Thanks to the Internet, recreational watch collecting has really caught on in a big way. For decades there have been “insider” watch groups consisting of long-time, heavy-hitting collectors that meet regularly and discuss haute horlogerie.

Today, though, we are witnessing an all-new generation of young watch collectors who are ever more knowledgeable about watches and who meet regularly in cities around the world to talk about the watches they love. I’ve sat in on many collector group meetings, and find today’s collectors are a lively and engaging group that talk about not just the high-end of watchmaking, but also, and perhaps more importantly, the everyday watches they feel are the must-haves for their generation.

Here’s an inside-scoop of five watch brands that today’s new generation of collectors love.

Oris

Insiders appreciate Oris for its good Swiss quality watchmaking, its fairly affordable price, good looks, and the brand’s commitment to ocean conservation, supporting coral restoration and shark tagging. In terms of timepieces, the brand is all about retro styling in a modern manner, perfect for today’s watch lover. The Carl Brashear watch is a particular favorite, in part because it pays homage Navy hearo Brashear who was the first African American U.S. Navy Master Diver. Equally popular is the Aquis line, especially the Clipperton Limited Edition which benefits the Clipperton Expedition, a research project that studies the remote Clipperton Island to preserve its ecosystem and study the area’s shark migration patterns.

Tudor

The sister brand to Rolex, Tudor was established in 1946 by Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf, whose intention was to offer the same high level of watchmaking expertise as the prestigious Rolex in a more approachable price range. The brand has a young, lively vibe to it, with collections inspired by motorcycles, sports car racing, and traditional military divers’ watches. Tudor’s Heritage line recalls the brand’s rich history but the most coveted collection is the Black Bay dive watches.

Grand Seiko

Started in Japan in the 1960s under the Seiko auspices, Grand Seiko differed from its parent company and focused on premium, mechanical-only watches. But it wasn’t until 2016 that Seiko spun Grand Seiko out as its own brand and Grand Seiko started making headway in the US market. Today’s collectors love the classic look of the watches, with nice detail and finishings. They also like the brand’s unique spring-drive movement that combines the force of a mechanical mainspring with a high-precision quartz caliber. Grand Seiko’s Heritage series remains a fan-favorite.

Hamilton

Founded in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1892 and boasting a rich history of providing precision timepieces to the military, Hamilton Watch Company is now owned by the Swatch Group and its timepieces are made in Switzerland. The brand has been highly involved in aviation for more than a century, starting in 1926, when Admiral Richard E. Byrd became the first pilot to fly to the North Pole and used a Hamilton watch during his historic flight. Today, Hamilton works with a team of pilots to refine the form and function of their watches. In 2005, Hamilton became the sponsor of the Red Bull Air Races, an international race in which pilots must navigate through an obstacle course, making tight turns and dodging plyons (or “Air Gates”). The most popular Hamilton collection is the Khaki Aviation line of pilot watches, an equally sleek and practical timepiece.

Casio G-Shock

Born under the Casio brand, Casio G-Shock watches are in hot demand thanks to their durability. In 1983 Casio’s chief engineer designed the first G-Shock, which could withstand a 32-foot (roughly three stories) drop onto a hard surface, was water-resistant up to 100 meters and had a 10-year battery life. The line has progressed over the years and now offers a host of great added functions while still maintaining its incredible endurance. Key lines here are the Frogman (which was built with crucial feedback from professional divers) and the rugged and high-utility Rangeman collection.

It’s an important week for motorsports and, of course, for Rolex. In honor of the Monterey Classic Car week, we’re looking back at the history of the brand’s ties to the sport. 

Rolex’s First Encounter With Motorsports: A Rolling Start

Rolex has a long and storied history when it comes to its involvement with motorsports. The brand first became associated with the sport in September of 1935, when a racing record was broken with a Rolex on the wrist of the driver. Sir Malcolm Campbell was at the wheel of his car, Bluebird, and sporting a Rolex Oyster, when he became the first driver ever to break 300 mph. The event was so momentous that the brand even created a limited edition timepiece in the 1940s to honor Campbell.

The brand partnered with the Daytona International Speedway when it opened in 1959, as Campbell also completed many of his own runs in Daytona in the 1930s. A few years later, the iconic and highly-coveted Rolex Daytona Cosmograph was born. 

As a result of these groundbreaking and lucrative partnerships, Rolex nurtured its partnerships within the world of motorsports, going on to become the Official Timepiece for Formula 1 races and the FIA World Endurance Championship and the sponsor for endurance races like Rolex 24 and other endurance races. Rolex also cultivated famous Formula 1 racers like Sir Jackie Stewart as “testimonees”, or ambassadors, for the brand. 

The Monterey Classic Car Week

Rolex’s reach stretches further than just performance racing, however. The brand is also a patron of events that “celebrate the beauty of classic cars.” Every year, vintage car lovers flock to Monterey, California, for Monterey Classic Car week, which is taking place from August 23-26 this year. It consists of several important events that pay homage to vintage automobiles, including the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion (vintage racing) and the Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance. Additionally, there are a host of auctions, cocktail events, and tours along scenic California highways. Holding a highly visible position throughout the four-day event is Rolex, which acts as the presenter, sponsor, or timekeeper of various events. 

In fact, the brand has been the Official Timepiece of the Concours since 1997 and became the presenting partner of Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance® in 2007. The Tour is an 80-mile drive along the picturesque roads of the Monterey Peninsula and Big Sur. In 2010, Rolex became the Title Sponsor of the historic Monterey Motorsports Reunion, the largest event of the week, with 550 historic and period-correct race cars competing this year alone at Laguna Seca Raceway. Rolex is also the Official Timepiece—and has been since 2005—of The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering: the event is essentially an amazing garden party with rare cars and motorcycles at the Quail Lodge & Golf Club. 

 The pinnacle event of the week takes place on Sunday, August 26^th, where 200 cars are showcased on the 18^th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links for the world’s most elite classic car show, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Here, the cars are judged on their authenticity, and ability to remain true to the original in technical merit, elegance, and style. Rolex has been the Official Timepiece of this event since 1997.

With this omnipresence during the events, the brand naturally offers watches to the Best in Show winners at both The Quail and the Concours d’Elegance. This year, the owner of the car that wins Best of Show at The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering, will receive a $13,000 Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust 41mm in 18-karat Everose and Rolesor with a fluted bezel and Jubilee bracelet. The Best of Show winner at the Concours d’ Elegance will be awarded the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust 41 in 18-karat yellow gold Rolesor with Jubilee bracelet. 

Three-time FIA Formula 1 Drivers’ World Champion, Sir Jackie Stewart, who this year celebrates 50 years as a Rolex brand ambassador, says, “It is always a pleasure to return to Monterey, where the atmosphere and the genuine enthusiasm for motor cars is unparalleled…The event will give me the opportunity to reflect on my career in motorsports and the fantastic evolution of the car during this time. I can’t wait to see the style and elegance that will be on show.”

Once you have the big names (think Rolex, Omega, Patek Philippe, and more from our list of 10 essential watches) in your watch collection line-up, grow your collection with some of the most important pieces from today’s new (often independent) watch brands.

Because the independents are typically uninhibited by big corporate politics, they can invest their time and effort into taking creative license in both design and movements. The results are stellar, with many of the young brands (some founded or purchased and re-born just within the past decade or 20 years) introducing cutting-edge and avant-garde luxury watches that most likely will be the next generation of must-have icons for collectors and watch lovers.

7 Iconic Watches for the Modern Collector

Richard Mille RM 11-03 McLaren Automatic Flyback Chronograph

For the gear head who loves incredible precision, fine mechanics, and cutting-edge materials, Richard Mille is a must-own. This brand, which was founded in 1999, is known for its use of high-tech materials and its inventive movements, some complete with tourbillons suspended by cables. Almost any Richard Mille will become iconic, but we love the RM 11-03 McLaren automatic flyback chronograph, inspired by Formula 1 technologies.

HYT H1

HYT is the first to use a watch’s worst enemy — liquid — to display the time. (To wrap your head around this revolutionary and mind-bending technology, read about HYT here.) While there are several great iterations, including the HYT Skull Bad Boy, the 2012 debut model, the HYT H1, outfitted with bellows and capillaries, will most likely be the one to hold its value.

MB&F HM6 Alien Nation

Founded in 2005 and led by watch industry veteran Max Busser, the whimsical brand MB&F’s philosophy is, “A creative adult is a child who survived.” MB&F is all about collaborations with great watchmaking minds and the space-age looking timepieces it creates are not only three-dimensional (meaning the dial has recessed and raised levels to its detail), but also offer unique concepts, like the tiny alien sculptures housed in the HM6 Alien Nation watch, destined for iconic stature.

F.P. Journe Dead Seconds Tourbillon

For those who love absolute classic watchmaking with modern mechanics, look no further than F.P. Journe. Founded in 1999 by master watchmaker and inventor Francois-Paul Journe, F.P. Journe’s watches are a significant but worthwhile investment. Our top pick is the (appropriately named) Dead Seconds Tourbillon, with the “dead seconds function” that ensures the seconds hand will stop on each second indicator for the duration of the second.

Greubel Forsey Double Tourbillon 30° Asymétrique

If you want to own one of the most horologically precise instruments in the world, invest in a Greubel Forsey Double Tourbillon 30° Asymétrique. While co-founders Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey worked together on inventive concepts for five years, the actual founding of the Greubel Forsey brand wasn’t until 2004. Since then, the brand has created nearly two dozen movements and half a dozen inventions. So advanced is this brand that it is difficult to pick one iconic piece, as most will go down in history as exceptional, but we recommend one of the brand’s earlier developments: the Greubel Forsey Double Tourbillon 30° Asymétrique.

Bovet Amadeo Series

Bovet’s roots date back centuries and the brand was defunct for years before being revived in the late 20th century by Pascal Raffy in 2000. After Raffy took ownership of the brand, Bovet immediately set about taking the world by storm with creative and complex watches that appeal to contemporary collectors with an affinity for timepieces—namely pocket watches—from a bygone era. One key collection is the Amadeo series with patented technology that enables the watch to deftly transform from a wristwatch to a distinctive pocket watch to a bedside clock.

Ressence Type 3
Ressence is an intriguing brand and holds a special fascination among engineering and science lovers. Originally founded in 2010 in Belgium, Ressence’s name is a cross between Renaissance and essence, and the concept behind its designs is unique; the watch features a patented time display that uses graphic elements (including disks and rings) to form the dial. While it looks complex, it is simple to read the time. The one that may reach “Iconic Status” is not the first one, but the Type 3. The watch is one of the first to eliminate the crown. Additionally, while it uses a mechanical ETA movement, the timepiece features two separate sealed chambers, one filled with oil below the dial, and the other containing the base caliber filled with air. No other watch can claim this distinction.

Laurent Ferrier Galet Series
Founded in 2010, by the master watchmaker Laurent Ferrier, the eponymous brand is squarely focused on creating haute-horlogerie timepieces, hand-building a few hundred highly-limited timepieces each year. The timepieces he creates are classically elegant, often incorporating artistic elements. The standout series is the simply beautiful Galet collection. In the Galet, Laurent Ferrier incorporates a Tourbillon Double Hairspring timepiece in a superbly understated package. In fact, if one glances at the watch, its complexity is totally non-existent, as Ferrier eliminates the tourbillon aperture on the dial. The beauty within is not immediately showcased; it is a quiet secret that only the owner knows.

 

In timepieces, having a “complicated” watch is a good thing. Generally, any function other than indicating the hours, minutes and seconds on a watch is considered a complication. While multi-time zones, alarms, and other small complications are becoming very popular today, there are a handful of traditional watchmaking complications considered to be the “true classic complications” by the greater watch collecting community. Here, we take a look at these top six true watch complications that collectors are clamoring for.

1. Acoustical Watches

Just as their name suggests, acoustical watches are those that chime the time via a series of hammers and gongs. Some offer the chiming on demand, such as the minute repeater, five-minute repeater, decimal (or 10-minute repeater), quarter repeater. Others, such as grand and petite sonneries, strike the time on the hour and typically have a “silent” button.

2. Chronographs

Chronographs are essentially stopwatches. Simple chronographs that can start, stop, and reset via the pushers and flyback chronographs that offer a rapid reset feature, and split-second (Rattrapante) chronographs to simultaneously time multiple events are all considered a classic complication. The chronograph enables the measurement of these intervals of time without affecting the hour, minute, and seconds timekeeping function.

3. Perpetual Calendars

Perpetual calendars track and display all aspects of time, including day, date, month, and even the Leap Year. Most also offer moon phase indications. They take into account short months and Leap Years. Most remain accurate without needing an adjustment (unless they run out of power) until the year 2100, when we will skip a scheduled Leap Year.

4. Equation of Time

The most complex astronomical watches are ones that display the Equation of Time. Obviously, all watches track the 24 hours in a day. However, the true solar time of a day varies by as much as 16 minutes longer or 14 minutes shorter than 24 hours. The Equation of Time watch tracks the exact solar length of each day and often shows the difference between true solar time and mean solar time (or “clock time”).

5. Tourbillon

The tourbillon escapement, invented by Louis-Abraham Breguet in the early 1800s, is a constantly whirling device built into a watch to compensate for the errors in timekeeping caused by the effects of gravity pulling on a watch is in different positions on the wrist. Essentially, the tourbillon escapement keeps the timekeeping as precise as possible.

Today’s watch pundits and experts argue as to whether or not the tourbillon is a true complication. On the one hand, the tourbillon offers an added feature by keeping more accurate time. On the other hand, as today’s watches have become much more accurate in general, some argue it is a superfluous addition to a watch, offering only added complexity and beauty. Today’s tourbillon escapements have become ever more complex with multiple axis tourbillons, double-, triple- and even quadruple-escapements. As such, the Tourbillon remains a classic complication.

6. Ultra-Thin Watches

Again, more of a feat of craftsmanship than an added function, ultra-thin watches are among the most difficult to create and are true works of art. In an ultra-thin watch, all of the watchmaking components are pared down to make a timepiece so slim that, in some instances, the watch is the thickness of a half dollar coin. The incredible watchmaking expertise that goes into creating extra-slim movements keeps this realm on the classic complication list.

It should be noted that when a watch brand combines multiple (usually at least three) classic complications from the list above into a single timepiece, it becomes a Grand Complication. Learn more about the fascinating world of Grand Complications in our blog post here!

While buying second-hand and vintage watches is all the rage now, it is important to understand that vintage watches are not as strong and durable as their modern-day counterparts. Just like anything that is older, a vintage watch requires some special care. Here we offer eight essential tips on how to care for your vintage watch.

Be Gentle
It is important to know that vintage watches are definitely more fragile than today’s timepieces. Years ago, brands did not have access to the high-tech materials we have today that make a case durable or to a host of other coatings and assets used in watchmaking today. Some vintage metal bracelet watches even have hollow links instead of solid links, making them much lighter in weight and a bit more susceptible to scratching and dimpling if hit hard against a surface.

Don’t Demand Perfection
Vintage timepieces may be slightly less accurate than modern watches. You should expect your vintage watch to keep time to within a minute or three per day. Remember, the watch may well be older than you; its performance won’t be perfect.

Don’t Overwind
Vintage watches produced before 1969 are all mechanical watches, since quartz watches weren’t invented until that year. If you do have a mechanical watch, no matter when it was made, it will probably need to be wound regularly. If it is a self-winding (automatic) watch, it only needs to be wound if it has stopped completely. If it is a hand-winding watch, you can wind it even if it is still running. However, in every instance, stop winding as soon as you feel resistance in the crown. Don’t try to eke a last turn out of it, since you could overwind the mainspring and cause damage.

Steer Clear of Water
Vintage watches were not created with the same attention to water resistance as watches today are. Decades ago, people took their watches off before going in the water, and this is the mindset you need to have with your vintage watch. Additionally, gaskets on a vintage watch could be dried out (and some chronograph watches may not even have gaskets), and that could cause some moisture to seep in and cause fog under the crystal. Eventually, that vapor should disappear, but the best idea is to avoid water at all costs.

Give it a Rest
If you are planning a strenuous activity, where your arm is in full motion—such as getting out on the tennis courts or the golf course—leave your vintage watch at home. Just as they were not as water resistant as today’s watches, many of yesteryear’s timepieces are delicate and cannot withstand as much shock as today’s stronger pieces.

Keep it Clean
Dust can be an enemy of the watch movement, which is especially vulnerable when the crown is open for setting. When pulling out the crown to set the watch, do it in a clean, dry place, for instance while sitting at a table. Keep the outside of the watch clean, as well, by wiping it down with a soft cloth. Don’t forget to wipe the caseback, where dirt can accumulate due to perspiration from the wrist. You don’t want the dirt to work its way into the movement.

Service It, But Be Specific About the Service
Have the vintage watch serviced every two or three years to ensure clean, new oils are added to the movement. However, it’s also important that you make whoever services the watch aware of your preferences. Sometimes, during servicing, a watch is polished to remove scratches or wear. If there is a scratch in your watch that has a particular memory tied to it, you may want to tell them not to polish the metal. Similarly, old, worn dials are sometimes replaced, which can bring down the value of the genuine watch in order to clean it up. If you don’t want the dial changed, let the watchmaker/brand know.

Box It, Don’t Use A Watch Winder
When you are not wearing your vintage watch, it is best to put it into its box or to lay it flat in a watch drawer. Even though watch winders are popularly used for today’s timepieces, watch experts argue that vintage timepieces are not built to have their mainspring fully wound at all times. That constant winding could reduce the lifetime of the lubrication in the movement.

Easily one of the most beloved watch complications in the world is the melodious minute repeater. Minute Repeater watches chime the time out loud, on demand, usually by the push of a button, slide, or lever on the side of the watch. An elaborate labyrinth of mechanics, minute repeaters chime beautifully pitched sounds to signal the hour (a low-pitched note); the quarter-hour (a double note with both a high and a low pitch); and the minutes past the most recent quarter-hour (a high-pitched tone).

One of the most difficult complications to build, minute repeater watches usually house more than 300 tiny parts in their movements, including gongs and hammers to chime the time. The work that goes into building a minute repeater renders it one of the most expensive watches on the market and one of the rarer breeds. They are typically made in limited numbers and only by top haute horology brands.

While building the mechanics for a minute repeater is challenging, many watch brands agree that the more difficult feat is achieving the perfect sound (created when the hammers hit the differently tuned gongs) in terms of pitch, loudness, length and more. The number and shape of hammers used, the case and gong materials used and several other factors influence the final sound.

How Minute Repeaters Work
Minute Repeater watches house timekeeping parts, as well as the striking mechanism for the repeater, which is activated by the wearer. Additionally, there is a complex system that enables the striking mechanism to track the time to then chime the right amount of times.

Essentially, in a minute repeater, the timekeeping function operates separately from the chiming function. The repeater (which sounds when the tiny metal hammers strike the gongs) is armed via a tensioning spring or system. The wearer pushes the slide to create tension within the chiming spring. Then, as the slide is released, the hammers spring into motion, striking the gongs (thin strips of metal typically located on the perimeter of the case) to sound the time. To track (and ultimately chime) the exact time, the chiming portion of the movement uses tiny gears that work with the timekeeping portion of the watch to constantly keep in sync. They relay the exact time information to a series of racks, levers, and cams that, in turn, activate the hammers. It is all a highly orchestrated arrangement of mechanics. Generally, it takes a single watchmaker 200 to 300 hours to assemble the minute repeater movement.

The sound is achieved when each hammer hits one of the gongs and the reverberation projects the sound outwards. Most minute repeaters have two hammers and two gongs. The gongs are usually of different thicknesses or width to achieve distinct sounds. Generally, one hammer hits one gong for the hour. An opposite hammer hits the second gong to sound the minutes after the quarter-hours. For the quarter-hours, the two hammers alternate hitting the two gongs to achieve the high/low double sound that signals the quarter-hours. It should be noted that some repeater watches can have as many as five hammers and multiple gongs to create different sounds.

History and Future of Minute Repeaters
Chiming watches have their roots in the early clock towers of the 14th and 15th century that would strike on the hour, day and night. The invention of the chiming clock is widely credited to Daniel Quare, an English watchmaker who invented the quarter repeater at the end of the 17th century. Later, Thomas Tompion added a second hammer to the chiming clock to achieve differences in tones. By the 18th century, chiming clocks could be found in the homes of royalty and the wealthy and, thanks to their clear sounds, allowed them to know the time in the dark without having to light an oil lamp or candle.

In 1783, Abraham-Louis Breguet invented the gong spring and two steel blades instead of bells to do the chiming. This also allowed for further miniaturization to convert the chiming clock into a portable pocket watch. In the 19th century, the advent of electricity rendered the minute repeater was virtually useless. However the beloved sound and beauty of the minute repeater made it an enduring and coveted complication.

Today’s minute repeaters have become works of art and technical prowess. Some top watch brands work side-by-side with musical and engineering institutes to develop the perfect sound for their watches. Others still do it the old-fashioned way: by simply listening to and approving or disapproving the sound. Brands are also working to develop more advanced repeaters that chime different measures of time. Some brands pair their repeaters with other key watch complications, including automatons, perpetual calendars and tourbillon to create Grand Complications.

Because of the incredible mechanics housed inside, the minute repeater watch and its variants (including 5-minute repeaters, 10-minute repeaters and sonneries) are incredibly expensive. As such, it is a great category to keep an eye on in the vintage and second-hand market.

We are in the height of the great golf season with the PGA Golf Tour in full swing (pardon the pun). In these last couple of months leading up to the famed Ryder Cup, and with purses ranging from $6 million to $9 million, we will witness some of the finest golfers in the world on the courses competing for the championship win.

Many of those golf celebrities are also brand ambassadors for some of the finest watch brands in the world. Both golf and watchmaking require precision, excellence, and style. Here we take a look at 10 top golfers and the watches they wear.

Rolex Wearers
Rolex has also had a long and storied relationship with the world of golf and has been deeply involved in the sport for more than 50 years. It partners with and sponsors some of the most important tournaments in the world, including the President’s Cup, and has acted as official timekeeper of the Open for 30 years. It also initiated the European Rolex Series Tour. The brand has aligned with some of the greatest golfers of all time, including the “Big Three”: Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, and Jack Nicklaus. Its list of brand ambassadors reads like a “Who’s Who” in golf, with mega winners such as Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, as well as New Guard golfers like Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth, Lydia Ko, Brooke Henderson, and Anna Nordqvist, among others on its roster.

1. Phil Mickelson: Cellini, Oyster, and Sky-Dweller

Famed American golfer Phil Mickelson has won five Majors, three Masters, and 43 PGA Tour events in total. The lefty player has been playing in Cellini watches for many years, but he also wears a host of different Rolex Oysters off the course, including the Rolex Sky-Dweller in Everose gold.

2. Jordan Spieth: Explorer II and “Pepsi” GMT Master II

The 24-year-old three-time Majors champion, Jordan Spieth, has been seeing wearing a Rolex Explorer II, and a Rolex “Pepsi” GMT Master II. As a Rolex brand ambassador, he dons his watch immediately after play.

3. Lydia Ko: Rolesor Date 34

Lydia Ko, also a Rolex brand ambassador, is ranked 17 on the Ladies Professional Golf Association leaderboard. The now-21-year-old Korean-born New Zealander became the youngest player to be ranked No. 1 in professional golf in 2015 when she was 17 years old. She has been seen wearing the iconic Rolex White Rolesor Date 34.

Omega Wearers
Since 2011, Omega has been positioned as the PGA of America’s official patron and official timekeeper, though the brand also serves as the official timekeeper for other significant golfing events around the world. As such, it stands to reason that the brand would have some strong golfers on its roster.

4. Rory McIlroy: Seamaster Aqua Terra Golf

Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, winner of four Majors since turning professional in 2007, is an Omega brand ambassador. He wears the orange-and-black-strapped Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Golf watch. The 41mm watch is crafted in steel and has a silvered dial.

5. Sergio Garcia: Seamaster Aqua Terra Gold
Sergio Garcia, winner of the Masters in 2017 (and the coveted green jacket), holds 10 PGA Tour wins and 21 international victories. The Spanish-born golfer is considered one of the most successful Ryder Cup golfers in history. He is also an Omega brand ambassador. He wears the Seamaster Aqua Terra Golf watch with black dial and green-and-black-striped NATO strap.

6. Michelle Wei: Seamaster Aqua Terra Master Co-Axial

Female golfer Michelle Wei was the youngest player ever to qualify for an LPGA tour event at the age of 13 and is a consistently strong player with several victories under her belt, including the HSBC Women’s World Championship earlier this year. She wears the bracelet version of the Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M Omega Master Co-Axial 34MM.

Audemars Piguet Wearers
Another big brand involved in golf is Audemars Piguet, with nearly two dozen top golfers on its roster that run the gamut from Danny Willett to Henrik Stenson and more.

7. Ian Poulter: Royal Oak Concept GMT Tourbillon
Incredibly active on social media, British golfer Ian Poulter wears exceptionally elegant golf clothing on the course. He is a brand ambassador for Audemars Piguet and owns many of the brand’s watches. Most recently, he has been seen wearing the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept GMT Tourbillon.

8. Branden Grace: Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph

South African Branden Grace, who became the first male golfer to score 62 in a major at the 2017 Open Championship in South Africa, is currently ranked 35th on the PGA Tour. He is an Audemars Piguet brand ambassador and wears a Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph. He even Tweeted about it!

More Brands
9. Bubba Watson: Richard Mille RM 38-01 Tourbillon

Golf great Bubba Watson is a Richard Mille brand ambassador. Like all Richard Mille brand ambassadors, he wears his watch during play. That watch is the RM 38-01 Tourbillon. Bubba Watson uses its patented G-sensor to measure his powerful swings. The first version was all white; the new version is white with a green ceramic TZP bezel, matching Bubba’s two green jackets from his Masters wins and his favorite color. Just 50 timepieces will be made.

10. Dustin Johnson: Hublot Golf

Golfer Dustin Johnson wears the relatively new Hublot Golf watch. It is the world’s first mechanical watch created for golf. Powered by an in-house made movement, the watch enables golfers to calculate their scores on the course. Ultra lightweight, it features an aperture that displays the scores per hole.

As watch trends come and go, so, too, do watch case sizes. Similar to fashions, what is trending as the most common case diameter in one decade can be out of popularity the following decade. Certainly the size of watch cases today differs greatly from the size of watch cases from the 1970s and 1980s, when classical and sportier looks were smaller.

Here we take a look at the most common watch case diameters and provide a few tips to help you find the right case size for the wrist.

But First, a Word About Men’s vs. Women’s and Unisex Watches…
Truth be told, all watches today can be considered unisex. Some brands bill their 34mm to 40mm as unisex to accommodate a wide range of wrist sizes. I say: If you like the watch, go for it!

Today, many women enjoy wearing a watch with a larger case size, projecting a timepiece of substance and character. Gone are the days when women wore watch diameters smaller than 29mm. Personally, even though I do not have a big wrist, I find 36mm to be just too small for me. I like a bold look, so I gravitate to 40mm sizes. But then, watch case diameter is a purely personal choice. Rest assured, watch brands know this, too, and are providing great diversity in terms of case sizes, shapes and styles.

3 Tips to Finding the Right Case Diameter
While your personal style may gravitate towards a larger or smaller case size, here are some key pointers to keep in mind when shopping for a watch to fit comfortably on your wrist:

1. Look at watch case height.
Finding the right case size is often more about the height of a watch than its diameter, especially when the case is rectangular or tonneau (barrel) shaped. The diameter of a watch refers to the case alone; the watch height, however, includes the lugs, too, which, on some styles, can significantly change the watch’s appearance and fit.

2. Pay attention to the lugs.
For comfort and also to protect the watch from scratches and being banged around while on your wrist, the watch lugs (that connect the watch case to the strap or bracelet) should not be larger than the width of your wrist. To learn more about watch lugs and how they should fit on your wrist, check out this blog post. 

3. Consider case thickness.
The thickness of the watchcase is an important aesthetic factor. Large, thick cases will naturally look bigger and bulkier, regardless of wrist size. Alternatively, a thin case may look disproportionately dainty or flimsy.

The Most Popular Watch Case Diameters by Style
Here are the case diameters you can expect for different genres of watches.

Everyday Watches
The most common watch sizes for classic, everyday watches range from 42mm to 46mm. These sizes are just generous enough to make a stylish statement without being too bold or over-sized.

Sports Watches
Most often, sport watches range from 40mm to oversized 54mm. Larger wrist sizes can easily handle a 48mm watch, which is often the size of a big sporty diver or pilot watch, on a daily basis.

Dress Watches
Dress watches typically range from 38mm to as much as 46mm and still look elegant on the wrist. It’s most important to look for a size (usually around a 42mm) that sits nicely at the end of a shirtsleeve and is thin enough to slide under a blazer or suit jacket.

Vintage and Pre-Owned Watches
When considering case diameters, there is one thing to keep in mind when buying second-hand watches: the older the watch, typically the smaller the case size will be. Decades ago, case sizes were smaller. Back in the mid 20th century, for instance, the normal case size for men was 36mm to 38mm with some sport watches going slightly larger. The normal case sizes for women were 30mm to 34mm. So, if you like the vintage look, you may have to opt for a slightly smaller case size to be exactly on trend for retro timepieces.

To get a feel for how a certain watch size would look on your wrist, check out our Watch Size Guide here.