The 10 Best Dress Watches of 2024 (So Far)
How to define the dress watch? Traditionally it’s been a watch that doesn’t necessarily offer waterproofness, is often pretty thin (sometimes ultra-thin), tends to be quite minimalist (even when complicated), wears a leather strap, and looks absolutely stellar with everything from cashmere knits and denim on the weekend to double-breasted pinstripes and black tie. In short: It’s the watch that grandpa owned and wore every day.
It may have seemed as if the dress watch was going the way of the dodo a decade ago, but anyone who thought so is now eating crow. The classic dress watch is back as a staple in any collection, and many folks are now wearing dress watches with casual wear—and to great effect. There’s something laid back about a dress watch these days, perhaps because they’re generally understated compared to the relatively loud and large sport watches that began to dominate wrists, even with evening wear.
This year is turning out to be a lovely one for the dress watch, with many brands taking a step back from the bombast of 2023’s buzzy releases and offering understated classics. We’ve chosen nine beauties from this year that will surely remain classics for decades to come.
Best of Robb Report
