You can tell a lot about a person by the watch they wear. It’s time to ditch your old high-school timepiece and invest in one best EDC watches. Not sure where to start, well, keep reading, because we’ve got the watch recommendations for you.
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The world of everyday watches is rife with jargon and loads of data that will point you in one direction or another, claiming there’s a particular watch that’s going to be right for you. That’s not quite accurate. An everyday carry is something that is exclusively personal, meaning it’s about choosing what’s going to fit into your lifestyle on a daily basis.
When looking at an everyday watch, you need to think in just those terms. Is it a watch you could wear daily without any issue? There will always be a time and a place for more specific timepieces, but that is not the purpose of this post.
If your average day isn’t any more intensive than taking a trip to the office, your specific everyday watch will not need to be a tactical timepiece. If you like that, it’s fine but leave it for those days that are out of the ordinary. Conversely, if you’re going to be ‘rassling steers, fixing fences, or fighting insurgents, then you need an everyday watch that has more heft and backbone.
Our guide to the best EDC watches is here to help.
Top 16 Best Everyday Watches
There are innumerable factors that go into picking the perfect everyday watch, all of which contribute to your choice. If you’re looking for help, our friends at Everyday Carry have an informative everyday carry watch guide that will walk the greenest of the green through the entire process of what goes into your everyday wear timepiece. Those who would prefer to get right down to the brass tacks will enjoy the 16 best everyday watches for every lifestyle.
1. Monofore M01 Silver Watch 41mm – Black Leather
For the style-conscious: When you just need a timeless yet eye-catching piece, go for a black leather strap and a square watch face. The black and silver design matches perfectly together to create a classy yet simple timepiece.
The Monofore M01 silver watch with its white face and unmarked numbers is elegant and sophisticated. Perfect for everyday or formal outings. A signature curved dial and domed glass face eliminate potential shadows.
The polished stainless steel and leather components are a fantastic mixture of texture and highlights. It really is a piece that’ll go with everything. If you’re looking for the best everyday watch for general office wear, then you really can’t go wrong with this elegant design.
2. Tuseno First 38 Silver/Black- Panda
A great everyday watch for the man who’s always on the move. It works perfectly for the most formal of occasions, right the way through to a day at the beach with family and friends. While not technically a dive watch, it is water-resistant down to 50 meters. The Tuseno First 38 Silver/Black Panda really does cover all bases. Interchangeable straps dress up or down the timepiece. And with only 20 pieces available worldwide, you’ll never meet anyone else with the same exact watch.
Tuseno crafted their watch from surgical-grade stainless steel and finished it with an anti-reflective coating. They were designed to come alive in the sunlight and to remain in your collection for years to come.
3. Timex Weekender
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For the Everyman: Right out of the box there’s several bands to choose from, and the simple face comes in white or black with lots of different options, none of which seek to break the bank. At 38mm for most styles, it’s a small, subtle EDC watch that can be outfitted to work with any style. The quartz movement means you can take it off without needing to reset it, though the ticking tends to be loud.
4. Timex Expedition Metal Field Watch
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For the Outdoorsman: Finding a hole in the Timex Expedition line is a difficult feat, so if this piece doesn’t do it for you, feel free to branch out. Big numerals make it easy to know the time, day or night, 165 feet worth of water resistance makes it more than splash-proof, and the leather band gives you a real sense of survival-grade sturdiness.
5. Casio G-Shock DW9052-1V
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For the Hard Knock Life: You can’t go wrong with anything in the G-Shock line if you’re looking for a tactical watch that has lots of sport features, this one is merely better for everyday carry by simple fact of value. Since you want to keep the price down for a watch you might lose, this splits the difference by giving you tons of mechanics and a tough mineral crystal that won’t stop ticking after taking a serious beating.
While some may be put off by this being a digital watch, that is their loss. The G-Shock is a versatile watch that is great for anybody that loves to grab life by the horns. While it might look out of place in the office, this is very much an everyday timepiece for an active man.
6. Seiko SNK809 Seiko 5
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For the Minimalist: Ask almost any horologist or serious watch collector what they would suggest as an everyday watch and you’ll get several different answers, with almost all of them able to agree that a Seiko 5 is going to be the vanilla choice that goes great with everything. From a t-shirt and jeans to a black-tie affair, this is a watch enthusiast’s dream. Bearing a light pilot’s watch aesthetic covered by a Hardlex window, it’s a simple, never-fail 21-jewel automatic movement item ready to cleave to your wrist for all time. The day and date display is just a canny feature that makes everyday life that much simpler.
7. Citizen BM8240-03E Eco-Drive
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For a Touch of Class: The Eco-Drive line from Citizen is easily one of the best business watch brands in creation, serving up environmentally progressive everyday watches that have sustainability on the brain, but don’t skimp on stalwart builds meant to go long, god deep, and go hard.
The stylish face and the leather strap make this a wonderful dress watch for the man that likes to take pride in his appearance.
8. Pulsar PH9049
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For the Bold: Based on a reliable Japanese quartz movement, the timing doesn’t flag or falter. The mineral crystal body comes complete with water resistance to 100 feet. A compact tank style that gives a brash, blocky appearance without being gaudy or overpriced. This could serve as a perfect dress watch for young pros looking for something that fits their budget and pinstripe suit life easily.
9. Invicta 8926OB Pro Diver
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For the Surf & Swim Fan: 660 feet worth of water resistance allow this to go along for most water sports, letting you know when it’s time to get out of the pool and head to work, all without needing to swap your watch. The Invicta name is synonymous with durability at a modest price, and the Pro Diver’s automatic Japanese movement and bombproof build is no exception to that rule.
10. Garmin Forerunner 230
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For the Exercise Junkie: Easy to sync with a smartphone to get audio alerts for your apps, this watch features a superb fitness tracker that keeps an eye on your laps, your calories burned, distance, pace, time, and has a GPS to help you survive in the wild should you get separated from your other militia members during a forced march.
The Apple watch has become somewhat synonymous with quality in recent years and deserves its place on our list of the best everyday watches.
11. Orient Ray II
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For the Daily Diver: People who spend a lot of time in the water on a daily basis require an EDC watch that can keep pace with their lifestyle. Dollar for dollar, few things can rival the Ray II from Orient when it comes to professional water resistance. The bright, uncluttered display and unidirectional bezel fit nicely with the mineral crystal, all bearing 660 feet of water resistance that can sink and still deliver.
12. Suunto Core
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For the Field Commander: The pseudo smartwatch for the everyday watchman who wants a timepiece that will tell them pressure, altitude, underwater depth, temperature, and even warn of incoming storms. The price is heavy, but the survivalist capabilities of the Core make it an investment, along with sturdy bands that keep it locked down tight.
13. Apple Watch
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For the Technically Adept: Smartwatches are a dying breed, but if you must have one, and are an iPhone devotee, then this is the way to do it. Waterproof to 50 feet in fresh fluid or salty brine, the lack of an always-on display is a negative, and the battery life isn’t stellar, but the sporty build backed by Apple’s engineering and apps has turned it into a respectable item. Those who want to try an Android should eye the Gear S3 ($300) from Samsung.
14. Mid Original Pilot Watch by Maratac
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For the Flyboy: Built specifically to avoid branding and offer one of the purest pilot watches in existence, the Mid Original conjures up images of the original World War watches that were worn by pilots who needed to know the hour and second, rather than trying to impress the bombardier with who made their timepiece. Pricey, but capable of becoming an heirloom piece, even if you fly the unfriendly skies.
15. Citizen JY8030-83E Eco-Drive Navihawk A-T Stainless Steel
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For the Jet-Setter: GMT watches with their mass of features intended for international playboys don’t come cheap. However, if you’re a timezone jumper who needs a thousand bits of information right on your wrist, then the money is well worth it to get one of the most astoundingly data-heavy everyday watches ever made on Earth all built on the Eco-Drive system.
16. Cartier Tank Solo
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For the Show-Off: When your everyday carry setup needs a shot in the arm to make it presentable and respectable, get one of the most recognizable brands in one of their most noteworthy styles to do the job. Flash and class come with the pomp and circumstance, but this is more than a pretty face. It has an opaline dial, alligator skin band, and quartz movement wrapped in a stainless steel body that drips with masterful engineering.
17. Rolex Submariner
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One of the best dive watches, the Submariner has everything you could ask for in an everyday watch. The Rolex brand needs no introduction, long reining over the realm of men’s watches. The submariner offering comes in several styles, all boasting a 41mm oyster casing. While recent models have expanded to include a date window, they have always remained loyal to the original watch.
If you’re a fan of vintage watches, the OG watch is a great everyday choice and will add that finishing touch to any outfit no matter the occasion.
Final thoughts on the Best Everyday Watch
There you have it, a list of some of the best EDC watches on the market right now. Whether you are looking for your first everyday watch, or simply browsing because there’s a gap in your current collection, there will be a timepiece for you listed above.
From dress watches to a dive watch, the best everyday watch for you is a very personal and individual choice. Finding the right timepiece is not just a matter of spending the most money or going for the right name, but rather, finding the right piece for your needs and your style. ,
Do you have an everyday watch that you swear by that didn’t make the list? Let us know in the comments. Did we manage to sell you on a great everyday watch? Again, the comments are open and we would love to hear what you chose.