Top 5 Watches [Of all time?]
Taking inspiration from @geogop’s post (thank you 👊🏼) I wanted to drill deeper and find out (really even for myself!) what are everyone’s top 5 watches.
Usually, we only tend to like a few specific watches out of an entire watch brand catalogue but to narrow it down to just 5 is quite the [fun] task!
What I have found for myself is that even though I didn’t name the brand in my top 5 list, there are sometimes examples of watches in a specific brand that exist outside of my brand list.
Do we like brands for specific or differing reasons over a single watch? I'm not so sure.
I DO feel that the single watch trumps my top 5 brand.
It’s actually been very tough to narrow down but it has been a fun little “hunt” to figure it out!
So i’ll start off my top 5 watches in no particular order:
•Rolex Explorer II: For me this is the best, and only example left in Rolex's entire line-up of a 'tool watch'. I know many people absolutely hate the term but I think this is the last watch that can be really enjoyed in a much more different way than say a GMT Master II.
I've picked the latest variation, the white dial #226570 purely because of the upgraded movement.
•Zenith El Primero Chronomaster Original: I have owned by a Speedy and an El Primero and for some reason I just never connected with the Speedy - but man, the one watch I absolutely still regret selling is the Zenith. The look, the feel, the wearability, the pump pushers, and oh that case back so you can see the movement....For me this is the complete, ultimate chronograph.
I've picked out the latest version with the upgraded movement (and yes, it has hacking seconds!!) and the blue dial.
•Blancpain Fifty-Fathoms Barakuda Re-Edition: LOVE, LOVE this watch. I HIGHLY doubt I'd ever own this as it's quite unobtainable, too. But for me, this is the ultimate diver that trumps all divers. I mean look at it!! 😍
•Vacheron Constantin Overseas 'Everest' Chrono: Another one that I absolutely fell in-love with when it was announced but saddened to know that it's super, super limited - again completely unobtainable but one can dream!
•Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra: Now you may be thinking "what the hell?!". I don't blame you 😂 The Aqua Terra was actually my very first luxury timepiece that I had to unfortunately sell. I hope to get one back one day. This is also the watch that my son associates with me over any other watch. I LOVED this watch - the dial was amazing, the accuracy, everything. Let's see!
Well there you go! My top 5 (for now!). What are yours?
Just a regular guy with 6.9” wrists who got lost in the world of watches.
I don’t have a top 5 but I have top 3:
#1 Omega Constellation 168.005
#2 Universal Geneve Polerouter
#3 Rolex Datejust
I don’t have a top 5 but I have top 3:
#1 Omega Constellation 168.005
#2 Universal Geneve Polerouter
#3 Rolex Datejust
Love 'em!!
Submariner - my favourite watch of all time by quite a distance.
Explorer II - the white dial is amazing
Speedmaster 3861 - best looking chrono IMO and absolute strap monster
Daytona - amazing design, panda dial just looks incredible
Cartier Tank - absolute classic. I have a preference for sports watches in terms of ownership but I appreciate the design and timelessness of this
There are others but I’ve limited it to watches I either own or have tried on. Great thread by the way - looking forward to seeing others top 5s.
1. Tudor Pelagos
I’m very fortunate to have my favourite watch.
2. Rolex explorer 114270
If I was buying a Rolex without a doubt this is the one I’d go for.
3. Rolex Explorer 2 1655
This is a dream watch for me it’s just so gorgeous with the simple white hands and markers and the bright orange gmt hand.
4. The Rolex sea-dweller Pre-Ceramic I’m not fussy on which one I like them all.
5. Patek Philippe 2499
This is a completely different watch but it’s the definition of beauty. This particular one belonged to John Lennon.
Submariner - my favourite watch of all time by quite a distance.
Explorer II - the white dial is amazing
Speedmaster 3861 - best looking chrono IMO and absolute strap monster
Daytona - amazing design, panda dial just looks incredible
Cartier Tank - absolute classic. I have a preference for sports watches in terms of ownership but I appreciate the design and timelessness of this
There are others but I’ve limited it to watches I either own or have tried on. Great thread by the way - looking forward to seeing others top 5s.
Me too!!
1. Tudor Pelagos
I’m very fortunate to have my favourite watch.
2. Rolex explorer 114270
If I was buying a Rolex without a doubt this is the one I’d go for.
3. Rolex Explorer 2 1655
This is a dream watch for me it’s just so gorgeous with the simple white hands and markers and the bright orange gmt hand.
4. The Rolex sea-dweller Pre-Ceramic I’m not fussy on which one I like them all.
5. Patek Philippe 2499
This is a completely different watch but it’s the definition of beauty. This particular one belonged to John Lennon.
What a list!!
I love these kinds of lists, but they always tend to focus on the higher end and a lot of the same choices: Tank, Santos, Navitimer, Speedmaster, Sub, Datejust, Reverso, etc etc. I’m going to offer up 5 budget legends
Love it
I have ADHD so I only read part of your post and I’m just going to give you my single favorite watch. Reasoning is purely emotional/sentimental as it was what kicked off my interest in watches more than 20 years ago. And I am beyond happy to have one in my collection. The JLC Reverso Duoface.
Now the watch I actually wear the most and simply adore as it is simply perfect to me is my GS SLGH009.
Then there is my “GADA” that provides the most piece of mind when I’m wearing it, my Omega AT.
Shit, that’s 3 and I said I was only going to list 1. Well, those are my top 3 of all time as of today. I only listed pieces that I own, I wouldn’t list ones I couldn’t as I don’t want to feel like what I have isn’t good enough.
I have ADHD so I only read part of your post and I’m just going to give you my single favorite watch. Reasoning is purely emotional/sentimental as it was what kicked off my interest in watches more than 20 years ago. And I am beyond happy to have one in my collection. The JLC Reverso Duoface.
Now the watch I actually wear the most and simply adore as it is simply perfect to me is my GS SLGH009.
Then there is my “GADA” that provides the most piece of mind when I’m wearing it, my Omega AT.
Shit, that’s 3 and I said I was only going to list 1. Well, those are my top 3 of all time as of today. I only listed pieces that I own, I wouldn’t list ones I couldn’t as I don’t want to feel like what I have isn’t good enough.
Absolutely love it!
Your 3 are immense!! 👊🏼
Top 5 of all time? I don't think that some of you are even trying. I am seeing watches that are not even top 100, let alone top 5. Let me be the contrarian.
Here are some basic facts (really opinions, but couched as facts). No Soviet or Chinese watches in the top 5, or 25, or 100. They have had neither the quality or the influence. A Chinese brand may make a Top 5 watch for this decade, but that is another post. Rolex can't have more than one model in the Top 5. In fact, they can have less then one. Cartier is a jeweler. Yes, they are popular now, but this is an all-time Top 5. Having a creative watch in 1918 won't get you on the list. No Tudors will be in the Top 5. There are five better Rolex. No Casio can be Top 5. Nico is wrong on this one. No Seiko divers, no Holy Trinity, no GMT's, no pilot watches and definitely no Khaki Fields will be there (there are 5 better Hamiltons).
Some of you listed a true Top 5.
If a bus had hit Gerald Genta the day after he designed this we would have been spared two of the ugliest famous watches of all time. But, he also designed the Omega Constellation which nearly makes the list. The Polerouter may be the most beautiful watch every designed. When I say "may" I mean "is".
2. Zenith El Primero (@quickwristwatchcheck )
This movement was years ahead of its time. It was like nothing that came before and has been little improved on in 50 years. It wasn't enough to save Zenith, but then we know what was coming.
Here are your counter-intuitive final three of the Top 5:
3. Timex Viscount
The misnamed Quartz Crisis shook up the watch world in the 1970's. If you were paying attention the watch industry was already in the crisis in the 1960's. Timex, the oft-bankrupt purveyors of middling watches figured out the secret sauce of making cheap mechanical movements and marrying them to inexpensive cases coming out of Hong Kong. Timex has as many scalps of dead watch brands as Seiko. We remember the Marlin, but the cheaper and better selling Viscount did the work. There had always been budget watches, but for the first time they led, rather than followed.
4. Seiko 06LC
Sure, the Astron was the first quartz movement. But, at $4000.00 it really didn't affect the market. By 1973 Seiko had cut the cost considerably and the new digital displays were the future that watch buyers craved. This was when Seiko started collecting the scalps of small watch manufacturers everywhere.
5. Patek Philippe Calatrava Ref. 96
In 1932 P.P. created a watch that would be a model for everything that came after. This watch is from 1932. Compare it with anything else, it is thirty years ahead of its time. Improve on it if you can.
Bonus Honorable Mention:
The wristwatch was most popular in terms of sales and market penetration in the middle of the Twentieth Century. One country was the largest market in the world at that time. One watch manufacturer sold nearly one of every two watches in the largest market in the world. This was their best selling watch for fifteen years:
And very few of you have ever heard of it.
Top 5 of all time? I don't think that some of you are even trying. I am seeing watches that are not even top 100, let alone top 5. Let me be the contrarian.
Here are some basic facts (really opinions, but couched as facts). No Soviet or Chinese watches in the top 5, or 25, or 100. They have had neither the quality or the influence. A Chinese brand may make a Top 5 watch for this decade, but that is another post. Rolex can't have more than one model in the Top 5. In fact, they can have less then one. Cartier is a jeweler. Yes, they are popular now, but this is an all-time Top 5. Having a creative watch in 1918 won't get you on the list. No Tudors will be in the Top 5. There are five better Rolex. No Casio can be Top 5. Nico is wrong on this one. No Seiko divers, no Holy Trinity, no GMT's, no pilot watches and definitely no Khaki Fields will be there (there are 5 better Hamiltons).
Some of you listed a true Top 5.
If a bus had hit Gerald Genta the day after he designed this we would have been spared two of the ugliest famous watches of all time. But, he also designed the Omega Constellation which nearly makes the list. The Polerouter may be the most beautiful watch every designed. When I say "may" I mean "is".
2. Zenith El Primero (@quickwristwatchcheck )
This movement was years ahead of its time. It was like nothing that came before and has been little improved on in 50 years. It wasn't enough to save Zenith, but then we know what was coming.
Here are your counter-intuitive final three of the Top 5:
3. Timex Viscount
The misnamed Quartz Crisis shook up the watch world in the 1970's. If you were paying attention the watch industry was already in the crisis in the 1960's. Timex, the oft-bankrupt purveyors of middling watches figured out the secret sauce of making cheap mechanical movements and marrying them to inexpensive cases coming out of Hong Kong. Timex has as many scalps of dead watch brands as Seiko. We remember the Marlin, but the cheaper and better selling Viscount did the work. There had always been budget watches, but for the first time they led, rather than followed.
4. Seiko 06LC
Sure, the Astron was the first quartz movement. But, at $4000.00 it really didn't affect the market. By 1973 Seiko had cut the cost considerably and the new digital displays were the future that watch buyers craved. This was when Seiko started collecting the scalps of small watch manufacturers everywhere.
5. Patek Philippe Calatrava Ref. 96
In 1932 P.P. created a watch that would be a model for everything that came after. This watch is from 1932. Compare it with anything else, it is thirty years ahead of its time. Improve on it if you can.
Bonus Honorable Mention:
The wristwatch was most popular in terms of sales and market penetration in the middle of the Twentieth Century. One country was the largest market in the world at that time. One watch manufacturer sold nearly one of every two watches in the largest market in the world. This was their best selling watch for fifteen years:
And very few of you have ever heard of it.
Great post - I actually was hoping that the 'top 5' would be more of a personal list! Loving what I'm seeing so far 😀
Btw, I know and Love the Elgin Sportsman 😉
Fair points all (especially the point about PP). In my defense that comment took an hour to write and I had completely forgotten about the Calatrava at various times.
The Royal Oak gave us the Casio Oak, so points to Genta, I guess. I find it interesting that is where your mind went. No one else had mentioned those watches, probably because they are out of reach for most of us. I really thought that it would attacked from the lack of Rolex angle. Yours is a more thoughtful critique.
Swatch Jelly
Rolex Cellini Danaos 4233
Omega AT Big Size
Oris Divers 65
Seiko Turtle Save The Ocean.
In no particular order:
GO SeaQ Panorama Date Green
PF Tonda GMT Rattrapante
Speedmaster Mooshine Gold
Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Ti
Zenith Chronomaster Sport Rose
In no particular order:
GO SeaQ Panorama Date Green
PF Tonda GMT Rattrapante
Speedmaster Mooshine Gold
Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Ti
Zenith Chronomaster Sport Rose
That is a beast of a top 5!!! 👊🏼
That is a beast of a top 5!!! 👊🏼
A boy can dream
Just want to clarify, do you mean top 5 watches in my own collection or in general?
I’ll share my top 5 watches in general (some of these I own, some I don’t)
5 - Seiko Willard - you can’t go wrong with the vintage OR the reissue, the Willard is a quintessential Seiko design
4 - Omega Speedmaster Professional (Hesalite, not the sapphire sandwich, I’m a bit of a snob when it comes to the speedmaster, I believe Sapphire doesn’t belong on the moon watch
3 - AP Royal Oak (the original blue 15202ST with the “AP” logo at 6 o’clock). I’ve got no words to describe how iconic this watch is - Gerald Genta is a genius. This watch saved the Swiss watch industry
2 - Rolex Datejust - The Datejust is the quintessential Rolex in my opinion. In whatever configuration you get it in, modern or vintage the Datejust has remained relatively unchanged for decades. The Datejust is so iconic that non enthusiasts can tell it’s a Rolex from across the room. If you ask a regular person to picture a Rolex in their head they will most probably think of a Datejust.
1 - Rolex Submariner - What can I say about the Submariner that hasn’t been said? It’s not just an icon in the watch world but I believe it to be a cultural icon. The submariner is arguably the most copied dive watch design of all time. When I was first learning about the world of watches - when someone said “Dive watch” I pictured the submariner without even knowing the name of the watch, I just knew it was Rolex’s dive watch. This is a testament to Rolex marketing genius. They’re popularity has permeated pop culture and we have by default associated expensive desirable watches with the brand Rolex. There are several Rolex Submariner homage watches from brands like Steinhart or Ginault, some of them get close to the original but there’s nothing like a Sub.
Just want to clarify, do you mean top 5 watches in my own collection or in general?
I’ll share my top 5 watches in general (some of these I own, some I don’t)
5 - Seiko Willard - you can’t go wrong with the vintage OR the reissue, the Willard is a quintessential Seiko design
4 - Omega Speedmaster Professional (Hesalite, not the sapphire sandwich, I’m a bit of a snob when it comes to the speedmaster, I believe Sapphire doesn’t belong on the moon watch
3 - AP Royal Oak (the original blue 15202ST with the “AP” logo at 6 o’clock). I’ve got no words to describe how iconic this watch is - Gerald Genta is a genius. This watch saved the Swiss watch industry
2 - Rolex Datejust - The Datejust is the quintessential Rolex in my opinion. In whatever configuration you get it in, modern or vintage the Datejust has remained relatively unchanged for decades. The Datejust is so iconic that non enthusiasts can tell it’s a Rolex from across the room. If you ask a regular person to picture a Rolex in their head they will most probably think of a Datejust.
1 - Rolex Submariner - What can I say about the Submariner that hasn’t been said? It’s not just an icon in the watch world but I believe it to be a cultural icon. The submariner is arguably the most copied dive watch design of all time. When I was first learning about the world of watches - when someone said “Dive watch” I pictured the submariner without even knowing the name of the watch, I just knew it was Rolex’s dive watch. This is a testament to Rolex marketing genius. They’re popularity has permeated pop culture and we have by default associated expensive desirable watches with the brand Rolex. There are several Rolex Submariner homage watches from brands like Steinhart or Ginault, some of them get close to the original but there’s nothing like a Sub.
Can be general, can be in collection!
Three of mine I have owned in the past but would love to get again one day 🙏
Love your list! 👊🏼
Can be general, can be in collection!
Three of mine I have owned in the past but would love to get again one day 🙏
Love your list! 👊🏼
Thank you, I took into consideration the watch’s impact on the brand and also on overall popular culture - for me watches become icons when you associate them with a particular model or design, you’ve got a great list too, love it! 🤘🏼