The Best Gold Watches for Every Budget, Taste, and Occasion
Want to brush up on your terminology and find your next dream timepiece? Don't miss GQ’s ultimate guide towatches for men.
Back in olden times, gold watches for men were part
of a uniform that included three-piece suits, shiny leather-soled shoes, and a haircut known simply as “The Executive.” Fortunately, while dress codes have loosened up considerably since your grandad’s day, the allure of the gold watch remains just as strong as ever. Not only does the rich, lustrous shine of a gold timepiece carry a ton of old-school gravitas, there’s a near-infinite variety across every imaginable style and price point. That means you can opt for a funky ‘80s digital watch in gold-tone stainless steel, a Swiss-made masterpiece in solid 18k rose, or a vault’s worth of elite options in between.
Gold watches for men are surprisingly versatile, but in general, a slimmer, more refined timepiece works best with a slim, buttoned-down look, while chunkier ones work best with off-duty fits. Aside from that, there’s really only one rule that matters: as with perfume and animal prints, a little gold goes a long way.
Whether you're after an $70 Timex or a $10,000 Rolex, love the flash of classic yellow gold or prefer something subtler on a leather strap, these are the absolute best men's gold watches for every taste, budget, and occasion.
The Best Gold Watches Under $200
Timex T80 watch
This throwback to the days of Armani power suits and Spandex is the best '80s tribute since Cobra Kai.
Danish designers perfected modern minimalism, and as you can see from this gold-tinged, black-dial wristwatch, they continue to do less-is-more better than pretty much anyone else.
Designed by Memphis Group founder (and father of 1980s postmodernism) Ettore Sottsass in 1988, this Tissot revival encapsulates the era’s effervescent aesthetic, minus the squiggly lines and plus a tasteful hit of gold.
Along with big floppy lapels and auteur cinema, the 1970s was a prime time for gold sports watches like this one. Straight from the Timex archives, it’s ready to add a touch of decadence to your biggest fall fits.
Original Art Deco watches from the 1920s are now close to a century old, making them both expensive and temperamental. This one offers all of the streamlined looks of the era, and none of the hassle of wearing a 100-year old antique on your wrist.
This low-key Swiss brand is known for modern design and high-end movements at (relatively speaking) extremely reasonable prices. With its engraved dial, rose gold-plated case and a movement certified by COSC (Switzerland’s official regulator of watch accuracy) this Highlife epitomizes what Frederique Constant does best.
As the first-ever watch to feature a scratch-proof case and a sapphire crystal, the Diastar was the future of watches in the 1960s. Scratchproof metal is a lot more common these days, but the Diastar’s delightfully weird case is still a flex – particularly in gold-tone PVD.
One of the coolest things about this old-school pilot’s watch is how little it has changed since the early 1900s. But we suppose we can live with the addition of a case and bracelet made out of 18k pink gold.
Like everything this family-owned Swiss brand makes, every detail of this chronograph was meticulously considered down to the millimetre. The result? Perfectly aligned screws on the bezel, ethically-sourced rose gold, and a COSC-approved automatic movement developed, produced, and assembled by Chopard.
Jacquet Droz Grande Seconde Ivory Enamel Dial watch
In gold watches (and pretty much everything else that matters) quality is more important than quantity. Let this slim and stately 18th century design in 18k red gold show you the way.
