Top 5 simple watches for men

Gentleman perfection: if you appreciate a distinguished look and prefer understated elegance to flashy ostentation on your wrist, you should set your sights on plain men’s watches. Subtle sophistication is the motto of our top 5, which won’t give you a hint of boredom and will demonstrate to you how to express horological understatement in a first-class way.

Elegance meets understatement: what makes simple men’s watches so attractive

Whether at a business lunch with the boss, on a first date or at the next coffee round with the in-laws: Even if you love flashy wristwatches, such as a colorful Hublot or oversized U-Boat, neat restraint is the better choice in some situations. Let’s face it: wristwatches cause other people to draw conclusions about our character. In this visual “quick assessment,” the wearer of a gold Rolex Submariner is sometimes labeled a show-off, while a discreet watch speaks to likeable modesty, a sense of elegance and, in some eyes, even higher intelligence.

Thus, for strategic reasons alone, plain men’s watches can be a smart move. However, a large number of enthusiastic watch wearers prefer the noble understatement out of their own conviction: Harmonious shapes, noble details and timeless beauty independent of any fashion make the dress watch an evergreen on the male wrist. Legendary gentlemen like Sean Connery, Humphrey Bogart or Marlon Brando cannot be wrong.

Maurice Lacroix Eliros Date 25th Anniversary

For the 25th anniversary of its beautifully designed Eliros collection, Maurice Lacroix spices up the classic with refined details. Two versions of the 40-millimeter stainless steel watch are available, of which the white dial (Ref. EL1118-SS00E-120-C) has a greater understatement factor. Those looking for perfectly plain watches for men might already find the design too exciting: Modern, elongated numerals and an alternating green-blue minute track give the Eliros a high degree of independence, while the date display at three o’clock increases its utility value.

Alternatively, you can opt for the blue dial with green and white inscriptions (Ref. EL1118-SS00E-420-C). With a slim eight-millimeter height, the polished case of both versions shows how coherent and comfortable dress watches should sit on the wrist. A technical highlight of the Maurice Lacroix Eliros Date 25th Anniversary marks its “Easy Strap Exchange” system, which allows the wearer to change the strap in a flash. In addition to the fine stainless steel Milanaise bracelet, the simple men’s watch comes with a leather strap in blue, which ideally matches the blue dial or the blue hands of the white version.

 

Junghans Meister Gangreserve

It is iconic, mechanically sophisticated and proves how confidently they design simple watches for men in Schramberg: The Junghans Meister Gangreserve. At 40.4 millimeters in diameter, the minimalist editions for gentlemen may not dwarf the wrist, but they lay great against the skin with their curved shape. The dial in particular captivates our gaze: where razor-sharp dauphine hands meet gossamer indices, the power reserve holds its namesake complication. Instead of displaying the remaining power of the J810.2 automatic movement on an ordinary scale, as 99 percent of watch brands do, the Meister uses a simple bar with a level indicator. Turning the plain wristwatch for men upside down, the back allows deep insights into the mechanics. Various color variants, each limited to 160 pieces, are available: if you’re looking for a watch in night blue, the Ref. 027/4114.02 will delight you with its spectacular depth of color, while the gold-plated Ref. 027/7113.02 exudes a touch of glamour.

NOMOS Glashütte Tangente neomatik 39 Platingrau

If a brand from Glashütte stands for simple men’s watches with a modern touch, it is NOMOS: above all, the Tangente, a bestseller of the young company since its founding in 1992, is a prime example of its elegant design. The new NOMOS Glashütte Tangente neomatik 39 platinum gray (Ref. 144) is a special highlight: Not only the technical masterstroke of accommodating the in-house DUW 3001 automatic movement, including swing system, in a 6.9 millimeter flat stainless steel case, but also the platinum gray finished dial catches our attention.

Paired with rhodium-plated hands and its signature serif numerals, the Tangente exemplifies sleek men’s watches to perfection. The silver-gray color spectrum continues in the polished and cylindrical case, which is known for its steep flanks and, at 38.5 millimeters, has the optimal diameter to harmonize with any wrist circumference. The NOMOS Tangente is delivered on a leather strap in black, which perfects its distinguished appearance and makes the Tangente the ideal partner for elegant suits.

Bell & Ross BR 05 GMT WHITE

Bell & Ross proves with the BR 05 GMT WHITE (Ref. BR05G-SI-ST/SST) that interesting and at the same time simple watches are allowed to deviate from the mainstream. Held in the typical aviation-inspired square design of the masculine performance brand including four sighting screws and integrated bracelet, interprets the masculine but reserved men’s watches in a self-confident way. The opal white dial, in particular, prompted us to include the 41-millimeter exotic in our top list: Restrained in design, it scores with exemplary legibility and is given just as refreshing a contrast by the bright red GMT hand as by the two-tone altitude ring.

But even those who don’t travel benefit from the strong overall package of the BR 05: while many plain watches for men as dress watches are not particularly robust, the Bell & Ross can withstand 100 meters of water. Generous luminous indices make nighttime reading child’s play. Buyers can choose between an integrated stainless steel bracelet, which is our favorite due to its tremendous coherence, and a sturdy rubber strap for regular outdoor use.

MÜHLE Glashütte Teutonia II Chronometer

Is there a simple wristwatch for men that corresponds to the prototype of cultivated understatement and timeless beauty? MÜHLE Glashütte answers the question with the Teutonia II Chronometer (Ref. M1-30-45-MB): 39 millimeters slim, the round and 100-meter water-resistant masterpiece shines with its enormous attention to detail: in addition to the stepped bezel, which creates a sophisticated interplay of light and shadow, the intricately guilloché dial with its concentric relief catches the eye. Applied indices in the finest finish complete the noble overall picture.

Inside the stainless steel case, precise mechanics with a certificate await the gentleman: every MÜHLE Glashütte Teutonia II Chronometer is put through its paces for 15 days at the Glashütte Observatory before being awarded the coveted chronometer certificate. Built in is the automatic movement SW 200-1 in the version Mühle with speckle neck regulation, date quick correction and stop-seconds. If you’re looking for simple watches for men, you’ll come pretty close to the ideal with the Teutonia II, which comes with a free choice of stainless steel or leather strap.