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Automatic watches for women are not the most popular and are heavily outsold by other models. If you’ve ever been to a brick and mortar watch store, or just browsed online for a few minutes, you will find that the vast majority of watches use quartz movements. Whilst it is cheaper and sometimes more convenient to have a quartz watch, they simply are not as cool, historical, or as elegant when compared to a mechanical watch.
Unfortunately, there are far fewer women’s automatic watches than mens. This is generally because women do not appreciate watches in the same way men do. However, women are not all the same. Some like quartz, whereas others prefer the more sophisticated movements of automatic watches.
When buying an affordable automatic watch, as long as you stick to reputable brands you can’t really go wrong. Granted, they are more complicated than battery powered watches, but they are a lot more rewarding to both own and wear.
Table of Contents
Best Affordable Automatic Watches For Women
Tissot Couturier
When it comes to both quality and value for money, Tissot is top of the list. Quite simply, their watches are extremely well made, yet are not too expensive. Tissot watches aren’t as cheap when compared to fashion brands that use Japanese movements, but that is because they are built to a higher quality.
This Couturier model uses a nice feminine rose gold color which contrasts extremely well against the black dial and band. The movement of this watch is ideal for those who haven’t owned an automatic watch before. It makes use of the ETA powermatic 80, which has a gigantic 80 hour power reserve. This simply means that even if you don’t wear this watch for 3 days, you can put it back on and it will still be running.
In short, a Tissot watch using a powermatic 80 movement for this price is simply incredible value.
Invicta Objet D’art
Obviously a very striking automatic, skeletonized timepiece. Invicta are well known for making loud and oversized watches, although the Objet D’art is neither of these things. This watch is no wallflower but is not like the usual Invicta timepieces you will see all over the internet.
Invicta chose to use a Chinese 2650 movement, which is essentially a clone of its ETA equivalent. Of course, anything coming out of China is not going to be made to the same quality as Switzerland, which is why this watch is priced at under $100. Considering the design, this is outstanding and you are unlikely to find a watch that looks anywhere near as good as this for less than $100.
Seiko 5
Both feminine and petite, there are not many automatic watches that have 26mm case sizes other than the Seiko 5. This is a classic watch from the Japanese watchmaker and is their best selling model ever. The Seiko 5 is well known for being super durable, reliable as well as being suitable for both smart and casual settings.
Perhaps the main selling point of the Seiko 5 is that it is a women’s automatic watch for under $100. Whilst there is some competition at this price point, there is not too much, with only a handful of reputable non-fashion watch brands making watches in this category.
Bulova
It goes without saying that the dial design of this watch is stunning and a true 10/10. Bulova does not put a foot wrong with the aesthetics of this open heart automatic watch. Diamond hour markers are used around the dial, as well as a small exhibition window to show the balance wheel of the Japanese movement.
Bulova watches are not quite as cheap when compared to many other fashion brands such as Fossil or Invicta, but are made to a slightly better standard, as well as having beautiful designs. This watch does begin to become a little expensive for the specifications, but the design alone is well worth the price.
Fossil Carlie
The Fossil Carlie is a smart casual watch that features an open 36mm dial with no bezel. Not only this, but the lugs are semi-detached from the face, which makes it look larger than it is. Whilst this watch is available in other colors, the navy blue dial with a black mesh band and case are unusual and uncommon for a women’s watch.
Although this watch is not a horological masterpiece, it is very cheap. There are not too many other brands that can compete with Fossil on price other than Invicta and Orient.
Frederique Constant
Certainly a more luxurious automatic watch for women, Frederique Constant watches are built to a much higher standard than the affordable watches on this list. However, they are also a lot more expensive. Frederique Constant use their own FC-306 movement for this model, which is a modified version of the Sellita SW-300. This is a very solid movement that is used in a lot of entry-level luxury watches.
As you can see by the dial, it’s not just the mechanics of this watch that have been given attention. The two tone effect used makes the watch look very high end, as do the diamond hour indicators placed at each hour.
Stuhrling
Available in 5 different color schemes, this Stuhrling automatic watch has a very clear contrast between the silver movement and black hands. This may not seem important, but it does make the dial a lot easier to read.
Whilst Stuhrling are not the best brand in terms of quality or movement, they are one of the more solid brands that make their watches in the far east. Overall, you would expect Sturhling automatic watches to be a little cheaper than they actually are, but they’re not bad value for money.
Orient
This female variation of the Orient Bambino shows you just how far the design and wearability of watches has come in the past few decades. Not too long ago, a 36mm automatic watch would have been considered a men’s watch but is now considered to be the perfect size for a woman.
There is not too much to say about the dial or design of this watch, clearly it is basic and vintage, using gold hands, a gold case and a white dial. Orient are a brand which are well known for giving their customers good value for money. The Bambino is no different, built to a very solid standard by Japanese watchmakers, this will never let you down or disappoint you.
Timex Celestial Opulence
The Celestial Opulence is certainly not the first thing you would think of when being asked about the Timex brand. This watch is just so very different from anything else in their range of watches, and come to think of it, any other brand as well.
Although Timex uses a standard Japanese miyota movement, you wouldn’t know it from looking at the dial. Placed at each quarter is a star used as an hour marker. To make things even more unusual, this watch only has one hand which is used to track minutes. The hours are displayed by a rotating inner disc that moves around the dial and points to the correct time.
This watch is fairly priced considering the design and specifications, but there is nothing else quite like it.
Edox LaPassion
Very much an open heart dial design, the Edox LaPassion quite literally has the shape of a heart displaying the balance wheel of the ETA 2824 movement. This is very similar to the Sellita SW-300 used in the Frederique Constant watch listed above, which makes sense as both of these timepieces are the entry-level to luxury in terms of both specifications and price.
You could be forgiven for thinking that this watch was made by Cartier at first glance. The use of a black and white color combination coupled with the stainless steel case and roman numerals do make it looks very similar from a distance. The clear and obvious distinction shows itself through the use of a left sided crown which is relatively uncommon, specifically with automatic watches.
