The best men's watches to gift under $500

A quartz movement, usually. That is not a criticism — quartz is more accurate than any mechanical watch at any price, and at this budget it means the money goes into the case, the dial and the bracelet rather than into a movement that will still be worse than a $30 module at keeping time.

What matters at $500 is whether he puts it on in the morning. That is a design question and a comfort question, not a horology question, so buy the watch that looks right on his wrist rather than the one with the longest spec list.

Between 38mm and 42mm suits the large majority of wrists. The case should not overhang the wrist bone, and the lugs should not extend past the flat of the wrist. If you are buying blind, err smaller — an oversized watch looks dated far faster than a small one, and 44mm watches have aged badly since 2015.

Strap or bracelet is mostly preference, but a leather strap is easier to size correctly as a gift, because bracelet links usually need a jeweller and a receipt.

Homage watches that copy a famous design closely enough to be embarrassing. Chronographs with sub-dials that do not work. Anything with a stated water resistance under 30 metres, which effectively means do not wash your hands. And any watch marketed primarily on how much it looks like something ten times the price.

If he already wears a watch daily, and has for a year or more, the next purchase should be mechanical. That is where the sentiment lives — a mechanical watch can be serviced indefinitely, which is why they get handed down and quartz watches do not.