Steampunk watches have a unique style that really sets them apart from everything you’ve ever seen in a timepiece.
People want them because of their anachronistically distinctive designs that will almost always get a second glance from anyone who sees them.
The concept of steampunk stemmed from mixing 19th century aesthetics, specifically those from the Victorian ear and the Wild West, with futuristic technology.
The old-fashioned, retro-futuristic style is instantly recognizable with the heavy use of metallic elements; gear movements are flaunted and little care for a smooth or symmetric cover is given on steampunk-themed designs.
When this concept is applied to a watch, the result is a timepiece with a skeleton dial that highlights the internal mechanisms and micro movements that make the whole accessory work.
The incredible view these steampunk wristwatches give is hypnotic and will surely keep you from looking at anything else.
With the myriad of steampunk wristwatches available in the market, it can be hard to choose which of them presents not only aesthetic value but also quality.
Lucky for you, we came up with a list of the best steampunk watches for men that are priced under $1,000
The Best Steampunk Watches
Here’s a great list of the best steampunk watches you can find in the market.
Invicta Men’s 14330 Specialty Watch
The 44mm 14330 Specialty features a stainless steel case with 18K gold plating, a synthetic sapphire crystal, a leather strap, a date window, 3 subdials, and a Swiss quartz movement.
Its package comes with two extra leather straps that you can interchange with the one already attached to the watch.
For its price, design, and package inclusions, this is one of the best steampunk watches in our list.
Pros:
- The 2 extra leather straps are great inclusions
- Its elegant-looking design is best partnered with formal wear
- Water resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- No lume
- Color combination makes it look cheap
- Subdials are hard to read
PASOY Carnival Men’s Tourbillon Automatic Watch
The 40mm Carnival features a synthetic sapphire crystal, a stainless steel case, a stainless steel band, a serrated bezel adorned with synthetic diamonds, a tourbillon display, a date window, day and month subdials, luminescent hands, and a 25-jewel automatic movement.
This is one of the most affordable steampunk wristwatches in our list.
Pros:
- Date is very visible
- Time is easy to read
- Lightweight and comfortable to wear
- Water resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- Bezel design may be too flashy for some users
- It’s overly decorated, making it look cheap
- Watch size is too small for its features and design
Stuhrling Original Men’s 133.33151 ‘Symphony’ Automatic Watch
The 44mm 133.33151 Symphony features a stainless steel case, a shatter-resistant Krysterna crystal, a calfskin leather strap, a black dial with silver markers, a seconds subdial, and an automatic self-winding movement.
Pros:
- Elegant timepiece that can be worn with any kind of fashion style
- Stunning view of the inside, thanks to its skeleton dial
- Inexpensive steampunk wristwatch for men
- Water resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- No lume
- No date window
- No seconds hacking
ROCOS Men’s Skeleton R0142 Automatic Watch
The 40mm Skeleton R0142 from ROCOS features a gold synthetic sapphire crystal, a stainless steel case, an alligator leather strap, an exhibition case back, a dial with gold polish, luminous hands, and an automatic mechanical movement.
Pros:
- Large lumed hands
- Color contrast between the hands and the dial makes it easier to read the time
- Affordable but looks more expensive than its real value
- Water resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- No date window
- Lume doesn’t last long
- Low-quality strap
Stuhrling Original Men’s 133.33352 Symphony Automatic Watch
The 44mm 133.33352 Symphony features a stainless steel case, a leather calfskin strap, a Krysterna crystal, gold-tone hands and hour markers, a separate seconds hand, and an automatic self-winding movement.
Pros:
- Affordable steampunk wristwatch with great design
- Clear crystal display
- Water resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- No date window
- No lume
- Inaccurate timekeeping
Reef Tiger Skeleton Casual Watch RGA1917
The 40mm steampunk wristwatch from Reef Tiger has a stainless steel case, a sapphire crystal, a calfskin leather strap, diamond hour markers, an exhibition case back, and a Seagull ST1771 self-winding automatic movement.
This is one of the most affordable steampunk watches on our list.
Pros:
- Comfortable to wear
- Thin and lightweight
- Water resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- No date window
- Hands and dial are of the same color, making it very hard to tell the time
- No lume
Reef Tiger Men’s Tourbillon Sports Watch RGA3069
This 45mm men’s steampunk watch has a rectangular shape, a stainless steel case with rose gold polish, a mineral crystal, a chronograph dial, a month-year window, a date subdial, a tourbillon display, luminescent hands and markers, and a Seagull ST2503 self-winding automatic movement.
Pros:
- It’s priced reasonably for its quality and design
- Available in different dial colors
- Water resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- It’s big and heavy
- Lume doesn’t last long
- Subdial readings are hard to define because of their design
Stuhrling Original 371.01 Men’s Legacy
The 46mm Men’s Legacy features a Krysterna crystal, a stainless steel case, a calfskin leather strap, a dual-time subdial, an AM/PM indicator, and an automatic self-winding movement.
Pros:
- Eye-catching and versatile design
- Good overall quality
- Water resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- Loses a few minutes every day
- You can hear the ticking noise of the hand movements
- No lume
- No date indicator
Stuhrling Original 747 Men’s Legacy Automatic Watch
The 46mm 371.01 Legacy features a stainless steel case, a Krysterna crystal, a calfskin leather strap, a dual-time function, an AM/PM indicator subdial, a tourbillon display, and an automatic self-winding movement.
Pros:
- Skeletal dial looks stunning
- Good timekeeping mechanism
- Affordable but built with durable parts
- Its size and color combination makes reading time easier
- Water resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- No date window
- No lume
- Low-quality strap
- Loses a few minutes every day
JORD Dover Series Skeleton Watch
The 41mm steampunk wristwatch from JORD’s Dover Series features a synthetic sapphire crystal, a wooden case, a band made of koa wood, a black ring with large Arabic numeral hour markers, luminescent hands, a crown situated at the 2 o’clock position, and an automatic self-winding movement.
Pros:
- Very attractive look
- Lightweight and comfortable to wear
- Water resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- No date window
- Band is not adjustable
- Lume doesn’t last long
Moog Paris Chameleon Unisex Automatic Watch
The 40mm Chameleon features a stainless steel case, a mineral crystal, a leather strap, luminescent hands, and an automatic self-winding movement.
This is one of the few steampunk wristwatches adorned with Swarovski crystals along its dial.
Pros:
- Available in different strap types and dial color
- Unisex design suited for formal wear
- Water resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- No date window
- The actual watch face is small despite its large size
- The strap is too short
Thomas Earnshaw Men’s ‘Longitude’ Automatic Watch
The 44mm Longitude Automatic features a stainless steel case, a domed mineral crystal, a genuine leather strap, an exhibition case back, a tourbillon display, an AM/PM indicator subdial, a 12-hour subdial, Roman numeral hour markers, and 22-jewel automatic movement.
Pros:
- Color and overall style looks elegant and classy
- Very classy design that’s suitable to wear on any occasion
- Available in different dial colors
- Water resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- No lume
- No date window
- Same color of hands and dial makes it challenging to read the time
Thomas Earnshaw Men’s ‘Bauer’ Skeleton Watch
The 42mm Bauer has a stainless steel case and band, a mineral crystal, an exhibition case back, and a mechanical hand-wound movement.
Pros:
- Time is quite easy to read because of the black-colored hands
- Elegant two-tone design makes it suitable as a dress watch
- Water resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- No date window
- No lume
- Loses/gains time every day
Reef Tiger Men’s Complicated Military Watches
This 46mm men’s steampunk watch features a steel case with rose gold polish, a calfskin strap, a fixed bezel with rose gold polish, a sapphire crystal, an exhibition case back, 4 subdials with full calendar display, a tachymeter outer dial, luminescent hands and markers, and a Seagull ST2503 self-winding automatic movement.
Pros:
- Available in different dial and strap colors
- Eye-catching design and color combination
- Water resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Large and heavy to wear
- Strap is quite stiff
- Strap length is too short
Stuhrling Original Men’s 127A2 Series Rose Gold Automatic Watch
The 46mm 127A2 Series features a stainless steel case with rose gold polish, a Krysterna crystal, a calfskin leather strap, a dual-time subdial, a sun-moon subdial, and a 22-jewel automatic self-winding movement.
Pros:
- The flashy rose gold design will surely catch the eye of anyone who sees it
- Rose gold polish gives the watch an enchanting look
- Water resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- No date window
- No lume
- It’s quite big and thick
Thomas Earnshaw Men’s ‘Beaufort’ Automatic Watch
The 43mm Beaufort features a mineral crystal, a stainless steel case with rose gold plating, a genuine leather strap, an exhibition case back, luminous hands, a seconds subdial, and a 40-jewel automatic movement.
Pros:
- Elegant design that can pass as one of the best steampunk watches in our list
- Tells time accurately
- Water resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- No date window
- Hands and watch dial are small despite the size of the watch
- Mineral crystal gets easily scratched
Stuhrling Original Men’s 127A2 Series Black Automatic Watch
This 46mm steampunk wristwatch from Stuhrling’s 127A2 Series features a Krysterna crystal, a stainless steel case with black gunmetal polish, a crocodile leather strap, a sun-moon subdial, a dual-time function, and an automatic self-winding movement.
Pros:
- Skeleton dial gives it a classic steampunk look
- Gunmetal color makes it suitable as a casual watch
- Water resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- No date window
- No lume
- Strap is low quality
Thomas Earnshaw Men’s ‘Longitude’ Mechanical Watch
The 44mm Longitude Mechanical has a stainless steel case, a genuine leather strap, a domed mineral crystal, an exhibition case back, luminous hands, Roman numeral hour markers, and a mechanical hand-wound movement.
Its clean design and overall quality make this one of the best steampunk watches in our list.
Pros:
- Contrasting hand and dial color make it easy to read the time
- Clean watch face adds to its elegance
- Water resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- No date window
- Lume isn’t that bright and doesn’t last long
- Strap is low quality
OBLVLO Men’s Army Military Skeleton Watch
This 51mm steampunk men’s watch from OBLVLO features a stainless steel case with rose gold polish, a sapphire crystal, a rose gold bezel, a genuine leather strap, skeletal hands, a tourbillon display, and a 5900 self-winding automatic movement.
Pros:
- Tourbillon display looks awesome
- Scratch-resistant crystal keeps the watch clean and easy to read
- Available in a variety of strap and dial colors
- Water resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- No date window
- No lume
- Large and heavy to wear
Seiko Presage SARY082 Basic Men’s Watch
The 40.5mm Presage has a stainless steel case, a Hardlex crystal, a leather strap, a date subdial, a power reserve indicator, an exhibition case back, and a 29-jewel Japanese automatic movement.
Its classy overall finish makes it one of the best steampunk wristwatches for men.
Pros:
- Stylish overall design makes it look like a high-end, luxury watch
- High-quality and durable build
- Power reserve of up to 41 hours
- Water resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- No lume
- Watch is quite thick
- It’s hard to find nowadays
Akribos XXIV Men’s Mechanical Watch
The 42.5mm Akribos XXIV features a stainless steel case, a sapphire crystal, a calfskin leather strap, a tourbillon display, a sun-moon subdial, a dual-time function, Roman numeral hour markers, and a hand-wound movement.
Its clean and classy look made us consider this as one of the best steampunk watches you can get your hands on.
Pros:
- Accurate hand movements
- Tourbillon movement is soothing to watch
- Keeps time accurately
- Water resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- No date window
- No lume
- It’s expensive for a watch that requires manual winding
Citizen Men’s ‘The Signature Collection’ NB4003-01H Automatic Watch
The 42mm NB4003-01H Signature Collection features a stainless steel case with rose gold polish, an anti-reflective sapphire crystal, a crocodile leather strap, a stationary bezel, an ‘open heart’ display, an exhibition case back, and a caliber 9040 Japanese automatic movement.
It’s simple but extremely elegant design make it one of the best steampunk watches available in the market.
Pros:
- Clean watch face makes it easy to read the time
- Accurate hand movements
- Color combination and polish make this an excellent dress watch
- Power reserve of up to 42 hours
- Water resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- No date window
- No lume
- Band is a bit stiff
Citizen Men’s Moonphase Flyback AV3006-09E Eco-Drive Chronograph Watch
The 44mm Moonphase Flyback has an anti-reflective sapphire crystal, a stainless steel case, a crocodile leather strap, a tachymeter bezel, a moonphase subdial, a date window, a 1/5 second chronograph subdial, a 12/24 subdial, a 60-second subdial, luminescent hands and markers, and a Japanese quartz movement powered by Eco-Drive technology.
Pros:
- Multi-functional steampunk wristwatch
- Durable build for rugged use
- Classy design for formal wear
- Water resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Pricing could have been better
- Low-quality strap
- Moonphase function has to be manually reset every month
Special Mentions (Over $1,000)
Here are some of the watches that exceeded our price limit of $1,000.
Still, we included them in our list because of their classic steampunk look that can best the budget-friendly timepieces in terms of design, functionality, and quality.
Edox Men’s ‘Les Bemonts’ 85300 3 AIN Swiss Automatic Watch
The 42mm Les Bemonts features a stainless steel case, a genuine leather strap, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, an exhibition case back, and a Swiss automatic movement.
Pros:
- Accurate hand movements
- Built with durable and high-quality components
- Available in various dial and strap colors
- Water resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- No date window
- No lume
- Hands and dial share the same color, making it hard to read the time
Tissot Chemin Des Tourelles Squelette
The 42mm Tourelles Squelette has a sapphire crystal, a stainless steel case, a leather strap, a seconds subdial, Roman numeral hour markers, and a Swiss self-winding automatic movement.
It’s available in different strap designs and watch face colors.
Pros:
- Elegant design best suited as a dress watch
- Power reserve up to 46 hours
- Water resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- No date window
- No lume
- Strap is low quality
Ingersoll Men’s IN5306CR Lahota Tourbillon Watch
The 47mm Lahota Tourbillon has a cream white dial with Arabic numeral hour markers, a stainless steel case, a leather strap, a synthetic sapphire crystal, a sun-moon subdial, a 24-hour subdial, luminous hands, and a mechanical hand-wound movement.
It’s simple but classic look makes it one of the best steampunk wristwatches for men you can find out there.
Pros:
- Large luminous hands make them easily distinguishable from the dial
- Accurate hand movements
- Reading time is very easy to do
- Subdial also has a luminous hand
- Solid build that’s made to last
- Water resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- No date window
- Expensive for its functions
- Manual winding required every now and then
Conclusion
Steampunk watches have bold and unique designs that are worthy of being part of any watch collection.
Getting a view of the inside movements will keep you spellbound and addicted, you’ll recommend your friends to get a steampunk wristwatch too.
The exhaustive list we’ve given you contains the best steampunk watches you can find online.
There are budget-friendly ones and there are also expensive watches you can consider buying on your next trip to a watch boutique.
We’re confident you’ll be able to pick one from them and enjoy owning a unique piece of art.
More Information:
