The Best Affordable Automatic Watch Isn't What I Expected
Video Overview & Insights
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Thinking about buying an automatic watch? In this video, I compare six of the most popular affordable automatic watches on the market to find out which one is actually the best value for your money.
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I like my Seiko.
• Timex Marlin Automatic: https://amzn.to/4a8nEnU
• Seiko 5 Sports GMT: https://amzn.to/4ezqm7o
Solid comparison, my friend
DLC Case: https://amzn.to/4uP0XfY
• Orient Mako 40: https://amzn.to/4escI7n
I'd like an orient but I heard the bracelets are crap,I feel the brand name for Japan watches add 150$ to the price,I think I will only pay for Chinese watches,I believe better quality and basically 2 for 1
Brown Dial: https://amzn.to/4uFNCGJ
Green dial: https://amzn.to/4vf7VMg
Great comparison and a neat point-system!
I have myself 3 Tsuyosas, but all are regular, no Shore-version (the yellow dial, the blue with small second and the red/rosegold).
I have a love-hate relationship with the Tsuyosa-crown.
On the one hand I think it makes the design quite unique in the integrated-bracelet-watch-category and gives the case a sleak look.
But yeah, the action is really sh*t. And I as a man have rather small fingers so I can imagine it would be pretty bad for normal/larger man-sized fingers.
I enjoyed the video very much as it included most of my go-to-brands.
You are making one of if not the best watch-related-content on YT!
• Citizen Tsuyosa Shore: https://www.citizenwatch.com/us/en/product/NJ0230-59L.html
• Casio Edifice EFK-100: https://www.casio.com/us/watches/edifice/product.EFK-100D-2A/
wow that was really good.
• San Martin SN0144: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c4Wx4KDL
To determine the winner, I ranked each watch across multiple categories including:
The Orient movement is better than the NH35. Surprised to see you rank the NH higher.
✓ Engineering & Build Quality
✓ Movement Performance
My list ; 1 San Martin, 2 Orient, 3 Seiko, 4 Timex, 5 Casio, 5 Citizen ✌🏾🏃🏾.
Thank you so much for this kind of vidéo 👏🏾👌🏾
✓ Lume
✓ Design & Style
Bit of a hitpiece on Citizen there 😂. Their best value affordable Automatic watch is still the NB1050. $300-350 that gets you not just a 9000 but a decorated 9011 with a custom polished Rotor and gold accents, same 100m WR as the Shore, a slightly improved sapphire crystal, case and bracelet with a duratect platinum coating and superior luminescence. About the only thing one can really complain about is once again the bracelet given the male endlinks and again only two positions of microadjustment. At least it has conventional lugs for strap changes.
✓ Comfort & Daily Wear Experience
✓ Overall Value
If I should choose from a Chinese brand, I'd not go for a San Martin, I'd rather buy one of the titanium models made by Berny (one with the logo) or a Boderry.
At the end, I'll reveal both the objective winner based on the scoring system and the watch I would personally buy with my own money.
If you're shopping for an affordable automatic watch in 2026, this comparison should help you decide which watch is right for you.
Great rundown
#AutomaticWatch #Seiko5GMT #TimexMarlin #OrientMako #CitizenTsuyosa #CasioEdifice #SanMartin #WatchCollecting #AffordableWatches #WatchReview #MechanicalWatch #BestAutomaticWatch
0:00 The Contenders
orient...
2:33 Engineering
6:12 Movement
Please note: today's sponsor is for right-handed belt owners. If you are left-handed, you will feel a regrettable pinch!
9:12 Lume
11:00 Design
Really useful video!
14:31 Ownership Experience
17:44 Value
Citizen is most accurate watches
20:12 WINNERS
Seiko is my favourite overall watch maker, but lets be honest the 5 range is shit - you pay too much for a basic watch.
More User Perspectives
The design rankings are really subjective - I would give it to the SM and the Oreint for dials alone and the Seiko is far too close to a direct homage of the polar explorer II which has to take away from the design and put it in dead last. The clasps in the integrated sports watches are deal killers for me - cannot change them and the clasps are just terrible
@samfalsetti1836Shocked about citizen lume performance
@SaltyDevildog-m249you picked the wrong Tsuyosa.
@RobertHamlin-c5kVostok missing
@JabecoCPlease leave the subsidized chinese factory watches out of these competitions, they're really not real watch companies, they steal more than they create.
@FullMoonNorthGreat vid as always. How about brand heritage? Also, should all the categories carry the same weight?
@ralphrobles7491I like the Orient. The San Martin is very nice too, and reminiscent of the Tissot Gentleman.
@RondelayAOKThe new Cestrians walk all over these, especially price for functions.
@shabashmaoriMy view 1 san martin
2 merlin timex
3 casio forz carbon
4 orient
5 seiko gmt
6 citizen tsyosa tiff
Watches are not just about bill-of-material.
The brand also has strong value.
Seiko, Orient, Citizen and Casio are "real" products with story and history. The brand has appeal.
On the other hand - San Martin is just a generic mass product with bad name and unappealing logo who is trying to get into the market but is to ashamed of its origin.
No amount of edge polishing will "polish" this
Affordable to me is something under 200 dollars,which is why the steeldive 1970 is still better than all of those watches.
@tomredjWhy not the Citizen NY0120-52X instead of the tsuyosa shore? It would have been a better match to seiko and Orient Offerings IMO.
@gtalianothat citizen was an unfortunate pick.
@lululThere's a slight discrepancy in the video. In the description section you listed the San Martin habing the Miyota 8217 movement.
But in the Movement section you mentioned that the San Martin has the high beat Miyota 9015. Other than that great video. Also agree with your final thoughts at the end. Although the grey dial of SN0144 is the one that I would choose over the bright blue enamel.
So sad that a china watch won(can't do chinese) and sad that Citizen came in last. Give me the Timex!
@garytru563Regarding the Seiko 4R, Orient F67 & Citizen 82 auto movements, from the mfg. spec sheets. Seiko; -20/+40 spd, same for Citizen -20/+40 spd, Orient specs the F67 at -15/+25 spd. As to value, the Mako 40 is readily available for $239 so it's value rating, based on points / cost is $12.57 / point so an even better value.
@psherwood4606Having bought the SN0144 20 months ago for 210 € after tax I know which one is the winner. Nobody buys SM watches at their listed prices….
@thomasstock7634I have enjoyed your objective evaluation. I also liked your personal choice, you are open to the fact that most times the brand name influences the choice. Chinese brands are doing well but must keep doing well for tens of decades to compete with American and Swiss brands. In your next evaluation, include originality of design.
@EricKinyua-m8mI have 4 of the watches that u made this videos and the SM gets so many attention at work, from a lot of ppl even those that are not into watches. The others close to no attention at all. So in term of design SM is top in my book. I also have two Carreras from TAG and those also dont get attention at all. Everyone notices that dial so the color and light rly show off especialy at sun light.
@Mike-TMSGreat comparison run down. Thanks for including a Chinese brand too. It's nice to see they are worth considering.
@LocalAquaticsThe best automatic watch is the B2100…
@d.b.1176To be fair, San Martin released some stunning looking variants of the SN0144 including some with chinese numbers. Very distinct design.
@_M_4Vostok?
@grandviewguitarJapan is an ally. China is not. I will buy from Japan thanks.
@howiem3883Very well done Dave
@MichaelMitchell-vk9lkWhy this fixation on water resistance? Why are you comparing dive watches to non-dive watches? How many of us actually swim with our watches on? All I want is a watch that can get rained on without tanking. If i can wash my hands without taking my watch off, I am good.
@howiem3883I bought two of the Orient Mako 40 watches, one blue, one white/silver. They are great, but bracelet lacks any taper, which makes it wear larger IMO. I put both on leather and it improves everything for me.
Stats to price, the Mako 40 is a good deal.
Great video for anyone in the market for an affordable watch. Maybe move up to the $500 mark for your next video. I'll give it a like!
@majin-vegeta90Great breakdown!! There are ssssooo many high quality watches in the “affordable” segment now. San Martin is the value king, and the Orient Kamasu remains the best diver. And there are even solid dress and daily options, like the 38mm no date Bambino, the Timex Marlin Draper, and the 37mm Tsuyosa.
@AdAce21Casio has a newer version out called the EFK-110. Uses a Miyota and is thinner. It has the date at the 3 o-clock position
@AngryWatchGuyDisagree with Seiko movement. Should be the last place
@marklieberman8315Not sure where you’re getting $360 for the SSK059. That’s a $450 watch.
@cwarnett0That Mako dial color is sooo good.
@eg042680Orient Mako = Citizen Tsuyosa > Seiko 5 sports = Casio Mechanical > Timex >> san martin
@カイウェイ-m4q