The Best Field Watches Under $500 by Extropian
There’s no denying the enduring appeal of the Field watch. Tough, unfussy, and easily legible, they’re incredibly versatile, and a perfect choice for the great outdoors. Whether you’re hiking, camping, climbing (or even just relaxing!), we’ve come up with a list of some of the best modern examples on the market right now, all costing less than $500!
BOLDR – Venture (from $299)
BOLDR makes super-tough but stylish watches for the adventurous in spirit. The Venture is their signature Field watch and comes in a variety of different configurations. The Carbon Black edition has a classic WWII aesthetic, with a black dial, white markers, and lightweight Titanium case. The Black Dawn adds PVD coating and a black NATO strap for that night-ops vibe. Or, if ultra-minimalism is your thing, the Singularity has a pitch-black dial without any markers at all, orange lumed hands, and a black Titanium bracelet.
Dryden – Heartlander ($500)
Dryden puts an emphasis on timeless styling and small batch manufacturing to produce high quality watches at an affordable price. One of their three main collections, the Heartlander is a rugged 38mm Field watch with a Stainless-steel case, sapphire crystal, and 100m water resistance. If you want a classic look, go for the 1-12 dial in black and gold with Hi-Vis white markers. Or, if you want something a little bit different, try the 3-6-9 dial with a brushed bezel and blue sunburst dial with a contrasting orange second hand.
Dryden Heartlander - Black & Gold
Hemel – HM Series ($299)
Hemel produces iconic-looking military watches for a new generation of civilian watch lovers. Taking design cues from vintage cockpit dials, ‘70s British pilot watches, and other sources, they refashion the classics with a thoroughly modern sensibility, with narrow bezels, slender straps, and interesting finishes. The HM series is their take on the Field, with a simple blue dial and contrasting white markers (available in several styles and configurations), a slim bead-blasted Stainless-steel case, engraved screwdown caseback, 100m water resistance, and heavy-duty nylon strap.
Nodus – Sector Field ($450)
Nodus places an emphasis on producing highly durable and efficient timepieces, often with a vintage-inspired aesthetic. They’re renowned for the quality of their finishing, and the Sector Field is no exception, with its brushed steel bezel, notched crown, distinctive lugs, and brushed sector dial. Powered by a Seiko automatic movement with a 41-hour power reserve, this is a lot of watch for the money!
RZE – Resolute ($399)
RZE has built a solid reputation for their modern, minimalist Titanium tool watches designed for the “everyday adventurer”. The brand’s original Field watch, the Resolute, was updated in 2022, and is still as rugged and practical as ever, despite its slim profile (only 10mm thick). It boasts a brushed Titanium case, sand-textured dial, large hands, and boldly applied 3/6/9 indices filled with ultra-bright Swiss Super-Luminova. This is a versatile little number, combining a vintage feel and superior legibility, powered by a Miyota 90S5 automatic movement.
Swiss Watch Co. (SWC) – Bunker (Black) ($495)
With its slim, lightweight Titanium case (just 50g and 10mm thick), you’d scarcely know you were wearing the Bunker! The dial is classic black with white markers, with 20 layers of SuperLuminova and 16 layers of anti-reflective coating guaranteeing excellent visibility in any conditions. If that’s not enough, it also features a date window, drilled lugs, a screw down crown, and 100m water resistance. It also comes with both leather and Velcro straps, so you can dress it up or down as you please!
Swiss Watch Co. Bunker - Black
Vaer – S3 Calendar Field ($199)
Based in Venice, California since 2015, Vaer aim to produce affordable everyday watches blending timeless design with durability and functionality. And the S3 Calendar Field fits all those criteria in spades! If you want a classic looking Field watch directly inspired by the iconic Dirty Dozen from WWII, with a 316L Stainless-steel case, sapphire crystal, locking screw down crown, and guaranteed 100m water resistance, all for less than $200 this is the one for you!
Vaer S3 Calendar Field
Venturo - Field Watch II ($360)
Venturo’s Field II is a very distinctive offering, directly inspired by the Rolex Oyster Army 3139, which was issued in small numbers to the Allies during World War II and has been out of production for decades. Venturo sticks closely to the original design with its cushion case, simple dial, and bold markers, but expands the size to 42mm while also offering a brushed and polished 316L Stainless-steel case with a rounded underside, box-shaped crystal, X1 grade SuperLuminova, and 200m water resistance.
Venturo Field Watch II - Black Sunburst
Ventus – Field Watch One ($299)
The Field One is a lively update of a familiar format, with a 316L Stainless-steel case and integrated bracelet giving it a very different look to the classic Field watch, along with a weathered stone texture on the dial, a slanted Chapter dial around the edge, and a lumed caseback which gives a glimpse of the movement inside. Available in a range of colors, we rather fancy the Arctic White edition!
Ventus Field Watch One - Arctic White
Conclusion
We hope you’ve enjoyed this little selection, but it’s just the beginning – Part Two is on its way, so stay tuned! For now, though, you can find out more about all these and more on Extropian’s database.
Created the 2023-08-01
Modified the 2024-03-20