Skip to main content

The most iconic watches for men of all time

These are the watches that changed the world

Man with watch collection
Mister Mister / Pexels

Building a watch collection is an expression of your personality and your lifestyle. If you are the type who wears a suit every day, then you will likely focus on dress watches with leather bands and striking dials. If you’re an adventurer, the Indiana Jones type, you are likely going to love a good field watch. No matter what, you will dive into the best of the best the industry has to offer. Whatever watch you pick up, you are almost guaranteed to seriously consider grabbing one of the most iconic watches that has hit the market. Or at the very least, one of its descendants.

If you don’t know which men’s watches are the most iconic, which ones changed the industry, or which ones influenced your favorites, we have them here. Whether you’re a history buff or just a curious chronophile, here are the most iconic watches for men.

Recommended Videos

TAG Heuer Carrera

Tag Heuer Carrera dial
Tag Heuer

It is hard to think of iconic watches and not look to the Tag Heuer brand. Its Carrera model was a trendsetter in the moto-inspired race watch industry and to this day, stands as one of the pioneers. It is known for sporting the minutes in an angled fashion, perfect for reading while hitting the corners at 120 mph. Not that we would advise ever going 120 mph, much less look at your watch while you do.

Buy at TAG Heuer

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak in blue
Audemars Piguet

How can we not include the watch that started its own genre of watches? For a long time, you had luxury watches worn by civilians and dandies in suits and you had sports enthusiasts wearing rugged tool watches and sports watches. That was until the Royal Oak appeared and merged the two into the luxury sports watch genre, with their steel look incorporating the visible lugnuts on the outside of the bezels to resemble dive helmets of the time. A pioneer that definitely makes the Royal Oak an icon.

Buy at Audemars Piguet

Patek Philippe Calatrava

Patek Philippe Calatrava
Patek Philippe / Patek Philippe

Patek Philippe is one of the world’s most iconic and enduring watch companies. It is almost always a main attraction at the yearly Watches and Wonders. A century and a half of great timepieces means there are almost too many to choose from when picking an icon. But its signature, the Calatrava is as good as any you can choose. But it isn’t a random choice, it is one of the oldest models still in production and influenced almost every dress watch you wear today.

Buy at Patek Philippe

Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph

Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar
Patek Philippe

Complications are when a watch does anything more than tell the time. Of course, almost every watch nowadays does more than tell the time. However, the geniuses over at Patek Philippe mastered combining the perpetual calendar with watchmaking way back in 1941 and no one has done it as well since. Very few other brands even attempt the feat, which makes it a pioneer in the industry and a lone wolf at the same time. Making this one the second of the brand to land a spot on this list.

Buy at Patek Philippe

Breitling Navitimer

Breitling Navitimer
Breitling

There are many things that a pilot should never lose track of … but one of the most important is elapsed time. Without knowing how long you have been in the air, you don’t know where you are or how much fuel you have left. Detrimental problems to have. While most things are all done by computer nowadays, Breitling created this quintessential pilot’s best friend in the early ’50s, and it is still seen on many pilot’s wrists today, despite the computer’s help.

Buy at Breitling

Rolex Datejust

Rolex Datejust
Rolex

It’s Rolex, if you’re surprised that it’s on the list then you haven’t been reading enough of The Manual. There are four Rolex watches on this list, and we start with the one that had two big firsts for the company. The Datejust was the debut of the waterproof Oyster case and the self-winding Perpetual movement, the beginning of so many things for the biggest brand in the world.

Buy at Rolex

Rolex GMT-Master

Rolex GMT Master II Pepsi
Rolex

Sorry Coca-Cola fans, it’s Pepsi time with the second of four Rolex icons. The GMT is best known aesthetically for its red and blue split dial like the coloring of a Pepsi can. For the more horologically in tune … it is known for the first-ever 24-hour hand that allowed the watch to tell the time in two different time zones. Perfect for its intended users, the pilots for Pan Am.

Buy at Rolex

Rolex Cosmograph Daytona

Rolex Cosmo Daytona
Rolex

The third of four Rolex watches on the list of icons lands with the Daytona. Sure, it is iconic because it’s the result of Rolex becoming the official timekeeper of the Daytona 500 in 1962, resulting in this masterpiece. But it gained significant notoriety from fans when Paul Newman adopted it when his wife gifted him one. Since then, it became the highest-selling watch ever at auction when it sold for $15.5 million in 2017. That seems like a good reason to land it here.

Buy at Rolex

Rolex Submariner

Rolex Submariner
Rolex / Rolex

There was no other choice for the fourth and final Rolex on the list than the one that filled the demand for some serious daredevils. In the 1950s, when scuba diving was taking off, divers wanted a watch that could withstand the pressures of the deep, so Rolex provided them with the Submariner, the first watch that could reach 100 meters. And, let’s not forget that Sean Connery adopted it for the first three James Bond movies. So, if it is good enough for the greatest spy in the world … it is good enough for us.

Buy at Rolex

Cartier Santos

Cartier Santos
Cartier

OK, enough Rolex love, let’s move to another giant in the accessory industry. Cartier is well known for being the king of jewelers and the jeweler of kings. While it focused on that job, Alberto Santos-Dumont, a pioneering aviator asked his friend, Louis Cartier for a watch that was easy to read during his flights. From that request, the Cartier Santos was born. Maybe the first ever pilot watch, and definitely the most elegant.

Buy at Cartier

Cartier Tank

Cartier Tank
Cartier

If you have ever seen a square dress watch with the distinct Roman numeral shape on the inside and that really odd IIII instead of IV, you think of this watch. The Cartier Tank is one of the most famous watches in the world thanks to the style of none other than John F. Kennedy. Anything he wore immediately became an icon. Just in case you’re wondering, some French kings preferred IIII so it would make sense that a French company would adopt the style.

Buy at Cartier

Omega Speedmaster Professional ‘Moonwatch’

Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch
Omega

Now we come to another master in watchmaking, Omega. And of course, the most iconic watch it has in its arsenal is the Speedmaster. Originally designed for motorsports, the Speedmaster was submitted as a possible choice for astronauts headed to the moon. That’s right, the freaking moon.

No matter how you slice it, going to the moon is undeniably iconic, so this watch is a lock to land on the list of icons. Not only was it the first watch on the moon, something no watch could EVER take from it, but it also was the first watch with a tachometer on the bezel. Just for extra pizzazz.

Buy at Omega Watches

Omega Seamaster

Seamaster Diver 300m James Bond Limited Edition Watch by Omega
Omega

This line has a historic legacy that began as a dive watch to celebrate its 100th anniversary and then became a full-fledged diving tool with the release of the 300 version. While it was rated for only 200 meters, the people over at Omega believed it could fully handle the pressures of 300 meters, so they named it as such.

To add a little luster to its credentials on this list, it became the one to unseat the Rolex as the classic James Bond watch. Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond adopted the Omega for his first outing as 007 in Goldeneye and it remained on the spy’s wrist until the special edition release for No Time to Die.

Buy at Omega Watches

Tudor Black Bay

Tudor watch promo shot
Tudor

OK, for all you dedicated watch enthusiasts out there, you may call us on a little bit of a technicality here. We said there would only be four Rolex watches on this list, and since Tudor is a little brother of Rolex, then you may say that the company has five. We believe it is its own entity and therefore should get its own separate mention, so here it is.

The Black Bay is the Tudor version of the Submariner. When the founder of Rolex realized his watches were going to go for a price that only the super-rich could handle, he decided to create a completely new company that was more suited for the casual collector. That was when Tudor arrived. However, Tudor still wanted to be everything that Rolex was and more, so the company created its own version of the classic and it didn’t disappoint.

Buy at Tudor

There you have it, a list of all our favorite icons of the watch world. There are more, there are so many more. New icons are created every day and every time you walk into a watch store you are witnessing history. And every time you strap one to your wrist you become a part of that history.

Mark D McKee
Mark is a full-time freelance writer and men's coach. He spent time as a style consultant and bespoke suit salesman before…
Rolex Land-Dweller auction reaches $51,250 on eBay
New Rolex sports watch commands premium pricing in secondary market debut
Rolex Dynapulse promo image

The first publicly available Rolex Land-Dweller has sold for $51,250 on eBay Live, more than three times its $15,350 retail price and confirming the watch's status as a serious competitor to integrated luxury sports watches like the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak.
The unworn 40mm stainless steel model, complete with box and papers, was listed by Tanner and Company with a starting bid of $15,000, just below the suggested retail price. However, intense bidding drove the final sale price to $51,250, just $2,000 shy of the combined retail prices of a Land-Dweller and Royal Oak "Jumbo."
Introduced earlier this year at Watches and Wonders Geneva, the Land-Dweller represents Rolex's most significant watch release in a generation. The timepiece features an integrated bracelet design inspired by 1970s sports watches and incorporates a revolutionary new escapement called Dynapulse, positioning it as a direct competitor to established luxury sports icons.
At retail, the Land-Dweller appears attractively priced compared to its competitors. The popular "Jumbo" Royal Oak in steel retails for $37,900, while the Patek Philippe Nautilus no longer exists as a three-handed men's model in stainless steel. The alternative 45mm Cubitus commands $43,263 at retail.
However, the secondary market tells a different story. The post-pandemic watch market has calmed from its highs but remains intensely competitive for hyped luxury sports watches. Both the Royal Oak and Cubitus command well into six-figure prices on used and gray markets, reflecting sustained demand that far exceeds supply.
The Land-Dweller's astronomical first sale price places it firmly in this rarefied territory, suggesting that Rolex's most hyped new model in years will follow similar secondary market trajectories to its Swiss competitors.
Two scenarios emerge for future Land-Dweller pricing. Either this first sale represents an inflated outlier that will normalize as more examples reach the market, or the extreme sale price will further inflate collector desire, driving values even higher for subsequent sales.
Given Rolex's history with secondary market pricing and the general trajectory of integrated luxury sports watches, the latter scenario appears more likely. The Land-Dweller's combination of revolutionary movement technology, integrated bracelet design, and Rolex's unparalleled brand recognition creates perfect conditions for sustained secondary market premiums.
The $51,250 sale price demonstrates that despite the Land-Dweller's relatively accessible retail pricing, actual market access remains limited to those willing to pay significant premiums. This reality reinforces the watch's position as a true competitor to the Royal Oak and Nautilus, not just in design and technical execution, but in market desirability and pricing power.

Read more
Norqain makes Independence Skeleton smaller and smarter
Swiss watchmaker Norqain refines skeleton collection with transparent mainplate design
Norqain new slimmed skeleton promo

Norqain has added two new 40mm models to its Independence Skeleton collection, offering slimmer, more refined options than the earlier 42mm watches. The updated timepieces feature a transparent mainplate design that enhances visual depth while showcasing the brand's commitment to innovative skeleton watchmaking.
The first model features a classic stainless steel case with brushed, polished, and sandblasted surfaces, accented by subtle turquoise details. The second adopts a bolder aesthetic with a black DLC-coated case, khaki rubber strap, and vibrant orange accents, creating a stealthier and sportier appearance.
Both versions are powered by the Norqain Caliber NB08S, a mechanical automatic skeleton movement that has earned COSC chronometer certification. This high-performance movement features 26 rubies and a personalized oscillating weight bearing the brand's logo. It offers a 41-hour power reserve, with the balance frequency operating at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz), ensuring precise timekeeping.
The standout feature of these new models is the transparent mainplate positioned above the anthracite openworked dial. This innovative design element adds visual depth while housing Norqain's logo, marking a significant improvement from the previous 42mm versions where the logo was printed on the sapphire crystal.
The dials incorporate faceted black-plated indexes and diamond-cut hands filled with white X1 Super-LumiNova for optimal visibility in low-light conditions. The second hand's tip comes in turquoise on the steel version and orange on the DLC model, providing distinctive color coordination.
Measuring 40mm in diameter and 12.05mm thick, both models offer 100-meter water resistance and feature double anti-reflective, scratch-proof sapphire crystals on the front and back. The reduced case size makes these watches more wearable while maintaining the collection's bold skeleton aesthetic.
The steel version is priced at $4,490 on a rubber strap, with the matching steel bracelet option increasing the price to $4,790. The DLC-coated model comes with a choice of black or khaki rubber strap, both priced at $4,690.
These new Independence Skeleton models represent Norqain's evolution in skeleton watch design, combining traditional Swiss watchmaking excellence with contemporary aesthetics. The transparent mainplate innovation demonstrates the brand's commitment to advancing skeleton watch construction while preserving the visual drama that defines the collection.

Read more
The art of timeless design: Why Urban Jürgensen is one to watch
How Urban Jürgensen redefined haute horlogerie with its remarkable comeback
Urban Jurgensen has returned to the forefront of horology

The revival of historic watchmaker brand Urban Jürgensen has been a marvel to witness as it once teetered on the brink of obscurity. Today, UJ has re-emerged as a benchmark in the industry, working under the direction of a visionary new leader. Founded in 1773, the brand faced the possibility of extinction in the late 20th century before being revitalized by a group of watchmaking purists. Currently, Urban Jürgensen is getting rave reviews for blending centuries of craftsmanship with modern innovation — proving that true luxury is timeless.

Tradition meets state-of-the-art innovation

Read more