Top 5 Best Sunburst Dial Watches Under $500

An aesthetically beautiful item has the ability to fool consumers of thinking that it is an expensive piece especially for products that are known to cost quite a hefty amount. Accessories such as watches are just some of the many items that are known to be expensive and add in a few beautiful aesthetics and you have a product that creates the impression of luxury.

One technique that watchmakers use to create a beautiful timepiece is the sunburst effect. This gives a watch beautiful transitioning colors once it is hit by the sun. A burst of color, and thus the name. However, that is what aesthetics do, create an illusion. Not everyone knows that there are beautiful items that are worth far less than what you thought they would, and that is what this list is going to be about.

Seiko Recraft SSC667

This model from Seiko features a blue dial with the sunburst effect partnered with a colorful nylon band with blue and orange streaks running down the middle, and what you get is a trendy, sporty look that fits any day, especially during summertime. Its black indices sit on top of a gray outline that separates the tachymeter from the dial.

There are three sub-dials present on the timepiece. One tells the minutes, another tells the time in military time, but only by the hour. In addition, there is also another that is set to count the seconds. These three is what made this timepiece a chronograph making it one of the most powerful time telling products available in the market and thus getting the label of chronograph.

The watch’s case is made of stainless steel which ensures durability of the timepiece. Its dial window however is made of Hardlex, which is Seiko’s version of a mineral crystal. However, in spite being the supposed to be second hardy material that can be used for this part of a watch, there has been arguments that it is not as durable as it should be because of the components mixed into the material to make it Seiko’s own. In addition, there has also been reports saying that it is not as resistant to scratches as it should, which is normally the case for a mineral crystal.

It is, however, powered by Japanese quartz movement with a power reserve of six months. It also has a water resistance rating of 100M which makes it suitable for swimming and snorkeling, but not diving.

Orient Nami FAC0900D0

The Nami from Orient is a timepiece that is mostly black in color. Its dial, however, is blue which goes well with the thing white indices and the thicker hour markers. Although, these are white for a reason, and that is because, they glow whenever they are in the dark. This luminosity allows the user to tell the time in spite being in the dark, which is an important function for a watch. This is also present on the hands of the timepiece.

The three o’clock marker, however, is shorter because that is where the date window is placed.

The entire dial is protected by a mineral dial window, which makes it resistant to scratch markers. Its bezel is unidirectional which makes it a suitable piece for divers.

The case is made of stainless steel, including the bezel which also has the corresponding minutes for each of the indices which are inside the dial. The band, however, is made of rubber which is not very telling for its durability, but more for its comfort. However, like anything that is rubber, this could breakdown in the long run.

The watch is powered by a Swiss automatic movement and can be used for diving because if it could not, then, what it the point of having a diver’s bezel.

Hamilton Jazzmaster Seaview H37551141

This sunburst model from Hamilton has got to be the brightest timepiece in this list. Its dial is blue in color, which could easily become electric in hue because of the sunburst effect. It also goes well with the white/silver indices that make up the minutes on the dial and the diamond-shaped hour markers makes the overall design more compelling. Of course, the hands add to the allure of the timepiece altogether.

However, the Jazzmaster Seaview has a simple design overall – no sub dials and not much frills on the bezel. It only has one complication at the three o’clock demarcation that indicates the date window which also tells the day.

All of these features are encased in a stainless steel case protected by a dial window made of sapphire, which is the hardest and most durable material that could possibly be incorporated into the design of a watch. In addition, this same material has been infused with antireflective properties which gives the user the ability to tell time regardless of the strength of the light source’s glare.

Its band is also made of stainless steel which secures the timepiece on to the user’s wrist with a deployant-clasp.  

Like the previously mentioned timepiece, the Jazzmaster Seaview has a bezel that incorporates a unidirectional diver’s bezel which has indicators that corresponds to the hours around the dial.

The wristwatch is powered by a Swiss quartz movement and has a water resistance rating of 330ft which allows only for light poolside swimming, and nothing deeper.

Tissot Seastar T120.407.11.041.00

Just like the previously mentioned wristwatch on the list, the Seastar from Tissot is another timepiece that features a blue dial alongside white indices with hour markers that are shaped in circles except for the nine, three, and six o’clock markers because they are indicated by thick lines. The 12 o’clock marker, on the other hand, is represented by a triangle pointing downwards.

What is unusual with the dial is where the date window is placed because in most occasions, unless it is a perpetual calendar watch, this complication is located at the three o’clock demarcation. Less often, at the four o’clock marker. However, this one has it at the six o’clock demarcation which is sufficient enough since anyone can easily tell the date through other means. However, it could have benefitted from having it bigger. 

All these are protected by a sapphire crystal dial window which is also resistant to scratch marks.

The entire timepiece is made of stainless steel, including the band which ensures the durability of the item and holds off the formation of rust. The band secures the watch using a fold over clasp.

Moreover, the hands and the markers, including the indices are luminous which will give you the ability to tell time in spite the dark.

The wristwatch is powered using a Swiss automatic movement and has a water resistance rating of 300M which is basically within deep dive territory.

Frederique Constant Slimline FC220NS4S6

Frederique Constant continues its makes of simplicity with their Slimline. This is a model of theirs that incorporates the sunburst dial technology. Although, it is not as clear as it should because the dial incorporates a white color paired up with silver hour markers only. In fact, it does not even have indices for the minutes. Its hands are needlelike and has a complication for the date at the three o’clock demarcation. Its bezel is thin and non-moving.

The case is made of stainless steel while the band is leather and secures the timepiece on the user’s wrist using a clasp. 

It is powered with a Japanese quartz movement and is only rated with a water resistance of 99ft which does not allow contact with any water.

Technology advances, so does everything else, and that means crafts even as old as watchmaking has been given the ability to make everything better, even if it is only on an aesthetics level which is just as important in the industry as the many specifications that goes into the creation of a watch. This creates an illusion of being costly. The list above breaks that illusion to the relief of the public; to us.