For the stylish modern gentleman, a watch is far more than simply a mere timepiece. A carefully chosen watch is an important addition to any wardrobe. It offers a subtle clue to those around you that you value the finer things in life. A good watch will last a lifetime, too. It will be something that you will treasure and then pass down to the next generation. Choosing the right watch is a task that is as important as the person who will be wearing it. So, let’s take a look at some of the best designer watches for men.
Dress watches
The dress watch is easy to recognize and offers a classic design that really hasn’t changed that much over time. Traditionally a dress watch has a black leather strap and an all-white dial. These watches are simple, elegant, and sophisticated. They are basic in function, offering little more than time telling capability however they are perfect for the job at hand.
The Raymond Weil Toccata Classic watch with its white roman numeral dial and black leather strap is a perfect example of this iconic dress watch style. It features a classic quartz movement, and the dial also has a date window. The strap is the classic pin buckle and leather combination that is typical of any designer dress watch.
Of course, dress watches can also be thoroughly modern, and the Junghan’s Max Bill Automatic is a perfect example of this. The classic black leather strap is smooth, offering a slightly more modern look. The soft calfskin and simplistic dial, which features glowing markers rather than numerals, is elegant and understated. There is no date window, but that would detract from the simplicity of this design that is the perfect choice for any sophisticated black-tie event.
Diving watches
Whether you are working in a marine-based industry or are just a keen diver, a diving watch is a must. They can be worn comfortably up to depths of 200m, but it is more common for them to be worn to just 100m. These watches can, of course, be worn when not diving, as can often be seen in the likes of the James Bond films. However, they are less of a fashion item and more a work watch.
The Alpina Seastrong Diver 300 is a striking all-blue watch, the perfect color to show the colors of the sea – it even has a matching blue bezel. The face features glowing markers and hands and date display. This watch is water-resistant up to 300 meters and is ideal for work. Its stunning appearance. It also has a translucent back making it possible to watch the workings. This makes it a great hobby watch for someone who likes to go straight from the beach to a night out.
Victorinox is renowned for its watches, and its Swiss Army I.N.O.X. Professional Diver watch is one to look out for. With 200-meter water resistance, this is an excellent watch for any professional diver. It features a stunning stainless-steel anti-corrosion bracelet and a blue dial, a perfect match for the ocean. The watch also has glowing markers and hands – a must for any serious diving watch for optimal functionality. There is also a date display. This is the only Swiss watch that is capable of withstanding the 130 extreme endurance homologation test. It is ISO 6425 certified and capable of withstanding temperature shocks. It also features an end-of-life indicator, and there is even a removable magnifying glass.
Pilot’s watches
A pilot’s watch is designed with simplicity in mind. This category of watch is also a little larger than a standard watch. The reasoning behind their design is quite simple; these are watches that are easy to read and accurately. They are often worn over the pilot’s jacket and sometimes need to be operated when wearing gloves. These are most certainly not dress watches. However, for more casual occasions, they can be the perfect practical choice.
Garmin D2 Delta PX Aviator Smartwatch
There are aviator watches, and then there is the D2 Delta. This is a proper aviator watch in every sense of the word. It has a pulse Ox sensor to track the wearer’s blood oxygen saturation levels, and it also lets you know hemoglobin levels.
It also offers airport data, NEXRAD weather feature, color mapping, automatic logging of flights, and even connecting to your smartphone. This is an aviator watch with some sports credentials thrown in for good measure. You may think that with all these features that this would be a heavy and bulky watch? Well, we can’t promise it isn’t a little bulky; after all, it is doing quite a lot but is incredibly comfortable and lightweight and undoubtedly easy to wear all day. You can also play music on it if you are so inclined.
Rolex Pepsi GMT-Master
Rolex launched the first GMT-Master in 1955. This was a model originally designed for pilots on long-haul flights; it features the ability to offer simultaneous information about the time in two different time zones. The Rolex Pepsi GMT-Master is a rather sleek and refined-looking watch with a stainless-steel bracelet and case. The dial is matt black and a rarer feature in a Rolex and a perfect complement to the instantly recognizable Pepsi bezel with its striking red and blue coloring. The 24-hour timing has been cleverly split into the 12-hour segments of day and night.
If you are looking for truly precise timekeeping, then this is it with a 3075-caliber movement that beats at 28,800 vibrations each hour. This watch has accuracy like you will rarely see elsewhere, and with the crown pulled out, the second-hand stops allowing for even more accurate timekeeping.
If you are looking for authenticity and accuracy from your pilot watch, then look no further because this watch certainly has both.
What about the rest?
Of course, these are just a small selection of designer watches for men that you may want to consider. The following names are also worthy of consideration.
MontBlanc
Since 1906 MontBlanc has been manufacturing quality timepieces in Switzerland. With chronograph, automatic, and now smartwatches forming part of their extensive collection, they have something to offer every discerning customer. Timeless style and precision engineering go into every watch they make, from the MontBlanc 1858 to their motor racing-inspired Timewalker.
BALL
Another Swiss watch manufacturer, BALL Watch Company SA, was actually founded in Ohio in 1891 and has links to the early railroad. They specialize in timepieces that are highly accurate and offer perfect readings. Their popular models are inspired by travel and freedom and still offer the same accuracy the company was founded on. From the Engineer to the Roadmaster, these stylish watches also fulfill all of your practical requirements from a quality timepiece.
Maurice Lacroix
The Maurice Lacroix brand specializes in its unique, innovative style that combines the latest technologies, creativity, and precision craftsmanship. Whether you are looking for a designer watch at the lower end of the price scale or something a little more costly, their range which includes models such as the Eliros and the Aikon, has something for everyone.
Sinn
Manufactured in Germany, Sinn watches are perhaps not as well-known as some of the other brands on this list, which is a shame. A flight instructor and pilot founded the company, and their watches pay particular attention to technical excellence. Combined with robustness, they use some of the finest mechanical movements you will find anywhere. The Sinn collection includes a wide range of pilot watches, chronographs, pilot watches, and mission timers – many of which are particularly popular with the German federal police special force.
Frederique Constant
One of the newer manufacturers of designer watches for men. Frederique Constant is Swiss-based – like so many of the best names in the watch industry – and pride themselves in the quality of their timepieces. Much of the decorative work you will see on a Frederique Constant piece is created by hand. The detailed engraving, the addition of perlage, rhodiage, and even the Côtes de Genève pattern make these truly stunning watches something to admire. From the elegant index automatic dress watch to the chronograph automatic, this is a range that will delight.
Louis Erard
When it comes to striking designer watches, Louis Erard has been creating exactly that for almost a century. The elegant and simplistic faces of the watches in the collection hide a range of individual and unique features from blue hands to open movements, the colors are bolder than you may find with other brands, and this really does make them stand out in a crowd.
Baume & Mercier
A subsidiary of the Swiss Richemont conglomerate, Baume & Mercier has a rich and long history of manufacturing stunning timepieces. Their designs have been created to last, and this can be seen in their recent launch of the Riviera collection, a comeback for their iconic watch of the same name that was first introduced to the market in 1973, simple, elegant, and uncluttered this is a watch that does it all in style.
Jaeger-Lecoultre
Another subsidiary of the Richemont conglomerate Jaeger-Lecoultre began life in 1833 as a manufacturer of fine Swiss timepieces and clocks. From the elegant rectangular face of the Reverso model to the simple elegance of the Polaris, this is a collection full of sophistication, where attention to detail can be seen in every detail.
Breitling
If you are looking for precision-made chronometers, then your first manufacturer of choice should really be Breitling SA. These luxury watchmakers are well known for their designs specifically designed for aviators. The collection offers something for every occasion, from the Chronomat Ice Blue with its piercing-colored face to distinctive diving watches with their unusually brightly colored faces.
Hublot
Hublot is one of the newer kids on the block for men’s designer watches; the company was established in 1980. What sets them apart is the staggering attention to detail evident in every model of watch that they manufacture. Many of the watches feature colors that you might not normally associate with men’s designer watches. Still, this combined with the visible internal workings of the watches gives them a really iconic look that is rather unique in today’s market.
Tag Heuer
A well-known name in the world of watches, Tag Heuer offers innovation, quality, and stylish design in all of their watches – sometimes with a little bit of quirky, with watches like the Super Mario edition and their connected golf watch. These are modern designer watches that offer all of the superb functionality that people expect with a look that is just that little bit different.
Longines
Longines are masters of the traditional timepiece, producing elegant watches with classic precision Swiss movements. Their stunning models include both leather strap and metal bracelet watches, with aviator models and those suitable for diving. The classic hourglass shape is evident in all of their models, offering something for everyone.
Omega
Since 1848 Omega has been making incredible precision watches and is the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games. They offer various models, including the De Ville dress watches, their aviator collection, and their Seamaster collection, which has several diving watches. Their watches can be seen gracing the wrists of many of the world’s top sports personalities, a testament not only to their excellent timekeeping but also their durability.
IWC
International Watch Co. (IWC) was founded in 1868 by an American watchmaker. They are now based in Switzerland and specialize in manufacturing luxury Swiss watches as a subsidiary of the Swiss Richemont Group. Their oldest watch, manufactured with aviators in mind, is the Portugieser, an elegant and incredibly stylish watch. They also offer a range of other models, including a specific diving watch.
Zenith
Founded in 1865 by a 22-year-old Zenith is a part of the LVMH brand alongside Hublot and TAG Heuer. Their stunning range of watches offers innovation and accuracy with a superb range of features and attention to detail going into every model they produce.
Oris
Oris describes themselves as a manufacturer of luxury mechanical watches. They offer a range of watches with aviation, diving, and a more traditional dress selection. The Oris collection offers some particularly striking watches with vivid and unusual colored faces like the bold turquoise of the Divers watch and the green and red faces in the Aquis range.
Versace
There is no mistaking a Versace watch, with its elegant, simple lines, predominately gold and black coloring, and attention to detail. Their dress watches are simplistic in their look but incredibly elegant with their uncluttered dials and slightly smaller faces. Their sports watches offer all of the features that you would expect, again with a design that makes them clear and uncluttered.
Hopefully, now we’ve given you an overview of some of the best designer watches for men you can buy now. No matter who he is, purchasing a gift of one of these stunning watches is sure to be something the receiver will appreciate.
Continue your exploration of beautiful timepieces with these stunning watches from Gucci or take a look at our article showcasing the most timeless luxury watches.
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Last Updated on November 16, 2021
A highly motivated all-around writing professional with experience in writing about modern technology. Joanne writes for Superwatches for over 2 years now. Joanne specializes in product comparisons and reviews for us and we truly appreciate the quality of her work.
Lives in Congleton, UK.