The 50 Best Watches for Men

A wise man once said that it’s worth spending the extra money to get what you really love because “enjoyment is strong value.” He was right. We can look at the features-to-price ratio of a watch all day long, but in the end it’s the love-to-price ratio that sways us. There’s no way all 50 of these watches will sway you, but we can guarantee that these watches are great in many measurable ways. The love, however, is up to you.

We’ve divided these into 10 sections.

And with that, here are the 50 Best Watches for Men:

Iconic Tool Watches

You’re going to know these watches at a glance, and so will many people around you. These have become icons of the wrist, enduring the decades because their design and functionality are undeniably excellent.

The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer

In 1953, Rolex christened a waterproof Oyster with a particular dial design as The Explorer to capitalize on Sir Edmund Hillary’s ascent of Mt. Everest with said watch and the booming interest in mountaineering and other adventures that swept Europe and North America after WWII.
Size: 39mm
Movement: Rolex cal. 3132
Bracelet/Strap: Oystersteel
MSRP: $6,550

Panerai Radiomir 45mm PAM00610

Two hands, four numerals, and that’s it for an iconic model of perhaps one of the most recognizable watch brands out there today.
Size: 45mm
Movement: Mechanical with 8-day power reserve
Bracelet/Strap: Leather
MSRP: $5,700

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Self-Winding

This watch created the luxury sport watch category back in the 1970s, and it shows no signs of giving up its position as one of the most iconic watches of all time.
Size: 41mm
Movement: AP cal. 3120
Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel
MSRP: $19,200

Rolex GMT Master II

Since the 1950s, the GMT Master and its rotating 24-hour bezel have been giving world travelers three time-zones inside one of the most rugged watches ever built.
Size: 40mm
Movement: Rolex cal. 3285
Bracelet/Strap: Oystersteel
MSRP: $9,250

Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1A

We said iconic, not cheap, and the Nautilus is about as iconic as a tool watch gets.
Size: 40mm
Movement: Patek Philippe cal. 26-330 S.C.
Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel
MSRP: $69,900

Lesser-Known Time-Only Tool Watches

Subtract the brand recognition, add in the value, and these watches represent some of the best options for those seeking a watch that’ll last a lifetime, no matter how much you bang it into things.

Sinn 556A

A straightforward design from one of Germany’s lesser-sung heroes of horology, watch nerds regard the Sinn 556A as a classic for those seeking great value.
Size: 39mm
Movement: ETA 2824-2
Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel (also available with leather)
MSRP: ~$1,080

Damasko DS 30

If you haven’t heard of Damasko, that’s understandable, because this German brand flies below the radar with its in-house hardened steel cases that are ready to take all the abuse you throw at them without showing a scratch.
Size: 39mm
Movement: ETA 2824-2 Elabore
Bracelet/Strap: Leather
MSRP: ~$1,114

Unimatic U2-C

From Italy, this is a pure tool watch with undeniable utilitarian minimalism and across-the-room legibility.
Size: 38.5mm
Movement: Seiko NH35A
Bracelet/Strap: Leather; rubber; textile
MSRP: ~$453

Tudor Black Bay 41

The diver version of the Black Bay continues to steal the show, but the quieter time-only BB41 is a badass, no-nonsense tool watch that gets you into Rolex’s sub-brand without shattering your piggy bank. Available in black or blue.
Size: 41mm
Movement: ETA 2824-2
Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel (leather also available)
MSRP: $3,000

Victoriinox I.N.O.X. Mechanical

You really can’t hurt an I.N.O.X. watch, and Victorinox has proven that by running these things through such rigorous tests that the videos online of the abuse are as entertaining as they are ridiculous.
Size: 41mm
Movement: ETA 2824-2
Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel
MSRP: $850

Pilots Watches

Classic military style and proven durability make these battle-ready watches some of the most coveted men’s timepieces available.

IWC Big Pilot’s Watch

“Big” is right, and that accounts for the size, the legibility, and the price tag of this classic from IWC.
Size: 46.2mm
Movement: IWC cal. 52110
Bracelet/Strap: Leather
MSRP: $12,900

Bremont MBIII

MB stands for Martin Baker who makes ejection seats, and this GMT can withstand the incredible forces that shoot a pilot straight out of a plane that’s about to crash.
Size: 43mm
Movement: BE-93-2AE automatic chronometer
Bracelet/Strap: Leather
MSRP: $5,795

Oris Big Crown ProPilot Chronograph

Oris always delivers amazing style and functionality at unbeatable prices, and this bad-boy is exemplary of just that.
Size: 44mm
Movement: Oris cal. 774 (base Sellita SW500)
Bracelet/Strap: Leather
MSRP: $3,400

Breguet Type XX

One of the most iconic military pilot’s watches around, several companies produced versions during the 1950s and 1960s for several different air forces.
Size: 39mm
Movement: Breguet cal. 582
Bracelet/Strap: Leather
MSRP: $9,500

Bell & Ross BR-92 Nightlum 42mm

The square instrument panel design has been a perennial hit for B&R, and there are over 40 models currently on offer.
Size: 42mm
Movement: Cal. BR-CAL.302
Bracelet/Strap: Leather
MSRP: $3,800

Dive Watches

Whether you’re taking them into skull-crushing depths or cannonballing into the pool, the dive watch is a must-have for any man.

Rolex Submariner Date in Gold

You can’t deny the ubiquity of the Rolex Sub in steel, and that may be exactly why the solid gold version is such a standout.
Size: 40mm
Movement: Rolex cal. 3135
Bracelet/Strap: Yellow Gold
MSRP: $34,250

Bremont S301 Supermarine Black 40mm

When Bremont brought their Supermarine down to 40mm, they had a hit on their hands that has charmed countless dive watch enthusiasts, and this black version exudes vintage style with its flat black ceramic bezel insert and matching dial with aged lume.
Size: 40mm
Movement: BE-92AE automatic chronometer
Bracelet/Strap: Leather (also available with bracelet)
MSRP: $4,095

Seiko SRP779 Turtle

No dive watch round up would be legit without a Seiko, and the current Prospex SRP779 is a recreation of one of the Japanese brand’s most storied divers.
Size: 45mm
Movement: Seiko cal. 4R36
Bracelet/Strap: Rubber
MSRP: $450

Bulova Oceanographer (Devil Diver)

With a Satanic depth rating of 666 feet, the Oceanographer is one of Bulova’s vintage-inspired watches that continues to lure its wearers to the depths.
Size: 44mm
Movement: Sellita SW 220
Bracelet/Strap: Steel
MSRP: $795

Doxa Sub 1200T

When it first was released, Jacques Cousteau immediately put the Doxa dive watch into his Aqualung product line, and the modern-day 1200T is Doxa’s mid-sized diver that exquisitely balances vintage and modern vibes.
Size: 42.7mm
Movement: ETA 2824-2
Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel
MSRP: $2,490 ($1,890 direct)

Automotive Watches

Originally cars were not equipped with speedometers, but by using a chronograph — or even a simple 3-hand watch — motorists could to time a run over a known distance and work out their speed. That meant that chronographs were ideal for motorsports, but today’s automotive watches come in all styles and flavors.

Omega Speedmaster ‘57

This is the modern take on the one that started the Speedy craze, a watch for the ages with an updated Co-Axial chronograph movement and vintage accents that hearken back to the days before the Speedmaster went to the moon.
Size: 41.5mm
Movement: Omega co-axial cal. 9300
Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel
MSRP: $9,000

Tag Heuer Monaco Caliber 11

Steve McQueen made it famous, but we can’t give all the credit of its popularity to the movie star when we’re talking about such an incredibly cool chronograph that suavely says, “gentlemen, start your engines.”
Size: 43mm
Movement: Tag Heuer cal. 11
Bracelet/Strap: Leather
MSRP: $5,900

Autodromo Monoposto

Chronographs helped motorists make time measurements at the wheel, and Autodromo has captured that functionality with enough vintage-inspired motoring vibe to break the speed limit.
Size: 43mm
Movement: Seiko NE88 automatic
Bracelet/Strap: Leather
MSRP: $1,800

1919 Porsche Design Chronotimer

From the legacy of the man who designed the Porsche 911 comes the Chronotimer, an unabashedly sportscar-oriented wonder that manages to stay true to the vibe of old-school dashboards.
Size: 42mm
Movement: Sellita SW500
Bracelet/Strap: Rubber
MSRP: $4,550

Nomos Autobahn Neomatic

Everyone scratched their heads when Nomos stepped outside their ultra-hip Bauhaus comfort zone and made an automotive watch using an outside designer, but the result is an undeniably unique watch packing an in-house mechanical movement.
Size: 41mm
Movement: NOMOS cal. DUW 6101
Bracelet/Strap: Leather
MSRP: $4,800

Dress Watches

If you’re tired of seeing tool watches on white table cloths and G-Shocks at the office, you may be ready to step into a proper dress watch. These are timeless examples of those watches that men of yesteryear wore around the clock.

Patek Philippe Calatrava Ref #5196R

Pretty much perfect in every way, the Calatrava exudes classic Patek style with an understated dial, thin case and sublime handmade detailing, especially on the movement.
Size: 37mm
Movement: Patek Philippe cal. 215 PS
Bracelet/Strap: Alligator
MSRP: Starting around $18,000 (depending on case material)

Cartier Tank (Louis Cartier)

To think this watch was actually designed to look like a tank (though the story may be apocryphal) is a testament to how something once so avant garde can, if it’s good enough, become a classic.
Size: 33.7mm
Movement: Quartz
Bracelet/Strap: Alligator
MSRP: $9,750

Grand Seiko SBGA211 Snowflake

It’s called the snowflake because the handcrafted dial resembles freshly fallen snow, and it’s on this list because Grand Seiko is making some of the most incredible watches available today.
Size: 41mm
Movement: Grand Seiko cal. 9R65
Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel
MSRP: $5,800

Jaquet Droz Grand Seconde

Back in the 1700s, a genius watchmaker named Mr. Droz made the second hand huge in order to draw attention to the faster pace of The Enlightenment and to the increasing accuracy of timepieces; today that design lives on in one of the most elegant, iconic, and forward-thinking watch dials ever created.
Size: 39mm
Movement: Jaquet Droz 2663
Bracelet/Strap: Leather
MSRP: $9,800

Lange & Söhne Saxonia Outsize Date

Handmade in Germany to standards that put all other watch brands on notice, this traditionally styled dress watch is a study in calm symmetry and clean lines.
Size: 38.5mm
Movement: L086.8
Bracelet/Strap: Leather
MSRP: Starting around $28,425

Travel Watches

Travel means reading more than one time zone, staying versatile enough to go from the business meeting to the local bar, and providing durability and style in equal measure.

Farer Oxley GMT

British styling and Swiss accuracy make for one serious automatic GMT that’s as versatile as it is useful when globetrotting; pairs perfectly with your Paul Smith garb.
Size: 39mm
Movement: ETA 2893-2 ‘Top Grade’
Bracelet/Strap: Leather
MSRP: $1,430

Jaeger-LeCoulte Master Geographic

A world timer with cities displayed elegantly in an aperture, this watch, which sports a second time zone on its sub-dial, makes no bones about its travel-readiness.
Size: 39mm
Movement: Jaeger-LeCoultre cal. 939B/1
Bracelet/Strap: Leather
MSRP: $9,800

Montblanc 1858 Geosphere

The dual spinning hemispheres tell world time in a totally innovative yet intuitive fashion, and all of it glows in the dark, bringing a sense of around-the-clock adventure to this fascinating travel watch.
Size: 42mm
Movement: Montblanc cal. 29.25
Bracelet/Strap: Leather
MSRP: $5,600

Rolex Sky Dweller

One of the most innovative and intelligent dual-time complications on the market, you can set this watch’s annual calendar by rotating the bezel into different positions and using the crown, including the clever use of the 12 main time indexes to indicate the month (note the red dot at 8-o’clock, indicating August).
Size: 42mm
Movement: Rolex cal. 9001
Bracelet/Strap: Leather
MSRP: $14,400

Vacheron Constantin Overseas World Time

Vacheron has been doing watches right for ages, and this hand-built movement will track the world’s time zones with unflinching accuracy.
Size: 43.5mm
Movement: Vacheron cal. 2460 WT/1
Bracelet/Strap: Leather
MSRP: $36,500

Haute Horology

The high art of complex handmade watches means exquisite timepieces with ridiculous price tags.

Patek Philippe 5212A

New for 2019, this watch sports a whole new complication from Patek that tracks the year’s 52 weeks Euro-style while offering and a vibe that’s as casual as it is elegant, adding up to an incredibly versatile watch.
Size: 40mm
Movement: Patek Philippe cal. 26-330 S.C. J SE.
Bracelet/Strap: Leather
MSRP: $33,454

Roger Smith Series 5 Open Dial

Roger Smith is widely regarded as England’s greatest living watchmaker, and one glance at his timepieces, like this skeletonized marvel, will tell you exactly why.
Size: 40mm
Movement: Roger Smith single-wheel co-axial escapement-based caliber
Bracelet/Strap: Leather
MSRP: (contact a dealer for pricing)

MB&F Horological Machine No.6

Called machines by the brand, these watches will blow your mind along with a significant chunk of your savings, but you’ll own one of the most avante garde timepieces of all time, one that features a tourbillon, spinning turbines inside sapphire half-globes and 475 individual parts.
Size: 49.5mm
Movement: Developed by MB&F with David Candaux
Bracelet/Strap: Leather
MSRP: (contact a dealer for pricing)

Gruebel Forsey Grand Sonnerie

Handmade in England, these watches from Mr. Forsey take the art of horology into rare air, and this watch’s chiming mechanism is one of the most complicated mechanical devices known to humankind.
Size: 49.5mm
Movement: Grande et petite sonnerie with minute repeater
Bracelet/Strap: Leather
MSRP: (contact a dealer for pricing)

Bell & Ross BR-X2 Tourbillon

With the BR-X2 Experimental, Bell & Ross has taken their square aviation watch into orbit with a flying tourbillon mechanism and just enough exposed parts to draw you into the watch’s interior space.
Size: 42.5mm
Movement: Cal. BR-CAL.380
Bracelet/Strap: Leather
MSRP: $64,900

Inexpensive Watches

Coming back down to Earth, let’s take a look at watches that offer heaps of quality and style without breaking the bank.

Timex x Todd Snyder Military Inspired 40mm Fabric Strap Watch

Classic field watch style at a perfect size and a price that’ll make you want to grab a few in the different handsome colorways.
Size: 40mm
Movement: Quartz analog
Bracelet/Strap: Textile NATO
MSRP: $148

Swatch System 51 Mechanical Watch

When Swatch released the System 51 auto-winding mechanical watches, the watch world took note under the pretense that it was an elegant and clever mechanical device, but the real reason watch nerds were so obviously pshyced was that the System 51 made them smile.
Size: 42mm
Movement: Swatch Sistem 51
Bracelet/Strap: Plastic
MSRP: $150

Spinnaker Kahill Dive Watch

Few folks will recognize that this design was inspired by a rare and lovely Breguet dive watch from the 1960s, but the cues are all there making for a fine vintage-inspired diver with fantastic specs.
Size: 43mm
Movement: Miyota 21 automatic
Bracelet/Strap: Leather
MSRP: $380

Seiko Recraft Series Watch

Seiko brings heavy value with this mid-century inspired beauty that’ll cruise its way through all seven days of the week without flinching.
Size: 39.5mm
Movement: Seiko automatic
Bracelet/Strap: Leather
MSRP: $275 (typically always marked down heavily on Amazon)

Casio F-91W Digital Watch

Ten dollars barely covers a fancy-ass coffee these days, but with this classically styled Casio this price is flagrantly reminding us of the glory days of digital watches — price, size, style and all.
Size: 39.5mm
Movement: Quartz movement
Bracelet/Strap: Leather
MSRP: ~$10

Watches for the Active Man

We don’t need to tell you how important data has become for those who take their exercise seriously. The following watches are ready to provide your biometrics at a glance in real-time, and many will offer up intensive data plots for ultra-geeky post-workout analysis.

Casio G-SHOCK Activity Tracker GBD800UC-3

No more excuses — the deep functions of this newly styled G-SHOCK will tell you everything you need to know about your workout, and when you’re done you can check out detailed graphs on your smartphone via the Bluetooth connection.
Size: 54mm
Movement: Quartz
Bracelet/Strap: Polyresin
MSRP: $99

Apple Series 4 Smartwatch

Run with the most advanced smartwatch available, or hike, or hit the gym, or whatever you want to do to stay fit, because this one is going to tell you almost everything about your movements, heart-rate, and endured stresses with the most sophisticated OS on the market.
Size: 40mm or 44mm
Movement: Apple
Bracelet/Strap: Rubber
MSRP: Starting at $399

Montblanc Summit 2 Titanium Smartwatch Sports Edition

Giving the Apple Watch a run for its money, Montblanc’s Summit 2 smartwatch will release you from herd-mentality and set you free from grabbing your attention-hungry smartphone every two seconds.
Size: 42mm
Movement: Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100
Bracelet/Strap: Rubber
MSRP: $1,095

Suunto Traverse Sapphire Black

With GPS and GLONASS capabilities, these watches excel at keeping you on track when you’re off the grid, providing navigational data that’ll make sure you don’t get lost or lose track of your vertical achievements.
Size: 50mm
Movement: N/A
Bracelet/Strap: Silicone
MSRP: Starting at $449

Oris Big Crown ProPilot Altimeter Watch

If all that smart technology is weighing you down, you may appreciate this handsome mechanical monster from Oris, the second watch to ever house a mechanical altimeter; that’s right: no digital stuff, not even a battery.
Size: 47mm
Movement: Oris cal. 733 (base Sellita SW200-1)
Bracelet/Strap: Textile
MSRP: Starting at $3,800