10 Most Iconic Luxury Watches

Rolex Submariner – Easily the single most recognizable timepiece still in production today, it’s one of the most sought after choices on the market. The Rolex Submariner is so popular that it’s one of the most counterfeited mens watches in the world today. Known for its water resistance, it was initially introduced in 1954. It has been on a number of famous expeditions, including Flaherty’s Moana where it was subjected to nearly one thousand dives and Heyerdal’s Ra II in 1970. Perhaps a good bit of its iconic status, though, comes from the appearance of this one in eleven different James Bond films as well as countless appearances in advertisements worldwide. Thousands flock to this model each year, and with good reason. The Mercedes hand set and self-winding mechanism are certainly features most buyers appreciate, but many also sing the praises of oyster foundation. Suitable for all attires, it screams elegance and sophistication at every turn.

Omega Seamaster – Considered to be a highly respected timepiece worldwide, the Omega Seamaster has had a number of models in production over the last several years. The packaging itself offers a look of classic elegance that helps you immediately realize you’ve purchased more than a simple watch – it’s an iconic timepiece to be treasured for generations. Combine that thought with the sophisticated construction and phenomenal diving features, and it’s a model many trust. Divers who enjoy its 300 meter depth rating and helium escape valve like the functionality while business people tend to enjoy its distinctive look. The easy-to-turn bezel with oversized markers only adds to the appeal of this mens watch. The bracelet is a fairly big draw for many buyers as well as it’s the ideal combination of both function and comfort. With included visibility and legibility whether you’re glancing at it in full or low light conditions, it’s a special icon many buyers don’t want to miss.

Tag Heuer Aquaracer – The Tag Heuer Aquaracer is backed by a company that has been on the cusp of both style and reliable products since 1860 when it was initially founded. During the last several decades, their emphasis on precision meant that world-renowned sports competitions like the FIS Ski World Cup, the Formula 1 Championships and even the Olympic Games turned to the company for help with timing. Because of this sports association, celebrities and enthusiasts everywhere look to the brand for continually reliable yet stylish models like the Aquaracer. With a beautiful bracelet, elegant dial, and water resistance of up to 500 meters, it’s a great selection for any attire or dive. Given that this company was the one who patented the idea of a water resistant case before the turn of the twentieth century, its iconic status is reliant upon the very real quality it presents for those who need a mens watch like this on a professional diving level.

Breitling Navitimer - Since the 1940’s when some of the world’s most famous pilots were seen wearing one of these, this line has become the archetypal pilot’s watch for generations to come. Any pilot who makes a list of iconic timepieces will have this as number one, and as you investigate the features even the newest models in this line provide, it’s not hard to see why. From the first circular slide rule the company added to the early Breitling Navitimer models to the AOPA logo version of the sixties and seventies, the company has continually redesigned its models to provide for a pilot’s needs. Now one of the most desired mens watches on the planet, the Navtimer has begun to reemphasize its roots in the newer models. While there are a number of luxury features, like the gold casing or the additions the QP model includes, for most, the black dial with a now iconic slide rule is enough for many buyers.

Movado Juro - Movado moved the timepiece world from functional to iconic with its black museum dial, and the Movado Juro did little to dispel that notion. Given that it has thousands of admires on a worldwide basis, its stainless steel casing, durable sapphire window, and striking black dial face with the twelve o’clock marker only keep the legend alive. Most of today’s models are water resistant up to 99 feet and come with either a leather or stainless steel strap. Design, though, plays a huge history in the brand’s status. Considered to be the industry’s primary innovators, they hold more patents and awards than many of today’s top companies. By redefining modernism with the first museum dial piece, Movado continues its tradition of taking center stage with the introduction of the Juro. Elegance and simplicity are often used to describe this piece, but iconic certainly fits as well.

Baume & Mercier Classima - A timepiece well known to executives everywhere, the Baume & Mercier Classima offers a kind of simple beauty that is often unheard of in the industry today. By focusing more on the stylistic aspects of this line than the functions that few users will ever both to make use of, Baume & Mercier manage, again, to join form and function as they have continually in their 175 year history. A sobering piece even among others that have made it to the iconic status, each noticeable detail is almost exquisite. Like many these days, it is powered by a self-winding movement, but that only further speaks to the simple stylishness of this line. A modest size by modern standards, it’s thinner and lighter than many of today’s other luxury models. While typical of most from this brand in both quality and aesthetics, it also offers a level of perfection many of their lines simply cannot achieve.

Rolex President - Often as recognizable as this brand’s Submariner, this is the ultimate status symbol among those who own luxury watches. Offered only in gold and platinum, it’s the kind of icon even its owners keep reserved for those special occasions. A model that will easily outlive any purchaser, the Rolex President has the same durability as anything from this brand, but most of its owners are older given both the symbolic nature of this one as well as the attached price tag. Very well respected among aficionados throughout the world, it’s a heavier model that has shifted little in appearance since it was originally introduced in the late nineteen-fifties. It features a unique bracelet among other Rolex models with an entirely different shape and clasp mechanism. It is unique features like these combine with the quality everyone expects from this brand that have helped to make this model an icon among even today’s discriminating buyers.

Patek Philippe Nautilus – First introduced to the buying public in the late nineteen-seventies, the company considers this line a sports dress timepiece. Most fans, however, consider it to be the classic sports timepiece that helped to define the very notion of a steel sports watch. With distinctive broad shoulders, the Patek Philippe Nautilus was created to look much like the porthole on any ship, and because it’s one of the more complicated lines this brand offers, it’s also got a number of features unique among most timepieces that are considered icons. While often priced as much as any gold timepiece on the market, the movement alone is enough to convince most enthusiasts that it must be had at any price. Perhaps part of the its original drive to icon status, though, was the fact that only 1200 were initially released, but later models have managed to keep the sales numbers quite high.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak – One of the first high end sports watches, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak follows the brand’s great history of firsts. The initial goal with this line was to recreate the idea of a classical watch for the changing culture, and with the octagonal face, steel construction, and classic hexagonal screws, it was an immediate hit as soon as it was displayed. While it does have a rugged look, the satin finish helps to give it a formal feel to make it ideal in any setting. These days, the technical details of this timepiece get more complex with every release, and the variety of space-aged metals used in production appeal to connoisseurs and tech-savvy individuals alike. The distinct face, however, is what proves a draw for most buyers of these luxury watches, and with new designs coming out fairly regularly, it’s one icon that’s not likely to disappear soon.

Oris Divers Titan – Divers require specialized timepieces, and while many of those have made it to iconic status based on looks alone, this line is clearly known for its reliability in terms of function as well as its aesthetic appeal. Most feature either a rubber strap or a stainless steel bracelet which helps to add to the customizability of this one. Unlike most that have earned “icon” status, the Oris Divers Titan is fairly affordable, and real divers appreciate the combination of a great price with excellent function. It is that idea alone that continues to make it relevant even today. Ideal for casual and sporty occasions, it is perhaps the overall style of this fairly modern classic that continues to drive its sales. With a beautiful black face, rotating divers bezel, and helium release valve, it is backed by a brand with some real history of providing affordable, yet luxurious pieces.

Jacques Lemans Men’s Geneve Tempora Diver 20 ATM Collection Watch

While a high performance timepiece in its own right, this certainly isn’t the Rolex Submariner, but it certainly looks like it wants to be. A nearly identical stainless steel bracelet offers this model the look of a steel diver’s watch without the cost of the better known brands, and the noticeable black dial and date display may make someone think, at first glance, that you too sport the model worn in eleven James Bond films. This particular timepiece, though, takes things a step further by offering a case diameter and thickness quite near to the Rolex watches on the market today at a much cheaper price. The real drawback with this particular wannabe, though, is that the bezel’s borders are much rougher and the piece certainly doesn’t, and cannot, offer the reliability Rolex watches always have. In its own right, though, it’s a very affordable diver’s timepiece that offers a number of helpful functions. The fact that it resembles the most famous name in diver’s timepieces in the world is only an added benefit you get when purchasing this model. Most rate it very highly in terms of form and function, and while it may not last long enough to pass to your grandchildren, it should get you through a few years of dives.

Invicta Men’s Pro Diver Collection Stainless Steel Watch

Another rather affordable choice from a name that is increasingly well known in the watchmaking world, the font size and style are almost all that distinguish this wannabe from the real thing. Almost identical in terms of case size, dial and band color, and functionality, it’s not hard to imagine that this could actually be mistaken for a Rolex Submariner. While there is a substantial price difference, and probably a very real shift in long term durability, this is a phenomenal choice in its own right. Strong and sturdy, you’ll find accuracy, great size, and excellent function. There are, however, two main drawbacks many purchasers mention, and you probably wouldn’t find either if you’d purchased the real thing instead of a wannabe. The first is that the bezel is very tough to turn, but that’s often typical of inexpensive diving timepieces. The second, the quality of the bracelet, has everything to do with the price point of this model as compared to others that look similar but come with a much higher price sticker. Quality bracelets that withstand the test of time simply aren’t available on models that retail for less than two hundred dollars, but if you’re looking for a beautiful, yet helpful diving timepiece, this is a good bet.

Seiko Men’s Kinetic Dive Watch

At a glance, this model briefly resembles the Rolex watches so many consider king, but when you start comparing details, it’s easy to see the real differences between the two. That’s a rather helpful feature given that Seiko has actually managed to create a phenomenal product in its own right. While the bezel and the face are really quite similar, both the fonts used and the hands distance this model from its iconic and more expensive predecessor. The Seiko model is kinetic, and most divers find it to be accurate beyond belief given as little as the price point is with this one. A solid, smooth moving bezel and water resistance of up to two hundred meters, it’s a choice that is as functional as it is aesthetically pleasing. What’s more is that it is a fairly substantial choice, slightly larger than its predecessor but not so large as to become unwieldy, particularly on dives. Both the hour and minute hands have luminescent properties, and the band offers a level of durability that should be present for several years to come. Ideally styled for both sports applications and casual dress venues, it makes a great alternative to the pricier choices that look just like it.