Best Japanese Watch Brands Under 1000
While the foundations of the watchmaking industry may lie in Switzerland, if you’re after the best raw value for money, you can’t go wrong with brands hailing from Japan. Known for their prowess in other manufacturing industries, the Japanese set out to become the ‘Swiss watchmaker of the East’ following the conclusion of the First World War. A century of hard work has culminated in them moving to the forefront of the competitive global wristwatch industry.
Japan is home to several huge watch brands and a couple of micro-brands that you have likely never heard of. Here’s a quick look at what you can expect when shopping for each of the brands; along with my general recommendations and thoughts regarding each of them. In my eyes, these are generally the best Japanese watch brands under £1000.
Casio
The world’s most popular watch brand (by volume sold), Japanese electronics giant Casio has been pumping out affordable wristwatches since 1974. For 50 years, these have adorned the wrists of presidents and warmongers alike.
In terms of raw value for money, Casio watches are practically unbeatable. Their iconic digital models, including the tremendously successful F-91W, are still worn to this day due to their rugged nature and retro charm. Not only are they hard wearing and surprisingly stylish, but highly functional too; many coming kitted with stopwatches, countdown timers, calculators and LED backlights. I previously did a roundup of the best silver Casio’s, which is worth a read after this one.
Casio Digital F91-W Watch
Casio Digital Calculator Watch (CA-53-WF)
While their classic digital pieces are commonplace, it’s less well known that great value can be had with Casio analogue models. Not only do many of them offer unmatched specifications for the low price tags, but the sheer volume of options means you’ll likely find something that suits your aesthetic preferences too.
More recently, they introduced the more upmarket Edifice range, which I’ve found offers comparable build quality and looks to many brands at double the price tag. How are they accomplishing this? I can only assume by having tighter margins. Despite the affordability of all Casio lines, I’ve found the brand maintains some of the best movement alignment for under £1000; meaning that in most cases the second hand will hit, or get close to, the markers. Something which can’t be said for the majority of affordable quartz watches.
G-Shock
Also a part of Casio, but typically marketed as a separate entity, G-Shock has stamped itself in history as the king of durable wristwatches. Before the release of the experimental DW-5000C in 1983, watches were usually considered fragile pieces of jewellery. Casio engineer Kikuo Ibe and his team went on to prove the doubters wrong, in their quest to “create a watch that never breaks”.
After 2 years of research and development, they landed on the ultimate tough watch; with a multi-layered shock-resistant structure and advanced cushioning, to protect the watch at all costs.
The First Casio G-Shock’s - DW-5000C (left) and DW-5600C (right)
This supreme protection is what gives G-Shock watches their chunky shape and legendary reputation. A favourite among manual workers and extreme sports stars, G-Shock watches are known not only for their impact-resistance but also their aquatic performance; rivalling many dive watches in that department.
If you’re after an easy to read watch that will never let you down, G-Shock is the best place to start. My favourite from their range is featured in our ‘Top 20 Casio Watches’ article. The only factor to keep in mind is your wrist size. Due to their hefty construction, G-Shock watches could be too large to comfortably fit smaller wrists. As such, an alternative smaller Casio could suffice in such circumstances.
Seiko
While their website may look like something straight out of the late 1990s, Seiko watches still hold up as some of the best value on the planet going into the 2020s.
Originating from Tokyo, Japan way back in 1881, Seiko are one of the most prominent watchmakers in the world. With several important horological developments to Seiko’s name across their century and a half of history.
While most famous for their mechanical wristwatch ventures, they surprisingly were the first to release a production quartz watch named the ‘Astron’ in 1969. In the coming decades, this new technology would go on to butcher the conservative Swiss watchmaking industry, whilst several prominent Japanese brands, such as Seiko, would instead embrace the electronic revolution and thrive.
Seiko ‘Astron’ - Credit: Wikipedia
Fast-forward to the present day and Seiko continue to produce both types of wristwatch. Not only are there a wide range of quality battery-powered options to choose from, but the enduring Seiko 5 automatic watches have seen a notable resurgence in recent times. These budget offerings feature Seiko automatic movements, stainless steel construction and a small amount of water resistance for a very low price. Often these watches act as the gateway into watch collecting, with the sheer abundance of designs meaning you’ll find one that suits your preferences.
Over the last couple of years, Seiko has overhauled their ‘5’ range, to appear more upmarket. Thus, newer releases typically feature slightly better finishing, but for a higher price.
Watches From the Seiko 5 Range - Left: Seiko SNK361 Centre: Seiko SNKL45 Right: Seiko SNKL23
More premium offerings include the Prospex tool watches and the elegant Presage line of dress watches, to name just a few. If your budget exceeds the £1000 mark covered by this article, you could also dive into their cut-no-corners Grand Seiko brand; considered by many to be among the best quality watches in the world.
Orient
Owned by the Seiko Epson Corporation, but operating as a standalone entity, Orient watches are also known to be among the best value in the industry. Officially founded in Hino, Tokyo in 1950, with company origins dating back 50 years earlier, Orient has a rich history in itself (read more about it here); despite not matching the horological achievements of other brands under the Seiko Epson umbrella.
From the start, their mission has been “to offer high-quality, attainable timepieces with enduring style”. It’s clear the brand has stuck to this ethos, as their varied selection of sub-£500 watches exude care and precision. On the budget end, their most popular ranges include the ‘Tri-star’ and ‘Bambino’ lines; which offer in-house movements and surprisingly good aesthetics for around the £100 mark.
Over the last few years, Orient has started to produce smaller variants of some of their watches, at 36mm, which is a welcome sight for those with smaller wrists. They are best known for their classically styled dress pieces, though in recent years have taken the mantle from Seiko as the producer of the best affordable divers watches.
While their ‘Ray’ and ‘Mako’ divers held the line for a few years, the introduction of the new ‘Kamasu’ and ‘Kanno’ models took their standing to the next level; with sapphire crystal and refined design to suit a modern age. The larger but lesser-known M-Force watches and the RA-AC0K watches are also solid options for those looking for more wrist presence.
Orient Ray ||
Orient Kamasu
Overall, these watches present tremendous value for money; though the awkward lug widths on some models may restrict your strap choices. It’s always worth checking before pulling the trigger on any replacement bands.
Orient Star
The main premium line bearing the Orient name, usually marketed as a separate brand altogether, Orient Star watches come in at a slightly higher price point than their entry-level brethren.
For the additional fee, you can expect improved finishing, better-regulated movements and more tasteful details. By default, they also come fitted on much better bands than those fitted to regular Orient watches (which are often pretty shoddy). The Star brand currently houses three separate ranges; classic, contemporary and sport, depending on what you’re seeking.
Orient Star Classic
Orient Star Contemporary
Orient Star Sport
Like with most of the watches on this list, they not only offer men’s pieces but many marketed towards ladies too. If you’re a guy with skinny wrists like me, don’t be afraid to take a quick look at them, to open up even more options, though some could be a little too small.
Citizen
One of the most beloved affordable brands, Japanese watch company Citizen has a legacy dating back over 100 years. Originally relying on the transfer of technology from Switzerland to Japan, to develop its production processes, Citizen has gone on to stamp its name in watchmaking folklore.
Most of Citizens watchmaking achievements revolve around battery-operated wristwatches, becoming the first to launch a multi-band atomic timekeeping watch in 1993 - incredibly accurate technology that has only improved since.
Citizen’s First Multi-band atomic watch (1993) - Citizen 7400 Multizone
Citizen’s First Eco-Drive Watch Series
Perhaps their most popular breakthrough came in the form of Eco-Drive technology, first introduced in the mid-1990s. Unlike previous solar-powered watches, which required visible solar cells to sit atop the dial, Citizen implemented a version whereby these cells could be positioned under the dial instead; maintaining the cleaner aesthetic of a regular wristwatch. The main benefit of these solar-powered watches is that battery changes are alleviated, as the lithium-ion cell can simply be recharged. Due to its popularity, this system has now made its way into around 80% of Citizen wristwatches.
Despite this hard commitment towards functionality, Citizen surprisingly still produce a large number of Japanese-made mechanical movements through their Miyota sub-brand. These feature in a tremendous number of microbrand wristwatches, even from many brands based outside of Japan; including their subsidiary Bulova.
Overall, I’ve found that Citizen watches offer good build quality, but most models are a little large and thick for the average to smaller wrist sizes. If you’re after a burly watch though, your choices will be far less limited and there is value to be had with this brand.
Lorus
One of the most wallet-friendly brands on this list, Seiko subsidiary Lorus is home to many basic but impressive watches. Like Pulsar, Lorus was created to serve the more fashion-forward youth, with less capital to drop on a watch. As such, you’ll find a range of very modern designs; primarily with quartz movements.
Despite the simplicity, many of these boast 5bar or 10bar water resistance ratings and some even have varied construction. One of my favourite offerings from them was a diminutive titanium field watch, which was an absolute bargain for less than the price of a tank of petrol (review to that watch here).
Lorus Titanium Field Watch (RXD425L8)
Lorus Automatic Watch (RL455AX9)
They have several other titanium watches, which pose tremendous value for a material typically reserved for much more expensive watches. More recently, Lorus has ventured into the mechanical space, with the emergence of a few automatic watches that utilise automatic Seiko movements.
As with many low-end watch brands, one of the downfalls with their watches is the bands. The default straps and bracelets are understandably very cheap; the latter tending to pull hairs. These are easily switched out, however, making Lorus a go-to brand for those on a tight budget.
Pulsar
The ‘sister’ brand of Lorus, Pulsar is another Seiko subsidiary, similar in many ways. The clearest distinction between the two is their history.
Surprisingly, Pulsar was initially a part of the American Hamilton Watch Company; releasing the world’s first digital LED watch in 1972. Six years later, Seiko went on to acquire the brand and relocate production to Japan.
Credit - Fully Wound - Pulsar’s First Digital LED Watch (Pulsar P2 Time Computer)
Today, Pulsar serves as a somewhat upmarket alternative to the likes of Lorus; with similarly designed products. The build quality is known to be a slight improvement over Lorus, with more models utilising solar technology and housing 10bar water resistance. While Lorus’ catalogue almost exclusively comprises analogue watches, Pulsar has a wider array of options that use digital displays too; a nod to their LED heritage.
There are three ranges available, but good luck navigating the poorly optimised Pulsar website.
Knot Watches
Knot takes a very different approach to many of the other brands on this list. Founded in Tokyo in 2014, this Japanese watch brand has a focus on customisation; allowing customers to choose from any number of case styles, dial designs and straps, to create their perfect watch.
Credit - Creative Supply - Knot Watches Marketing Material
While much of the lifestyle marketing bears similarities to the likes of MVMT and Daniel Wellington, Knot watches are known to be slightly higher quality and made in Japan (which generally means improved quality control over Chinese-made watches). While also minimalist, this brand offers a wider variety of sizes; avoiding the oversized tropes of rival fashion companies.
While the prices aren’t as competitive as the likes of Casio and Seiko, the brand does allow for maximum customisation and they are now venturing into mechanical watches, having previously relied solely on quartz technology. Possibly the best gift option on this list, though international customers will struggle to find them sold locally.
Frank Miura
Typically considered a ‘parody’ watch brand, Frank Miura takes shots at Swiss ‘hyper luxury’ brands such as the similarly named Franck Muller.
Frank Miura Rainbow Style Watch
Franck Muller Rainbow Style Watch
With their super-low price point, this brand is like the Japanese equivalent of Swatch; offering a variety of tonneau cased crazy designs, often constructed of resin or alloy. Undoubtedly, these are the worst quality options on this list, but they do have a humungous range of watches; many of which tap into Japanese culture. Founded in Osaka in 2012, a large portion fo their catalogue rips off more expensive watches, including the aforementioned Franck Muller brand, which took legal action against Frank Miuras proposed trademarking nearly a decade ago.
While Frank Miura watches certainly aren’t for me, if you are looking for pieces that offer tie-ins with various Japanese companies and cute dials, then they could be worth a browse. Frank Muller watches tend to cost multiple thousands too, so these are probably your best alternative if you’re looking to obtain a similar aesthetic for a fraction of the cost.