Yesterday featured a handful of fairly expensive, grail-worthy day date watches that I thought would be considered a pretty cool Christmas gift idea for yourself or a very lucky someone. The list was made up of day date watches from Breguet, Blancpain, Omega and Breitling, with Rolex taking top prize with its esteemed and highly coveted Day-Date 40.
While many of us can only dream about these kinds of grail day date watches, most of us can put together a couple hundred dollars to buy something that, at the most basic of levels, performs a very similar, almost like-for-like task of their more expensive counterparts.
So, with that being said, here are 11 affordable alternative day date watches that might hit the mark for you on Christmas Day.
Seiko 5 SNXS79K1
I actually recently purchased this exact Seiko 5 Automatic Sport a few days ago. In retrospect, any variation of the Seiko 5 Automatic Sport is going to tick a lot of boxes all the while being super friendly on your wallet. This particular piece is on sale at the time of writing -- 60% and it comes with a credit coupon to use.
Seiko 5 SNKE03
The Seiko 5 SNKE03 is like the SNXS79K1's cooler older brother. It has a very stealthy exterior with an all-black aesthetic that extends from the dial to the case and the bracelet, with a red seconds hand adding to its already very inconspicuous look. Super cool stuff.
Seiko 5 SRPE79
The next Seiko 5 model I'll be featuring is the beefiest of them all, the Seiko 5 SRPE79. This macho day date piece packs one hell of a punch, from its larger, more durable grainy-finished case to the textured dial and bold look, the Seiko 5 SRPE79 packs a punch and drives a hard bargain.
Seiko 5 SNK809
Whenever you hear someone talk of the Seiko 5, this is the model they're talking about. The Seiko 5 SNK809 is, and I'm definitely going out on a limb here, one of the greatest day date watches in the world. It's inexpensive, it's reliable, it's tough, it's discreet and it is the mechanical watch world equivalent to the Swiss Army knife.
Hamilton Jazzmaster Day Date
The Hamilton Jazzmaster Day Date presents in a very stylish package with a sleek stainless steel case opening to a very comfortable steel bracelet. The day date functionality here is legible and clear, with the dauphine shaped hands lending to more high end, sophisticated look.
Tissot Visodate
From Tissot we have the Visodate, a very dressy, very classical take on the more affordable day date. The model pictured here has a lovely golden coloured dial, but the Visodate can also be had with a less flashy flat black dial, too.
Tissot Couturier Day Date
Another Tissot, this time in the form of the Couturier Day Date. The Tissot Couturier Day Date is a thick, bold and highly masculine timepiece that embodies the look and feel of a semi-classical day date watch that you can dress up or down. And it comes with a massive discount of nearly 50%, too.
Tissot T-One
Another Tissot, this time with the T-One. The Tissot T-One is an interesting piece in that its design cues are very much in keeping with a restrained, almost reserved aesthetic. But it is, without question, a very solid consideration for an affordable day date watch.
Orient RA-AK03
The Orient RA-AK03 presents as a no-fuss, simple and direct day date watch. It's asymmetrical dial layout takes some getting used to, but that moon phase adds an element of romanticism that seems amiss with most of the other day date watches in this list.
Timex Waterbury Day Date
Yes, this is a Quartz watch, but hear me out. The Timex Waterbury Day Date is such a charming little piece that I couldn't not include it. The colours are on point, the proportions are millimetre perfect, the dial is balanced and clean, and the day date indicator is subtle yet prominent. If this was a mechanical movement I would have bought it ages ago. Such a cool piece.
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