In 1972, Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, the grandson of Ferdinand Porsche and designer of the legendary 911, split from the carmaker to start his own design firm, Porsche Design. His first product was the Chronograph 1, a chronograph watch with a stainless steel case powder-coated in black. It is generally accepted as the first all-black watch design, with watchmakers like IWC and Heuer following up soon after with their own takes.
The problem with these early black watches was that the powder-coated paint scratched very easily. The solution: using physical vapor deposition (PVD) to add a thin, hard coating of black material on the watch case that is nigh impossible to scratch, protecting both the finish and the stainless steel underneath. PVD (physical vapor deposition) and DLC (diamond-like carbon) have since become the de facto methods for creating all-black watches, though in recent years the use of other naturally black materials like carbon composites and black ceramic has offered more interesting possibilities.
Products in the Guide
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Casio G-Shock
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Braun BN0172
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Q Timex Reissue
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Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical
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Seiko Prospex Black Series SPB335
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Zodiac Super Sea Wolf Compression
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Marathon Diver’s Automatic GSAR
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Longines Legend Diver Black
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Doxa Sub 300 Carbon Sharkhunter
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Tudor Black Bay Ceramic
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Porsche Design Chronograph 1
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Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon
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Panerai Submersible Marina Militare Carbotech
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In either case, modern all-black watches lend themselves to a stealthy, tough-guy aesthetic and, as such, the all-black look is at its best when it’s paired with a purpose-built tool watch. And since all-black watches are far less blingy than polished steel or precious metal counterparts, they work exceptionally well with a pared-down wardrobe, perhaps why they’ve seen a surge in popularity in recent years. They can be found at pretty much any price, ranging from a couple hundred bucks to tens of thousands.
On “Blacked-Out” Watches
Watches with black-on-black designs, sometimes referred to as “blacked-out” or “phantom” watches, have been popular in recent years. We’re talking about the kind of watches with black hands and indices against black dials that completely lack in the contrast necessary for reasonable legibility. That kind of watch isn’t included here because we can’t recommend a product that doesn’t even serve its most basic purpose (i.e., telling the time clearly). Rather, we’ve included good examples of watches with that badass look of black cases and dials — but with the level of contrast and legibility we can stand behind.
The Best All-Black Watches
Casio G-Shock “CasiOak” GA2100-1A2
AmazonCasio G-Shock
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$99.00 (6% off)
- Movement: Quartz
- Case Diameter: 48.5mm
- Case Material: Resin (polyethylene)
- Water Resistance: 200m
