10 Best Japanese Watches
These Watches From Japan Are Worth Your Time and Money
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The days when a serious watch enthusiast would only consider owning — or even wearing — Swiss-made timepieces are as bygone as the days when our highways and driveways were only filled with American cars. And unsurprisingly, one of the key players in today’s watch market is Japan. While this industrial-oriented nation only produces a few major brands, their watches are often at the forefront of technology, value and style. As a result, it’s become imperative than any watch buyer, whether a first-timer or long-time collector, consider one of these terrific timepieces from across the globe.
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Grand Seiko Elegance SBGKOO7
You’ll show the world you have elegance by putting this ultra-thin stainless-steel 39mm dress watch, with its dual-curved sapphire glass and gorgeous crocodile band, on your arm. But the real beauty can be found inside, thanks to a new mechanical manual winding movement, the Calibre 9S63, that guarantees extraordinary accuracy. Other superior features include the watch’s small second hand and a see-through case back which allow this watch to be a true standout in its field.
$6,900 at GrandSeiko.com
Casio Pro Trek PRG600YB-2
Geared for outdoor enthusiasts and powered by Wear OS from Google, this up-to-the-minute timepiece features Casio’s Triple Sensor Version 3 Technology which includes a magnetic sensor for compass readings, pressure sensor for altitude/barometric readings and a thermo sensor for temperature. And like all of the company’s Pro-Tek watches, it also boasts water resistance up to 100 meters, a stopwatch, five daily alarms, world time, countdown timer, solar power and more.
$320 at Casio.com
Citizen Paradigm BM7431-FL
Part of Citizen’s Super Titanium collection — watches that boast both five times the hardness of stainless steel for maximum durability along with superior comfort — this simple yet stunning timepiece makes a strong visual statement. Its dark blue dial features luminous hour and minute hands and markers, along with a date indicator and sapphire crystal. Plus, you’re always in good hands with Citizen’s famed Eco-Drive technology, which means the watch is powered by any sort of light.
$360 at CitizenWatch.com
Seiko Prospex SNJO28
Whether you ever go into the water or stick to dry land, every man will enjoy sporting this modern update of Seiko’s famed 1982 Hybrid Diver’s watch, powered completely by solar and light energy (so no battery is required — ever). This superb chronograph has a one-way rotating elapsed time bezel, an H851 calibre, both analog and digital displays, LumiBrite hands and markers plus, it’s water-resistant up to 200 meters, of course. What’s stopping you from jumping right in and buying this?
$550 at SeikoUSA.com
Orient Polaris GMT
The true world traveler is sure to love this watch, which brilliantly displays two sets of times at once, by using a fourth GMT hand that can be set independently from the time. But functionality is only part of the winning formula: the dial of the watch has all the embellishments that you’d find on a classic timepiece, while all of the stainless steel accents are mirror polished, and contrast beautifully with the guilloche and concentric grained textures on the dial.
$370 at OrientWatchUSA.com
Casio Edifice EQS920DB-1AV
Sporting a clean, mid-size case with dynamic design, the Edifice series pairs superior style with state-of-the-art technology. Indeed, this great-looking watch can be paired with a smart phone with just a push of a button through Casio’s Mobile Link Technology, after which the watch can access the correct time in its current location and for up to 300 cities worldwide, updating when traveling across time zones or for Daylight Saving Time. Whether you’re going across the country or across the world, this is the watch you want on your wrist.
$170 at Casio.com
Grand Seiko Heritage SBGH271
Combining the best of the old and new, this watch harkens back to the original G2GS, which offered Seiko’s first automatic movement and gained immediate popularity for its striking design featuring a mirrored, multi-sided case and wide dial opening, which was achieved with bezel-free construction and Seiko’s signature Zaratsu polishing technique. This gorgeous green-dialed model’s sophisticated S85 calibre, from the Shizukuishi Watch Studio in Iwate Prefecture, makes use of 21st century innovations to its mainspring, hairspring and escapement to improve precision. It’s just about everything you could ask for in a watch.
$6,300 at GrandSeiko.com
Citizen Promaster 1000M Professional Divers Watch
If you want to take your live of divers’ watches to new depths, this new timepiece is the one that you want. It features a black polyurethane strap, Super Titanium case with black dial, helium release valve, power reserve indicator, one-way rotating elapsed time bezel with lock, and runs on the company’s Eco-Drive technology that uses any light source available. Of course, it’s just as great on land as it is under the sea.
$1,800 at CitizenWatch.com
Casio G-Shock GG1000
For the man who works as hard as he plays, this new addition to G-Shock’s Master of G Mudmaster Series offers a mud-resist construction helps to ensure that nothing gets into the watch when down and dirty work takes you deep into the dirt and sludge. In addition, multiple gaskets are used on the pipes that guide buttons and shafts, ensuring mud stays out. For added functionality, the watch’s Twin Sensor capabilities provide instant access to direction and temperature information when needed under most conditions and the face of the watch is marked with large Arabian numerals at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock for easy reading.
$320 at Casio.com
Seiko Essential SSB347
When keeping perfect time is of the essence, you can’t go wrong with this wonderful quartz chronograph, which measures up to 60 minutes of elapsed time in 1/5 second increments. The black multi-layered dial of this Seiko with it’s red and blue accents, has a 24-hour subdial, a date calendar and a special 12 o’clock market. Plus, the specially designed silicone strap ensures complete comfort on your wrist.
$275 at SeikoUSA.com
Of course, these are only a handful of watches that are made in Japan; these companies all have vast collections, and a handful of other brands are also based there. Moreover, if you still insist on wearing something from Switzerland or the great U.S.A., check out all of AskMen’s extensive watch coverage.
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