Image: A. Lange & Söhne
When shopping for a new men’s watch, the sheer number of brands available might be intimidating. Which ones are genuinely good, what should you avoid, and what are those hidden gems found on Secret Sales? Of course, there are (almost) no wrong answers as long as you wind up with a timepiece that fits both your taste and your budget. That’s why we’ve put up such a broad collection of models for you to go through below.
While some people are replacing timepieces with smartwatches or fitness trackers, we believe a good watch is still a vital executive accessory. It serves two purposes: it expresses your style and status, and informs you of the time, which is helpful. So, whether you sport a rugged, tech-heavy chronograph or a classic, slimline dress watch to match your suit, your watch choice says a lot about you. That’s why we’ve gone to such lengths to find the top men’s watches on the market.
Contents
A. Lange & Söhne — Lange 1 Time Zone
Image: A. Lange & Söhne
Many consider the Saxon watchmaker to be Germany’s equivalent to Patek Philippe. Recent auctions demonstrate that both early, complicated pocket watches, and more unique pieces manufactured since the Saxon watchmaker’s new period began after German reunification, fetch high prices. A. Lange & Söhne has a reputation for getting things right the first time, so it’s hardly surprising that it took 15 years to improve the Lange 1 Time Zone. The city ring and crown-based synchronisation mechanism have both been preserved. Still, a new movement powers day and night indicators for each dial and a clever way to indicate regions that employ daylight saving time.
Vacheron Constantin — Everest
The 265-year-old brand, specialising in higher-end dress watches with hand-polished dials and extraordinary intricacies, surprised everyone by releasing a sports watch in 2021. The Overseas Limited Editions “Everest” has a titanium and steel case, a suitably outdoorsy blue-grey dial, and comes in two versions, a dual time and a chronograph, both with bright orange details on the hands, strap, and other indicators, and is endorsed by mountain-ascending adventure photographer Cory Richards. The fact that it still appears like a Vacheron Constantin is impressive.
Audemars Piguet — Royal Oak
Audemars Piguet, or AP, is a favourite among the hip-hop elite. The Royal Oak is the most popular model of the firm, which was launched in 1875. This classic stainless steel model with a blue Grande Tapisserie pattern dial is one of our favourites. It is water-resistant to 50 metres and has a self-winding manufacture calibre 2385 movement with a 40-hour power reserve.
Seiko – Seiko 5
Image: Seiko
Okay, you won’t receive the world’s most beautiful watch for £200. Still, you will get a well-made watch with several characteristics that you would identify with high-end luxury men’s watches. It also has a similar design to the Rolex Submariner, which costs around £5,000. Japanese watchmakers like Seiko have a reputation for precision and craftsmanship. Still, they don’t have the same cachet as Swiss watches, in our opinion.
This particular model, the Seiko 5, is one of the most affordable automatic watches we’ve found. That means it doesn’t require batteries and is powered by your movement. It’s water-resistant to 100 metres, so it’s fine for a pool but not for diving. The watch’s front is constructed of mineral rather than sapphire, which is used in more expensive watches.
Casio – G Shock Rangeman
If you’re looking for a Casio watch, you’ve come to the right place. The G-Shock has become a cultural phenomenon in its own right, famed for its toughness as well as its hefty, ornate style. The Rangeman, one of many iterations, features a digital compass, altimeter, barometer, temperature, and atomic timekeeping and is appropriate for mild scuba diving.
Breitling — Premier Heritage Collection
Image: Breitling
The watchmaking community continues to be inspired by the Roaring Forties, which we think is a good thing. The Premier Heritage collection, Breitling‘s latest addition to its iconic Premier line, has three 1940s-inspired models: the Chronograph, Duograph, and Datora, all available in stainless steel or 18-carat red gold. Arabic numbers, vintage-inspired hands, and semi-shiny alligator straps with tone-on-tone stitching are all featured on each watch. In addition, every timepiece is a COSC-certified chronometer with a 100-metre water resistance rating.
A pistachio-dialled Chronograph is our favourite, and it’s so on-trend that it could have its own Instagram account. With day, date, and moon phase complications, the Datora is the model that will make true watch nerds salivate. Then there’s the Duograph: the rattrapante movement has always been a favourite of ours.
Nordgreen — The Native
Nordgreen, a prominent Danish watch brand, is making waves in the watchmaking world with its assortment of uncomplicated, cheap, and high-impact creations. The Native, designed by award-winning Scandinavian designer Jakob Wagner, is our favourite Nordgreen dress watch. The Native expertly balances form and function, and it’s available in a variety of sizes and colourways. You can also order The Native with an extra strap to customise your look for the day.
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