Having a collection of the best luxury watches is perhaps a priority for every man who loves to carry himself in style. There are many luxury watch brands for men, that offer lots of options. But simply wearing a luxury watch does not make a man look stylish, it is important to wear it right. Here in this article, we bring to you a list of the 5 best luxury watches for men, that every man would love to add to his collection. We have also come up with some tips to help you flaunt your luxury watch in style. But, even before we dive into all these, let’s have a brief look at the interesting history of how wristwatches became a part of men’s fashion.
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A brief history of men’s wristwatches
Men’s wristwatches did not become fashionable until the early 20th century. During those days pocket watches were generally worn by men, as wristwatches were seen more like a typical women’s jewelry product.
The first men’s wristwatches were more a product of necessity than idle fashion. During the Anglo-Burmese War and the Boer War, the military realized that a pocket watch was nothing more than a hassle when checking the time. For this reason, they began to tie these watches to their wrists and, consequently, they began to invest in the first designs of men’s wristwatches. In 1902, Omega began advertising men’s wristwatches as an essential part of proper military equipment. On the other hand, in 1905, Wilsdorf & Davis (now known as Rolex) started making wristwatches based on silver and leather straps for men and women.
During World War I, the importance of checking the time accurately was a boom for wristwatches, which became a basic necessity almost immediately. They became so essential that in 1917, the British War Department delivered vast quantities of them to its soldiers. After the conclusion of the Great War, the wristwatch industry did not collapse. On the contrary, it grew, relegating pocket watches to the background. And it is that the bracelet options for both men and women were more practical, with more attractive designs from prestigious brands such as Cartier, Rolex, and Jaeger-LeCoultre.
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How much does men’s luxury watches cost?
Men’s watches are available at different prices and with diverse models to suit all budgets. There are options of all kinds from prestigious brands such as Breitling, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and Patek Philippe. Logically, the price depends on the model to buy, the manufacturer, and the materials used to make it. For example, stainless steel watches are often the cheapest on the price scale. In contrast, gorgeous platinum, gold, or diamond-based watches are prohibitively priced and just as dizzying as their appearance.
Some of the most expensive men’s watches globally are models made with gold or diamonds like those offered by Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe. These flashy watches can fetch figures above € 80,000 ($ 95,000). The average price of a Patek Philippe men’s watch is € 38,073 ($ 44,902), while its Audemars Piguet counterparts have an average price of € 34,540 ($ 40,735).
But the industry does not forget those who are looking for something more affordable than luxury watches. There are many high-end models with prices around € 1000 ($ 1200). The average price of a TAG Heuer watch is around € 2,500 ($ 3,010), while the average price of Omega watches is € 3,500 ($ 4,302).
In the mid-range of luxury watches are the Rolex models for men with a pecuniary average of € 8,000 ($ 9,960), the IWC Schaffhausen with an average price of € 8,800 ($ 10,485), and the Jaeger-LeCoultre that can be purchased for an average investment of € 13,000 ($ 15,360). If you are looking to reduce the price, even more, you can investigate the second-hand luxury watch market, a place where you can save money without compromising quality and style.
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Top 5 luxury watch brands for men
The luxury watches for men are available in an almost infinite range of styles, designs, and sizes. Classic, vintage, or contemporary watches are available. There is something for everyone. If you are looking to add new watches to your collection or if you are thinking of buying your first luxury watch, do not worry, as you will have a lot to choose from. Dress watches are an elegant option and fit perfectly with formal attire (suit or tuxedo). For more informal situations, sporty watches with substantial bezels or other more straightforward options with a leather strap are a great choice. Below are the top 5 best luxury watch brands for men, that you may consider buying.
Rolex

Where else could we start this article than with the venerable Swiss brand Rolex? Founded by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis in London in 1905, Rolex only moved to Switzerland in 1919 to avoid heavy taxes by the British government after the Great War. Their watches are instantly recognizable for their bold design and impeccable quality. Each watch is individually crafted, taking almost a year to make, which makes it one of the best investment watches in 2020, 2021, and beyond.
Audemars Piguet

Founded by Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet in 1875, Audemars Piguet is one of the most innovative watchmakers globally and offers some of the best men’s luxury watches you can buy. Highlights include introducing the minute repeater in 1892 and the world’s first skeleton watch in 1934. Today, the brand is much appreciated by collectors who love its distinctive style, unrivaled quality, and reliability.
Patek Philippe

When considering the best watches to buy in 2021, Patek Philippe is one of the most popular brands for watch lovers and collectors. Famous for its understated style, exquisite design, and unrivaled quality. From the case to the hands, all components of a Patek Philippe watch are handcrafted and finished, ensuring that production numbers are limited.
Vacheron Constantin

Jean-Marc Vacheron founded Vacheron Constantin in 1755, becoming the world’s oldest watchmaker in continuous production. With its variety of classy watches, Vacheron Constantin is one of the most renowned and popular luxury watch brands for men. Françoise Constantin joined the firm in 1819 as director associate, after which the company was renamed, Vacheron Constantin. The brand is mainly known for its design, artistry, and heritage, with vintage examples that regularly demand high prices.
Breguet

Founded by Abraham-Louis Breguet in Paris in 1775, the company quickly established itself as a watchmaker of some reputation. Within five years, the brand’s customers included Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette. Today, Breguet is part of the Swatch family but remains true to the founder’s principles of design excellence and innovation. Breguet watches are instantly recognizable with their pomme hands and guilloché dials.
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How to wear your wristwatch the right way
Over the years, specific dress codes have been developed concerning the use of a watch:
- Sports and diving watches fit better with a casual outfit, never with a business suit.
- A light dial is better for the day, while the dark tones on the dial are better for the night.
- The more traditional ones state that the men’s watch should be worn on the non-dominant wrist. But today many man decide to wear it on the wrist which offers them greater comfort.
- When dressing in a suit, you have to take into account that the suit’s colour goes well with that of your watch.
The latest trends in luxury watches for men
Fashions in men’s wristwatches come and go, but when you decide to invest in a luxury watch, it’s always preferable to go with a timeless piece. A high-end watch always looks good no matter what time goes by. It doesn’t matter if it’s a second-hand Rolex or a more modern Cartier model. If you are looking for a watch with a contemporary cut that bets on the latest trends, minimalist luxury men’s watches, those with visible mechanisms, and timepieces are excellent options.
Also, Men’s watches are an everlasting gift. If you are looking for a unique gift for an important man in your life, a luxury watch is an attractive option. Wristwatches are always a great option, whether to celebrate a birthday, an anniversary, graduation, or any other significant moment.
FAQs
What watches should be in every collection? ›
- 1 - Rolex Submariner. ...
- 2 - Omega Speedmaster. ...
- 3 - Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. ...
- 4 - Breitling Navitimer. ...
- 5 - Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso. ...
- 6 - Tag Heuer Monaco. ...
- 7 - Patek Philippe Calatrava. ...
- 8 - Cartier Santos.
- Best Overall Watch Brand: Omega.
- Best Expensive Watch Brand: Breguet.
- Best Affordable Watch Brand: Oris.
- Best Luxury Watch Brand: Rolex.
- Best Watch Brand For Men: Vacheron Constantin.
- Best Watch Brand For Women: Cartier.
You may have heard of the Holy Trinity of watchmaking. It consists of three of the top luxury Swiss watch manufacturers: Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin and Patek Philippe.
How many watches a man should have? ›An average man needs at least three types of watches because not only does a watch tell time, but it is a valuable piece of accessories too. A man should have a dress, diving, and casual everyday watch. It is also good to have a tool watch for hobbyists, aside from the casual watch that is good for daily wear.
Which is the No 1 watch brand in world? ›Patek Philippe consistently tops the list of best watch brands in the world and is a status symbol like no other. Founded in 1839, the Swiss company is the last family-owned independent watch manufacturer in Geneva.
What watches will increase in value? ›The top two — Rolex and Patek Philippe are considered to be, by far, the most collectable luxury watch brands, and the most likely to hold and even appreciate in value over time. This is due to brand recognition, exclusivity, popularity, quality, etc.
Is a luxury watch a good investment? ›Our first answer is always this – YES! Luxury watches are an excellent investment, when done wisely. There are few commodities that one can invest in, enjoy and reap the financial rewards as much as a luxury watch.
What is the cheapest Rolex? ›The cheapest Rolex watch on the company's website is the Oyster Perpetual, which retails for between $5,300 and $6,150, depending on which case size you choose. It's the most affordable current production Rolex because it foregoes precious metal for an all-steel finish.
What watch does Warren Buffett wear? ›Buffett's Rolex of choice is an 18k yellow gold Rolex Day-Date. Known as the 'President' watch, the Day-Date is unmistakable, especially in yellow gold. The ultimate symbol of prestige, it's not an easy watch to pull off. For Buffett, however, it's the perfect match.
Which is better AP or Rolex? ›This is an easy one. AP is significantly more expensive and Rolex has a much lower entry-level price than AP. This should not be a surprise since Audemars Piguet is a more upper market watchmaker compared to Rolex. AP is a more prestigious watchmaker and they don't manufacture nearly as many watches per year as Rolex.
Who is the most famous watch maker? ›
Louis Cartier made a significant contribution to watchmaking history and is thus regarded as the forefather of the men's wristwatch and one of the most famous watchmakers in the world.
What watches will increase in value 2022? ›- Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo Ref. 15202ST. ...
- Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 5711/1A. ...
- Vacheron Constantin Overseas Ref. 4500V. ...
- Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 with Stella Dial. ...
- Rolex Daytona Oysterflex Ref.
- Rolex Explorer II Ref. 16570. In one of the previous articles about Rolex investments, I talked about the Rolex Explorer II ref. ...
- Rolex Submariner Ref. 14060. ...
- Rolex Sea-Dweller Ref. 16600. ...
- Rolex GMT-Master Ref. 16750. ...
- Rolex Day-Date Ref. 18238.
- Rolex 4133 'Split-Seconds' This Rolex is one of the rarest timepieces we've seen; only 12 of this chronograph were originally made. ...
- Patek Philippe 3974. ...
- Patek Philippe Ref. ...
- Bao Dai Rolex Ref. ...
- Vacheron Constantin Chronometre Royal Ref.
Go with a medium-sized face between 38 and 42 millimeters in diameter. Anything bigger makes your watch stand out—and not in the good way. As for face detailing, simpler is better. You might be tempted to pick a cool-looking chronograph (a fancy word for a stopwatch), but all you need is a face with the time and date.
Should I sleep with a watch on? ›As a general rule, it's recommended not to sleep with a luxury watch on. While it provides you the time immediately when you wake up, sleeping with a watch on may feel uncomfortable and there is a possibility that your watch can get damaged or incur long-term damage when you wear it to bed.
What does wearing a watch say about you? ›Regardless of the style of watch, people who wear watches are seen as dependable and reliable. To others, seeing a watch on someone's wrist says that that person is punctual and values not only his or her time but other people's time. After all, time is money, friend.
What watches are nicer than Rolex? ›There are also watches that last longer and have a higher resale value. Whether it's Omega, Patek Philippe, or Vacheron Constantin, there is a watch that may fulfill your needs better than the Rolex.
Who are the big 3 watchmakers? ›Also known as the 'Big Three', the holy trinity of watches includes Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, and Vacheron Constantin.
What is considered a luxury watch? ›A luxury watch is a watch that uses high-quality, premium materials, are powered by advanced and complex movements, and are often (at least partially) hand-made. Luxury watch manufacturers go above and beyond to ensure the utmost precision, performance, quality, and attention to detail.
Is Citizen a luxury watch? ›
Today, Citizen is a world-renowned luxury watch brand and owns Bulova, an American watchmaker.
Why do Rolex cost so much? ›All of the parts are tiny and have a high failure rate during the manufacturing process. All of these movements need to be put together by hand by skilled craftsmen based in Switzerland, and with the labour costs in Switzerland being some of the highest in the world it is no wonder that Rolexes are so expensive.
What is the best watch in 2022? ›- 2022 Cartier Santos-Dumont. ...
- 2022 Vacheron Constantin 222. ...
- Casio GMB2100D-1A. ...
- Oris Big Crown Bronze Green Dial. ...
- Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36. ...
- Jaeger LeCoultre Reverso. ...
- Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional Moonshine Gold Panda. ...
- Grand Seiko “White Birch” Spring Drive SLGA009.
Tissot is a luxury watch brand from Switzerland. Tissot was founded in 1853. Since 1983, Tissot belongs to the Swiss conglomerate Swatch Group (Longines, Breguet, Blancpain, Omega).
How many watches should you have in your collection? ›When a lot of people get the collecting bug, they end up focusing on quantity over quality and end up with a bunch of mediocre watches. I think that for many collectors (myself included) 5-7 carefully selected watches is an ideal range, especially for those of us on a strict budget.
Which watch brands go up in value? ›The top two — Rolex and Patek Philippe are considered to be, by far, the most collectable luxury watch brands, and the most likely to hold and even appreciate in value over time. This is due to brand recognition, exclusivity, popularity, quality, etc.
How do you make a luxury watch collection? ›- Don't Purchase for the Sole Purpose of Having a Luxury Watch. ...
- Do Your Research. ...
- Pick a Theme. ...
- Go for Pre-Owned Luxury Watches. ...
- You Might Want to Start with Rolex. ...
- Quality Over Quantity. ...
- Take Care of Your Luxury Watch Collection. ...
- Summary.
Regardless of the style of watch, people who wear watches are seen as dependable and reliable. To others, seeing a watch on someone's wrist says that that person is punctual and values not only his or her time but other people's time. After all, time is money, friend.
Should I sleep with a watch on? ›As a general rule, it's recommended not to sleep with a luxury watch on. While it provides you the time immediately when you wake up, sleeping with a watch on may feel uncomfortable and there is a possibility that your watch can get damaged or incur long-term damage when you wear it to bed.
Do watch collectors wear their watches? ›
7 - True collectors wear their watches.
Collecting watches is fun because you'll be putting something different on your wrist each time, and you'll be doing it - mostly - for the sheer pleasure of doing it.
A watch collection can tell a very personal story. For some collectors, they may have been gifted their first luxury timepieces on a special occasion, an important birthday, achievement or milestone. This could be the start of your collection and each watch after may tell the story of an important moment in your life.
What is a GMT watch? ›GMT stands for Greenwich Mean Time and is point “0” on the 24-hour international timezone scale. To put it simply, a GMT watch is a timepiece that displays both a 24-hour and a 12-hour timescale. To find out what they look like, then check out our collection of luxury Fileteado GMT watches at Franck Dubarry.
What watches will increase in value 2022? ›- Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo Ref. 15202ST. ...
- Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 5711/1A. ...
- Vacheron Constantin Overseas Ref. 4500V. ...
- Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 with Stella Dial. ...
- Rolex Daytona Oysterflex Ref.
Our first answer is always this – YES! Luxury watches are an excellent investment, when done wisely. There are few commodities that one can invest in, enjoy and reap the financial rewards as much as a luxury watch.
Which watch brands lose value? ›Brands that don't hold their value as well as Rolex, such as brands like Breitling, Tag Heuer, and Omega, tend to lose between 40-50%, but this is of course when we're talking short-term, and it's really difficult to know what will happen if you look at the watch's value long-term.