If you’re the kind of guy who pushes limits whether that’s climbing mountains, crushing marathons, or tracking everything from HRV to hydration Garmin probably has your next watch.
In 2025, their lineup is more versatile than ever, covering rugged outdoor adventurers, high-mileage runners, everyday health junkies, and even divers. Garmin watches don’t just keep up; they’re built to go further, last longer, and give you the stats that matter.
In this guide, we’ve rounded up the nine best Garmin watches for men. From heavy hitting multisport monsters to sleek, functional wearables you can rock daily, these picks are all about performance, reliability, and next-level features.
How to Choose the Right Garmin Watch for You
Garmin’s strength is variety. Need insane battery life and off grid navigation? Go with a Fenix or Enduro. Want brilliant visuals and daily wellness tracking? Epix or Venu have you covered.
Training for a race? You’re looking at the Forerunner line. And if budget’s a factor, don’t worry Garmin still delivers solid value in their entry level models.
Your first decision? Figure out your use case. Trail runners, mountaineers, and triathletes will need different features than casual gym goers or golfers.
Next, decide if you want an AMOLED display for that crisp smartwatch feel or a power efficient MIP screen that lasts weeks.
Finally, think about size and weight. Garmin’s larger models offer more screen and battery, but not everyone wants a 51mm tank on their wrist.
This is Garmin’s ultimate all rounder for men who demand everything. The Fenix 8 Pro Solar comes in two sizes and offers top-tier GPS, solar charging, a flashlight, dive features, training readiness, and up to 48 days of battery life. Sapphire lens? Check. Titanium bezel? Yep.
Whether you’re heading into the backcountry or the office, it looks clean and stays strong. With multi-band GPS, topo maps, and all-day health metrics, it’s a tool disguised as a watch.
You won’t find fluff here it’s built for performance, endurance, and durability. If you’re only getting one watch to do it all, this is the one to grab.
Built for ultra endurance athletes, the Enduro 2 is all about batteries. You get up to 46 days in smartwatch mode and 150 hours in GPS mode, more than enough for your longest expeditions.
Solar charging keeps you powered, and it’s packed with trail maps, stamina tracking, and a titanium frame that feels light despite its size.
It skips the AMOLED screen and mic/speaker combo, but it’s laser focused on what matters most, reliability.
It’s for men who train hard, live off grid, or just never want to worry about battery life. When adventure is your lifestyle, this watch is built to match it.
Want rugged meets premium? The Epix Pro Gen 2 gives you a vibrant AMOLED screen and everything Garmin’s top tier models include: sapphire glass, flashlight, dive support, HRV tracking, and topo maps.
It’s built to look good on your wrist while still handling hardcore training or backcountry navigation. Battery life can stretch up to 31 days depending on settings and model size.
It’s sharp, durable, and stylish enough for the office but don’t let the good looks fool you. This thing can hang with the most rugged watches out there. If you want a little luxury with your mileage, Epix Pro is it.
Light, bright, and built for speed, the Forerunner 965 is every runner’s dream. You get a 1.4″ AMOLED display, built-in GPS, VO2 Max, HRV, Garmin Coach plans, race day tools, and a lightweight body that’s perfect for high-mileage training.
Battery life lands around 23 days in smartwatch mode. It’s not built for mountaineering, but it crushes when it comes to pavement, track, or treadmill.
If you’re a runner who cares more about stats than steel bezels, this watch has everything you need and nothing you don’t. Comfortable enough to wear 24/7 and smart enough to guide every mile.
This one’s for guys who want no frills function and military-level toughness. The Instinct 2X Solar is big, bold, and endlessly reliable. It has a solar powered battery that can last up to 40 days, multi-band GPS, ABC sensors, and a built-in flashlight.
The rugged polymer case meets military durability standards, and the monochrome screen is super legible in any light. You don’t get the AMOLED flash, but you get raw utility and that’s the point. Whether you’re out in the woods for the weekend or in a survival course, this is the tool you’ll want on your wrist.
The Venu 3 is the daily smartwatch done right. It combines Garmin’s fitness brains with a sharp AMOLED screen and slick design. You get guided workouts, nap detection, stress tracking, sleep coaching, Bluetooth calling, and about 14 days of battery life.
It’s not a backcountry bruiser like the Fenix, but it’s got enough health tracking and smarts for the average guy who hits the gym, walks his steps, and wants something that doesn’t look out of place with a button down. For men who want Garmin quality without the bulk, this is the one to wear all day, every day.
The Tactix 7 Pro isn’t just a watch it’s a mission-ready tool. Designed for tactical and field use, it’s got dual-format GPS, night vision compatibility, a kill switch, stealth mode, a red LED flashlight, and all the Fenix features under the hood.
It still tracks sleep, HRV, recovery, and everything you’d expect from a premium Garmin. The build is heavy-duty, the UI is clean, and it just feels purposeful.
This is for guys who train hard, work in rough environments, or just like their gear to be overbuilt. It’s rugged, smart, and as capable as anything on your kit.
If you dive, this is the only Garmin to consider. The Descent Mk2i works as both a dive computer and full featured smartwatch.
It supports multiple gas mixes, wireless tank pressure monitoring (with transmitter), dive planning, and GPS tracking above and below the surface.
Out of the water, it’s still got Garmin’s full training suite: HRV, sleep, strength, and recovery tracking. The design is sleek enough for land life but built to handle depth and pressure like a champ.
For men who split their time between land and sea, the Mk2i is basically two watches in one and worth every penny.
This is the entry-level AMOLED watch that doesn’t feel like a compromise. The Forerunner 265 packs in all the fitness tracking you need: HRV, VO2 Max, GPS, Garmin Coach plans, and sleep tracking.
You get up to 13 days of battery, crisp visuals, and a comfortable fit that makes it easy to wear around the clock. It’s lighter and simpler than the 965, but it nails the basics beautifully.
If you want high end functionality in a package that’s approachable and budget friendly, this is a top pick. Especially good for runners and fitness guys who care about data, not just style.
Conclusion
Garmin’s 2025 lineup covers every type of guy the explorer, the runner, the diver, the lifter, the commuter. Whether you’re chasing a new PR or just want to track your day with a little more insight, there’s a watch on this list that gets it done. Rugged or refined, Garmin keeps delivering. Pick your favorite, charge it up, and get after it.
Whether you’re willing to admit it or not, luxury watches have accumulated a rather fine reputation over the years, as the public has more or less declared them one of the finest symbols of wealth and power. This, in some ways, is a very good thing.
It’s true that timepieces are some of the most elegant and wondrous creations that have ever touched the landscape of finer things, but the problem that comes with this esteemed reputation is that luxury watches are almost always associated with prices that are too outlandish for an entry-level fan to enjoy.
It’s a real shame that this turns so many people off, but I’m here to tell you that some of the finest pieces I have ever seen have cost less than $500. You see, in the watch world (in most cases), you pay for what you get, but that doesn’t mean that cheaper pieces are going to be any less incredible for an everyday wearer.
There are plenty of finer pieces suited for just about anything; it’s just a matter of knowing your priorities and knowing the market.
To Narrow it Down…
Since dress watches seem to be the first-hand victim of the “it’s all too expensive, so why even try” mindset, that’s what we’re going to be looking at today.
I have gathered some of my absolute favorite pieces on the market, made with the exact amount of care as more traditionally priced pieces, and have lined them up in a way that will provide you with the most insight on why they are at least worth checking out.
This elegant woman’s design offers a lot more than meets the eye. It may not look like it, but the Jacqueline is a smart watch in disguise, posing as a dress watch while being equipped with all the technological features that so many deem necessary nowadays.
Taking a look at the aesthetic first, you will notice the chic appeal of Roman numeral indices resting on a snowy white background with a thin link of stainless steel tenderly fitting the wrist. Swart watch features include an alarm clock, app alerts, calendar alerts, multiple time zones, and much more.
The Fossil Women’s Hybrid Swartwatch Jacqueline costs $140.
Swatch Irony “Body & Soul” YAS100G
The unparalleled intricacy of this skeleton design will undoubtedly turn heads, and for good reason. It’s not every day that you see a skeleton piece in the wild, let alone one for this cheap.
The Swatch Irony is a classic example of a mechanical watch that has been pushed to its absolute limit, as the design is quite literally centered around the gorgeous 21-jewel Swiss Automatic movement that solemnly ticks away all under the view of the public eye.
I’m sucker for skeleton pieces, and when you through in a smooth 38mm of stainless steel, this watch is all the more appealing.
The Swatch Irony costs $175.
Seiko 5 SNK793
Cheap Seikos all have one thing in common: they prioritize minimalist designs that bring out the most in basic features. You quite literally cannot go wrong choosing a piece like the SNK793.
The dial is a simple blue; the hands and indices are as straightforward as it gets, and the stainless steel case only serves to bring out as much of the aesthetic as possible.
There’s a certain appeal in the simplicity that Seiko has mastered, perhaps it’s the Japanese automatic movement that fuels it all, or the elegant appeal of the shape of the watch. Whatever the case, this is one of the most reliable dress pieces of all time and is worth anybody’s time.
The Seiko 5 SNK793 costs $180.
Timex Marlin Hand-Wound 34mm
This is a true gentleman’s watch if I’ve ever seen one. The pure hand-wound movement is a testament to the glorious pieces of the olden days, a time when designs were much simpler and more refined.
As sleek and subtle as ever, the minuscule 34mm measurement may not be suited for every wrist, but the message it conveys on such a small frame is something that should be admired in and of itself.
The smooth polishing of the dial is what brings it all together in my opinion, as the glossy exterior fits the minimalist design in a way that brings the other pieces to life.
The Timex Marlin Hand-Wound 34mm costs $209.
Orient 2nd Gen Bambino Automatic
The epitome of classic design, the Orient Bambino has been emulating the vintage appeal for decades as one of the most iconic homages to the watches of old.
The brilliance of the beige dial is only made so great by the blue hands that sharply contrast with the other colors of this piece, devising quite a unique formula.
The faint Roman-numeral indices create a clean-looking palette, reinforcing other elements of the design that feel well-rounded and complete. But what does it for me is the tremendously detailed leather strap that, in my opinion, brings the entire piece together.
I don’t think the design would carry half as much vintage appeal if any other strap option were used, as the leather blends so well with the rich colors to carry such a refined weight.
As far as the inside mechanics go, the watch uses a 22-jewel Japanese automatic movement with a 40-hour power reserve. This watch simply checks all the boxes and ranks as one of my personal favorite pieces of all time.
The Orient 2nd Gen Bambino Automatic costs $220.
Nordgreen Philosopher
Nordgreen has found its niche: making some of the most minimalist designs while giving its pieces a fresh sense of identity. The Philosopher does just that.
With just enough detail to actually tell the time, the white dial is bright and snowy, with no blemishes or distractions, forging a subtle connection with the wearer with the way it seems to silently come alive on the wrist.
Now, it does have its fair share of customization if you want to add a little more spice, but this watch was made for efficiency and gets straight to the point.
With a 40mm diameter, there is plenty of watch to be enjoyed, and those of you who prefer the minimalist approach to watch making will go absolutely crazy for something like this.
The Nordgreen Philosopher costs $229.
Bulova Classic Silver Dial Black Leather
The rectangular case of this Bulova Classic instills within the wearer a sense of formality that is perhaps missing on other pieces.
Square dials have always been extremely hit or miss for me, but I must say, Bulova manages to do something special here by taking all of these classy elements that highlight a vintage design and graduating them to the modern-day stage, where they have a bigger opportunity to shine.
The black leather strap perfectly complements the shimmering aesthetic, and the Roman numerals on the square dial will always do wonders for a design, as they bring a certain amount of life to whatever piece they touch.
The Bulova Classic Silver Dial Black Leather costs $258.
Frederique Constant Slimline Silver
Often flying below the radar, Frederique’s pieces don’t often get the recognition they deserve. The Constant Silmline Silver combines classy elements that flash a vintage aesthetic with elements of the modern age that have been updated to better suit the watch enthusiast of today.
Taking a look at the dial, you will find that a very simplistic approach has been taken to ensure a minimalist design.
In my experience, these designs can often provide the most amount of insight into a watchmaker’s technique, and for this piece in particular, it is easy to tell how skilled the direction on this piece truly was.
Very slim as the name suggests, this Frerique masterpiece deserves far more recognition than it is currently getting.
The Frederique Constant Slimline Silver costs $284.
Dan Henry 1937 Dress Chronograph
There is a lot to unpack on the Dan Henry 1937. At first, your eye will automatically be drawn to the excessive amount of detail on the dial, as the two chronograph subdials form a unique sense of symmetry to round out the design, and the many, many indices take up the empty space along the edges.
It’s important to mention that this is an Art Deco-inspired piece, updated to suit the modern needs of wearers today. I, for one, think it’s a welcome addition to the Dan Henry collection, as its old-timey elegance captures a unique look that is rare to emulate today.
The Dan Henry 1937 Dress Chronograph costs $290.
Sternglas Naos White
The symmetrical appeal of the Naos White has placed it as a fan favorite out of watches that embody the Bauhaus design.
The clean, organized palette that the dial creates will turn anyone on to the geometric aesthetic, and the quartz movement that resides inside gives the piece a certain level of simplicity while maintaining a functional appeal.
This watch is suitable for any environment, though the dressy nature will obviously suit you best at an event worthy of elevated attire.
Versatility seems to be the name of the game; however, for a watch of this caliber to be priced like this, it’s hard not to appreciate everything that this piece is suited for.
The Sternglas Naos White costs $299.
Tissot Classic Dream
The shimmering stainless steel is what originally drove me to this piece, but the authentic Swissmatic movement and the vintage leather that subtly complements the simplistic dial are what kept my attention the most.
This watch is simply beautiful, and, better yet, the simplistic nature allows for it to be worn in any environment. Tissot has a way of combining top-of-the-line features with everyday attributes, leaving their fans satisfied on all fronts. And this watch, by all means, is no exception.
Another feature to note is the iconic sword-like hands that Tissot has mastered so well, sweeping elegantly along the dial to enchant the wearer with their movement. This watch is about as good as it gets.
The Tissot Classic Dream costs $315.
Citizen Tsuyosa
This might just be the perfect watch for everyday wear. The simple yet exquisite design has the capability of appealing to just about anyone, and the sheer amount of technical prowess it carries can check any box for any wearer.
A perfect 40mm measurement, a very high-quality automatic movement for the price, and a design that is simply unmatched are what make the Tsuyosa shine as it exists in a realm of its own.
The Japanese watchmakers at Citizen prove once again why they are some of the most respected individuals in the industry.
The Citizen Tsuyosa costs $360.
Tissot T-Classic PRX
This modern dress watch comes with all the incredible Swiss features of your higher-end models, but with a price that makes owning one actually feasible.
The Swiss-made quartz movement of the PRX fits comfortably in the 39.5mm casing, and the subtle curves that blend seamlessly with the dark-blue exterior provide a rich coat of exquisite detail that any wearer will enjoy.
Not only that, but this watch is also a textbook dress watch, suitable for any occasion, with a style that complements any attire and fits in with any environment.
This is simplistic watchmaking at its finest, and I can’t help but commend Tissot for their commitment to deliver a taste of high-performing Swiss watchmaking at a far less dramatic price tag.
The Tissot T-Classic PRX costs $375.
Seiko 5 Sports GMT
This classic piece is almost certainly on every “most affordable luxury watch” list out there. The GMT feature has become a cult classic among Seiko watches, and when accompanied by the legendary 5 Sports series, this is a recipe for absolute success.
The dial is absolutely gorgeous with conflicting colors that somehow stand out and cause the entire piece to formulate its own shape. And of course, the GMT, multi-directional bezel is the obvious standout and the reason for the watch’s esteemed reputation.
This is perhaps one of the most functionally sound dress watches ever, and a blatant choice if you’re looking for a watch that is suitable for everyday wear.
The Seiko 5 Sports GMT costs $475.
Seiko SARB033 Men’s Wrist Watch
Sharing many traits with Seiko divers, the SARB033 is made to endure fairly tough environments while maintaining its classic appeal.
The smooth black and silver dance across the dial, instilling within the wearer a sense of personal refinement, and the exhibition caseback allows the wearer to view the intricate insides, as the 50-hour, 23-jewel Japanese automatic movement works tirelessly to deliver an impeccable performance.
This piece holds fast to the ideology that you don’t have to sacrifice quality to deliver a well-rounded, brilliantly designed performance, as the 100m water resistance perfectly embodies everything Seiko set out to do.
The Seiko SARB033 costs $500.
Conclusion
The amount of versatility on the market nowadays is truly astounding. The watch world is vast and seemingly never-ending, with millions of pieces out there to suit whatever preference you have. It takes a little deep-diving to find the piece that speaks to you.
The best part is that there are thousands of pieces that are within your price range right now, all without your knowledge. I hope that this list has provided some insight on how many options there are and that you were able to narrow down what exactly you’re looking for.
It’s always beneficial to appreciate all aspects of the market in order to develop a discerning taste for powerful watches that might otherwise go unnoticed, and to broaden your appreciation so that you can fully acknowledge the brilliance of these pieces.
In a world where we are becoming increasingly tethered to digital tools, computers, and smartwatches, there exists a breed of watch that still applies itself to the crushing, unforgiving depths of the ocean, though we may not need to rely on it so much today.
It’s the automatic dive watch. Indeed, there is still a market for what was once an indispensable tool – a lifeline, even. Today, it serves as a testament to the evolution of watchmaking.
Modern-day dive tools trace their roots back to a rich heritage, steeped in world firsts, innovative materials, and cutting-edge technology.
With just as much draw as they once had, luxury dive watches are still worn for their practical robustness, their versatility, and their unmistakable style. This guide looks at the best automatic dive watches currently on the market and touches on the importance of the dive watch, even in today’s world.
The Appeal of the Dive Watch
It’s a known fact that dive watches are inherently over-engineered. Even for those who barely take their watches near a drop of water, they instill a sense of immortality.
Dive watches have a solid construction that allows them to survive impact, pressure, and the general knocks and bumps you would expect to encounter when on the deck of a boat or whilst exploring the ocean bed.
What’s more, their water resistance surpasses the underwater depths that most humans would ever need or want to venture down to.
Their impressive shock resistance means they can withstand the endeavours of the most daring and adventurous spirits, while a clear dial format with large luminescent details ensures continual, uncompromised legibility.
Simply put, it’s the underwater tool watch that you’ll probably never need to use underwater, but it’s good to know you could if you wanted to.
Some of the industry’s most iconic watches are dive watches. Their chunky unidirectional rotating bezels and prominent, luminous hour markers and hands create a rugged, stylish look that can seamlessly transition from casual wear to something more formal if needed.
And though there was once an unwritten rule condemning the use of a dive watch with a suit, it has been done and continues to be done.
Even if you have no aspirations to wear your watch to the swimming pool on vacation, let alone the ocean, it’s often the knowing that you don’t have to wrap your watch in cotton wool that makes it so appealing.
Dive watches look daring even in the most mundane of settings, oozing masculinity and character, and cementing strong pop culture status to the wrist (Think 007, Jaws, and The Meg).
And supposing you don’t even need a tough and durable daily tool for leisurely pursuits or your line of work? That’s ok. Many collectors just love the look and enjoy the heft of a dive watch on the wrist.
These tools have the ability to directly connect the wearer with a rich history of deep-sea exploration and horological innovation through the ages, which is one reason why models with a retro flair prove incredibly popular today. Let’s take a look at some of our favourite picks here at Exquisite Timepieces.
Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon DeepQUEST
Dial luminosity is arguably one of the most impressive qualities of a Ball watch. The company has specialised in perfecting its tritium-filled light tubes for years. Of all the modern-day Super-LumiNova-treated dials out there, the continual glow of Ball’s micro gas tubes reigns supreme.
These tubes glow during the daytime, even when you can’t see them. Fitted tubes on the hands and the hour markers of this Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon DeepQUEST watch will guide the way through the murkiest of waters in colours of orange and green.
The watch measures 42mm in diameter and has been crafted from titanium for a comfortable and lightweight feel against the wrist. Master designers at Ball equip this watch with a staggering 1000-meter water resistance, which is upheld by the expertly engineered screw-down crown at 3 o’clock.
Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon watches are built like tanks, and this DeepQUEST iteration is no exception. In addition to its smooth and glossy black ceramic unidirectional rotating bezel, this dive watch features several patented innovations, including a SpringLOCK Anti-Shock System to reduce the impact on the balance spring inside the automatic movement, and the brand’s SpringSEAL Regulator Protection, which prevents important components from shifting position during heavy impact.
Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatic 38mm
The Fifty Fathoms watch by Blancpain is highly regarded in the watch world. It’s a truly exceptional timepiece in its own right, carrying historical significance, as well as being considered the archetype of the modern dive watch.
What’s even more impressive about this Fifty Fathoms watch is its slimness, which sets it apart from so much of its competition. So many modern automatic dive watches sit on the wrist like a bulky slab of metal.
Still, Blancpain has carefully considered this design, offering it in an appealing 38mm diameter for those with smaller wrists.
This Blancpain Fifty Fathoms watch is powered by the in-house automatic Calibre 1150, which features a silicone balance spring and a 100-hour power reserve once fully wound.
It may or may not be a watch you want to wear every single day, but the combination of its 300M water-resistant red gold case and its classic blue sailcloth strap, not to mention its luxurious 18k rose gold case, makes it an interesting proposition that sits somewhere between sporty and dressy.
Blancpain prioritises legibility across the dial, featuring shard-like hour markers, luminous central hour and minute hands, and a red-tipped central sweeping seconds hand, all set against a bed of sunray blue.
Bremont Supermarine 500m on Nato Strap
This automatic dive watch from Bremont belongs to the British manufacturer’s Supermarine watch collection and impresses with its 500-meter water-resistant case crafted from 904L stainless steel.
Fit for the water or for wearing on dry land, the broad 43mm model creates huge wrist presence with its black dial finished in a striking wave effect, complemented by a sporty NATO strap.
It’s a perfect example to demonstrate how the dive watch can be a versatile tool. While material straps are not as quick-drying or as practical for diving as rubber bands, they do give a dive watch a nice field watch style, should you intend to wear it out of the water.
The Bremont Supermarine 500M can reach extraordinary depths whilst keeping the internal environment water-tight.
Its 500-meter water resistance is paired with a screw-down crown, brushed lugs, and a strong scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass that shields the luminous-filled hands and hour markers from any undesirable glare when exposed to natural or artificial light.
Lastly, you’ll note the wayfinder logo, which now sits at 12 o’clock on the dial as Bremont’s new emblem. It sits amongst flashes of orange detail seen in the Supermarine lettering and in the five-minute increments of the minute track on the flange.
DOXA Sub 300T Clive Cussler
Not many dive watches are as closely associated with pop culture as DOXA. Its watches have appeared on the silver screen and on the wrists of ocean conservationist Jacques Cousteau throughout the 60s and 70s.
This iteration, however, is named the Clive Cluster and pays homage to the novelist and the adventurous character he writes about, Dirk Pitt.
Inspired by shipwreck voyages, the Sub 300T has an aged and weathered appearance to its stainless steel case, evoking a vintage compass and showcasing the fearless spirit of adventure.
The bracelet, clasp, and case of the DOXA Sub 300T Clive Cluster watch all feature a worn look that coincides beautifully with a vintage-coloured dial, achieved through a handmade decorative grinding process.
Capturing a strong vintage look, masters at DOXA choose a beads-of-rice bracelet, which can be swapped for a NATO strap if desired.
On the caseback of this special dive watch are the names and historical artefacts discovered by NUMA, while the unidirectional rotating bezel allows for effortless measuring of elapsed time marked by depth in feet.
Aside from a helium escape valve to complete its look, this 300M water-resistant dive watch is powered by a relentless workhorse – a Swiss-made automatic movement with a 38-hour power reserve.
Longines Hydroconquest GMT
For watch enthusiasts who appreciate the mechanical complexity of a solidly engineered movement at the heart of a watch, automatic dive watches are often considered to be “wristwatches with a soul”. The same is true for the diving kind, such as this automatic dive watch – the Longines HydroConquest GMT.
As you’ll already have figured from its name, it’s not just a watch for diving but also a companion for clocking up the air miles and hopping time zones.
The Longines HydroConquest GMT draws inspiration from the world of water sports and features a 300-meter water-resistant stainless steel case, topped with a strong anti-reflective sapphire crystal front.
The automatic Calibre L844, housed within its 41mm case, is capable of producing a power reserve of 72 hours when removed from the wrist. It’s a great option if you like to rotate your collection regularly, and even features a silicone hairspring that’s resistant to the damaging effects of magnetism.
The star of the show, however, is the indulgent chocolate-caramel dial in a sunray finish. Similar to the hue of a vintage-inspired bronze dive watch, the tones of the dial and the matching colored ceramic bezel are perfect for getting noticed on the wrist, and even feature beige-colored markers and hands for added retro charm.
Mühle Glashütte Seebataillon GMT
Just a subtle swing of the wrist will power the rotor and wind the mainspring of this stylish dive watch from Muhle Glashutte.
Perhaps this isn’t a brand that would naturally spring to mind when you think of an automatic dive watch, but this German brand certainly knows how to catch the attention of the German Navy’s Seebataillon.
Watches from the brand’s S.A.R. series mean business and have been developed especially for soldiers of this specialised unit.
It’s also a GMT complication, allowing you to track an additional time zone via the black 24-hour scale around the flange and a light, golden-colored arrow-tipped GMT hand.
A matte black dial features matte black coated hands treated with a generous layer of Super-LumiNova material, allowing you to track the time even when submerged under 300 meters of water.
This is a confident 45mm model crafted from lightweight titanium, housing a reliable Sellita-based movement that offers a 56-hour power reserve.
The movement even benefits from Muhle Glashutte’s special in-house Woodpecker neck regulation mechanism, promising improved mechanical efficiency, along with a stop-second feature and date correction mechanism.
Nivada Grenchen Aquamar Blue
Automatic dive watches can last for generations, and that was certainly the vision behind the Aquamar Blue by Nivada Grenchen.
In contrast to a quartz watch, the automatic movement within this dive watch is built to withstand the test of time and endure extreme underwater conditions, thanks to its solidly constructed 38mm stainless steel case.
It may be a lesser-known charismatic dive watch in the grand scheme of things, but this watch compromises on nothing in terms of quality and reliability.
The watch features a sandwich dial with luminous treatment underneath the surface, protruding through from the lower level.
The off-white colour of the faux patina lume adds even more vintage character to this 200-meter water-resistant case, as does the beads-of-rice bracelet.
On the back of the case is an engraved depiction of the Antarctic penguin, which personifies the watchmaker’s pursuit of exploration. To finish, Vivada Grenchen equips this watch with a domed sapphire crystal glass front and screw-down crown.
The real hidden surprise of the Aquamar dive watch, however, is the innovative bi-color calendar disc, which transitions from LumiNova white to faux-patina beige, much like a game of roulette.
Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M Worldtimer
Even if you never dive with the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M Worldtimer, you’ll still want to wear it daily. Its black and turquoise dial, featuring world cities and the date on a globe decoration, contributes to what can only be described as an entirely unique take on the dive watch.
It’s good for the gym, drinks out with friends in the evening, or a deep, daring dive, thanks to a water resistance of 600 meters. But most of all, its slick black ceramic case imparts a resolutely modern look on the wrist.
This Omega Seamaster boasts a playful mix of honeycomb textures and smooth, vibrant surfaces, all punctuated by Omega’s distinctive arrow-tipped hands.
The 45.5mm model features a laser-ablated diving scale and a Grade 5 titanium globe dial centre, along with day and night sections, and diamond-brushed indexes.
Comfort, of course, is paramount. Omega equips this watch with an integrated black structured rubber band and outfits it with one of its state-of-the-art Co-Axial escapement movements, guaranteeing chronometer-certified accuracy 24/7.
The self-winding Calibre 8938 is resistant to magnetic fields reaching 15,000 gauss, and provides a 60-hour power reserve, ensuring you’re covered for every eventuality.
Oris Diver Sixty-Five
Oris is cherished by an elite community of dive watch enthusiasts, particularly those with a fondness for the Divers Sixty-Five watch collection, which draws direct inspiration from the brand’s earlier dive watches of the 1960s.
The collection first launched in 2016, wowing devoted dive watch collectors with its bubble, domed sapphire that mimicked the distortion effect that many vintage dive watches featured with their acrylic lenses.
This Divers Sixty-Five watch imparts complete, unadulterated vintage charm in the form of a multi-piece stainless steel case that aligns with yesteryear’s proportions, measuring 40mm in diameter.
The minute scale on the top ring also facilitates easy handling of the unidirectional rotating bezel. This is a watch that you’ll want to wear with a bomber jacket, casual weekend attire, and something smarter during the evening.
The splash of turquoise is what brings this Oris dive watch to life. It appears in the shield, circular and rectangular hour markers, injecting the watch with a subtle splash of color without being overbearing or detracting from the retro characteristics that feature elsewhere.
Although Oris has returned to manufacturing some of its own movements for select dive watches, this one is powered by a third-party Swiss movement, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, since ETA movements, and those like them, constitute cheaper and easier repairs and service work.
Seiko Prospex Diver’s Modern Re-Interpretation GMT
No one does a better value-for-money automatic dive watch than Japanese watch manufacturer Seiko. The Prospex collection is bursting with an endless range of diver-ready styles, each one imbued with tool watch credentials for everyday wear.
This is another GMT dive watch, though if you don’t want to use the complication, it’s no big deal. The time zone tracking function is the runner-up feature in this watch. First and foremost, it’s a rugged dive tool with an athletic, chiselled stainless steel case (42mm) and a water resistance of 200 meters.
This Seiko Prospex watch is a re-interpretation of the brand’s earlier 1968 model – the brand’s first dive watch.
It features a dramatic green dial with a matching green unidirectional rotating bezel that only rotates counter-clockwise, thereby eliminating the risk of accidentally extending dive time while underwater.
It features luminous, chunky hour markers and hands, along with a golden yellow GMT hand that allows you to track an additional time zone via a discreet 24-hour track around the flange.
Additional features include its rugged three-link stainless steel bracelet, which provides comfort against the wrist thanks to a Seiko-engraved three-fold clasp and a push-button release mechanism with an extending feature.
TUDOR Pelagos Ultra
Last but not least is the TUDOR Pelagos. In a world of fragile, temperamental electronics, nothing beats the robustness and longevity of a tough automatic dive watch like this.
Firstly, take note of its staggering 1000-meter water resistance – by far one of its most impressive features. Secondly, the dial of the TUDOR Pelagos is tailored for complete legibility.
It features a rich black display adorned with crisp, square, and rectangular hour markers, together with the iconic Snowflake hands – a signature design feature of TUDOR.
The Tudor Pelagos offers a refreshing blend of professional-grade materials and tool-oriented features that are rare in a watch within the sub-$8,000 to $10,000 price bracket.
And here’s where the fundamental differences lie between the Pelagos and the TUDOR Black Bay – another collector’s favourite. The Pelagos case is constructed from titanium and even features an extension mechanism on its equally lightweight bracelet.
This allows for the dive watch to wear like a dream. In fact, if it weren’t for the many practical uses of the watch, you’d likely forget you were wearing it.
Everything, from the ergonomically crafted links of the bracelet to the butter-smooth click of the bezel, has been engineered to a level of excellence, using its sister brand, Rolex, as a standard to match up to.
Fitted with a METAS-certified movement, the TUDOR Pelagos is ideal for professional divers, saturation divers, recreational divers, or non-divers.
To be quite frank, anyone looking for a tool watch should consider something like the Pelagos. Its use, both underwater and on land, not to mention features like its helium escape valve, makes it a perfect go-anywhere, do-anything watch with an unmistakable rugged charm.
Wrapping Up
You’ve just finished reading our lineup of the best automatic dive watches as chosen by us here at Exquisite Timepieces.
Each option in our lineup offers something a little different, whether it’s next-level water resistance, innovative gas light tubes for superior luminosity, or hidden colour-changing calendrical functions. Which will you choose?
Without this article veering head-on into a catastrophic car-crash-debate about controversial topics surrounding gender-defining terminology, and who believes what (and before I get accused of being narrowminded with my rather traditional views on the matter!), let me say that, on this occasion, women can actually wear men’s watches without making a gender claim.
It has nothing to do with social acceptance, or discrimination, or a need to have the option made available to us purely out of principle. I’m a girl and I like to wear men’s watches. It’s that simple. I own a Mr Jones Golden Hour (yes, the one with the bee).
It’s a behemoth of a timepiece – 45mm in diameter, to be precise. It’s not intended as a lady’s watch as such, nor is it a men’s watch. I wear it because it makes me smile and I’m a sucker for boyfriend jeans, boyfriend shirts, and the beloved boyfriend watch.
For far too long, there has been an unspoken narrative that women’s watches need to be dainty, delicate, diamond-festooned things. And while there is nothing wrong with the latter, these characteristics don’t define a woman’s watch (now I’m sounding woke!).
The Appeal of the Large Watch Face
If you’re a female and you’re becoming increasingly drawn towards watches with larger diameters, you’re not alone. Maybe you want to rebel against the “dainty” constraints you once believed you had to adhere to. Perhaps a larger watch with a bigger presence aligns with your new role at work.
Or perhaps you love gender-neutral styles, or prefer the masculine undertones that a broader diameter naturally brings to the wrist.
As I mentioned earlier, there are numerous advantages to a larger watch face. For starters, watches with larger faces are easier to read the time from.
This enhanced legibility often accompanies additional features and high-end complications. A larger case means a larger crown and push-pieces and, generally speaking, a watch that is easier to manipulate.
All that aside, larger watches create great visual balance and double up as a status symbol, reflecting one’s success and sometimes marking a significant milestone in life.
If you’ve come to this guide for some inspiration, I’ll cut to the chase. Here are some of the best large watch faces for women currently dominating the market.
Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Calibre 403
There are no prizes for guessing why this Oris watch automatically passes the “feminine” test. Its sumptuous terracotta dial verges on pink territory, adding a zingy splash of color to the wrist.
Fundamentally, the Oris Big Crown Pointer watch is a pilot’s watch. Many models from the collection feature crisp Arabic numerals around the hour track and Oris’s stylish jet turbine-inspired fluted bezel, adding an extra touch of aviation detail.
Yet, the recent batch of Big Crown Pointer Date watches released by Oris post 2021 look different. They feature polished bezels, straight pencil-style hands (that replace the traditional-looking syringe hands that the series was once synonymous with), and convey an overall aesthetic that is more aligned with the everyday dress watch.
If you’re a lady looking for a timepiece to wear with smart attire, but one that gently carries some subtle touches of nostalgia, this 40mm Oris Big Crown Pointer Date, with its in-house Calibre 403, packs a whole load of “big watch” character into its design, and secures to the wrist with a practical H-link bracelet for a snug fit.
Yes, this is a large watch for a female wrist (40mm), and it does feature a unique Verzasca Green dial, which is sure to turn some heads. However, the real star of the show is the Tonda PF’s Split GMT complication, which Parmigiani Fleurier utilizes to display two time zones simultaneously.
Two superimposed hands sit against this textured teal-like dial in different metallic finishes. One is rhodium-plated in gold and displays the local time, while the other is rose gold and displays home time.
But how does it work, you ask? Well, if you look over to the 8 o’clock location on the case, you’ll see a pusher that moves both the local and home time forward in one-hour increments.
The rose gold hand, however, remains in position until you activate it with the 3 o’clock pusher, where it will spring back or “fly back” to the home time hand when you need it to.
The clever complication allows you to align the hands when you don’t need to track a second time zone. All in all, it’s a GMT watch, but only when you want it to be. Now, let’s discuss the captivating Grain d’orge dial guilloche dial pattern….
Full of depth, the textured dial adds a rich and creamy layer to an already well-layered cake. A mesmerising display of light comes into play at certain angles, allowing this large dial to reinvent itself depending on where and how you wear the watch.
This large women’s watch features a brushed and polished steel bracelet and is powered by the Caliber PF051, which provides a 48-hour power reserve once fully wound.
H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Tourbillon Concept
If you’re a fan of a concept watch, the Moser & Cie Endeavour Tourbillon Concept Pop is worth some consideration. It goes without saying that the brand’s choice of colour will appeal to both genders with an attractive green and pink palette spanning a diameter of 40mm.
The Endeavour Tourbillon Concept Pop is one of those watches that’s going to garner lots of attention wherever you wear it, purely for the fact that it looks like nothing else on the market.
The simplicity of its minimalist dial, in shades of “Burmese jade and pink opal,” achieves both futuristic and retro vibes simultaneously, with just the central hour and minute hands pulling the time together.
The flying tourbillon, exposed through the dial’s surface, also showcases some of Moser & Cie’s finest work and will appeal to female horophiles who have a genuine appreciation for top-tier engineering.
MeisterSinger Kaenos Sunburst Ice Blue
The Meistersinger KS914 Kaenos Sunburst Ice Blue watch features a sandwich dial, comprising an upper layer with cut-out Arabic numerals and hour markers, revealing a bottom luminous layer that pierces through the upper surface to display the time at night.
The German watchmaker is renowned for making watches that tell the time using a single hand. And although the concept sounds confusing, Meistersinger watches like this actually promote a more relaxed approach to timekeeping.
This watch wears larger than it suggests on paper, and if you ask me, it’s all due to the unconventional dial layout.
Elements are more spaced out across this dial, and with only one hand to tell the time, this 40mm steel model, featuring a captivating blue dial, takes Meistersinger watches in a whole new, elegant, and sporty direction.
H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Concept Purple Enamel
Another Moser & Cie watch, this time the Endeavour Concept on a hypnotic purple dial. The watch is equipped with a purple central seconds hand that seamlessly blends into the texture of its enamel dial, leaving only the hour and minute hands to take center stage.
The watch unites the ancestral art of enamelling, which (if you know anything about coloured enamel dials) is no mean feat. The margins between a perfect dial and a complete fail are unforgivingly thin, and when watches cost this much to manufacture, there is no room for error.
With a 40mm stainless steel case and a matching purple leather strap to echo the intense colour of the dial, this is a large watch by women’s standards but one that leans more into technical depth than an ornamental style, with the automatic Calibre HMC 201 comprising a double hairspring for improved efficiency and accuracy.
Glashutte Original Senator Excellence Panorama Date Moon Phases
The Glashütte Original Senator Excellence Panorama Date Moon Phase is another watch that provides a fascinating insight into a finely crafted and finished movement.
This watch supports the notion that women don’t need fancy gemstones and decadent diamond decoration to appreciate a well-made wristwatch.
The Glashütte Original Senator Excellence watch features a large date window in the unusual location of 4 o’clock, dressed against a deep blue background to match the blued feuille hands and, of course, a beautifully decorated moon phase indicator at 11 o’clock.
I love the watch’s informal layout. Glashütte Original abides by no rules to make this watch work, yet it somehow does. The dial still feels balanced, despite being housed within a vast 40mm diameter.
The use of a copper-frosted dial hints at femininity in a very unofficial way. This watch features an innovative bayonet mount, which secures the movement into position, affixing it to the case as a means of shock resistance.
Additionally, the copper-frosted dial is inspired by the Ore Mountains, which were mined for their mineral resources. The Panorama date, of course, is no stranger to a Glashütte Original watch.
If you like a watch with traditional elements, you’d be hard-pressed to find one with more subtle nods to its maker’s heritage, and for a similar price, than the Senator Excellence.
DOXA SUB 250T GMT Divingstar
Big into dive watches? You don’t have to exhaust the market looking for one small enough and discreet enough to pass as a “lady’s diver”. You have the entire range of men’s dive watches to explore.
The truth is, dive watches are meant to look big and chunky, so you can really go to town with an oversized watch here.
The DOXA Sub 250T GMT Divingstar pays homage to the brand’s legendary role in crafting professional watches for divers. The brand is associated with ocean conservation, having been the choice of watch for underwater adventurer Jacques Cousteau during the 1960s.
If you know anything about DOXA, you’ll be familiar with its signature orange diver dial. However, over recent years, DOXA has expanded its colour options and now features models in Caribbean, Aquamarine, White Pearl, and Sea Emerald, to name just a few examples.
This model, presented in a “Divingstar” yellow, is going to get you noticed. Its sporty, supple yellow rubber band is perfect for sports as well as swimming and water sports. What’s more, DOXA watches even come on a beads-of-rice stainless steel bracelet for those who prefer the look of the vintage dive watch.
Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatic Pink
Just to prove that feminine shades can also take the form of rugged and ready sports watches, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms is dedicated to women.
It’s still a broad companion, measuring 38mm in diameter, but combines an athletic profile and large, chunky luminescent dial appliques with a touch of pink.
This stainless steel model is water resistant to 300 meters and features no diamonds. It’s ready for action. A sapphire unidirectional rotating bezel will allow you to track elapsed time underwater without any difficulty, while the white mother-of-pearl dial features pink indexes that have been treated with Super-LumiNova for exceptional legibility underwater.
Fitted with all the features needed in any dive watch, including the sapphire crystal glass, a screw-down crown, and a rugged three-link stainless steel bracelet, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms watch will take you from the beach to a mountain hike without you even needing to think about it.
The watch is powered by one of Blancpain’s in-house automatic movements – the Calibre 1153, which will keep accurate time for 100 hours without relying on the movement of your wrist.
Finally, although this watch looks as though ot weighs a substantial amount on the wrist, Blancpain experts have chosen a lightweight titanium case for this Fifty Fathoms design, making it even more ideal for runs, hikes, swims, and general day-to-day wear throughout the week.
Omega Aqua Terra 150M Turquoise
If there is one brand that masters the art of catering to both male and female audiences with its universally appealing designs, it’s Omega.
In particular, the brand’s Seamaster range is not only one of the world’s largest dive watch collections by any single brand, but it’s also a treasure trove of unisex designs that resonate with women who choose quality craftsmanship over everything else.
The Aqua Terra 150M watch, as its name suggests, is a 150-meter water-resistant model, but doesn’t necessarily feel like a bold tool watch. If you don’t like the generic bulky look of a dive watch, something like this Aqua Terra 150M could be just the ticket.
It features this stunning teal dial colour with the familiar shard-like hour markers and faceted hands delivering legibility in every environment. The dial boasts a black gradient effect around the edge and features a clear trapezoid date window at 6 o’clock.
This is certainly a large watch face for a female wrist, measuring 41 mm in diameter. Still, thanks to its symmetrical case and integrated metal bracelet, it wears surprisingly small on the wrist. One advantage of any Omega watch is its promise of reliability.
The brand commits to kitting its watches out with METAS-certified movements that feature the Co-Axial escapement, which Omega acquired the rights to in the 1990s. Since then, every Omega watch has been able to promise superior accuracy of the very highest kind.
Hublot Big Bang Unico Mint Green Ceramic
If oversized and unconventional is your thing, Hublot watches are worth checking out. These watches are inherently masculine, and women who seek them out are naturally drawn to timepieces that are more than just an accessory.
Hublot watches, such as the Big Bang Unico, evoke confidence and power, conveying a sense of contemporary luxury. This model is packaged in mint green ceramic, offering a unisex design that showcases the inner workings of the watch through the dial side.
A small seconds sub-dial is situated at 3 o’clock in the same mint green, while the smooth ceramic bezel features the signature H-shaped screws that all Big Bang watches are recognised for.
This sporty chronograph features Arabic numeral hour markers that glow with luminous material at night, as well as a mint green minute scale on the flange and luminous-treated central hands.
Under the hood is the in-house UNICO movement. It’s a flyback chronograph function, meaning that the stopwatch features of this watch are much easier to activate than in a standard chronograph.
While the 2 o’clock pusher begins a stopwatch timing in the traditional way, the 4 o’clock pusher can stop a timing, reset the hands back to base, and begin a new timing with one fell swoop.
The movement also features a column wheel mechanism, providing an overall smoother mechanical performance and a power reserve of 72 hours once fully wound.
Bremont Terra Nova 38 Turquoise
This would be no Exquisite Timepieces guide without mention of one of our proudest collaborative efforts to date. Henley-on-Thames watchmaker Bremont and we here at Exquisite Timepieces teamed up to create a Terra Nova watch a couple of months ago, resulting in this 38mm field watch with a striking turquoise dial.
Since the Terra Nova arrived, marking a significant overhaul of the Bremont catalogue as we knew it, its distinctive 904L steel barrel-shaped case and oversized crown have been whispered on the lips of hardcore female fans eager to expand their collection with an attractive proposition built for the slender proportions of their wrist.
The Bremont Terra Nova 38 Turquoise is our answer to the woman’s field watch. Its striking green-blue dial is a revitalising and refreshing colour to sport over the summer months.
It features Super-LumiNova-treated Arabic numerals and pencil-shaped hands, which enhance legibility and clarity. This is a no-date watch, powered by a beautifully engineered automatic movement with a 38-hour power reserve.
Though not exactly a lady’s size, the watch has the slim profile and tapered lugs needed to make it more wearable on the female wrist. Limited to just 100 pieces worldwide, it’s a unique collector’s item that truly distils the essence of the ruggedly elegant women’s field watch.
Flip the watch over, and you’ll find an engraved caseback depicting a map of the world. This decorative element perfectly captures the bold and adventurous spirit of Bremont and our proud, ongoing partnership with the British brand.
Nomos Glashütte Tangomat GMT
Don’t get me wrong, there are more aptly sized Nomos watches for women’s wrists. Take the 36mm Club Campus, for example, which comes in an array of crazy beautiful dial colours.
But we’re talking watches with large faces, and if there is one brand that masters the art of a vast, spacious dial, it’s Nomos with its broad range of Bauhaus-inspired watches.
The Nomos Tangomat is a minimalist design that promotes timekeeping in a very straightforward fashion. Everything about these watches is clean and pure, underscored by a distinct German flair.
This model just so happens to be a GMT, making it an even more practical companion than the standard time-only model and proving itself useful to frequent travelers.
The 24 time zones are presented in airport codes through an aperture at 9 o’clock, while the hour features on the opposite side of the dial, achieving great balance.
The Tangomat takes on a clear and angular form on the wrist, stripping things back to basics and achieving additional presence through its slightly taller profile.
Overall, the Tangomat promotes clarity, making it the perfect companion for a day in the office or when travelling on business. It comes fitted on a comfortable Horween Shell Cordovan black strap for a subtle injection of masculinity.
Doing Away with the Narrative
Look around. Women all over the world are embracing the large watch face. There has been a seismic shift over the last few years from fashion-forward thinking to larger, bolder, more robust watches that not only look good but also deliver on a practical level.
More women are wearing larger watches because they no longer feel the need to conform to a particular social standard. It’s a compelling reflection of where society is today.
Women are choosing watches based on their personal preferences and what works best for their lifestyle. No longer are genders being defined by the historical and traditional notions of what was once the social norm.
Women like to wear large-face watches because they look good and serve a practical purpose. With more options to choose from than ever before, now is the perfect time to embrace the trend and roll with it.
There was once a time when people believed that ‘his and hers’ watches masked individuality and felt a little dated. After all, why should a couple feel compelled to look the same or dress the same when everyone is entitled to their own interests and tastes?
While I do agree that two people’s uniformity in wristwear does not measure the strength of a relationship, there is an argument for wearing watches that look like a pair but aren’t necessarily the same.
Likewise, there is nothing written in any book to say that mixed or same-sex couples can’t like the same thing, either.
Couple watches don’t have to be identical; instead, they reflect a mature understanding of the shared interests and tastes between two people rather than a loss of identity. In fact, wearing watches that match can be one of the most deep and meaningful ways to express your partnership.
The Best His and Hers Watches
Prepare to be amazed at the sheer amount of choice out there if you’re just about to start shopping for couple watches. You’ll be pleased to know you have a lot of options, whether you’re keeping to a strict budget or going all out with a dual investment to celebrate a milestone.
Here are some options to get you started. These chosen picks coordinate class, allowing you and your partner to synchronize your style in a non-clichéd way.
Cartier Ballon Bleu His and Hers
Curves aren’t just for ladies. In fact, the simple, rounded, pebble-smooth silhouette of the Ballon Bleu de Cartier has been appealing to men for years. The concept of the Ballon Bleu centers around the idea of a floating balloon or bubble above the wrist.
The Ballon Bleu de Cartier is designed to feel timelessly familiar, though there is nothing else quite like it on the market.
Whether you’re enjoying it from a male or female perspective, its ethereal grace, tied to examples of top-quality craftsmanship, is a testament to Cartier’s commitment to reaching excellence in all that it does.
Let’s start with the differences. The men’s Ballon Bleu watch measures 41mm and features an independently crafted automatic movement housed within its 30-meter water-resistant case.
The lady’s version, measuring a more discreet 28mm diameter, is powered by a quartz movement, allowing for a more compact and slimmer case design that won’t overpower the wrist or look “blocky.”
Both the men’s version of the Ballon Bleu de Cartier watch and the women’s version feature a silver-colored dial with blued steel hands, crisp black Roman numeral hour markers, and a blue synthetic cabochon-shaped spinel. The 41mm model, however, features a guilloche effect on its dial, adding a touch of detail.
The versatility of the Ballon Bleu watch by Cartier impresses beyond measure since it is equipped with an interchangeable strap system, allowing you and your partner to switch things up whenever you fancy a change.
Suffice to say, the Ballon Bleu is one of those timeless gems that always seem to adapt to any scenario, making it one of the most easy-to-wear dress watches to enjoy as a matching pair.
Tissot PRX POWERMATIC 80 His and Hers
If you know a lot about luxury, you’ll already be familiar with the name Tiffany & Co. Furthermore, you’ll have seen the robin’s egg blue dial color that the company became so synonymous with during the late 1990s.
It’s names like Rolex and Patek Philippe that have enjoyed an exclusive partnership with Tiffany & Co. over the years. The 2020 Rolex Oyster Perpetual Turquoise Blue, for example, shares a close resemblance to the original blue color of Tiffany & Co’s beautiful trademark blue packaging and was superseded by the Nautilus 5711/1A-018 by Patek Philippe just a year later. It supercharged a trend that still very much creates a buzz today.
Now, more affordable Tiffany blue dial watches are dominating the market. The Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 watch collection offers an iteration in a pale turquoise blue.
And guess what? You can get the women’s version too! The lady’s Tissot PRX is a nice compact 35mm size and echoes the precise shade of its male counterpart perfectly.
The matching pair belongs to the brand’s much larger series of sports watches, which have become a go-to for anyone seeking more affordable alternatives to icons like the Nautilus and Royal Oak.
Personally, what I’ve always loved most about the Tissot PRX collection is the brand’s commitment to detail. Tissot adds a stamped waffle pattern to the surface of these PRX watches, giving them great visual appeal and an enhanced level of depth and three-dimensional value.
The waffle pattern invites light to dance across the upraised levels of the display and cascade into the deeper pockets of the dial, creating an interesting interplay between light and shade.
The integrated bracelet of the Tissot PRX forces the case ends to taper, giving it a subtle tonneau shape and allowing it to be worn more compactly on the wrist.
Indeed, both the male and female iterations of this affordable sports watch promote balanced proportions and rugged elegance. Of course, the inaugural POWERMATIC 80 movement fitted within provides a full 80 hours of power reserve once fully wound, too.Piaget Polo His and Hers
Some brands don’t prioritize matching watch sets for couples. Sometimes, you have to do the donkey work yourself and find two compatible models that complement one another, even if they’re not intended to be sold as a pair. Other brands, however, go the extra mile.
Piaget is one of the latter. The brand taps into those who want to express a bit of synchronization in their choice of watch and even produced this special 150th anniversary ‘his and hers’ Polo watch last year for that very reason.
Both models are limited to just 300 pieces worldwide and won’t come cheap. However, if you’re looking for a truly exquisite pair of matching ‘his and hers’ watches that tease a subtle dose of flamboyancy, you’d have to admit Piaget really scores a home run here.
This special blend of sumptuous materials, chocolate-latte-rose tones, and even the odd scintillating diamond personifies the “sports luxe” aesthetic for the modern-day collector.
The 42mm men’s model features a steel case, a soft brown dial, and a sapphire caseback that exposes circular Côtes de Genève decoration, a circular-grained plate, beveled bridges, blued screws, and an engraved Piaget Coat of Arms oscillating weight via the in-house Calibre 1110P.
The lady’s version of the Piaget Polo is daintier and more exuberant, measuring 26mm in diameter and featuring a grey dial, with 32 brilliant-cut diamonds on the hour markers, as well as a 60-diamond set bezel.
The soft, golden hues of both dials feature the iconic gadroons that have made the Polo so recognizable, and they boast ribbed rubber bands in colors of chocolate brown (for men) and latte brown (for women).
Both straps, however, are interchangeable, so if you want to dial up your matchy-matchy efforts, you could opt for the same-colored rubber strap or dress things up with two steel bracelets.
Rolex Datejust His and Hers
The Rolex Datejust was the first ever self-winding waterproof chronometer with a date function. It arrived in 1945 and has since been a symbol of enduring style and timeless beauty.
The Datejust watch boasts several key characteristics that give it an instantly recognizable look, including a fluted bezel, a Cyclops date feature, and a 5-link Jubilee bracelet – all of which are also available in the female variety.
These two Rolex Datejust watches one for him and one for her, are a perfect way to express the bond shared between two people with very similar tastes.
The set unites a shared love of undulating style and quality craftsmanship, bearing the most influential name in the watch industry across their respective Rose and chocolate-colored dials.
The Datejust watch doesn’t just offer legibility and quality but marks a historical moment in the brand’s story, where our relationship with time began to change.
Watches became precious instruments and were worn as status symbols. Not much has changed since then. The Rolex Datejust remains as iconic today as it was back then.
While the men’s Rolex Datejust reference 126301 is a 41mm size, the women’s Datejust 279171 is a much more compact 28mm. Both are crafted from Oystersteel and Everose and bear the fluted bezel as a mark of distinction.
Meanwhile, the Jubilee bracelet on the lady’s Datejust is designed for comfort and is expertly engineered to curve and conform to the shape of the wrist, providing a dressy finish.
The 41mm Datejust, however, is more classic and features a three-link Oyster bracelet with an EasyLink 5mm extension system, allowing for on-the-fly adjustments.
Omega Seamaster His and Hers
The Omega Seamaster is a watch associated with travel, exploration, and adventure. It’s a mainstay in the Swiss marque’s catalog and boasts a vast range of different designs that you can really get creative with.
Those who embrace a sporty lifestyle will appreciate the Seamaster’s balance of durability and sophistication. Take, for example, this ‘his and hers’ Omega Seamaster duo.
Both models belong to a sub-collection from the Seamaster range named the Aqua Terra Shades. As you’ll have guessed, the series is all about dial colors, giving collectors some alternative options to the mundane blue and black dive watch offerings.
Although robust, these models are perfect for combining with both casual attire on the weekend and something dressier by evening.
The lady’s Omega Aqua Terra Shades watches come in a variety of different colors. I particularly like the ‘sandstone’ version, a shimmery purple-grey hue that Omega experts accompany with shard-shaped hour markers and faceted sword-shaped hands, treated with lashings of luminous material for nighttime legibility. The famous minute hand features the arrow tip, while the date function sits inside a tapering rectangular frame at 6 o’clock.
For men, the Aqua Shades 38mm in a matching dial color balances neutral tones with the contemporary luster of stainless steel. Both models are fitted with a stainless steel bracelet incorporating roll-like links that give the watch a more softened, modern silhouette.
You certainly get a lot of bang for your buck when it comes to Omega Seamaster watches. Both models are fitted with an in-house, METAS-certified movement and feature the Co-Axial escapement, which Omega acquired the rights to in the 1990s.
A chance to admire the movements at work is granted through the caseback on each watch, which Omega fits with a see-through sapphire exhibition window.
If you’re looking for a matching pair of ‘his and hers’ watches that balance sportiness with dressiness, these Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Shades watches tick every box needed for outdoor adventure and sophisticated outings.
Cartier Tank His and Hers
Considering the prestige and allure surrounding one of the world’s most famous classics, the Cartier Tank watch is relatively affordable by today’s standards.
It’s still an icon in its own right. Still, because it manages to transcend generations as a traditional dress watch, it remains one of the most universally appealing designs to own.
Even better – the women’s versions appear totally aligned with the archetypal military-tank-inspired look of the men’s range.
The pairing of a rose gold case with a brown leather strap is a heavenly combination in any dress watch. Still, the male and female versions of the Tank Louis Cartier demonstrate how the difference between a light brown and dark brown strap can significantly alter the look of a classic timepiece.
The men’s Tank Louis Cartier watch measures 33.7 mm x 25.5 mm and has been fitted with a dark brown alligator leather strap, allowing the blued steel hands to pop against a guilloche silver dial.
On the other hand, the alligator leather strap chosen for the women’s variety is a lighter, toffee-brown, creating an altogether more natural and casual style.
The Tank Louis Cartier couple watches are powered by a traditional manual-winding movement, which is arguably the biggest draw if you both consider the ritual of connecting with your watch important.
TUDOR Black Bay S&G His and Hers
The TUDOR Black Bay S&G appeals to young collectors seeking a watch with vintage charm. These neo-vintage watches meld the distinctive look of TUDOR’s first dive watches with modern materials, reimagining the rugged, adventurous spirit of the Big Bang with a touch of radiant gold.
The precious metal accents in these dive watches are not overbearing. Moreover, they sit in the background, enabling the signature features of the Black Bay watch, such as the iconic Snowflake hands and the domed dial, to take center stage.
The desire to own ‘his and hers’ sports watches, of course, stems from the need for practicality first and foremost. The two-tone Black Bay will take you straight through a day at work to an evening of drinks and roll with you into the weekend.
Both these 31mm and 39mm models feature an 18ct yellow gold and steel bracelet, a black dial, and a gold bezel to match a screw-down crown designed to uphold a water-resistant rating of 100 meters.
Zenith Defy His and Hers
Couple watches don’t necessarily have to mirror one another. Sometimes, the coolest matching sets are those that show some versatility but still manage to look coordinated.
Zenith, master of the famous El Primero movement, offers a super cool range of Defy watches, including this women’s Midnight Borealis-inspired 36mm model with a gradient green-blue dial framed by a diamond-encrusted bezel.
You can’t directly match the men’s version to this stunning Northern Lights watch, complete with delicately glistening diamonds on the hour markers. But for something a little more technically sophisticated, you can opt for the Defy Skyline Tourbillon.
The 41mm steel model displays a piece of the automatic El Primero 3630 caliber through the surface of its blue sunray dial, adorned with a special star print.
The tourbillon cage is a work of art and a technical revelation all rolled into one, keeping the movement suspended and protected from the effects of gravity at 6 o’clock.
Both Zenith Defy watches, for him and her, complete their elegant, sporty look with an integrated bracelet, creating a seamless, unified appearance.
Closing Remarks
The idea of collecting and wearing couples watches is not an outdated one. It’s actually more relevant now than it has ever been before. The watch industry is abundant in unisex designs, and we now exist in a world where the lines between the two genders are blurring.
Men and women wear whatever they feel comfortable in, whether that be small case proportions, oversized boyfriend watches, or designs festooned with diamonds and gemstones.
The good news is that many brands offer a smaller-sized version of their most popular watch. The appreciation of a complex mechanical watch is no longer reserved for men alone.
In that same vein, smaller, more compact case sizes are also on the rise, which opens up a whole range of options for those with smaller wrists.
As women’s and men’s tastes in watches become more aligned, many couples are enjoying the opportunity to wear a pair of watches that serve as a matching statement piece.
Now, couples can share their appreciation for a hobby that they both enjoy and have access to, with more choices available than ever before. It means that ‘his and hers’ watches are no longer dictated by convention and are more governed by a shared appreciation for horology.
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