6 Best Dress Watches Under £10,000
Discover an eye catching watch that will compliment your formal occasions with our review of the best dress watches under £10,000
The Rundown
When it’s time to ball out, nothing says “elegance” quite like a luxury dress watch.
Luxury dress watches are usually the simplest and most sophisticated of all other watch types. When compared with pilot or dive watches, a dress watch offers a minimalistic and untaxing design that goes perfectly with a nice tuxedo or other formal attire.
The typical characteristics of a dress watch are a case made from high quality steel or precious metals like yellow or rose gold, an elegant strap made from leather and a sleek, minimalistic watch face design. This allows the dress watch to sit nicely beneath the cuff of your shirt or jacket.
Dress watches can be a real showstopper when it comes to topping off your outfit for any formal occasion. That is the very essence of a good dress watch – to be the cherry on top of the cake that is your evening attire.
With this list of the 10 best dress watches for men, we hope to inspire you to find a sophisticated timepiece to buy for your next special occasion and elevate your look.
IWC Portofino
Specifications
Movement | Swiss (Automatic) |
Material | Stainless Steel |
Crystal | Sapphire |
Calibre | 35111 (In-house) |
Case Diameter | 40mm |
Power Reserve | 42 hours |
The Portofino watch collection from IWC Schaffhausen embodies the spirit of life on the Italian Meditteranean coast.
This handsome IWC Portofino watch has perfectly blended the boundaries between design and performance with its polished stainless steel case and black alligator strap.
The Roman numeral markers at 12 and 6 o’clock really make this timepiece stand out – and it’s safeguarded by a sapphire crystal lens. The lens is covered by a layer of anti-reflective coating, which does away with any glare.
Tag Heuer Monaco
Specifications
Movement | Swiss (Automatic) |
Material | Stainless Steel |
Crystal | Sapphire |
Calibre | Calibre 11 |
Case Diameter | 39mm |
Power Reserve | 40 hours |
The TAG Heuer Monaco watch collection was popularised by the legendary actor Steve McQueen.
When someone who has been nicknamed the “King of Cool” likes the TAG Heuer Monaco, the watch most definitely becomes associated with the term also. This timepiece manifests luxury and allure – just like its wearer should!
Monaco is the home to the world-famous Grand Prix de Monaco, so this watch collection perfectly embodies TAG Heuer’s racing spirit. After all, TAG Heuer has sponsored more 1st place Monaco drivers than any other luxury watch brand.
Each timepiece is powered by the attested Calibre 11 automatic movement, which offers the wearer a 40-hour power reserve.
Longines Elegant
Specifications
Movement | Swiss (Automatic) |
Material | Stainless Steel |
Crystal | Sapphire |
Calibre | L888 (In-house) |
Case Diameter | 39mm |
Power Reserve | 64 hours |
Classic, clean, and elegant.
The Longines slogan is “Elegance is an attitude” and this is exactly what the Elegant watch collection symbolizes. This timepiece presents a great, affordable option for a luxury dress watch.
A 39mm stainless steel case contains a clean face in white, with silver hour markers, a date window, and Longines’ trademarked winged hourglass logo – the oldest trademark in the world of watches.
Clearly Longines know a thing or two about timelessness and heritage – the same elements its dress watches are built around.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso
Specifications
Movement | Swiss (Automatic) |
Material | Stainless Steel |
Crystal | Sapphire |
Calibre | 968A (In-house) |
Case Diameter | 24mm |
Power Reserve | 38 hours |
The artisans of the luxury watch world, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso collection makes for some sleek and very elegant dress watches.
Its roots can be traced back to the beginning of the 20th century. The Reverso collection was created for British Army officers in India to accompany them during Polo matches. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Classic Medium Duetto is a sophisticated timepiece that can be appreciated by any classic watch enthusiast.
It still shares a strong connection with polo and polo players – often called “the sport of kings”.
Bremont Hawking
Specifications
Movement | Swiss (Automatic) |
Material | Stainless Steel |
Crystal | Sapphire |
Calibre | BE-33AE (In-house) |
Case Diameter | 41mm |
Power Reserve | 42 hours |
This is a very special limited edition watch from Bremont. It commemorates the life of one of the greatest minds in human history – Professor Stephen Hawking.
Bremont worked very closely with the Hawking family to create this limited edition mechanical timepiece. It incorporates 4 wooden discs that decorate the back of the watch. These wooden discs are actually from one of Professor Hawking’s most prized possessions – his desk at which he hypothesised many of his theories about the universe.
Bremont Hawking is a truly iconic timepiece that contains many more hidden features incorporated into its design. It’s one of the most unique dress watches you can buy with real character and heritage embodied into it.
Cartier Tank Américaine
Specifications
Movement | Swiss (Quartz) |
Material | Stainless Steel |
Crystal | Sapphire |
Calibre | 157 (In-house) |
Case Diameter | 22mm |
There should never be a list of luxury dress watches without featuring a Cartier timepiece on it.
Cartier has been called “the jeweller of kings and the king of jewellers” and this prestige shines through every watch. The Tank collection finds its roots in the military, where its first watch was gifted to an American World War I General – John J. “Black Jack” Pershing.
The Tank Américaine is a powerful, yet elegant timepiece.
It features a mechanical movement with automatic winding, which prevents overwinding. The iconic sword-shaped hands that Cartier is known for are blued to perfectly match its navy blue alligator leather strap.
Got a bigger budget?
Below are some of the best dress watches over the £10,000 budget, that we con’t not mention.
Vacheron Constantin Patrimony
Specifications
Movement | Swiss (Manual) |
Material | 18ct Rose Gold |
Crystal | Sapphire |
Calibre | 1400 (In-house) |
Case Diameter | 40mm |
Power Reserve | 40 hours |
Vacheron Constantin Patrimony dress watches are inspired by the styles of the 1950s – a very underrated decade in watchmaking. These timepieces offer a simplistic aesthetic, striking a perfect balance between lines and curves.
A matching, fitted suit or tuxedo can easily enhance the elegant appearance of the watch. The watch features a 40mm 18ct rose gold case that goes perfectly with the rich midnight blue colours.
IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar
Specifications
Movement | Swiss (Automatic) |
Material | 18ct Rose Gold |
Crystal | Sapphire |
Calibre | 52610 (In-house) |
Case Diameter | 44.2mm |
Power Reserve | 168 hours |
The upper echelon of dress watches.
IWC’s Portugieser perpetual calendar watch was created by the legendary Swiss watchmaker Kurt Klaus. He is the creator of some of the most ingenious and complicated mechanisms in the world of luxury watches.
This timepiece will continue to be highly sought-after for many more years to come – especially among the high rollers, who want their dress watches that stand out from the rest.
Rolex Cellini Moonphase
Specifications
Movement | Swiss (Automatic) |
Material | 18ct Everose Gold |
Crystal | Sapphire |
Calibre | 3195 (In-house) |
Case Diameter | 39mm |
Power Reserve | 48 hours |
With so many other famous designs and watch ranges by Rolex, the Cellini collection often gets overlooked.
But as far as dress watches go, the Cellini might just be Rolex’s best-kept secret.
Rolex Cellini watches have forever been immortalised into the portrait of former US president Barack Obama. The exact watch he is wearing is the Rolex Cellini reference 5050. Its sophisticated appearance is great, especially when worn alongside a well-fitted suit.
It’s worth noting that Rolex has discontinued the Cellini collection, so it’s a great one to collect!
Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle
Specifications
Movement | Swiss (Automatic) |
Material | Stainless Steel |
Crystal | Sapphire |
Water Resistance | 300m |
Case Diameter | 43mm |
Power Reserve | 38 hours |
Calibre | Calibre 5 |
One of the most expensive dress watches on this list, but it’s so worth it.
Made by the world’s oldest watchmaker, this timepiece by Vacheron Constantin expresses a refined classical look. The level of craftsmanship that goes into making each watch is recognised generation after generation.
Vacheron Constantin Traditionnalle is an exquisite watch that is made for gentlemen. It features a 65-hour power reserve for premium performance, topped off with a black alligator leather strap – a staple of classical looks for dress watches.