Best Slim Watches For Men (All Under 9mm & Affordable)
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Slim watches for men are somewhat hard to come by. These days, many men’s watches are large and chunky, compared to the popular small-profile models that populated the 20th Century. As someone with a skinny wrist, I’ve always preferred the feel of a slim watch. Therefore, I’ve compiled a shortlist of the best slim watches for men, which all come in at under 9mm in case depth.
Most of these offerings are quartz, due to their compact movement dimensions. However, there are a couple of surprising mechanical offerings available for under £300.
Casio A700
Arguably the thinnest digital watch I’ve come across to date, the Casio A700 makes for a perfect everyday companion, that never gets in the way. As a fan of the Casio A158, I purchased this on a whim, as I liked the retro shape and style. Upon receiving it, I realised the A700 was even slimmer, at just 6mm, versus the A158’s 8.5mm depth. This makes it even more comfortable, as it sits remarkably flat to the wrist.
When paired with the better quality Milanese bracelet, it’s definitely worth the slight price increase versus other Casio models and still comes in at a crazy low price tag.
Spec-wise, this is nothing spectacular. However, it combines a resin case and acrylic crystal with some moderate water resistance; producing a watch that’s resistant to impacts and the elements. The silver colourway also makes this watch somewhat attractive and dressy for a digital watch. In some places, this is listed as a ‘women's’ watch, despite being sized for men and featuring male models in the promotional images. Rest assured, this looks awesome on a male wrist.
Junkers Bauhaus
The Junkers brand is one of my favourites when it comes to dress watch design. Their minimalist Bauhaus aesthetic looks good with virtually every type of formal attire. Their German-made ‘100 Year Bauhaus’ quartz range is available for well under £200 give you a wide variety of colours to pick from.
Along with that, you even get the choice between a 40mm and 38mm diameter for each colourway; meaning you can choose the size appropriate for your wrist. The depth/case height is listed at around 10mm for each model; however, almost half of that is taken up by the domed glass, with the case only sitting at around 6.5mm in thickness. Therefore, it wears very tight to the wrist and more than deserves a spot on this list.
Lorus field watches
Affordable watch brand Lorus, a subsidiary of Seiko, manufactures two of the very best affordable field watches on the market. I previously did a comparison of both models, where I highlighted how they stack up against one another.
Along with being tremendously comfortable, these are both small and thin; at just 8.3mm deep. One model, the RXD425L8, is made of titanium and is typically more expensive. The alternative RXF41A7 is constructed of stainless steel and if often more readily available, also featuring Lumi Brite on the dial.
Both also offer a strong 100m of water resistance, which is easily enough to go swimming with. Therefore, they make for a great, comfortable everyday choice, provided you don’t mind their more rugged aesthetic.
Junkers 60862 Chronograph
Slim chronograph watches are particularly hard to find. I’ve searched for years and been disappointed by most offerings out there, which typically sit at 12mm or over (for the case alone). Fortunately, Junkers come to our aid once more, with the 6086 Bauhaus. This handsome watch is by far the thinnest affordable chronograph I’ve come across to date; the listed 10mm depth surprisingly includes the domed glass – meaning this watch wears even thinner on-wrist.
As with the previous Junkers, this one is made in Germany and has good built quality despite the lightweight construction. At 40mm in diameter, it’s fairly small for a chronograph and fits small wrists like a dream; making it arguably the best affordable chronograph for wrists under 7 inches.
While there are a couple of colourways, I think the black 6086-2 looks the best and helps make this design even more versatile.
Casio MQ-24
Want a slim watch for barely any money? The Casio MQ-24 range is the way to go. For the price of your lunch out, you can instead grab a thin, analogue watch with a stainless steel band and a stylish dial.
The MQ-24 comes in two colour variants, each with different bracelet styles. While these are far from the highest quality watches out there, for such a low cost, you’ll struggle to find a better offering. The resin case and acrylic glass may attract some scuffs and scratches but will perform excellently when it comes to heavy impacts.
Seiko SUP872P1
It may surprise you to see a Seiko on a list of ‘slimmest watches’. I’ve often considered Seiko watches to be generally quite chunky, given that many I’ve encountered contain thick, mechanical movements.
Nevertheless, I stumbled upon this solar-powered model, which gives a super-clean look in a compact package. At just 6mm, this is one of the thinnest watches you can buy, meaning it will slip under long sleeves particularly easily. I love the smooth case finish, paired with the thin hands and hour markers, which combine to make this a fantastic formal watch.
Seiko’s superb build quality and reputation will ensure that even this low-end watch will hold it’s value quite well; which could come in handy if you ever decided to part ways with it down the line.
Sea-Gull ‘Ultra Thin’ Automatic Watch
A super-slim watch, with an automatic movement and stainless-steel construction for under £200? You can rely on famous Chinese brand Sea-Gull to deliver on that promise. This watch, from the world’s largest mechanical movement manufacturer, features an astounding set of specifications for the price; including sapphire crystal, a 21,600 vph movement and 3bar water resistance.
Somehow, they’ve managed to squeeze this all into a remarkably slim 8mm steel case; a true achievement considering the low retail price.
The design has clearly been taken from some of the far more expensive Nomos models, though the watch still looks fantastic, along with its very modest 39mm diameter. If you feel like taking the punt on this one, you’ll be pleased to know it is sold with a competitive 2-year warranty (at the time of writing). If this watch was from a Japanese or European manufacturer, I wouldn’t be surprised if it would have a £500+ price tag attached to it.
Casio Edifice EFR-S107D-1AVUEF
The second Casio on the list takes a very different approach to the first. This analogue watch, constructed fully of stainless steel, is part of the Edifice series; which draws design inspiration from high-end race cars. You may have even seen the Casio Edifice logo featuring on Formula One cars such as Toro Rosso (now Alpha Tauri).
This particular model boasts a beastly 100m of water resistance, along with sapphire crystal, for exceptional scratch protection. Its rugged appearance and large 42.5mm dial may cause those looking for a slim watch to overlook it; however, you’ll be surprised to discover that at just 8.3mm thick, this is wearable for a large variety of wrist sizes. This Casio Edifice EFR could be a great choice for those of you looking for a slim watch with a large dial.
Frederique Constant Slim Line Fc-220nv4s5
A gorgeous dress watch option, the classic Frederique Constant Slim Line is your perfect companion for high-class events. With traditional proportions including a 37mm diameter and astonishing 5.8mm thickness, this will sit pleasingly on your wrist giving you a luxury look for under £400.
This Swiss-made watch comes with all the bells and whistles you’d expect, including sapphire crystal and an attractive brown crocodile strap, that perfectly suits the style of this gorgeous timepiece. I can vouch for the gold colourway, which I think works best on this style of watch.
As it’s quartz, it will be telling accurate time whenever you pick it up; meaning, if you plan on saving this for special occasions, it will be ready to go at a moment’s notice. No winding or date setting required.
Citizen BJ6500-12L
A fabulous casual choice, this citizen eco-drive model not only features a super slim case; but also has a fashionable design and a solar-powered movement – so you’ll never need to change the battery again!
This one comes fitted with a leather Nato strap, to fit the cool aesthetic of the watch very nicely; albeit, this does add a touch to the depth. At only 8mm deep, it can probably handle it, though a replacement 2-piece strap wouldn’t go amiss to make the most of the skinny design.
The dial features large numbers at each hour, for easy visibility, along with a very simple blue colourway, to match with common attire like jeans and shoes. Citizen are renowned for making durable, quality watches and I think this makes for a good alternative to something like the similarly thin MVMT and Daniel Wellington pieces; which are of considerably worse quality.