Top 10 Best Watches For School That Look Awesome
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So, you’re going back to school. The good news is, you realised that wristwatches are a stylish accessory that can take your outfit to the next level. The bad news is…you don’t know where to start!
Luckily, you’ve ended up in the right place. In this top 10 list, I’ll be covering some of my favourite watches that won’t break the bank. These are among the best watches for school and all feature the following:
Stylish aesthetics – look great in front of your classmates
Durable construction – they will easily last the full school year
Priced under £150 – I don’t expect you to be swimming in cash
Readily available – you should be able to easily get your hands on these
Timex Fairfield & Fairfield Chronograph
A frequent feature of similar budget watch lists, the Timex Fairfield is a strong, stylish contender that looks great in a school environment. This range is minimalist in design and offers robust performance for a low price. The regular Fairfield comes in two sizes, 37mm and 41mm, to suit different wrist sizes, though the movement is quite loud. If that may be of concern, it may be worth opting for the quieter chronograph or sub-second variants, which provide quieter performance.
Vostok Amphibia
If you’d like to add some soviet swagger to your school uniform, the Vostok Amphibia dive watch may be what you are looking for. Based in modern-day Russia, Vostok was founded in 1942 and you can grab many of their watches for well below £100, including their most popular ‘Amphibia’. This model has an impressive automatic self-winding movement and comes in a huge variety of colours and dial styles, meaning there is bound to be one that suits your style. It’s a little bit of a quirky watch, if you’re looking for more of a traditionally styled diver, check out the Casio MDV-106, which also features on this list.
Seiko 5 SNK793
Your classmates will think you’ve spent hundreds on this Seiko SNK793, which looks far more expensive than the modest retail price would indicate. Perfect for medium to smaller wrists, at just 37mm, this watch sits very comfortably on your wrist, looking fantastic in the process; with a dark midnight blue dial. The Automatic 7S26C movement also gives the hand a smooth sweep, something you won’t find on the quartz watches your friends might be wearing. The only downside of this watch is the low-quality bracelet, though for under £100, who am I to complain?
Orient Bambino
Another watch that delivers fantastic value for money, paired with attractive aesthetics, is the Orient Bambino. Like the Seiko, this one looks like it’s worth triple the price and looks absolutely killer with more formal attire. I reviewed this watch a few months back and was blown away by the level of finishing, considering the affordable price. The sunburst dials look great in sunlight and the domed glass is surprisingly readable under artificial lighting. These Bambino models are dress watches, so may not suit more casual outfits; however, they look phenomenal with certain uniforms. They also make a 36mm version and a larger 42mm variant, in addition to the 40.5mm regular model. As a result, there is bound to be a Bambino for you.
Casio MDV106 (Duro)
The budget-friendly Casio MDV106 puts more expensive dive watches to shame; offering tremendous quality for well below £100. Often available for under £50 in the US, this is a great introduction to dive watches and looks somewhat like a Rolex Submariner for around 200x less. Smaller wrists may look better with something like the 40mm Invicta Pro Diver, but if you have larger wrists, the 42mm Casio Duro is unrivalled in quality for the price, especially in the US. With 200m of water resistance, you can easily swim in this watch without worrying about leakage. Once you’ve grabbed one of these, your friends will undoubtedly ask you where they can buy one.
Casio A158
If you’re on a super tight budget, the Casio A158 is arguably the best all-around option. This digital watch has some cool retro styling and is phenomenally durable for well below £30. The silver colourway makes this one far more versatile than its ‘sister’, the black resin F-91W. At just 34mm in diameter, it will easily fit under tight shirt sleeves and will never get in the way. Overall, this is a great option that is also easy to replace if required. These Casio watches have seen a massive resurgence in recent years and are a great way to add a ‘Stranger Things’ vibe to your look.
Lorus RT3 Chronograph
A superb choice for larger wrists, at 44mm, the Lorus RT3 chronographs are big, bold and offer awesome performance for the money. These watches typically offer strong water resistance and are constructed of the same stainless steel used in watches at multiple times their price point. These watches all use quartz movements, so they will keep accurate time for several years to come. You can also choose from a selection of dial arrangements and colours to best compliment your outfits and personal preference.
Lorus RXF41AX7
If your school/college doesn’t require a uniform, then take a look at the Lorus RXD425L8 field watch. This is a classic field watch, boasting generous specifications for the low price point; including a titanium case and 100m of water resistance. If you have a small wrist and are after a rugged look, this one could slot perfectly into your collection and is unbelievably comfortable as a daily wearer. I recently reviewed this, naming it the best cheap field watch out there. You could even whack an alternative strap onto this, to dress it up somewhat.
Skagen Jorn
Fashion brand Skagen offers a price-friendly alternative to many overhyped minimalist watches out there. Skagen is a subsidiary of the Fossil fashion house and this model features a look that is in vogue right now. This piece certainly isn’t as high quality as others on this list but provides the same basic specifications as other brands like MVMT and Daniel Wellington for around half the price at the time of writing). This model is available in a variety of colours and is a popular option among young men.
Watch Brands To Avoid (My Opinion)
Unfortunately, when it comes to lower-end watches, there are several brands that I’d recommend steering clear of. Many of these are heavily advertised on social media and overhyped by social media influencers, whilst providing very little quality for your money.
MVMT
Unfortunately, my experience with MVMT has been a poor one. I had this brand rammed down my throat by various YouTubers and unsurprisingly the brand reached out to me, offering to send me some of their watches. I wasn’t impressed at all. It’s no exaggeration when I say these felt like they were constructed of Lego, with the craftsmanship of a blind elephant. While the quality may have changed since my review, I am far too hesitant to recommend this brand in any capacity. They felt like £2 watches marked up to over £100 for no good reason.
Daniel Wellington
Daniel Wellington watches seem to be incredibly popular with young people in the UK and I’m sure it’s mostly down to strong marketing; because frustratingly, their products suck. I purchased one of these and compared it to a similar watch I bought for a fraction of the price from Aliexpress. The results were shocking. These are massively overpriced and incredibly cheap watches. Many better alternatives offer a more well-rounded minimalist package, for less money.
Vincero
Arguably the most hyped fashion watch brand on social media right now. They repeatedly claim to offer luxury, super high quality watches for really low prices and advertise relentlessly across YouTube. While their watches are not the worst around, they are far from luxury and, in my opinion, look ugly. Their designs seem clumsy and there are far better options at that price point (including the ones I mentioned on this list). Furthermore, if you have slimmer wrists, you are short of options with Vincero, who’s watches are universally large and chunky.
Any Dropshipped Brands
Dropshipped watches are prevalent on sites like Instagram and they are well worth avoiding, to prevent yourself from getting scammed. Read my previous article to discover more about this shady business model.