Japanese watches are now gaining popularity all over the world. The reason is not only because these products have an affordable price, but most of these watches are also reliable and highly durable. So, what features should you look for in a high-quality Japanese watch?
The product’s overall design is an important factor you should consider, which will depend on your style and personality. Moreover, choosing a versatile product that you can wear for various occasions is also beneficial. Of course, you should also consider the product’s price and quality. So, you need to pick a watch that is made of premium materials. Added features, like a day/date window, an alarm, or a chronograph, are also a plus.
Unfortunately, there are numerous Japanese watches available on the market, and picking the right one can be time-consuming. So, to help narrow your search, here are the 10 best Japanese watches.
Citizen AT4010-50E Eco-Drive Watch
This product from Citizen is a silver-tone dive watch with three chronograph subdials. As a dive watch, it is water resistant to up to 660 feet or 200 meters, and it is suitable for various water activities, such as scuba diving.
One of the best features of the AT4010-50E is its radio-controlled atomic timekeeping that automatically adjusts time, providing you with the most accurate time. Moreover, this timepiece also features Citizen’s Eco-Drive technology. Because of this technology, this watch doesn’t need a battery. Instead, it gets its energy from artificial or natural light sources, which is then stored in a rechargeable lithium-ion cell.
Even though this watch has a lot of subdials, it is still light and comfortable, thanks to its titanium casing. Other notable features include an alarm, a perpetual calendar, 12 and 24-hour displays, and a date window.
Seiko SNE098 Solar Analog Watch
The Seiko SNE098 is an analog watch with a sleek design. It is a highly durable product, thanks to its 38 mm stainless steel case with Hardlex dial window. Moreover, it has a gunmetal sunray dial and a Seiko logo at the 12 o’clock mark.
Aside from its aesthetically pleasing design, this watch is also water-resistant to up to 330 feet or 100 meters. As such, it is suitable for various water activities, like swimming and snorkeling, but not for scuba diving. This Seiko watch also features a solar-powered technology, so you don’t need a battery. Plus, this product also resets automatically, and it features Japanese quartz movement.
Because of its sturdy design, the Seiko SNE098 is a bit heavy compared to the other products on this list. Nonetheless, this is a minor drawback, considering its great features and design.
Casio G-SHOCK GA 100-1A1 Military Series Watch
With its matte black resin band and case, the G-Shock GA 100-1A1 is designed for various occasions but primarily for military, sports, and other outdoor activities. Aside from its cool design, this black watch also has convenient features.
Aside from being shock-resistant, this timepiece is also water-resistant to up to 200 meters. Furthermore, it also features a digital and analog movement, world time in 29 time zones, daylight saving on/off, four daily alarms, and a 1/1000th-second stopwatch. The best part is that this product is affordable – with a price of less than $100.
Overall, the G-Shock GA 100-1A1 is one of the most popular Ana-Digi watches on the market. However, it has a shortcoming. Its LED light is a bit weak. Nonetheless, this is still one of the best Japanese watches, considering its high accuracy and superb durability.
Citizen BL5250-02L Eco-Drive Titanium Chronograph Watch
Like the Citizen AT4010-50E, the Citizen BL5250-02L watch features Eco-Drive Technology, so this watch doesn’t need a battery. To charge its lithium-ion cell, it uses any light source, including indoor or artificial light. Aside from that, this timepiece also has a low charge indicator and a power saver function.
The Citizen BL5250-02L also has a perpetual calendar that automatically adjusts until 2100. Furthermore, its Japanese quartz movement is quiet and precise. Plus, this watch is also water-resistant to up to 200 meters or 660 feet.
For its design, this Japanese chronograph watch has a black dial with textured subdials, a titanium case, and a brown leather band with white stitching, making it a perfect accessory for professional and casual wear. Other features included are a tachymeter, a unidirectional bezel, and an alarm.
Orient Monarch FDD03002B0 Watch
The Orient Monarch FDD03002B0 watch has a simple yet elegant design that is rich in exquisite details. This timepiece has a case with a diameter of 40 mm, a black dial with Arabic numerals and antique-styled hands, and a black leather strap.
Another great feature of this timepiece is its power reserve indicator located below the 12 o’clock mark, which shows the remaining stored energy. Aside from that, this Japanese watch is also water-resistant to up to 165 feet or 50 meters. So, it is suitable for swimming but not for snorkeling or scuba diving.
In addition, the Monarch FDD03002B0 is not an automatic watch. For this reason, you need to wind it by hand. Nonetheless, a mechanical watch is lighter and less complicated compared to automatic watches.
Casio Edifice EF527D-1AV Multi-Function Watch
The Casio Edifice EF527D-1AV is not only stylish but built for comfort and functionality as well. It comes with a 45.5 mm stainless steel case with a stationary bezel. On both sides of the case, you’ll find pushers, and a protected screw-down crown on the right side. In addition, the watch also has a black dial with silver-toned hands and markers, which is operated by a Japanese quartz movement.
The dial also has three chronograph subdials with 60-second, 60-minute, and 12-hour displays. There’s also a date display window at the 3 o’clock position. Aside from that, the stainless steel strap features a fold-over push-button clasp that ensures that the watch stays on your wrist. Lastly, this watch is water-resistant to up to 330 feet or 100 meters.
For more quality timepieces, check out our guide to the best Nomos watches.
Seiko SNK805 Seiko 5 Automatic Watch
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly Japanese watch, the Seiko SNK805 should be one of your top choices. This timepiece is designed not only for outdoor adventures but for a casual night out as well.
The Seiko SNK805 has a durable green fabric strap with a traditional buckle. The green dial matches the strap and features easy-to-read Arabic hour and minute markers. The dial also has silver-toned hands, plus a day/date display at the 3 o’clock position. Underneath the dial is a precise 21-jewel automatic movement that keeps the watch functioning even without a battery. Instead, this timepiece is powered automatically by the movement of your arm.
This green dial watch is also water-resistant to up to 99 feet or 30 meters. As such, it can withstand brief immersion in water, but it is not suitable for swimming or other water activities.
Orient ‘Ray II’ Diving Watch
The Orient Ray II may look like a typical dive watch, but it has a modern design that you can wear for various kinds of occasions. For its features, this timepiece has a stainless steel case with a diameter of 41.5 mm and a stainless steel bracelet. It also has a blue dial with a metallic sunburst effect that can catch people’s attention. It’s a very cool looking watch for the office.
Wrapped around the blue dial is a bezel that works in a unidirectional manner. This timepiece also features a day/date display at the 3 o’clock position. Aside from those features, this Japanese watch is operated by an automatic self-winding movement. Lastly, as a dive watch, this product is water resistant to up to 660 feet or 200 meters.
Seiko SNE331 Solar Dress Watch
Another high-quality yet budget-friendly watch on this list is the Seiko SNE331. This analog watch has a stainless steel case with a diameter of 43 mm and a black bezel. The dial has a black color with silver-toned hands and khaki-colored numberings and markings. It also has a khaki-colored nylon strap that makes it a perfect accessory for casual wear.
Aside from those features, this watch under $300 also has a day/date display at the 3 o’clock position. Moreover, this product features a Japanese quartz movement, and it is powered by solar or light energy. Because this watch is water-resistant to up to 330 feet or 100 meters, it is suitable for swimming and snorkeling but not for scuba diving. Lastly, this product will tick every two seconds to indicate that the battery life is low and to preserve its power.
Citizen Eco-Drive AW1361-01E Sport Watch
If you’re looking for a watch that you can wear on various occasions, the Citizen Eco-Drive AW1361-01E is an excellent choice. For its design, it features a black strap with white stitching, a 45 mm silver-tone case with a mineral dial window, and a black dial. The dial has an analog display with markers for 60 seconds and 12/24-hour time. This Japanese watch also has a date window at the 3 o’clock position.
In addition to those features, this watch under $200 features Japanese quartz movement. Plus, it is water-resistant to up to 330 feet or 100 meters. Best of all, this timepiece has Eco-Drive technology. So, this product doesn’t need a battery because it is powered by natural or artificial light. This makes it a great addition to your everyday carry setup.