds of euros. The top twelve are shown. Manufacturer data.

Invicta Pro Diver 8926 on a plain background
Invicta Pro Diver
NH35A, 41 h, mineral, 200 m, 40 mm
€115–140
Scale drawing of the Citizen Automatic NJ0190: 40 mm diameter, 45 mm lug-to-lug and 12 mm thick
Citizen Automatic NJ0190
8210, 42 h, mineral, 100 m, 40 mm
€160–195
Scale drawing of the Citizen Tsuyosa: 40 mm diameter, 45 mm lug-to-lug and 12 mm thick
Citizen Tsuyosa
8210, 40 h, sapphire, 50 m, 40 mm
€240–275
Scale drawing of the Citizen Promaster Fugu: 42 mm diameter, 47 mm lug-to-lug and 12 mm thick
Citizen Promaster Fugu
8204, 42 h, mineral, 200 m, 42 mm
€210–240
Seiko 5 on a nylon strap
Seiko 5 Sports Field
4R36, 41 h, Hardlex, 100 m, 39.4 mm
€275–310
Scale drawing of the Seiko 5 Sports Suits: 40 mm diameter, 44.6 mm lug-to-lug and 11.5 mm thick
Seiko 5 Sports Suits
4R36, 41 h, Hardlex, 100 m, 40 mm
€275–310
Seiko SKX009 with a blue and red bezel
Seiko 5 Sports
4R36, 41 h, Hardlex, 100 m, 42.5 mm
€285–320
Scale drawing of the Citizen Promaster Fujitsubo: 41 mm diameter, 46 mm lug-to-lug and 12 mm thick
Citizen Promaster Fujitsubo
9051, 42 h, sapphire, 200 m, 41 mm
€560–620
Seiko Turtle on the wrist
Seiko Prospex Turtle PADI
4R36, 41 h, Hardlex, 200 m, 45 mm
€390–440
Scale drawing of the Seiko Prospex King Samurai PADI: 43.8 mm diameter, 48.7 mm lug-to-lug and 12.8 mm thick
Seiko Prospex King Samurai PADI
4R35, 41 h, sapphire, 200 m, 43.8 mm
€530–580
Scale drawing of the Seiko Prospex King Turtle PADI: 45 mm diameter, 47.7 mm lug-to-lug and 13.2 mm thick
Seiko Prospex King Turtle PADI
4R36, 41 h, sapphire, 200 m, 45 mm
€550–600
Seiko 5 Sports GMT in its box
Seiko 5 Sports GMT
4R34, 41 h, Hardlex, 100 m, 42.5 mm
€420–470

All the figures

WatchMovementReserveCrystalWater res.ØPrice bandPoints per €100
Invicta Pro DiverNH35A41 hMineral200 m40 mm€115–1403.1
Citizen Automatic NJ0190821042 hMineral100 m40 mm€160–1952
Citizen Tsuyosa821040 hSapphire50 m40 mm€240–2751.9
Citizen Promaster Fugu820442 hMineral200 m42 mm€210–2401.8
Seiko 5 Sports Field4R3641 hHardlex100 m39.4 mm€275–3101.5
Seiko 5 Sports Suits4R3641 hHardlex100 m40 mm€275–3101.5
Seiko 5 Sports4R3641 hHardlex100 m42.5 mm€285–3201.4
Citizen Promaster Fujitsubo905142 hSapphire200 m41 mm€560–6201.1
Seiko Prospex Turtle PADI4R3641 hHardlex200 m45 mm€390–4401.1
Seiko Prospex King Samurai PADI4R3541 hSapphire200 m43.8 mm€530–5801.1
Seiko Prospex King Turtle PADI4R3641 hSapphire200 m45 mm€550–6001
Seiko 5 Sports GMT4R3441 hHardlex100 m42.5 mm€420–4701

To see three watches column by column, use the comparison tool.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the least expensive?

The Invicta Pro Diver, with an indicative price band of €115–140. It has the NH35A movement, 41 h of reserve and a mineral crystal.

Which has the most power reserve?

The Citizen Automatic NJ0190, with 42 h. That is how long it keeps running after you take it off.

Which is the thinnest?

The Seiko 5 Sports Suits, at 11.5 mm thick.

Which handles the most depth?

The Invicta Pro Diver, water resistant to 200 m.

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