A crown is often overlooked even though it’s one of the most important features of a watch. The screw down crown is known for its effectiveness at increasing water resistance. It is a more effective means of keeping the watch safe from water damage as opposed to the push down crown. There are different levels of effectiveness and quality which may effect depth of water resistance. More affordable watches with screw down crowns usually come with a single seal, whereas some models from Rolex come with a triple sealed crown.
Not only is the crown a functional piece of watchmaking, it also doubles as a chance to provide some creative design to the timepiece. Here at the Watch Review Blog, we’ve taken into consideration the functional aspects of these watches, but we have also judged them based on there design style, and every-day wearability. We’ve done all the work for you, so sit back and enjoy our top picks for watches with screw down crowns under $1000.
Seiko SARB017 Alpinist

Easy to grip screw down crown and low price point make the SARB017 one of the best
As could be expected with the screw down crown, the Seiko SARB017 Alpinist has a 200m water resistance rating even though it is not designed for diving. There is an inner rotating compass ring that is controlled by the secondary crown at 4 o’clock. This timepiece uses the 23 jewel Seiko 6R15 caliber self-winding movement with a 50 hour power reserve that allows for hand winding as well as hacking. The Diashock stamp on the dial is the mark of the standard quality Seiko shock absorbent movement that you are getting with this piece.
The green dial is most likely the first thing that will stand out to you when having a look at this timepiece, it was the same for me. The green colour has a far deeper, almost metallic, colour when you see it in person and it pairs wonderfully with the gold Arabic numbers. The Mercedes styled watch hands are the same gold colour and they sport quite a large lume. Granted the green might not suit every outfit if you find yourself to be a more specific dresser but at this price point it will be a strong addition to any collection.
The case is a contrast of polished and brushed stainless steel and will make a more than suitable companion as a dress watch or an active wear watch. The case is 39mm in diameter so it won’t sit too big and heavy on the wrist. Although the buckle clasp ensures this watch isn’t going to be flying off your arm and the watch is considered suitable for active marine activity I feel with the genuine leather strap you will lean more towards using it for dress or casual wear to keep the crocodile patterned leather strap in good condition. The synthetic sapphire crystal protecting the dial gives it a polished finished but does tend to pick up smudges quite easily.
Glycine Airman 18 Sphair
The screw down crown on this piece is rubberised which is quite an interesting touch. The Glycine brand has quite a unique vintage style to it and this unique characteristic is put on show with the Airman 18. The crown at the traditional 4 o’clock spot is entirely rubberized with the Glycine logo on the top and a hatched crown at 3 o’clock with rubberized sides.
The Swiss automatic movement keeps this timepiece ticking along accurately and reliably day-in day-out. Part of the bearing movement is visible at the back styled with a Geneva waves look to it. The oscillating rotor attached the bearing has some stunning artwork on the back with the Glycine Airman stamp next to it. The rotating rubber bezel is sometimes hard to read when not held in direct light but other than that it is a great addition in that it gives the piece a sturdy feel. The rest of the stainless steel case combines some polished and brushed finishes to give the watch a cultured and authentic look.
The dial is where everything is happening on this timepiece and it is protected by an anti-reflective sapphire crystal, the same crystal can be found on the exhibition caseback. The watchmakers did incredible job when it comes to the functionality of this piece. Embossed on the dark blue dial are the 24-hour styled Arabic numbers with a date window at 3 o’clock. The dial, watch hands and unidirectional bezel team up here to allow time keeping for an incredible 3 different time zones. The intelligent design makes this piece a pleasure to have on your arm.
The case isn’t particularly big at 39mm so you should not be too concerned about the watch not being a good fit but it is important to keep in mind the strap is a thick genuine leather strap and can take some time to break in. The cost of this piece might be a bit tough to swallow at first but the craftsmanship and design that has gone into this piece defends the price quite well.
Orion 1 Watch Project
The deep blue dial of the Orion 1 is mesmerizing and brings the right touch of class to a timepiece that definitely puts its hand up as one of the better looking dress pieces at this price point. The screw down crown contributes to the 100m water resistant rating and while it can be used without much concern in water you won’t find that is the environment it gravitates towards.
This combination of genuine brown leather strap and brushed stainless steel case with a polished bezel makes this watch the perfect piece for daily wearing to the office, special events or even casual events where you want a slight edge to your look. The stunning blue dial is protected by a sapphire crystal with a blue anti-reflective coating that not only keeps the piece looking trim but also enhances the blue dial. The piece is 38mm in size and will comfortably suit a variety of wrists. The lugs are quite long and the straps can be easily adjusted should you need a different strap to suit your taste.
Seiko NH35 movement keeps itself going with the automatic movement and can also be hand wound. The second hand has a hacking feature so that you don’t have any difficulty setting your time accurately. I find the silver polished indexes and silver baton watch hands are well suited to this timepiece because of the feeling of space that it gives to the watch face.
Fortis Flieger Cockpit
This Fortis timepiece has a classic feel to it and jumps in just below the $ 1000 mark. The airman of old feature very strongly as influencers in the watch making world and you will struggle to find pieces more reminiscent of a pilot’s cockpit than the Flieger. This piece strays a bit away from the standard large hour markers and small minute markers instead opting for the opposite style.
The lightweight technology in this timepiece is one of the impressive features of the Fortis watch and there is no substitution of quality for the lightweight features. The two-tone orange/black dial demands your attention and is sure to draw some compliments. The watch hands and the white indexes are all luminous and there is a small date window at the 3 o’clock. Over and above the time and colour scheme the dial is kept simple and intentionally devoid of features.
The 40mm case diameter makes it suitable to most wrists and the anti-reflective sapphire keeps the view of the dial crystal clear. The case and bracelet are a brushed stainless steel with a deployant push button clasp keeping the bracelet snug and secure on your wrist. The automatic self-wind movement keeps your time accurate and reliable with the Fortis logo on the crown a subtle touch. This timepiece is not going to be for everyone but I believe there are some collectors out there that will be looking for a vintage Swiss piece of machinery.
Citizen Promaster PMD56-2951
If you are particular about the accuracy and convenience of your timepiece then you will get along swimmingly with the Promaster. It is a radio controlled eco-drive watch with a perpetual calendar so it will never need a battery replacement and will never lose time. Citizen are very well known for crafting quality that is hard to match and in the Promaster you have a seriously strong titanium scratch resistant case and bracelet. The bracelet is held by a push button clasp that has the Citizen engraving on the clasp. The titanium is lightweight which makes the watch a very easy wear.
The dark green dial is the second one to feature on this list and in terms of looks probably comes a close second aesthetically but the Citizen worksmanship still can’t be overlooked. The artwork at the back of the case and the citizen logo on the screw down crown are good examples of a quality watchmaker. The screw down crown helps this piece boast a 200m water resistance rating which means that coupled with the lightweight aspect of the watch you will be able to keep it on through most activities without it becoming a bother.
Large Arabic numbers are used for all the indexes except the 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock with the 3 o’clock being replaced by the date window. The colour is quite dark in person and the slightly bigger than usual indexes make the time simple to read. This will draw a very specific no frill watch collector or customer and not look good on every arm.
I want to buy a citizen echo drive radio active watch with digital n analog but want some pic to see the variety…
I have one I’d like to sell if you’re interested.
Hi Dan,
Did you sell your Citizen Promaster PMD56-2951?