Black Friday Watch Deals: 11 GQ-Favorite Tickers on Sale

Forty years after the release of the first G-Shock in 1983, it remains one of the most successful watch designs in history, with countless variations and special editions, and the kind of fanatical cult following usually reserved for beauty YouTubers and Toto bidets (also a Japanese invention, as it happens). John Mayer and Justin Bieber are fans of this particular model, and thanks to Black Friday, you can join their ranks for a mere $50.

In 2017, Timex brought the Marlin back just in time to ride the growing wave of vintage watch mania. Unlike many other re-editions, which alter the original designs with modern additions, the new Marlin is gloriously faithful to the original, courtesy of a dainty 34mm steel case (a perfectly respectable size for a men’s watch then and now) a set of funky Arabic numerals on a silver sunray dial, a faux-lizard skin strap, and a hand-wound movement. All of that and more can be yours courtesy of Amazon's ongoing holiday sale.

Take it from Will Ferrell, bargain-minded watch collector and die-hard Oris fan: what this indie Swiss maker lacks in name recognition, it makes up for in lofty design chops and (relatively) approachable prices. Ferrell swears by the brand's vintage-inspired Divers Sixty-Five line, which includes this luxe emerald-green stunner on sale for a rare 25% off at Mr Porter.

Most Apple products released this year are barely discounted for Black Friday, but you can save a decent bundle on Cupertino's latest, greatest watch. The Series 10 is smart enough to tell you if you're struggling with sleep apnea—and tip you off to a whole host of fitness-related insights—but its primary selling point might be how damn cool it looks on the wrist. There's a reason it tops so many holiday wish lists, and this is your best chance yet to grab it on sale.

Timex’s Q series is a celebration of the quartz era of the 1970s and ‘80s, during which the brand switched from old-school mechanical movements to cheaper and more reliable quartz (i.e. battery-powered) ones. The collection includes some real retro gems, but the style and dual-time functionality of this 38mm “Pepsi” bezel GMT is the clear winner.

With a case measuring 34mm, Marathon's Swiss-made field watch is one of the most diminutive options you’ll find. Military-grade specs like a fibershell case and tritium gas tube lume, however, make it every bit as fit for service as the big boys—and helped it clinched a shoe-in spot on GQ's list of the best watches under $1,000. It doesn't go on sale often, so we suggest hightailing it to the 'Zon quicker than you can say “Happy Thanksgiving, Mr. Bezos.”

Anyone who’s been in the market for a dive watch in recent years will be familiar with the Promaster, Citizen’s beloved lineup of sturdy-yet-inexpensive divers and a mainstay of countless “best affordable dive watches” lists. Originally released in 2004, the Promaster Dive (affectionately dubbed the “Ecozilla”) earned its nickname thanks to a combination of beefy proportions and Citizen’s signature Eco-Drive movement, which is powered by any light source and can run for six months between charges. All of which is to say, if you have the chance to buy it on sale, you should do so expeditiously.

The Movado Museum Classic isn’t the most affordable watch on this list, but it might be the most historic. Designed in 1947 by American architect Nathan George Horwitt (and now residing in MoMA’s permanent collection) the Museum was one of the most avant-garde watch designs of the midcentury era. Almost 80 years later, it’s still one of the best-looking watches for under a grand—looks that are only enhanced by Nordstrom's staggering discount.

In 2024, the Bulova Jet Star remains one of the sexiest watches you can buy for under $600. The original version was released in the '70s, but the newest riff flips the script with a more angular 40mm case, a new selection of ‘70s-inspired gradient dials, and Bulova’s latest NM50 quartz movement. With flex-worthy accuracy and aesthetics straight out of the disco era, it’s a quality buy full price—and a no-brainer on sale.