Watches Under $500

Silverish Irony Chrono, $185, by Swatch, at Swatch.com

Swatch launches an affordable chronograph reminiscent of vintage 1960s timepieces. A safe bet.

Museum Classic, $495, by Movado, at Movado.com

Movado's 1947 classic gets a facelift, with a new blue dial surrounding the trademark 12-o'clock dot — symbol of the sun at high noon.

DZ1576 Timeframe, $160, by Diesel, at Diesel.com

Indiana Jones wouldn't turn his nose up at this retro-tech timepiece, fit for the adventure trail with its distressed leather band and a matte steel frame.

$350, by Calvin Klein, at Macys.com

For the more conservative types, Calvin Klein's modern classic features a gradation of silver tones and subtle details, such as an engraved crown.

Mechanical 97A109, $450, by Bulova, at Bulova.com

Through the dial's aperture and a transparent case back, get a glimpse at the fascinating clockwork on Bulova's self-winding watch, the best bang for the buck in a rose gold finish.

related slideshows