Today we’re going to be taking a look at 10 of the best solar watches under £500. We’ve focused on select brands that are known for consistently putting out high quality watches in this sector. These brands include Citizen with their Eco-Drive collection, Seiko with their Seiko Solar and Casio with their Tough Solar timepieces. To show what else is available I’ve also included one example timepiece from Bering.
In the past we’ve provided articles all about the way these solar watches work. You can read up some detailed information about this in our guide provided below:
Keep in mind that many of the watches shown below and available in different styles, this is just to give you an idea of the type of timepieces available from each brand.
Citizen Eco Drive Solar Watches
First up we’re going to be look at Citizen’s Eco-Drive watches. Citizen has been so successful with their Eco-Drive watches that they now produce the majority of their watches with this technology. It makes use of any form of light to power the timepiece.
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Citizen AT4008-51E
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First up in today’s list of the best solar watches under £500 is this impressive Citizen Eco-Drive timepiece. This range of Citizen watches offers incredible value for money. It makes use of atomic timekeeping via radio control, making it one of the most accurate timepieces in the world. Additional features include a power reserve indicator, sapphire crystal glass for excellent scratch resistance, a perpetual calendar and an Eco-Drive movement.
The Eco Drive technology featured on the Citizen watch means the timepiece is powered by light, any type of light. The watch itself will never need a battery.
This type of high quality ultra accurate Eco-Drive watch is available in a variety of designs so if you like the technology but you’re not a fan of the colouring, be sure to check out the other options available from them.
2. Citizen Nighthawk CA0295-58E
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For those who like the style of all black watches the Citizen Nighthawk is a great choice. It’s built with a black ion-plated stainless steel casing that has a diameter of 42mm and a thickness of 13mm. At the heart of this watch is a Citizen Eco-Drive movement, meaning the timepiece is powered by any type of light.
The Citizen Nighthawk makes use of a mineral crystal glass for added resistance against scratches and shattering. It also comes with a 200m water resistance rating which is more than enough for most people’s needs.
3. Citizen BN0151-09L Diving Watch
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The Citizen BN0151-09L is perfect for anyone seeking a high quality Solar powered diving watch. It’s powered by an Eco-Drive movement making use of any light as a source of fuel. The casing itself is made from stainless steel with a diameter of 42mm and a thickness of 12mm, it also features a turnable bezel. This has been paired with a quality polyurethane strap with a width of 18mm.
Both the bold hands and thick hour markers are coated in lume for extra visibility in dim lit conditions. The watch comes with a diver’s 200m water resistance rating so that should prove plenty for most people’s needs.
Seiko Solar Watches
Now we’re going to be taking a look at what Seiko has to offer with their Seiko Solar watches. Similar to the Eco-Drive the Seiko Solar can turn any light into energy to power their timepieces.
4. Seiko SSC147P1 Solar Powered Watch
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Here we have the first of our Seiko Solar watches to showcase to you. This is the Seiko SSC147P1, a stylish chronograph timepiece with a sporty design. It’s built with a stainless steel casing that has a diameter of 41mm and a thickness of 11mm. this goes well with the 12mm stainless steel strap that fastens with a fold-over push button release clasp.
Powering this timepiece is a quartz based Seiko Solar movement, similar to the Eco-Drive series from Citizen, these watches also make use of solar energy to power the timepiece. Extra features on this model includes a hardlex crystal glass for scratch and shatter resistance, luminous hands, a tachymeter and a 100m water resistance rating.
5. Seiko Solar Pilot Style Watch
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Next up in the Seiko Solar collection is this popular pilot style watch. It features a large 42mm stainless steel INOX casing with a thickness of 13mm. This has been paired up with a soft genuine leather strap that fastens with a buckle style clasp.
Like many aviation style watches this model features a large easy to read dial with enlarged hands and hour markers that are coated in lume for better visibility at night.
Features of the Seiko SSC081 include a Seiko Solar movement, a curved hardlex crystal, stop watch function, alarm, and a 100m water resistance rating.
6. Seiko Solar SNE437P1
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Last up in Seiko’s Solar powered collection is the Seiko SNE437P1, a diving watch with an impressive diver’s 200m water resistance rating. Note that a diver’s 200m rating is far greater than a standard 200m rating on a watch, you can read up more about this in our water resistance guide.
This Seiko Solar timepiece is built with a large 43mm stainless steel casing that has a thickness of 12mm. It’s been paired with a 22mm wide stainless steel strap that fastens with a push release style buckle with added safety clasp.
As is typical with diving watches, this model features a large easy to read dial design making use of thick hands and hour markers that are coated in lume for better visibility in dim lit conditions. The date display also comes with a magnifying bubble positioned over the top of it. As is common with Seiko timepieces in general, you end up with fantastic value for money with this model.
Casio Tough Solar Watches
Casio is probably best known for their G-Shock collection and the Tough Solar technology many of them now make use of. Like the previous watches, this makes use of a solar panel on the dial that catches light and transforms it into energy to power the system.
7. Casio Mudman Tough Solar G-9300-1ER
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This is the Casio Mudman G-9300-1ER, a very well known and respected timepiece when it comes to high quality rugged outdoor watches. Casio’s G-Shock collection offers excellent protection against vibration and shocks, it’s built with this thick rubber protecting it.
The Mudman is ideal for those who live an active outdoor lifestyle. It features a digital dial, alarm, stop watch, timer, compass and day display. A durable mineral crystal glass provides a good level of resistance from scratches and shattering also. Last but not least is a quality 200m water resistance rating.
Powering the watch is a quartz based movement that makes use of Casio’s Tough Solar technology that uses light energy and converts it into power for the timepiece.
8. Casio Protrek Tough Solar Watch
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Here we have the Casio Protrek, another well respected timepiece from the Casio collection that’s designed for outdoor enthusiasts. The Protrek makes use of atomic timekeeping for incredible accuracy with its radio controlled sync with all 6 transmission stations worldwide.
The new triple sensor offers Improved accuracy, is 95% slimmer, and uses 90% less power. Three high-sensitivity miniaturized sensors take accurate measurements of constantly changing natural phenomena, and display directions, differences in altitude, and atmospheric pressure tendencies in both digital and analog formats as well as temperatures in digital format.
This rugged and versatile watch also makes use of the Tough Solar rechargeable solar battery that’s automatically charged by light.
Note that this is an oversized watch with a 47.7 mm casing diameter and a thickness of 13.2mm so this may not be suitable for people with smaller wrists.
9. Casio Wave Ceptor LCW-M170DB-1AER
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If you’re looking for the perfect blend of sporty and casual in a watch, the Casio Wave Ceptor Lineage is worth a look. This watch is built with a black ion-plated 40mm casing that has a diameter of 9mm making this one of the slimmest watches on today’s list.
It may not look like it compared to Casio’s previous watches, but this model also packs a huge amount of features. The Wave Ceptor technology ensures the timepiece shows the correct time accurately wherever you are in the world. The Tough Solar technology inside the watch also means it can charge itself using any form of light.
Additional features include a LED to illuminate the dial, a Neo display for better visibility at night, world time function, stopwatch, timer, 5 daily alarms, an automatic calendar and a battery level indicator.
A high quality sapphire crystal glass provides excellent scratch resistance, the downside of a sapphire crystal glass is that it isn’t as shatter resistant as a mineral crystal glass.
The water resistance rating of this model is 50m.
Bering Solar Watches
Finishing things off we have a timepiece from Bering’s Solar collection. They typically produce more casual slimmer watches so if you’re someone after a thin and stylish solar watch, Bering could be perfect. I’ve only included the one for now though, if you like the idea of this brand you can always browse the rest of their collections online.
10. Bering Solar Quartz Watch 14440-077
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Last up in our list of the best solar watches under £500 is this stylish model from Bering. Bering have long been one of my preferred Danish watch brands for their ultra slim designs. Note that the 40mm brushed grey stainless steel casing has a thickness that’s just 9mm. Protecting the dial on this timepiece is a high quality sapphire crystal glass for excellent scratch protection.
At the heart of this watch is a Bering Solar powered Japanese made movement. The solar power means the watch can use light and store the energy to power the timepiece over time. Additional features of this Bering watch include a 50m water resistance rating.
Conclusion
As always, thanks for taking the time to read through today’s article. What’s your favourite brand when it comes to solar powered watches? Comment below and let us know.
