Are you shopping for the best men’s dress watches? From business bashes to the boardroom, this list has you covered.
Sports watches, field watches, military watches — they’re all great tools for outdoor pursuits. Dive watches offer a different style and are perfect for anything water sports-related.
But what about a watch whose only function is to look elegant? Well, there are plenty of those too!
Dress watches are aplenty on the market. Whittling a very long list down to a few firm favorites, however, is the tricky part.
The sole function of owning a dress watch is to accompany it with sophisticated attire and look professional. But some would argue that you can enjoy the opulence of a dress watch daily.
Either way, they convey purity, elegance, and simplicity. This guide to 8 of the best men’s dress watches covers everything from budget-friendly timepieces to luxury statement pieces.
8 Best Men’s Dress Watches
If you’re interested in what the best men’s dress watches are, this guide will help you refine your search. Most dress watches share some similarities. They’re straightforward in design and feature uncluttered dials.
These three-handed or two-handed models sometimes feature a date or small seconds complication, too. Others can be more complex.
Above all, dress watches ooze understated elegance. They should also be slim in design, enabling them to slip effortlessly under the sleeve of a shirt. They can come in various case metals ranging from conventional stainless steel to exquisite 18kt gold variations.
So, ready to view some designs? Here is a list curated by The Slender Wrist. It features luxury timepieces, affordable models, and everything in between.
Best Dress Watches Under $1000
Not all the best dress watches have extortionate price tags. Here are a couple of our favorites. These best dress watches under $1000 are perfect options if you’re sticking to a tight budget.
Seiko Presage Cocktail Time SRPE45
This Seiko Presage watch has to be one of my favorite dress watches. Not only is it affordable, but it plays with unusual color tones and textures in a daring yet understated way.
The Mojito cocktails served up at Tokyo’s vibrant Star Bar inspired this dress watch. Its delicately embossed pattern across a rich green dial enhances a set of golden-colored hands and indexes.
This luxurious color palette concludes with a stylish tan-brown leather strap. The perfect timepiece to relax at your bar of choice with your favorite tipple in hand.
Frederique Constant Slimline Small Seconds Ref 245M5S6
If there is one affordable brand out there that triumphs in the dress watch category, it’s Frederique Constant.
This Slimline Small Seconds watch sits among hundreds of other great options. Yet the reserved and professional feel of this model trumps the lot. This 39mm steel model features a guilloche silver dial for added detail and a set of Breguet hands.
A quartz movement powers this affordable dress watch, enabling it to sit inside a slim case depth of just 5mm. Priced under $1000, it’s a great option for wearing every day of the week.
Best Dress Watch Under $500
Even more impressive than our previous selection is this best dress watch under $500. It might be cheap, but it certainly doesn’t lack sophistication.
Tissot PRX Quartz Ref T137.410.11.041.00
You don’t need to be broke to appreciate an affordable dress watch. The Tissot PRX watch series is proof of that. This Tissot PRX Quartz watch oozes all those desirable “steel sports watch” aesthetics but costs a fraction of the price.
Priced under $500, this model features a brushed stainless steel integrated bracelet built into its 40mm tonneau case. A deep blue dial with baton hands and hour markers promotes great legibility, too.
What’s more, these features are treated with Super-LumiNova so you can easily reference the time at night.
Whether at an after-dinner party or finishing a late business meeting, the Tissot PRX will ensure you’re always looking sharp.
Best Luxury Dress Watches
If you’re considering splashing a bit more cash, feast your eyes on these best luxury dress watches.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Ref Q713842J
The Reverso watch by Jaeger-LeCoultre is an iconic symbol of the Art Deco period. The manufacturer designed the Reverso in the 1930s as a dial-protecting solution for polo players.
Sportsmen love how the watch case could turn in on itself, protecting the dial from shock impact.
The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso is one of the most classic dress watches of all time. This steel model features a closed-case back concealing an in-house manual winding movement.
Meanwhile, the model’s opaline dial features blackened dauphine hands and a small second sub-dial. The famous gadroons on the watch’s sleek stainless steel rectangular bezel frame are very tasteful.
Patek Philippe Calatrava Ref 5227G-010
The Calatrava watch from Patek Philippe is modest and understated. The personifying luxury of the highest level, this elegant dress watch for men is the ultimate statement piece.
Defined by its 18kt white gold circular case, a rich black dial conveys plenty of charm and character.
It’s the finer elements like the sword-shaped hands, beautifully faceted and carved for extra detail, that make the Calatrava special.
Flip it over, and you also get to observe an in-house manufactured Caliber 26‑330 S C, performing inside 39mm dimensions.
IWC Portofino Ref IW458603
Although IWC is an expert in crafting elegant pilot’s watches, its dress watches are equally as impressive. The IWC Portofino embodies the relaxed way of life encountered in the Italian fishing village of (you guessed it) Portofino.
This beautiful luxury dress watch measures a unisex-friendly size of 37mm and is crafted from polished stainless steel.
Its brown alligator leather strap is a perfect accompaniment for the unusual grey tones found in its dial.
The watch also benefits from IWC’s quick change strap system, enabling you to alternate the strap if you wish. Diamond dot indexes above each hour marker elevate this luxury dress watch, creating an even more refined finish.
Best Affordable Dress Watches
Of course, if those luxury timepieces are unachievable, something more middle-of-the-road might be better for you. These more affordable dress watches promise you more bang for your buck and come with all the dress watch charm.
Nomos Tangente Ref 101
The Nomos Tangente watch is worth its weight in gold. It has classic Bauhaus-inspired elements that nod to the brand’s German roots but a whole lot of minimalistic swagger, too.
This Nomos Tangente watch boats the collection’s signature angular lugs, plus a set of cornflower blue hands for legibility.
The five Arabic numerals on the dial, combined with stick markers, flaunt the Bauhaus-era typography. The 35mm diameter is also a perfect size for a modern dress watch, especially for slender wrists.
Longines Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve Ref L1.648.4.78.2
An example of a traditional dress watch for every occasion is the Longines Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve. Its intuitive dial allows you to track the remaining power of the Caliber L896 from the dial side.
This Longines dress watch is perfect for fans of vintage-inspired wristwatches. It’s also one of the brand’s latest releases. Its unique rotating disc concept creates a stunning visual display across champagne tones and stylish golden elements for added opulence.
Closing Thoughts
Every businessman, trend-follower, and socialite worth their salt needs a dress watch as a wardrobe staple. If any of those sound like you, we’re hopeful you’ve found something suitable out of these 8 best men’s dress watches.
From high-end Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso watches to affordable Tissot PRX models, there’s a wide array of dress watches out there. Look after yours, and it will serve you well.
Plus, with a dress watch, you’ll always have a little something special up your sleeve. Literally!
Questions? Comments? Leave them below!
Leave a Reply