Want to know what the Best Mens Dress Watches are in 2023 then check out the top selection
What makes a good dress watch?
Is it the aesthetics or the functionality that’s given more importance over the other?
There’s no one answer to these questions but the general consensus seems like it has to have a minimalistic design but still exhibit elegance and luxury.
It’s like displaying grandeur by being subtle.
We’ve come up with a list of the best men’s dress watches that will surely fit under your cuff and complement your coat and tie.
Best Affordable Dress Watches
Here’s a list of men’s dress watches you can wear to complement your gentleman look.
Hamilton Intra-matic Auto
The 38mm Intra-matic Auto has a stainless steel case, a leather strap, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, an exhibition case back, a date window, and an ETA calibre 2892-A2 automatic movement.
Pros:
- Legible watch face
- Looks bigger than it actually is
- Great vintage look
- Lightweight and comfortable to wear
- Power reserve of up to 42 hours
- Water resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- No lume on hands
- No seconds hand might bother some users
- Leather strap feels cheap
Junghans Max Bill Automatic
The 38mm Max Bill Automatic has a stainless steel case, a leather strap, a convex Plexiglass crystal coated with SICRALAN, a matte dial with a date aperture, luminescent hands and markers, and a calibre J800.1 self-winding movement.
Pros:
- Elegant design suitable for all occasions
- Legible watch face
- Thin and lightweight
- Water resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- Too little lume applied
- Hands are too thin
- Lume isn’t that bright
Ophion 786
The 39mm Ophion 786 has a stainless steel case, a domed sapphire crystal, an exhibition case back, a leather strap, Roman numeral hour markers, nickel-plated hands, and a Technotime TT718 movement.
The dial comes in either a guilloche or granular pattern.
Pros:
- Legible watch face
- Its vintage look adds flair as a dress watch
- Lightweight and comfortable to wear
- Good strap quality
Cons:
- Limited design variants
- No lume on hands
- Not water resistant
Nomos Orion 38 White
The 38mm Orion 38 White has a stainless steel case, a domed sapphire crystal, an exhibition case back, a Horween Genuine Shell Cordovan leather strap, rhodium-plated hands, silver-plated hour markers, a seconds subdial, and a Nomos Calibre Alpha hand-winding movement.
Pros:
- Classic, elegant look with high legibility
- Lightweight and comfortable to wear
- Power reserve of up to 43 hours
- Water resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- No lume on hands
- No date window
- A bit expensive for its basic features
Cartier Tank Solo XL
The 41mm Tank Solo XL is one of the few men’s dress watches with a rectangular shape.
It features a stainless steel case, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, an alligator leather strap, Roman numeral hour markers, sword-shaped hands in blue, a beaded crown set, a date aperture, and a Cartier calibre 049 automatic movement.
Pros:
- Sturdy and lightweight
- Color contrast of dial and hands make it easy to read the time
- Power reserve of up to 42 hours
- Water resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- No lume on hands
- Date window is too small and hard to read
- Expensive for its features
Citizen Eco Drive One
The 39mm Eco Drive One has a case made of stainless steel and ceramic, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, a genuine crocodile leather strap, and a calibre 8826 movement.
Pros:
- Solar-powered so you’ll never need to replace its battery
- Very legible watch face
- Super lightweight as it’s only 3mm thick
- Splash-resistant
Cons:
- No lume on hands
- Feels too delicate to wear
- Small crown can be hard to grip
Slim d’Hermés
The 39.5mm Slim d’Hermés has a stainless steel case, an anti-glare sapphire crystal, an opaline silvered dial with large Arabic numeral hour markers, silver-tone hands, an exhibition case back, an alligator leather strap, a seconds subdial, and a Hermes H1950 mechanical movement.
Pros:
- Lightweight and thin
- Legible watch face makes reading time very easy
- Its look is a mix of classic and contemporary designs
- Power reserve of up to 42 hours
- Water resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- No lume on hands
- No date window
- Very expensive for the features offered
Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra-Thin
The 38.5mm Master Ultra-Thin has a stainless steel case, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, an alligator leather strap, an exhibition case back, a guilloche-patterned dial with silver-plated hour markers, a seconds subdial, and a calibre 896/1 automatic self-winding movement.
Pros:
- Clean and very legible watch face
- Thin and lightweight, making it very comfortable to wear
- Power reserve of up to 43 hours
- Water resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- No lume on hands
- No date window
- Time can be hard to read in certain angles
- Very expensive for its basic features
Grand Seiko Elegance SBGK005
The 39mm Elegance SBGK005 has a stainless steel case, a curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, a crocodile leather strap, an exhibition case back, a seconds subdial, a power reserve indicator, and a calibre 9S63 manual-winding movement.
Pros:
- Highly accurate movement
- Elegant and modern looking men’s dress watch
- Power reserve of up to 72 hours
- Splash resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- Expensive for a hand-wind movement
- No lume on hands
- No date window
Parmigiani Fluerier Tonda 1950
The 40mm Tonda 1950 has a stainless steel case, an anti-reflective sapphire crystal, an alligator leather strap, an exhibition case back, a silver-colored dial with rhodium-plated hour markers, delta-shaped hands with lume, a seconds subdial, and a PF702 automatic movement.
Pros:
- One of the few men’s dress watches with lumed hands
- Legible watch face
- Very accurate hand movements
- Very thin and lightweight
- Power reserve of up to 48 hours
- Water resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- No date window
- Incredibly expensive for a watch with basic features
- Lug design looks a bit off
A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin
The 37mm Saxonia Thin has a case made of white gold, hands made of rhodium-plated gold, a silver-plated dial with gold appliques, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, an alligator leather strap, an exhibition case back, and a calibre L093.1 hand-winding movement.
Pros:
- It’s really thin, measuring barely 3mm thick
- Slim profile and high-quality bracelet makes it very comfortable to wear
- Power reserve of up to 72 hours
Cons:
- No date window
- No lume on hands
- Not water resistant
Vacheron Constantin Patrimony
The 40mm Patrimony has a case, bezel, hands, and markers made of 18K 5N pink gold.
It also has a stainless metal dial with a solid case back, an alligator leather strap with an Adrillon buckle, and a calibre 1400 manual-winding movement.
Pros:
- Classic look with an elegant vibe
- Power reserve of up to 40 hours
- Water resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- No lume on hands
- No date window
- No seconds subdial
Conclusion
Having a dress watch in your wardrobe is important, especially if you frequent formal occasions that require you to wear something classy and luxurious.
These watches spell elegance, quality, and craftsmanship without being ostentatious which are exactly the things you need in a dress watch.
So, take a look again at our list and you’ll surely find something suited to your taste and budget.
