Best automatic watches under $120

Best overall: Seiko 5 Sports SRPD79K1 — the 4R36 movement (hackable, hand-winds, ~41h reserve), 42mm case, 10 bar water resistance, Hardlex crystal and a light 94g NATO strap. It's also the best-reviewed of this bunch by a wide margin, and it's the safest Seiko 5 you can buy on this budget.

Who the others suit:

• SNKK71K1 — smallest at 38mm, on a steel bracelet; pick it if 42mm feels big or you want a dressier look. Older 7S26 movement and only 30m water resistance.
• SRPE17J1 — slim 11.8mm dress case, 40.5mm, 4R35, box-shaped Hardlex; the office/formal choice.
• SRPD76K1 — same 4R36 in a 42.5mm case on a silicone strap; sporty and beach-friendly.
• SRPD65K1 — the bracelet version, but at 170g it's the heaviest here.

Two cautions: the SRPD79K1's cheapest seller ships from the UK, so duties may apply, and one seller's SRPD65K1 price looks like a listing error — pay with buyer protection.