OUR TOP 6 PICKS: The most popular men's chronographs (roughly 400 €)

Tags: Selection of the best | Men's | Classic

5.12.2025 | 7 MIN

From what I’ve observed so far, there are two categories of sporty men's watches that men find hard to resist. The first is dive watches, even if they don’t plan to dive with them. The second is chronographs. And here too, only one in ten owners actually uses the stopwatch in real life. We often (and gladly) cover dive models, so why not take a look at the most popular men's chronographs priced up to 400 €.

Chronograph‑equipped watches are closely associated with racing watches. Take a look at the most popular models of recent years:

1) Casio Edifice ECB-900/950

The Casio Edifice ECB-900 and ECB-950 are outright bestsellers—not just within the Edifice line. And it’s easy to see why. The design is modern, the color accents and gradients are imaginative yet never outlandish. In short, a men’s sports watch for everyday wear. That’s exactly what you expect from Edifice—and, more importantly, what you need. And when it comes to the ever-popular value for money, there’s little to fault.

The 900 and 950 versions differ primarily in design. The 950 is more dynamic, with an octagonal bezel and a case with more pronounced bevels.

Casio Edifice ECB-950 in black.

The analog-digital display is clear, and you can also show the day of the week/date/seconds on the dial. There’s lume and, more importantly, two LED lights for excellent legibility at night. Practicality is truly key with the ECB: the watch offers five alarms, lets you time individual laps, and stores the results in memory. Best of all, thanks to Bluetooth connectivity you can make all settings on your phone (which you can also locate via the watch).

Casio ECB-900 in blue.

There are several colorways to choose from. What’s more, we’re talking about a very well-balanced watch—large enough for a proper chronograph, yet still sized so as not to put off wearers with smaller wrists. And finally, it runs on Tough Solar. So no battery changes: light powers all functions.

Casio Edifice is a line of sports watches inspired by motorsport. That’s why you’ll find a stopwatch on the vast majority of models. Edifice is even an official partner of the F1 team Scuderia Toro Rosso, the junior team of Red Bull Racing in F1. Key strengths include modern styling, quality construction, a wealth of useful functions, and a wide price range.

2) Orient Sports Solar

A classic panda dial, a symmetrical chronograph sub-dial layout, and specs worthy of a diver’s watch. That’s the Orient Sports Solar.

Beyond the chronograph, it offers excellent 200-meter water resistance with a screw-down crown. There’s also a unidirectional rotating bezel and luminescence.

The stainless-steel case measures 42.8 mm in diameter, so it’s not exactly petite—this is a more substantial sports watch. Its clear advantage, of course, is solar power.

Thanks to its specifications, robust all-steel construction, and high water resistance, it’s a great choice not only for everyday wear but also for demanding travel—not just summer holidays.

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3) Citizen Sports Eco-Drive CA069

Two Citizen models were vying for a place. The vividly green Eco-Drive CA442 and the busier Eco-Drive Sports CA069. In the end, it’s the bold pilot’s chronographs with an azimuth scale that earned their spot on today’s list.

I think it’s precisely the dial’s complexity that makes them so attractive to many men. The Arabic numerals don’t mark the hours but, as is customary on pilot’s watches, the minutes. And even though there’s a lot going on across the dial, legibility remains excellent—another hallmark of pilot’s watches.

What really seals the deal is the black PVD finish on some variants. While the case flanks are matte, the bezel is polished—a combination that elevates the watch’s perceived value. Despite the 44 mm case, it wears smaller thanks to the internal bezel and the sloping chapter ring. The two shades on the dial further enhance that impression. And last but not least, these are solar-powered watches, so you can forget about battery changes.

The Japanese watchmaker Citizen is renowned for several horological milestones. Chief among them is the first watch with a titanium case—and its Super Titanium remains among the most advanced materials to this day. In 1976, Citizen introduced the first solar-powered watch, the Crystron Solar Cell, and later harnessed solar energy for the world’s first watch with GPS time synchronization.

4) Casio Edifice EFB-730

We had to include a 2024 release that will appeal especially to men looking for a sporty yet smaller watch. Casio Edifice EFB-730 is exactly that.

The stainless-steel case measures 40 mm in diameter, a size that will suit most men’s wrists. Key advantages also include the price and—now take note—a sapphire crystal, which is still far from common in this price segment.

The EFB-730’s design is very well balanced. The chronograph adds a certain masculinity, yet overall it’s a rather understated watch. You also get luminous hands and hour markers and an excellent 100 m water resistance rating.

That’s exactly why the EFB-730 has become a sought-after choice for a smaller everyday watch. It’s durable enough, comfortable on the wrist, easy to read, fitted with a sapphire crystal, and comes at a price that’s hard to beat.

Casio Edifice EFB-730 with a black dial.

5) Festina Ceramic Chronograph

Festina ranks among the most popular men’s brands in our market, and its lineup offers no shortage of interesting models. In terms of price-to-performance, the Festina Ceramic Chronograph stands out.

Just look at what you get: a sapphire crystal, 100 m water resistance, a ceramic bezel insert, and a stainless steel case built for fans of larger watches.

Festina Ceramic with a black case and a steel bracelet.

And of course, a chronograph.

Festina offers the model on a steel bracelet or a silicone strap, depending on what suits you better. And there are plenty of color options to choose from.

Variant with a black dial.

Festina has a colorful past. It started out as a traditional Swiss brand, but since the 1980s it has transformed into a dynamic marque focused on affordable, fashion-forward watches. Its knack for delivering long-running bestsellers is something many other brands can only envy.

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Bonus tip: You’ll find many more sports models at Festina. For more than a decade, men have loved the Festina Chronograph 16760 for its sporty‑yet‑elegant design. So if you’re after something more understated, opt for that one.

Festina Chronograph F16760/1 in a more elegant style on a leather strap.

6) Diesel Mega Chief

Truly robust—both in style and in specs. Diesel caters to those of you who want a genuinely large watch on the wrist. The most popular model at the moment is this giant from the Mega Chief stable.

Diesel is a well-known fashion brand that isn’t shy about putting its name front and center. It’s a fair step away from traditional watchmaking, but the watches certainly don’t lack modern looks. The signature plate on the crystal lends a distinctive edge to every model in the Only The Brave collection. And it must be said, the slogan is quite apt.

The fashion brand Diesel is, in many ways, the realization of its founder Renzo Rosso’s dream. Starting in the late ’70s from a small village in Italy, he rose to become one of the most renowned names in fashion. Today the products include not only jeans, but also sportswear, eyewear, fragrances, and of course watches. Diesel designs in-house, and its watches are characterized by robust cases and an unmistakable, attention-grabbing presence. In recent years, Diesel has also started to dabble in the smartwatch segment.

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BONUS: Swatch Neon Jelly

With Swatches, what’s interesting is that they’re not the first to spring to mind when you’re looking for a specific watch category, yet you almost always find some great ones there. Perhaps that stems from their very nature as a Second Watch. Simply a second watch.

And that holds true for chronographs as well, because the Neon Big Bold models are absolute bestsellers. Their colors, playfulness, affordability and, for many, the appealing retro aura make them a “must-have” piece.

Neon Big Bold will appeal to those looking for large (yet lightweight) watches.

Swatch Neon Big Bold Party To The Max.

But the neon models have slowly become cult items even in smaller formats such as Neon Flash and Neon Wave. It’s a total blast—but in the best possible sense.

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So which ones have you fallen for? Or are you looking for something else? Browse the full selection of men’s watches; you may find the challenge isn’t choosing, but choosing just one.