BUYING GUIDE
Best Watches Under $100 (2026): A Real Dive Watch, an Automatic and 3 Casio Classics
Five watches under $100 from our spec database: a 200m steel diver, a Seiko-powered automatic, the original square G-Shock and two Casio classics.
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Short answer: the best watch under $100 is the Casio Duro MDV-106 (best overall, $50 to $100): a 44mm stainless steel dive watch rated to 200m, with a screw-down crown and caseback, a unidirectional bezel and Casio quartz module 2784. The best automatic under $100 is the Invicta Pro Diver 8926OB ($50 to $100), which runs the Seiko NH35 movement and is also rated to 200m. The toughest is the G-Shock DW-5600 ($50 to $100), the classic square G-Shock, shock resistant and rated to 200m. Under $50, the Casio MRW-230H (100m, rotating timer bezel, day-date) and the Casio F-91W (the classic digital, splash resistant) are the picks. Every spec below comes from our per-watch spec sheets; prices are shown as bands because Amazon prices change daily.
Related: Best watches under $200 · Casio Duro: everything you need to know · Every watch under $200 in our database
At a Glance — Our Picks
| Watch | Best For | Price | Size | Movement | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Casio Duro MDV-106B Blue MDV-106B (blue dial, resin strap) | 🏆 Best Overall | $50–$100 | 44mm | Quartz Module 2784 | Details ↓ |
 Invicta Pro Diver Automatic 8926OB | ⚙️ Best Automatic | $50–$100 | 40mm | Automatic Seiko NH35 | Details ↓ |
 Casio G-Shock DW-5600 Square DW-5600UBB-1 | 💪 Toughest | $50–$100 | 42.8mm (Square) | Quartz Module 3229 | Details ↓ |
 Casio MRW-230H MRW-230H-1E3V | 🌊 Best Under $50 | Under $50 | 44.6mm (47.9 x 44.6 x 12.3mm) | Quartz | Details ↓ |
 Casio F-91W F-91W-1 | 💰 Cheapest Classic | Under $50 | 35mm | Quartz Module 593 | Details ↓ |
📋 How We Chose These Watches
We picked from the watches in our own database whose Amazon price was under $100 when we last checked, and kept only watches with a live Amazon product listing. We judged water resistance, movement, case material and everyday durability for the money. Every spec quoted on this page (movement, crystal, water resistance, case size, battery life) is copied from that watch's spec sheet, which also feeds each watch page. We do not test watches; we compare published specifications. We left out cheaper unbranded watches whose listings rate them at 30m or contradict themselves on water resistance.
Pick 1 of 5
Best Overall
Casio
Duro MDV-106B Blue
$50–$100
MSRP
Why We Picked It
The Duro is the cheapest way into a real dive watch: a 44mm stainless steel case rated to 200m, a screw-down crown and caseback, and a unidirectional bezel, running Casio quartz module 2784. This blue MDV-106B is our first choice; the black MDV106-1AV has the same case and movement.
Strengths
- ✓200m water resistance with a screw-down crown and caseback
- ✓Unidirectional dive bezel and date
- ✓Stainless steel case
- ✓Casio quartz module 2784, about a 3-year battery
Trade-offs
- —Mineral glass, not sapphire
- —44mm case wears large on small wrists
- —Basic resin strap; the lugs take any 22mm strap
Pick 2 of 5
Best Automatic
Invicta
Pro Diver Automatic
$50–$100
MSRP
Why We Picked It
The Invicta Pro Diver 8926OB puts a Seiko NH35 automatic, which hacks and hand-winds, into a 40mm stainless steel case rated to 200m, with a unidirectional coin-edge bezel and an exhibition caseback. It is the most watch for the money if you want a mechanical movement under $100.
Strengths
- ✓Seiko NH35 automatic: hacking, hand-winding, 41-hour power reserve
- ✓200m water resistance
- ✓40mm stainless steel case
- ✓Exhibition caseback shows the movement
Trade-offs
- —Mineral glass, not sapphire
- —The design is an open homage to the Rolex Submariner
- —An automatic drifts more than quartz
Pick 3 of 5
Toughest
$50–$100
MSRP
Why We Picked It
The DW-5600 is the square G-Shock in its classic form: shock resistant and rated to 200m, with a backlight, alarm, stopwatch and countdown timer on Casio module 3229. It is the watch to wear when you do not want to think about your watch.
Strengths
- ✓G-Shock shock resistance
- ✓200m water resistance
- ✓Backlight, alarm, stopwatch and countdown timer
- ✓Light resin case and strap
Trade-offs
- —Digital display only
- —About a 2-year battery
- —Resin case: casual, not dressy
Pick 4 of 5
Best Under $50
Casio
MRW-230H
Under $50
MSRP
Why We Picked It
The MRW-230H is an analogue sports watch with a rotating timer bezel topped by an aluminium ring, a day-date display and 100m of water resistance, for under $50. It looks like a dive watch and is rated for swimming.
Strengths
- ✓100m water resistance
- ✓Rotating timer bezel with an aluminium ring
- ✓Day and date display
- ✓About a 3-year battery
Trade-offs
- —Resin case and resin glass
- —44.6mm case is large
- —100m is a swimming rating, not a dive rating
Pick 5 of 5
Cheapest Classic
Casio
F-91W
Under $50
MSRP
Why We Picked It
The F-91W has been in production since 1989: a 35mm resin digital watch with an alarm, stopwatch, calendar and LED backlight on Casio module 593, with a battery Casio rates at about 7 years. It costs about as little as a decent watch can.
Strengths
- ✓35mm and very light
- ✓About a 7-year battery
- ✓Alarm, stopwatch, calendar and backlight
- ✓Under $50
Trade-offs
- —30m: splash resistant only
- —Acrylic crystal scratches easily
- —Resin case and strap
Buying Guide
What $100 buys: quartz accuracy, a 100m to 200m water rating on the better models, and in a few cases a steel case or a real automatic movement. Quartz is the better choice at this price for most people: a quartz watch keeps better time than an automatic and needs nothing but a battery every few years (Casio rates the Duro's battery at about 3 years, the MRW-230H's at about 3, the DW-5600's at about 2 and the F-91W's at about 7). If you want a mechanical watch, the Invicta Pro Diver is the one to look at: its Seiko NH35 hacks, hand-winds and has a 41-hour power reserve. Check three things before you buy. Water resistance: 30m means splashes only, 100m covers swimming, 200m is a dive rating. Crystal: everything here is mineral glass, resin glass or acrylic, so expect scratches over time. Size: the Duro is 44mm and wears large, the Invicta is 40mm and the F-91W is 35mm. If you can stretch to about $150, a solar watch such as the Casio MTP-S120L or the Citizen Garrison removes battery changes altogether; see our best watches under $200 guide.
Related comparisons
Head-to-head pages for the watches on this list.
- Casio Duro vs Citizen SkyhawkThe same 200m rating at very different prices
- Casio Duro vs Invicta Pro DiverQuartz diver against an NH35 automatic
- Casio Duro vs G-Shock DW-5600Steel diver against the square G-Shock
- Casio F-91W vs G-Shock DW-5600The two most famous Casio digitals
- Invicta vs CasioBrand against brand under $100
Frequently Asked Questions
The Casio Duro MDV-106 ($50 to $100): a 200m stainless steel dive watch with a screw-down crown and a unidirectional bezel. For an automatic, choose the Invicta Pro Diver 8926OB (Seiko NH35); for toughness, the G-Shock DW-5600; and under $50, the Casio MRW-230H or the Casio F-91W.
Yes. The Invicta Pro Diver 8926OB runs the Seiko NH35, a widely used automatic that hacks, hand-winds and has a 41-hour power reserve, in a 40mm steel case rated to 200m. Expect a mineral crystal and simple finishing. For a Seiko-branded automatic, the Seiko 5 SNKL23 is the next step up, in the $100 to $150 band.
Check the rating. The Casio Duro, Invicta Pro Diver and G-Shock DW-5600 are rated to 200m, enough for swimming and recreational diving (on the Duro and Invicta, with the crown screwed down). The Casio MRW-230H is rated to 100m, good for swimming. The Casio F-91W is rated to 30m, which means splashes and hand-washing only.
Choose the Duro for quartz accuracy and the least upkeep; choose the Invicta for a mechanical movement and a smaller 40mm case. Both are rated to 200m, both have a unidirectional bezel and both use mineral glass. Our Invicta vs Casio brand comparison goes into more detail.
Quartz watches under $100 usually keep better time than mechanical watches costing many times more, because accuracy depends mainly on the type of movement, not the price. An automatic such as the NH35 in the Invicta will drift more from day to day.
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