Distilling watches into their purest essence, the best minimalist watches for men retain only the essentials. Doing away with unnecessary complications, adornments, and embellishments, you won’t find moon phases or jewelled bezels on a minimalist watch. Instead, minimalist watches will tell you the time — and possibly the date — in a sleek, pared-back format.
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Shunning extraneous elements, watches that employ the principles of minimalist design feature clean, uncluttered dials. However, creating the perfect minimalist watch doesn’t just entail getting rid of unnecessary accouterments; watchmakers must possess a certain level of craftsmanship and have an eye for good design. Otherwise, it’s just yet another watch in an already saturated market.
Typically erring on the slightly dressier side, minimalist watches for men look good peeking out from under shirt cuffs or with elevated yet casual ‘fits. While microbrands have been dominating the minimalist watch movement, the style can be found in both the budget and luxury sectors as well as with automatic or quartz movements.
The best minimalist watches for men
From undeniable icons to affordable finds, these are the 18 best minimalist watches for men.
1. Mondaine Official EVO2
Proving minimalist doesn’t equate to colourless, the Mondaine Official EVO2 watch exemplifies reductionism. Drawing inspiration from official Swiss railway clocks, a red seconds hand and solid rectangular baton hour and minute hands and indices appear atop a brushed grey dial. A rose gold case and brown leather strap round off this quiet yet striking timepiece.
Price: $559AUD
Model: EVO2
Movement: Quartz
Water Resistance: 3ATM
Case Diameter: 40mm
2. Nordgreen Philosopher
Minimalist but never dull, the Nordgreen Philosopher exemplifies subdued Danish style. A slightly asymmetrical seconds hand adds interest, while the brushed silver dial and three-link silver strap create a refined effect.
Price: $308AUD
Model: Philosopher
Movement: Quartz
Water Resistance: 3ATM
Case Diameter: 40mm
3. Solios Black Solar Watch
Blending the principles of essentialism with eco-friendly style, this minimalist men’s watch exemplified pared-black elegance. Each watch from Canadian brand Solios is powered by a solar quartz movement with a six-month power reserve, designed to last a lifetime. Taking on a dress watch tone, the Solios Black Solar Watch can be paired with either a steel mesh bracelet or vegan leather strap; we personally like the black-on-black effect, with either a silver or gold case.
Price: $417AUD
Model: Black Solar Watch
Movement: Solar quartz
Water Resistance: 3ATM
Case Diameter: 36/40mm
4. The 5th Minuit
Coalescing minimalism with European sophistication, The 5th Minuit watch features a rectangular case with a black dial. Ideal for those who desire the Cartier Tank aesthetic on a budget, this watch is equal parts contemporary and classic.
Price: $189AUD
Model: Minuit
Movement: Quartz
Water Resistance: 5ATM
Case Diameter: 25.5mm x 33.7mm
5. Rolex Oyster Perpetual
While Rolex may not initially spring to mind when thinking of understated watches, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual is actually one of the OG minimalist watch. The only time-only timepiece in the Rolex repertoire, the Oyster Perpetual represents timeless classic style. The Rolex Oyster Perpetual comes in a slew of dial colours and is accompanied by an oystersteel case and three-link bracelet. Our favourites are the silver, blue, and black dials. As with all watches in the current Rolex lineup, it’s powered by an automatic movement.
Price: from $7400AUD
Model: Oyster Perpetual
Movement: Automatic
Water Resistance: 10ATM
Case Diameter: 28/31/24/26/41mm
6. Orient Bambino
Representing one of the best value propositions, the Orient Bambino is a dress watch that combines minimalist style with a Japanese automatic movement (visible through the sapphire glass caseback), all for well under $150. A compact 38mm sits comfortable and unobtrusively on the wrist, while the convex dial and domed glass contribute to the Bambino’s effortless style.
Price: $121AUD
Model: Bambino
Movement: Automatic
Water Resistance: 3ATM
Case Diameter: 38mm
7. Tudor Style
Long known as Rolex’s baby brother, Tudor offers luxury Swiss timepieces at a far more affordable price point. The Tudor Style shares some hallmarks of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual, with its case shape and tapered lugs. However, a polished steel centre link on the three-link bracelet gives it a hint of edge.
Price: $3510AUD
Model: Style
Movement: Automatic
Water Resistance: 10ATM
Case Diameter: 41mm
8. Laco Augsberg 39
While many minimalist watches for men tend to be on the dressier side, the Laco Augsberg 39 exemplifies the archetypal pilot’s watch. Designed to be minimal to maximise efficiency in the cockpit, this watch does away with complications and quite simply just tells the time. Large Arabic numerals make timetelling a breeze, while the sturdy stainless steel case and brown leather strap boast rugged style.
Price: €340
Model: Augsberg 39
Movement: Automatic
Water Resistance: 5ATM
Case Diameter: 39mm
9. Junghans Max Bill
Subscribing to the Bauhaus school of design, the Junghans Max Bill holds minimalism at its core. Designed to direct the eye towards the time, it features a simple layout with slim stick indices and a delicate date window at 3 o’clock. Equipped with an automatic movement, the Junghans Max Bill comes on either a leather or mesh metal strap.
Price: €1185
Model: Max Bill
Movement: Automatic
Water Resistance: 5ATM
Case Diameter: 38mm
10. IWC Portofino Automatic
An elegant watch with an uncluttered dial, the IWC Portofino Automatic features statement heated blue hour indices and Roman numerals, along with an unobtrusive date window at 3 o’clock. The purist design philosophy has proved successful with IWC’s customers and has been one of the Schaffhausen-based watch manufacturer’s most popular lines since its inception in 1984.
Price: $7300AUD
Model: Portofino Automatic
Movement: Automatic
Water Resistance: 3ATM
Case Diameter: 40mm
11. Bulova Classic Regatta
An elevated dress watch for men, the Bulova Classic Regatta has a clean white dial with slim Roman numerals. A seven-link bracelet and angled lugs pointing inwards create visual appeal and differentiate this minimalist watch from the crowd.
Price: $475AUD
Model: 96A232 Classic Regatta
Movement: Quartz
Water Resistance: 3ATM
Case Diameter: 38mm
12. Timex Marlin Automatic
Affordable yet beautifully designed, the Timex Marlin Automatic is a budget-friendly minimalist dress watch for men. With a gold-toned case, sword-shaped hands, and black leather strap, it’s a retro classic watch. Pair with a black turtleneck for best results.
Price: $399.50AUD
Model: Marlin Automatic
Movement: Automatic
Water Resistance: 3ATM
Case Diameter: 40mm
13. Sinn 1736 Classic
Exuding vintage style, the Sinn 1736 Classic is striking in its simplicity. A lacquered white enamel dial plays host to Roman numerals on the edge, while a slightly oversized onion dial makes adjusting the time and date easy. A sapphire glass caseback allows for enjoyment of the automatic movement with blued screws. Unlike many dressier watches, the Sinn 1736 Classic boasts impressive water resistance of up to 100 metres.
Price: $2900AUD
Model: 1736 Classic
Movement: Automatic
Water Resistance: 10ATM
Case Diameter: 36mm
14. IWC Portofino
Schaffhausen manufacture IWC may be a go-to for its utilitarian pilot’s watches, but it also makes a good minimalist dress watch. Inspired by the allure of the Mediterranean, the IWC Portofino is suffused with an undeniable sense of glamour, while retaining its minimalist credentials. The classic three-hand model is devoid of superfluous detail, save for a subtle date window at 3 o’clock. It’s presented on an alligator leather strap and available in a plethora of case materials and dial colours, however we’re partial to the stainless steel case paired with a white dial with gold Roman numerals, presented on a black leather strap.
Price: from $7600AUD
Model: Portofino Automatic
Movement: Automatic
Water Resistance: 3ATM
Case Diameter: 40mm
15. MeisterSinger Circularis
When it comes to minimalist watches for men, German manufacture MeisterSinger is perhaps the best embodiment of the category. After all, what’s more minimalist than a single-hand watch? Taking a truly essentialist form to timetelling, the MeisterSinger Circularis sees an uncluttered sunburst grey dial complemented by applied gold Arabic hour markers. The hour indices and single hand are in white, making the MeisterSinger Circularis both highly legible and aesthetically pleasing. A true (understated) conversation starter.
Price: from $4260USD
Model: Circularis
Movement: Hand-wound
Water Resistance: 5ATM
Case Diameter: 43mm
16. Ressence Type 8
Proving that minimalist watches can in fact be complicated, the Ressence Type 8 takes an avant-garde approach to telling the time. The large central dial displays the minutes, while an off-centre subdial showcases the hours. The unique mechanism allows the time to be set by winding the caseback, doing away with the need for a crown and — coupled with the barely there lugs — resulting in a decidedly minimalist case silhouette.
Price: $12,500CHF
Model: Type 8
Movement: Automatic
Water Resistance: 1ATM
Case Diameter: 42.9mm
17. H. Moser & Cie Endeavour Centre Seconds Concept
Now what’s more minimalist than no indices or numbers? Taking minimalism to the extreme, the H. Moser & Cie Endeavour Centre Seconds Concept is striking in its simplicity. The lack of indicators and markers on the dial leaves the eye free to enjoy the hammered fumé green dial and elegant leaf-shaped hands. The stainless steel case is similarly sleek, with its sculpted form and curved lugs polished to perfection. One for those who don’t mind whipping out their phones to actually ascertain the time.
Price: $25,500CHF
Model: Endeavour Centre Seconds Concept
Movement: Automatic
Water Resistance: 3ATM
Case Diameter: 40mm
18. Baltic HMS 002
Drawing inspiration from dress watches of the 1940s, the Baltic HMS 002 seamlessly blends vintage and contemporary design codes. Featuring an elegant sector dial, the devil is in the details with this dressy timepiece; the matte sandblasted finish of the dial is contrasted by the satin brushed finish of the sector that houses the hour markers, resulting in an interesting interplay of light and texture.
Price: €360
Model: HMS 002
Movement: Automatic
Water Resistance: 5ATM
Case Diameter: 38mm
FAQ
Minimalist watches are those that eschew unnecessary complications, adornments, and embellishments in favour of sleek, clean designs. They’re often highly legible and typically time-only or time-and-date (at the most). Don’t expect to find subdials or additional functions on a minimalist watch; they’re usually two-hand or three-hand models.
The best luxury brands with minimalist watches are IWC, Sinn, Junghans, and MeisterSinger. For affordable minimalist watches, look to brands like Skagen, Mondaine, and Baltic.
Words by Theo Rosen
