In the world of ever-evolving fashion trends, few accessories stand the test of time better than designer men's watches. More than a simple tool for telling time, these luxury accessories are designed to make a statement.
From vintage-inspired dress watches to sport-inspired chronographs, these heirloom-quality timepieces are carefully crafted and feature only the best materials. Let's delve into the history, design, and investment that make the top watches for men.
What is the History of Designer Men’s Watches?
Watches can be traced back to the 14th century with Peter Henlein's invention of the Nuremberg Egg. Although the first versions were more of a fashion statement than an accurate way to tell time, the design evolved from a necklace to a pocket watch to the wrist design we wear today.
When they were first invented, wristwatches were worn primarily by women, while the top watches for men tended to favor the pocket watch design. However, military conflicts such as the Anglo-Burmese War in 1885 and the Second Boer War from 1899 to 1902 highlighted the need for coordinating attacks and troop movements, giving rise to the widespread use of wristwatches among officers in the British Army.
The transition from practicality to fashion – and the premier watchmakers we know today – can be traced back to at least 1904, when Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont commissioned his friend to design a men’s watch that he could use during his flights. The friend's name? Louis Cartier.
What Sets High-End Men's Watches Apart?
High-end men's watches combine the luxury of superb materials, the best engineering, and an appreciation for the heritage of the designs that have come before. But what truly makes a designer watch rise above the ordinary? The top men's watches all feature:
- Complementary elements
- Commitment to meticulous precision in engineering
- Durability and value to last generations
It's easy to believe that all men's watches are the same. However, the differences, and what makes these accessories evolve from ordinary to extraordinary, lie in the most minute details. In the top men’s watches, colors, metals, and sizes work together to elevate the design from functional to an artistic masterpiece.
What are the 7 Top High-End Men's Watch Brands?
The top men’s watch designers know when and where to take risks, showing appreciation for the heritage of these exquisite timepieces while still paying tribute to the generations of hard work that came before them. They can incorporate the identity of their brands with the finest materials available to create high-end watches for men that are not only instantly recognizable but also sought after by people worldwide. Some of the most recognizable include:
1. Rolex
Rolex is a name synonymous with luxury, fashion, and some of the most exclusive sporting events in the world. Founded in 1905 by then-24-year-old Hans Wilsdorf, the company has become a high-end men’s watch brand that needs no introduction.
The company's commitment to sustainability, the arts, and excellence in athletics gives it the edge that rises above luxury to become the best of the best.
Rolex Associations:
Tennis, as the Official Timekeeper of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and the Women's Tennis Association (WTA)
- Golf
- Yachting
- Motorsport
- Equestrianism
2. Cartier Designer Watches
Gold or steel. Leather and diamonds. Cartier has continued to craft high-end men’s watches that transcend the realm of fashion. After Louis Cartier's design of the Santos in 1904, this incredible brand began manufacturing top men’s watches sought after for their quality, elegance, and dependability.
In 1914, the La Panthére design premiered on a wristwatch, using onyx and diamonds, followed by the launch of the Tank watch in 1919. In 1978, the combination of gold and steel was used for the first time in the creation of the Santos de Cartier, a top men’s watch design that remains in production today.
3. TAG Heuer
Known as Heuer upon its founding in 1860, this Swiss watch brand was initially known for its chronographs and pocket watches. In 1916, the company introduced the first stopwatch accurate to 1/100th of a second with the launch of the Mikrograph.
Under Jack Heuer's leadership in the 1960s, the company launched high-end watch models for men that would become synonymous with motorsport, including the legendary Carrera, Autavia, and Monaco. In 1985, the brand merged with Techniques d'Avant Garde (TAG), establishing this top men’s watch brand as it is known today. The following year, TAG Heuer launched a selection of men’s watches in its Formula 1 collection, marking the beginning of a lasting relationship.
Fun fact: Notable fans of TAG Heuer men’s watches include actor Ryan Gosling and golf legend Tiger Woods.
4. OMEGA Watches
Louis Brandt opened his first watch workshop in 1848 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, with the goal of creating the most accurate timepieces possible. Upon Brandt's death in 1879, his sons continued his work, releasing the world's first minute-repeating wristwatch that premiered in 1892. Less than 20 years later, OMEGA had grown into a company with global demand, beloved for both its precision and the ease of repair offered by its high-end men’s watches.
In the years since, OMEGA has continued the legacy started by Louis Brandt, never straying from its commitment to excellence through cutting-edge components, quality design elements, and a reputation for excellence.
OMEGA achievements in high-end men's watch design include:
- Serving as the Official Timekeeper at almost all Olympic Games
- Producing the Marine, the world's first commercially available divers' watch
- Becoming the first – and to this day, the only – watch qualified by NASA with the OMEGA Speedmaster, also known as the Moonwatch
- The OMEGA Seamaster adorning the wrist of James Bond in GoldenEye, as well as on every Bond mission since
- Being appointed in 2011 as the Official Timekeeper and Official Patron of the PGA of America golf tournaments
5. Breitling
Despite Switzerland being in the throes of a prolonged recession, 24-year-old Leon Breitling was determined to overcome the challenges when he founded Breitling in 1884. Using the traditional Swiss Établissage system of watch assembly, Leon quickly established his company as a leader in the high-end watch market. In 1910, 26 years after the brand was founded, Breitling reached an incredible milestone with the production of its 100,000th timepiece.
Breitling is known for inventing a feature available in the top men’s watches, the monopusher, which allows the chronograph to be started, stopped, and reset. The company also introduced the first high-end men’s watch to feature an emergency locator transmitter with the release of the Emergency, a style favored by futbol legend David Beckham. In 2017, the company was sold to CVC Capital Partners and Partners Group.
Under new leadership, Breitling launched three new focuses:
- Sustainability
- Modern-retro design
- Digitization
Breitling has demonstrated its commitment to sustainability in its high-end men’s watches by incorporating artisanal gold, lab-grown gemstones, and materials that can be traced back along every step of the supply chain and independently verified. For those seeking the top men’s watches with a focus on sustainability, Breitling is a brand you can't overlook.
6. Grand Seiko
Compared to some of its fellow luxury brands, Grand Seiko is a relative newcomer to the world of high-end men's watches. However, the knowledge and excellence behind the Japanese company is anything but. The brand is the culmination of Seiko's founder, Kintaro Hattori's, decades of research, engineering, and dedication to luxury.
Although three notable designs preceded the release of the Grand Seiko cornerstone – Marvel, Lord Marvel, and Crown – the release of the Caliber 3180 in 1960 established Grand Seiko timepieces as the "king of watches." Grand Seiko is known for its use of the Spring Drive movement, which offers precision, accuracy, and reserve power longevity in its top men’s watches.
7. Girard-Perregaux
Girard-Perregaux traces its history back to 1791 with watchmaker Jean-François Bautte. However, the brand as we know it became official in 1856 following the marriage of Marie Perregaux and Constant Girard. Although the German Navy ordered 2,000 wristwatches from the company in 1880, the true potential emerged in 1889 when Girard-Perregaux's iconic Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges won gold at the Paris Universal Exhibition.
One of the things people love about Girard-Perregaux is its quality control in producing luxury watches for men. By maintaining complete control over the process from design to manufacturing and assembly, the company ensures incomparable quality from both technological and design standpoints. With a mix of hand-finishing details and modern craftsmanship, Girard-Perregaux watches are beloved by people worldwide.
Design of High-End Men's Watches
True luxury in designer men's watches goes beyond the logo. What sets these incredible timepieces apart is the combination of elements that define their aesthetic and function. While some elements are bold and in-your-face, others are subtle, sometimes barely visible at all.
What Should You Consider When Selecting Top Men’s Watches?
- Understanding the watch style
- Layouts of the watch face
- Strap and bracelet materials
- Watch case surrounds
- Crystal face coverings
High-End Men's Watch Styles: Sport vs. Dress
Understanding which watch style matches your aesthetic is key to making the correct purchase. Dress watches tend to be smaller, minimalistic, and are often sized under 40mm. You'll often see metal bracelets or leather straps paired with dress watches, as well as combinations of precious metals and simple dials.
Sports watches, on the other hand, are larger, running between 40 and 44mm. These top men’s watches may feature stainless steel or titanium construction, along with rubber or fabric straps. You'll also see additions like water resistance and sport-focused styles.
What are the Top Men’s Watches Dial Layouts?
When it comes to the face of a high-end men’s watch, you can choose from something simple and classic or incorporate the latest technology and trendy styles, such as the inclusion of moon phases, sunburst dials, dauphine or skeletonized hands, and indices finished in precious metals.
One of the most critical aspects in watch design is the visual appeal of the dials. Everything must be aligned to ensure perfect harmony. Although adding additional elements, such as multi-register layouts, enhances functionality, the design must be executed with incredible precision and skill to avoid disrupting the symmetry of the timepiece.
What are the Best Case Materials for Men's Watches?
As watch faces have become more glamorous, so have the materials that encase them. Although stainless steel is still a popular choice, you'll also find that luxury designers use high-end materials.
Popular Watch Case Materials:
- Forged carbon
- Ceramics
- Sapphire
- Titanium
- White, yellow, and rose gold
- Platinum
The finishing of the case materials transforms the raw materials that protect the intricate inner workings of the timepiece into an art form in its own right. Features such as beveling, brushed or polished metal, and hand-finishing techniques all elevate the design of the top men's watches to create something that is truly an extension of the man wearing it.
High-End Men’s Watch Strap and Bracelet Materials
The straps of high-end men's watches can really put the finishing touches on the design.
Top Men’s Watch Strap Materials
- Leather made from alligator, calfskin, suede, ostrich, shark, and other exotic options
- Sailcloth
- High-grade vulcanized rubber
- Kevlar
The design of the watch straps can also be an art form in its own right. From the elegance of a leather band to the resilience of Kevlar, the straps of high-end men's watches allow the luxury to be seen and felt, no matter the material.
What are the Current Trends in Top Watches for Men?
Although the brands that produce the best luxury watches for men are rich in tradition, some subtle yet noteworthy trends are shaping the landscape of high-end men's watches.
- Smaller cases are in, offering more versatility and elegance
- Bold colors like emerald green and ice blue are emerging in popularity, adding another layer of individuality
- Vintage styles are making a comeback, with classic designs being reinterpreted using modern materials
- Decreased rigidity between sport and dress designs, making them easier to wear with a greater variety of outfits
- Ethical sourcing and sustainability are becoming increasingly important, giving rise to sustainably farmed leathers, recycled metals, and transparency in manufacturing
Although the history and heritage of iconic brands remain a pillar among high-end men's watches, the value of a well-selected luxury timepiece can be found in the details. While the design trends will change, the true beauty of excellence in watchmaking remains timeless. When searching for the top watches for men, take the time to appreciate the small details that transform a standard watch into a luxury accessory you'll cherish for decades to come.
