The 50 Greatest Watches of All Time: 20-11

This story is part of The Greatest Watches of All Time collection, publishing every day this week. Read the introduction to the series here.

Watches are far too subjective to rank, you say? We did it anyway. For this list of the 50 Greatest Watches of All Time, we identified timepieces with a combination of compelling features, influence and lasting popularity, as well as a few overlooked but exceptional models. Deriving from all watch categories and from the past hundred or so years, this ultimate tally culminates in the single greatest, most perfect watch ever created.

Looking for watches you can actually buy? Check out our stories “The 50 Best Watches for Men” and “The 30 Best Affordable Watches Under $1,000.”

20: Seiko 62MAS

HODINKEE

Seiko is renowned today for its dive watches, a story that began in 1965. Basic principles and design elements established with the release of the 62 MAS in that year continue to inform the modern Japanese brand’s highly capable, fun, affordable and deservedly popular dive watch range, as well as more upmarket models.

Diameter: 37mm
Movement: Seiko 6217A automatic
Price: ~$5,500+

19: Universal Genève Polerouter

Analog Shift

One of the earliest watches by design luminary Gerald Genta, the Polerouter was made to promote the first trans-Atlantic flights over the North Pole. A remarkably well made and well designed watch featuring a micro-rotor to help keep it thin, the Polerouter remains notable today many decades after its debut.

Diameter: 34mm
Movement: Various Universal Genève automatic
Price: $1,200+

18: Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight

Tudor

The Tudor Black Bay is one of the most popular modern sports watches on the market, and the downsized Fifty-Eight model is arguably its best iteration. Rolex’s sister company offers an exemplary level of quality, incredible value and a remarkably compelling package.

Diameter: 39mm
Movement: Tudor MT5402 automatic
Price: $3,700

17: Omega Seamaster Diver 300

Omega

Omega’s flagship Seamaster Diver 300m stands out among a crowded field not only for the prestigious name on the dial and its contemporary looks, but because of its associations with a certain fictional spy: Yes, it’s the watch choice of the modern James Bond, and that’s a cool factor that’s hard to beat.

Diameter: 42mm
Movement: Omega 8800 automatic
Price: $4,900+

16: Tag Heuer Monaco

Amazon

The Heuer Monaco is notable for several reasons: Not only is it a unique-looking sporty chronograph in a square case, but it housed the brand’s famous automatic Calibre 11 movement. It’s best known, however, for its iconic silver-screen appearance on the wrist of Steve McQueen. Modern versions span a wide arrange of prices.

Diameter: 37-39mm
Movement: Various
Price: $2,150+

15: Rolex Datejust 1603

Bobs Watches

The Rolex Datejust is neck and neck with the Submariner among the most recognizable and iconic watches of all time. In 1945, it was the first automatic watch to feature a date window, changing the watch industry forever. The ref. 1603, with its engine-turned bezel, epitomizes what’s made the Datejust so swanky and versatile and beloved the world over.

Diameter: 36mm
Movement: Rolex 1570 automatic
Price: ~$4,200+

14: Tutima M2

Tutima

With roots in military timepieces, the pragmatic, technical M2 by German brand Tutima is one of the most distinctive pilot’s chronographs available. Produced in titanium at 46mm on an integrated bracelet, it’s not for the faint of heart or wrist.

Diameter: 46mm
Movement: Modified ETA 7750
Price: $6,500

13: Seiko Prospex Turtle

Seiko

Affectionately nicknamed the “Turtle,” this affordable dive watch is one of the most popular modern Seiko’s for good reason: It recalls the brand’s past and makes for a bold but comfortable daily wearer just bursting with character.

Diameter: 45mm
Movement: Seiko 4R36 automatic
Price: $495

12: Sinn EZM1

Sinn

The Sinn EZM 1 “mission timer” is a professionally oriented chronograph watch that displays its stopwatch features on its main dial rather than via a more typical subdial layout. It’s visually striking, tough as nails and one of the most notable watches from the German brand known for making no-nonsense, function-first tools.

Diameter: 43mm
Movement: Modified ETA 7750 automatic
Price: $4,860

11: Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope

Junghans

No watch better represents the German design philosophy of Bauhaus than the Junghans Max Bill collection, designed by its namesake in the 1950s. With clean and functional but captivating aesthetics, the Chronoscope is a masterpiece that still looks fresh today.

Diameter: 40mm
Movement: ETA 7750 Automatic
Price: $1,995+

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