Will gold watches make a comeback?

If they look like that they will 👍

Stunning isn’t it? I chanced upon it in a YouTube watch review and fell in love with it. It’s like nothing else in my collection.

I hope so. I love the color and wear one frequently. Gold, gold filled, gold plated costs are all higher than their counterpoints in non precious metals and are a barrier to entry. Gold colored watches that are non precious metal haven’t hit on a style that speaks to the mass market. The mass market stereotypical associates gold with a lifestyle other than their own that they don’t want to be seen as participating in or that aligns with their values. Gold watches seem to be making a comeback via vintage 70’s styles by Patek, Vacheron and Rolex’s Midas. While still expensive, vintage gold watches provide value since they are often less cost than new equivalents. If gold were to become seen regularly, it would have to be a more approachable price point in a watch that is fun with broad appeal. Maybe if the PRX was relaunched first in Gold… maybe 14 karat or less and came in sub 4K… I bet that would have been a hit and then stainless would still have come out to the success it enjoys today.

There are a few bloggers that have touched base on it and the absence of the over use of rose gold from years before. There was also a Cartier watch that released was only released in yellow Gold and NO rose gold option that brought this opinion into consideration. Being that my job is literally predicting and following trends I can tell you that everything is cyclical. Like the Y2K trend in fashion the watch world is on the genta 70s era, gold watches will end up being the pinnacle of this trend until it shifts. Sooner or later small watches will be un-trendy and hopefully sooner than later the Tiffany dial fad dies… so the lay person or one not on trend unfortunately will be on the tail end. I personally would not switch out some watches due to size because style and opinions change with trends. I’m sure some band wagon collectors praise the 36-38mm now even being a larger human, and will switch up as soon Teddy is like… "The return and embrace of the 42mm case size is back!”

For what it’s worth, when I see people come in the store that are in the fashion industry, it’s not uncommon for them to be sporting solid yellow gold or two tone watches, mostly Rolex but also a lot of vintage holy trinity 70s omega and Cartier. So yeah it seems like gold is coming back, for a certain demographic. Also when I asked my AD about contemporary Cartier supply she said the only watches that take a while are gold.

I still remember in the 1980s cheap high street watches were gold (in colour) and very popular. Maybe it will take an uptick in the high end Watch market for that to cascade down.

I get the feeling that we’ve stagnated in recent years and maybe gold will be the next direction of travel.

I totally agree and was having a similar conversation about the resurgence of white cars (in the UK) recently. The PRX and whole integrated bracelet look is a great example. Personally, I’m quite pleased about this particular trend as I really love the 70s style and to see watches like the Brew Metric add a modern twist is fantastic for me.

It does bug me that people also easily influenced by some experts and aren’t brave enough to just wear what they like but that’s human nature I guess.

You can still buy new gold watches, so one would argue have they ever been away?

It seems they are becoming more popular again, yes 🤔

I think gold watches may be making more of a come back if the recent trend back toward modestly sized watches and the versatile dress watches keeps going in the way it is. I don't think gold ever really went away but when the most popular watches were already big beasts it's tough to pull off both that and gold without feeling a bit extra. And of course gold was and will always be a thing with the high horology fancy pants companies . . .why? Well, as You're Terrific said in a review of the A Lange & Sohne copper blue? B/c F&%k you that's why haha.

I was thinking 80s flash when writing my response but im a 90s baby so I just remember a Tag on every wrist I could see 🥲

I've recently swapped out a couple of leathers and a couple of natos for mesh gold look. I can see me heading towards getting one at some point and that Brew looks like a relatively inexpensive way of doing it 👍

No, gold watches are too expensive and gold plated watches look terrible once the plating falls off.

Gold plated watches might become more popular, I do see a bunch while out shopping. But solid gold watches are going to remain an upper price item.

Yeah, I think they're back already. The VC 222 in solid gold came out in 2022 and is beautiful. Solid gold rolexes already trendy.

Definitely more than once! Mostly to live theater performances and art galleries with all black clothing. It amuses me!

Thank you for the kind words.

I'd say the JLC Reversos (I have two at present...my third, the new chronograph Reverso, will be here by the end of the year) and my VC Overseas probably get the most wrist time. I usually wear them to board of directors meetings.

Here is my other Reverso in gold that is a manual movement with an 8 day power reserve...it is also a jumbo size model...

I haven't seen the BB36 in bronze, but I do have the BB58 Bronze boutique edition which my daughter gifted to me...it is an awesome watch...

Two bits of trivia...

1) It wasn't Tudor who made the first bracelet in all bronze...that actually goes to Zelos who released the Swordfish Bronze about a year before the BB58 Bronze...

2) It was not Panerai who released and popularized dive watches in bronze...that was actually Anonimo (the watchmakers and team from Panerai who were fired by Richemont after it acquired Panerai just taking the patents, designs, etc.). Anonimo released its bronze dive watch in 2006, five years before Panerai released its bronze dive watch in 2011. Anonimo still makes fantastic watches including these...

I just saw a post on 'what's the watch you want if money is no object, what will bankrupt you if you get it, and a realistic one. The most popular was the 222. Yes, it could be because it's a beautiful watch, but it's also the only all gold watch on the lists. It's one anecdote that lends itself for someone to think that gold is back.

Being trendy kinda means that they are popular, or "they're back" as you said.

Yellow gold definitely feels like it's getting more popular.

To be honest, I love the variety of having the date at the 9. It makes the watch that much more special to me.

Absolutely love it!

What a stunning watch! This is exactly why I think there will be a resurgence. 👌🏼

I love the PRX Powermatic but didn’t actually like the gold one so much as I’m not a fan of two-tone watches (purely a personal taste thing). If I was to buy a PRX if would probably be the stainless steel dark green one but I think the Brew Metric is now above it on my wish list.

Wow! Just wow!

Thank ya, Ed! Perry🙏👍

Thanks man, It’s a gift from my dad - his work anniversary watch. They gave out watches those days 😅

Just got a gold Casio world timer and I'm much more chuffed with it than I expected to be, sometimes it's the simple things 😄

No comeback needed. They're already here.

You’ve had me looking at these myself now! Love a Casio.

I own this one (Brew Metric in gold). Here is a quick camera shot (unedited) so you can get a feel for it (currently on the Brew Metric strap).

I love it. Are you happy with it? - I’ve never actually handled one, only seen them online.