Stealth Mode: The 15 Best Black Luxury Watches

There’s something uniquely appealing about a black watch. It’s unconventional, striking, and captivating at a single glance. A blacked-out watch is stealthy, under the radar, and yet eye-catching, and a fascinating sight due to its rarity. 

On that latter note, most larger brands shy away from the concept of a black watch, which is untraditional and can feel counter to their identity. As far as I’m aware, there are no black-case Rolexes—correct me if I’m wrong, though!

If you’re interested in a luxury black watch but aren’t sure where to start, or even if you’re just here for an interesting breakdown of some of the coolest stealth watches on the market, you’ve come to the right place!

What to Know About Black Watches

There are two main ways that any brand could go about giving their watch a black appearance. The difference between these can have a big impact on the quality of your watch, so it’s worth knowing! 

The first is a PVD (physical vapor deposition) or DLC (diamond-like carbon) treatment. This essentially coats the exterior of the watch in a very thin layer of black, much like gold plating would cover it with a thin layer of gold (although the two processes are chemically distinct). 

While this is typically quite hard and relatively scratch-resistant, if you scrape your watch on something there is a distinct possibility this external coating could scratch off and reveal the differently-colored metal underneath, making these scuffs stand out much more sharply than usual. 

In other words, you’ll want to be relatively careful with a PVD or DLC-treated watch, which is usually a cheaper option than the alternative.

Other brands will craft the entire watch case from some sort of black material, which is typically reserved to ceramic or carbon fiber. For me, this is an option that brings a lot more peace of mind, although it can be more expensive. 

Scratching a ceramic or carbon fiber case may still lead to unsightly scuffs, but it won’t scratch away the black material, allowing you to still appreciate the black color of the case.

Let’s also touch on the history of these watches before we get into the listing. The first true black watch was developed using PVD technology by Porsche Design—which, yes, is connected to that Porsche company. Other, and more prominent brands, soon followed suit, from TAG Heuer to Audemars Piguet and Omega. 

DLC followed PVD as a more advanced version a number of years later: it’s a little more scratch-resistant, and can be thought of basically as a more advanced PVD. 

Ceramic, which was being developed around the same time, has gradually taken over as a better way of achieving a black look, since it can’t scratch off, but is typically more expensive and is very difficult to finish properly.

There’s pros and cons to each, but anytime you see a black watch, you should know that there’s a significant amount of technological advancement behind it!

The 15 Best Black Luxury Watches

Here we go! 15 of the very best black watches on the market today, from the top brands. We’ve got DLC, ceramic, titanium, carbon fiber—you name it. Let’s get right into it!

Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon Apollo 8 – $15,000

I was a little shocked when I was reminded of the price tag for this watch while researching this article. That’s… not a lot more than your standard Speedmaster, for one of the most exceptionally made black watches I’ve ever seen. 

It’s got everything: little pops of color thanks to the yellow hands and indices, a laser-engraved print of the Moon’s surface, and even an adorable little rocket ship which indicates the running seconds. I mean, look at it! It’s even painted!

In all seriousness, this is a beautiful and striking watch that is a stunning improvement on the standard Speedmaster—which is already really dang good.

Let me also add that the case here is crafted from black ceramic, so you won’t have to worry too much about scratching it up. Omega knocked it out of the park—maybe even out of the world—with this little flight to the moon!

Formex Essence Ceramica Skeleton COSC “Stradale Viola” 41mm – $4,250

If you couldn’t tell from the last watch, I really love when a blacked-out watch gets just a few little hints of color to create a little visual interest. In this case, the pops of purple on the black ceramic(!) case are just absolutely exceptional. 

They make me think of Black Panther in a “wow-this-is-so-freaking-cool” kind of way. Let me also note the different finishings that Formex has used on this case, which is extra striking because it’s actually incredibly hard to get different finishes on ceramic.

Like almost every other Formex you can pick up today, the Stradale Viola features their proprietary Case Suspension System, which adds extra shock protection and adapts to your movements for additional comfort. 

I’ve never seen anything like it, honestly—it’s extremely practical and pretty interesting to see in action. This particular model is limited to just 88 pieces and is currently on pre-order, so be sure to pick yours up as soon as possible!

De Bethune DB28XP Meteorite – $145,600

De Bethune is one of those independent brands that has been quietly crushing it without getting nearly as much press coverage as they deserve, and the gorgeous DB28XP Meteorite is just proof of that.

DB is known for their mastery of heat-treating metals, which most other brands only really do to steel and which DB has perfected even for titanium. 

Here, they’ve applied that skill to heat-color an actual meteorite containing titanium, which will create a unique colorful pattern for each watch in this series.

The dial is also studded with white gold pins to create the impression of a starry sky, a lovely subtle detail that adds not a little to the overall presentation of the watch.

Overall, the black case works perfectly to accentuate the colorful and striking dial here in a way that any other material would really just detract from.

This is a perfect example of a black watch that doesn’t just use black as its own end, but rather a means to creating something gorgeous.

Panerai Luminor Marina Carbotech ref. PAM02661 – $14,800

Panerai has a lot of great blacked-out watches, so it was hard for me to narrow it down to this lovely Marina Carbotech—but that should also tell you just how exceptional this piece is.

Panerai’s Carbotech is, as the name suggests, a type of carbon fiber, so you get this lovely patterned effect on the outside of the case as well as the fact that none of the black coloring will scratch off. 

The dial is simple and absolutely gorgeous, with that perfect tone of light blue lume that pops strikingly against the black even when it’s not glowing and all the more so when it is. 

You’ll also want to note the superb movement powering the whole thing, which has a power reserve of a whopping 3 days thanks to two barrels and is made up of no less than 200 individual parts.

I may not be quite the target audience for a large 44mm Panerai (small wrists are my curse), but in this case I sure wish I was.

Hublot Classic Fusion Orlinski Black Magic 40mm – $14,800

If you’ve read any of my previous works, you know I’m a sucker for a good Hublot Orlinski, and this is one of the best. Hublot’s Black Magic ceramic is a deep, rich tone that gives this watch a striking glossy luster. 

This is a watch that truly feels like an Orlinski sculpture, just wearable on the wrist—and that means it’s something exceptional.

Despite the way Hublot have let Orlinski play with the form and facets of their watch, it still manages to remain quintessentially a Classic Fusion, thanks to the characteristic H bezel screws and the shape of the case. 

This black beauty runs on the HUB1100 automatic movement, which features a power reserve of 42 hours. And perhaps best of all, in spite of its sculptural form, it remains surprisingly wearable at 40mm in diameter.

H. Moser & Cie Venturer Vantablack Red Gold – $30,000

Okay, so this isn’t a watch with a black case, I admit that. But since the focus of this model is on the use of black, I thought it would make a great addition to this list. The dial of this model has been treated with Vantablack, the blackest material known to man. 

It absorbs so much light that it looks like how I’d imagine a black hole does: the hands of this beautiful timepiece are just floating above an infinite void. Now that’s a black luxury watch.

Under the (very black) hood, the Venturer Vantablack runs on the caliber HMC 327, a manual-wind movement with a power reserve indicator on the movement side. It’s beautifully finished and, when you turn the watch over to admire it, is a striking contrast to the black dial. 

Just be careful that your watch doesn’t spontaneously turn into a real black hole with all that light absorption… just kidding. Physics doesn’t work like that. I think.

Dior Chiffre Rouge – $10,500

Dior’s iconic collection for men, the Chiffre Rouge, is a beautifully striking red-and-black timepiece that’s not afraid to shatter traditional watchmaking conventions. Note, for example, the extremely elongated crown at 4:00, which protrudes far out from the case. 

Even the DLC-coated case itself is a rejection of convention—especially considering the strange fluting on the bezel between 9:00 and 12:00. Even though “fashion watch” used to be used in a rather pejorative way by watch fans for years, I think it’s applicable in a very positive way here.

This is a watch created with design first but without skimping on any of the essential details, like the lovely custom CD.002 automatic movement made for Dior.

Urwerk UR-220 – $162,000

Buckle up. This is another one of those absolutely jaw-dropping black watches, and I’m not just talking about the price tag. It’s almost hard to put this one into words, that’s how much it defies what a watch should traditionally look like.

Its large, broad case is crafted from carbon fiber, and the bands of carbon have been made to trace around the case in a fine circular pattern. 

Three “hour satellites” make their rounds across the face of the dial (if you can call it that), switching from one to the next in sequence as they move across.

The minutes pointer is actually not connected to the hour satellites, so it snaps instantly from one side to the next to dock with the next hour satellite at the top of the hour. 

The power reserve indicators, seen at what would roughly be 11:00 and 1:00 on a traditional watch, show the watch’s 48-hour power reserve.

Only 15 are made of these every year, which makes its rarity about equal to its watchmaking prowess. It’s an Urwerk: there’s nothing like it!

Tudor Black Bay Ceramic ref. M79210CNU-0001 – $5,475

Just judging by the name, you’d think the Tudor Black Bay is a collection of all-black watches. You’d be wrong, actually—except for this little piece, they don’t live up to what you’d think. Thankfully, however, we have this little ceramic beauty to save the whole collection! 

I kid, but this is actually a wonderful little dive watch that looks really good in black. At 41mm, it’s decently wearable but with an amply sized dial for legibility.

Speaking of the dial, I really love the touch of just slightly off-white indices, which prevent the watch from falling entirely into the realm of monochrome but aren’t overbearing. 

Another detail I’m fond of is the Tudor rose, the logo they used before switching to the shield, engraved on the crown. It’s a brilliant and charming nod to tradition.

As if the lovely ceramic case wasn’t enough, the Black Bay Ceramic also runs on Tudor’s in-house caliber MT5602-1U, which is a Master Chronometer since it’s certified by METAS for accuracy in a wide variety of conditions and positions. Plus, it has 70 hours of power reserve and automatic winding, so it’ll stay precise for a long time.

Ulysse Nardin Freak X Carb – $29,800

Despite what the name suggests, the case of this watch isn’t made from carbohydrates. I know, disappointing! In this case, it’s actually carbon fiber, which I guess I’ll take as an okay substitute.

If you haven’t met Ulysse Nardin’s Freak before, allow me to make the introductions. This is an insane watch whose entire movement actually rotates to show you the time.

If you look closely, you’ll see that the minute hand is actually made up of the entire escapement mechanism, and the rest of the movement can be seen scattered around it on the dial. Like many of the other black watches on this list, it shatters convention and dares to tell time in an entirely new way.

There’s not a speck of color to be seen on this entire watch. Its purely monochromatic appearance, I find, is just perfect for the Freak. What better material than carbon fiber, and what better color than black, for one of the most avant-garde watches ever made?

TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche Orange Racing – $7,200

Racing fans rejoice! TAG Heuer has a long history in motorsports—even their flagship chronograph, the Carrera, is named for the famous Carrera Panamericana race. This collaboration with Porsche, thus, is just in a way living up to the fullest potential of the Carrera.

The orange accents that reference Porsche just work perfectly with the black case and dial, and they’re all very tastefully and uniquely introduced in a way that just feels fast.

The Porsche logo even finds a home on the bezel, right where the word Tachymeter would usually go. Oh well, you probably know what that’s for without the label anyway.

Since this model is a DLC coating over steel, you probably will want to be at least a little careful with this one, but that does help bring the price significantly closer to a mid-range luxury watch.

On the inside, that black steel case is protecting the in-house caliber TH20-00, with automatic winding and a strong 80-hour power reserve. It doesn’t take a Porsche owner to appreciate a high-quality watch like this.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding ref. 77350CE.OO.1266CE.03.A – $57,400

The classic Royal Oak finds a totally new look in this gorgeous 34mm model from Audemars Piguet, thanks to a completely black ceramic case and bracelet. 

The rose gold accents from the bezel screws, indices, and hands, are a perfect combination with the black to take this particular watch from the realm of sporty to extremely elegant in a way that we really haven’t seen with any other black watches on here.

Other than that, it’s everyone’s favorite octagonal timepiece: classic faceted bezel, grande tapisserie-patterned dial, and beautifully finished integrated bracelet. 

Even though this is a smaller model at 34mm, AP still managed to fit in a mechanical movement for us, the caliber 5800 with a strong power reserve of 50 hours that’s remarkable for its size.

It’s also automatic (hence the “selfwinding” in the name), so you won’t have to worry too much about this one running out of charge if you wear it semi-regularly.

IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 TOP GUN ref. IW389401 – $8,750

If you thought TAG Heuer and Porsche were a great team-up, just wait until you see IWC, known for their superb pilot’s watches, and Top Gun come together in this striking blacked-out ceramic watch. 

At first glance, there’s not much that would tell you that this was done with Top Gun, which I actually really like since it makes this watch way more open and accessible to people who just want a good-looking pilot’s watch and aren’t into it for the movie.

Flipping it over, however, you’ll see the Top Gun logo engraved on the back to remind you what it was made for in an unobtrusive way. It’s simple and stylish, large and legible, all just as a pilot’s watch should be.

Even though you can’t see it behind the closed caseback, IWC was sure to include a beautiful movement, the caliber 69380 which has automatic winding, 46 hours of power reserve, and some lovely perlage and Côtes de Genève to adorn each of its parts. It’s a movement that just looks good for its own sake—the purest form!

Zenith Chronomaster Revival Shadow ref. 97.T384.4061/21.M384 – $9,800

Zenith’s El Primero is probably the best chronograph on the market today, full stop. Now before all you Daytona and Speedmaster lovers come after me, let me explain.

In terms of actual chronometric precision, neither the Daytona nor the Speedmaster have anything on it, since this watch ticks ten times per second and as such can measure time down to, you guessed it, just 1/10th of a second. 

In terms of mechanical advancement and precision, the El Primero blows its competition out of the water. In terms of design, this watch is pretty darn exceptional too.

The Chronomaster Revival is based on a prototype from the 1970s, which explains its large case and bold appearance. My favorite part, however, has to be the vintage-inspired ladder bracelet, which is just so darn cool in black titanium.

Like I touched on earlier, the Chronomaster Revival Shadow uses Zenith’s spectacular El Primero 4061 movement, which has 282 parts and a power reserve of 50 hours… at minimum. Their words, not mine. 

The chronograph here is also powered by a column-wheel, which is pretty much the universally accepted best way to do it (as opposed to a cam and lever). You’ll have a smooth actuation of the chronograph for a pleasant experience each time. It’s hard to beat that!

HYT Conical Tourbillon Black Eklipse – $407,500

Forgive me if this is a bit much, but I wanted to go out with a bang. Only 8 of these spectacular timepieces were ever made, and I think you’ll understand why just looking at it.

HYT, if you aren’t aware, is known for their liquid approach to timekeeping: the hours or minutes are tracked by colored fluid being pumped through a very fine capillary tube, which gradually moves up the tube as time goes on. 

HYT has kept to that methodology here, but it’s so much more than that too—as if fluid-based watchmaking wasn’t cutting-edge enough! The case is made from carbon fiber as well as black-DLC titanium, because of course just one isn’t enough for a watch like this.

This HYT keeps the same fluidic depiction for the hours, but adds in a central minutes hand and a gigantic central tourbillon to catch the eye.

See those little green orbs floating around? They’re actually part of an automaton that gives its name to the watch. They spiral around rather chaotically, like planets centered around a collapsing star, which is represented by the tourbillon in the middle. 

It’s like a black hole on your wrist, a stunning display of craftsmanship and artistry that takes you out of yourself and makes you think on a cosmic scale. Oh, and all the green glows too. I dare you to find anything more exceptionally maximalist than this!

Conclusion

Black watches have got it all, from the ultimate hyper-complicated watches to the most simple and affordable ones. Thus, no matter your budget or your needs, you can find a watch that suits you perfectly. If you’re looking for a great deal, check out Exquisite Timepieces for your next watch!