<p>A good black watch can stay on your wrist all day, every day. As you transition through work, the gym, casual weekends, and formal evenings, your ticker will fit right in. With pretty much every <a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/style/g33807469/best-watch-brands-for-men/” target=”_blank”>watch brand</a> offering all-black options in every shape and size, digital and analog, there are a ton of options to choose from. So we narrowed down the field to the best black watches for men available right now.</p><p><a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/style/g38596438/best-watches-for-men/” target=”_blank”>Best Watches for Men</a> | <a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/style/g43032025/mens-dress-watches/” target=”_blank”>Best Dress Watches</a> | <a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/style/g36673991/best-cheap-watches-for-men/” target=”_blank”>Best Cheap Watches</a> | <a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/technology-gear/g41900434/best-sport-watches/” target=”_blank”>Best Sport Watches</a> | <a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/style/g39909376/best-mens-luxury-watches/” target=”_blank”>Best Luxury Watches</a></p>” />
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There is a certain satisfaction that you get from looking at a watch that looks like a smart watch screen, but is actually analog. Take this sleek ticker from Swatch, which tells the time and nothing more. Glossy white hands and dashes on a matte black background exemplify the label’s minimalist design. The bioceramic case and rubber strap are soft, lightweight, and durable. If you’re looking to escape from the trappings of smart watch tech, this is your perfect out while retaining a similar look.
Minimalism is never a bad design choice when it comes to watches. MVMT watches tend to have simple designs, but the Legacy Slim in Panther Black has just enough detail to be able tell time and nothing more. You have to appreciate that level of efficiency. At 42 mm, it is on the larger size but the look is so clean that it won’t take over your wrist like more complicated timepieces.
Dive watches are known for their bold colors. But if you want a style swerve, try one with with no color at all. Timex resurrected the quartz powered (hens the name) Q series a few years ago starting with this dive inspired model. The face and bezel are almost generic with bold dots, dashes, and numbers. In contrast, the angular body and tank tread-like band have a retro feel. The 38 mm case is small for a dive watch and plays into its vintage, sporty looks.
Way before the Apple Watch, Casio was one of the first brands to place something resembling a computer on your wrist. It couldn’t connect to the internet or make phone calls and texting didn’t even exist yet. But it did have an alarm clock, stop watch, calendar, and illuminated screen. Technology may have advanced exponentially since then, but the Illuminator is still useful, especially for athletes. The real appeal is the retro look, which hasn’t changed since the 1990s.
Read more: Best Outdoor Watches
Luminox has been the Navy SEALs’ go-to watch brand for decades which means its tickers can absolutely handle anything you can throw at them. The all black trend is nothing new for Luminox, who has always cloaked its watches in a matte black finish for tactical purposes. The Leatherback SEA Turtle is one of its top dive watches, with a 44 mm case and big block numerals that are easy to read, while keeping the watch discreet enough not to stand out. If you’re into the tactical military look, this watch is for you.
Read more: Best Solar Watches for Men
The Seiko 5 Sports line has been a mainstay in affordable sport watches since the 1980s. So much so that you can get lost down a horological rabbit hole exploring all the colors and designs available. Which is why an all-black model sounds boring, until you actually see one. The solid color scheme allows all the intricate physical design details of the watch to shine. As is often the case with Seiko, this is a very impressive watch for the price.
Retro-futuristic is probably the best way to describe the look of the Drive. As if someone from the 1980s designed what they thought a watch from 2023 would look like. The result is pretty cool. While the face is light on details, the dashed outer ring running from 12 to 3 o’clock and the uneven crossed lines in the center are reminiscent of a vintage speedometer, hence the name. The matching steel bracelet gives the feel of a silver steel watch, but in a darker finish.
Victorinox invented the Swiss Army Knife. So you would expect a high level of utility for everything they make, and the Alliance Sport Chronograph doesn’t disappoint. This watch measures time in just about every way an analog watch can, which is what chronographs were invented for. The blacked-out body, band, and face are accented with white marking, a hint of red and a substantial amount of lume that glows in the dark. This is as sporty of an all-black watch as you can find.
Italian mircro watch brand Unimatic has built a following with their minimalist designs. Impressively, the UC1 does everything you need a dive watch. The dial is incredibly legible for a monotone watch thanks to a bold geometric design and contrasted hands and indices, which are also coated in lume for low-light visibility. There is a Seiko NH35A movement under the hood, so you can count on this beauty to keep on ticking for years.
Shinola built a hulking piece of Detroit muscle you can wear on your arm. Measuring in at 47mm, the Runwell Chrono is designed to stand out. Just like Detroit’s Dodge Charger, this powerful machine is wrapped up in a sleek and beautiful package. The royal blue of the inset dials contrasts nicely with the black color scheme. With a silver steel case, including the crown and buttons, it’s a great watch for easing into the black watch trend. If you ever get tired of it, an interchangeable brown leather or blue nato strap would look just as nice.
No other watch brand sticks to the basics better than Tissot. Take its Seastar, which sports classic looks and a dependable quality at an affordable price. Simplifying things even more is the monotone color scheme. Matte black with silver and white details will never not be cool.
Hamilton introduced the world’s very first digital watch back in 1970, and the American Classic is a replica of the OG model that inspired today’s smart watches. This ticker is not smart, but it gets by on handsome looks. The uniform black brushed steel case and band give the look of a bracelet with a little screen on it. Think of it more as a piece of jewelry than watch.
Seiko SPB2555 1968 Divers Modern Re-Interpretation
Seiko SPB2555 1968 Divers Modern Re-Interpretation
If you like the look of vintage diver watches, but would prefer something new, then this re-issue from Seiko is the perfect middle ground. The new SPB2555 remains true to the basic look of the original from 1968, but with a new black-on-black-on-black paint job. It is part of Seiko’s Prospex line which means it’s built for professional grade scuba diving. That said it plays nice with a wet suit, as well as your work suit.
Movado is the OG of the monotone watch look. The Museum Classic was designed in 1947, and the original model is on permanent display at the MoMA, truly earning its name. This 2023 version has a black leather band, case, and face, with Movada’s signature dot as a stylish punctuation mark. This is a dress watch that goes perfectly with black tie but can also play down to fit in with your everyday wardrobe.
Formula 1 and TAG Heuer go together like Ricky Bobby and winning. After all, the Swiss watch brand built its reputation on providing timers for auto racing. While TAG Heuer’s Autavia and the Carrera are the crown jewels of the chronograph world, the Formula 1 is a far more affordable option with all the same features. The beauty of this collab is that it isn’t overtly branded, it just looks like a beautiful chronograph in an all-black motif. The perforated leather strap and ceramic bezel make this watch very light and durable for its 43 mm size.
Rado is an OG of the dive watch game, and the Captain Cook is its signature model. First introduced in 1962, the basic look of the classic diver has remained the same, highlighted by the big triangle hour hand and spear-shaped second hand. Rado updates it with a high tech ceramic case and rubber strap. The former is lighter and more durable than steel, and achieves a matte black finish that steel can’t. This newest version of the Captain Cook packs the best of modern watch building technology in a cool vintage package.
As Rolex’s little brother, Tudor has big shoes to fill. The Black Bay line more than holds its own. You get the same top tier performance as the Submariner, with a more regal look thanks to the angular hands and bronze detailing. The black face and burgundy bezel is a favorite of David Beckham, which is all the endorsement you need. Placing it on black fabric band allows you to play around with the blacked out watch look without committing to it forever.
Judging by the box office numbers, you probably saw Top Gun: Maverick. Which means you may have noticed IWC provided all the watches in the film. The good news is that you can get one just like it for yourself. Mav’s ticker is blacked out and features a retro field watch style dial with IWC’s standard pilot watch hands. The back of the case features the Top Gun logo, so you can tell people you won the watch by finishing first in your class.
This particular Cartier model, notable for being one of the world’s first wrist watches, is a favorite of celebrities and the ultra wealthy. Jake Gyllenhaal hasn’t gone anywhere without his recently. The square face and riveted case are distinct from the more familiar Cartier Tank. While most variations come with a steel band, this all-black version comes with a black alligator leather strap as well as a rubber strap. Allowing the wearer to transition between business and pleasure with a watch that does both perfectly.
A good style rule to live by is, “if it is good enough for James Bond, it is good enough for me.” 007 has worn several different models of Omega Seamaster over his illustrious film career, and this blacked out 300M combines elements from Bond’s more recent divers. The color scheme and nato band are taken from SPECTRE while the overall design is featured in No Time to Die. While it doesn’t explode like in the movie, we think it may cause some neck damage from all the head turning you’ll get.
Contributing Commerce Style Writer
Brad is a contributing style commerce editor. After a decade working for menswear brands including J.Crew and Ralph Lauren, Brad switched from selling fashion to writing about it. His words have appeared in Huckberry, Heddels, and The Manual.
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