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20 Best Swiss Watches (Rolex, Omega, Tudor, and More!)
Alex DeVane
March 17, 2025
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The Swiss have had hundreds of years to perfect their craft, producing elite timepieces for as long as people have worn watches, often being revered as the beating heart of the watch industry.
Pristine materials, flawless, innovative movements, and unique designs are a few characteristics the Swiss implement into their pieces, with each dripping with life and intricacy that cause them to come alive on your wrist.
The details of the pieces vary, but these watches are technical innovations that allow the wearer to find a variant of any kind to suit their desires.
There are countless specimens to choose from, but before we take a closer look at the pieces themselves, let’s study the rich history of how the Swiss came to produce so many electrifying pieces.
History of Swiss Watches
To understand the history of Swiss watches, we have to take a look at the Reformation (you know, when Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses on the wall?) The Reformation ignited intense, violent religious revolutions and wars with Germany at the center. But why is Germany so important?
The uncertainty of the war dampened the productivity of French and German watchmaking, which, at the time, was the primary supplier of watches around Europe since they were the original creators. Switzerland already had a long history of watchmaking, and it also had a reputation for remaining neutral during times of war.
Some of the French Huguenot watchmakers fled their country and settled in Switzerland, where they continued to work and perfect their craft in peace.
As more influential watchmakers came pouring in, they began to settle in Geneva, eventually transforming the Swiss watchmaking methods and blending different ideas and different materials to give us the unique aesthetic of Swiss watches as we know them today.
Top 20 Best Swiss Watches
There have been a lot of Swiss watches over the years, and some look very similar, making it quite confusing to decide what best suits your style. When you make the financial commitment to purchase high-quality watches such as these, you want to be sure you’re getting the most out of your piece.
Thankfully, we’ve narrowed down 20 of the best Swiss watches so that you know exactly what to look for and how to find a brand that suits you.
Rolex Datejust 36 (ref. 126234)
When Rolex first introduced its 36mm Oystersteel beauty, it was the first automatic wristwatch with a jumping date complication displayed in the dial. It set the standard for how a date display should function, inspiring countless other pieces to follow the same design. The bracelet is made of the same material, using jubilee, five-piece links, and a folding oyster clasp to maximize comfort.
The Bezel is fluted and smooth with exquisite polishing, complementing the stainless steel case perfectly. Multiple movements have been used to power the Datejust 36, but it has always featured a self-winding caliber. The frequency reaches 28,800 vph with a balance bridge and Rolex’s Parachrom hairspring. It also has a water resistance of 100m.
The Rolex Datejust 36 comes with a retail price of $9,250.
The Seamaster Diver 300m has embraced a heritage that it has created, undergoing countless updates to ensure it maintains its reputation as one of the most influential pieces on the market. This 42mm model is crafted with stainless steel with a deep black aluminum bezel, which matches the wave-pattern dial beautifully.
It features a self-winding movement with a power reserve of 55 hours, and the water resistance comes in at 300m, living up to that Seamaster title. The milanese-style bracelet is forged from the same steel as the case with a foldover clasp, keeping the same aesthetic across every feature, giving the wearer a dark, minimalist, and utilitarian look.
The Omega Seamaster Diver 300M costs $6,500.
Tudor Black Bay 58 (ref. M79030n-0001)
The Black Bay is one of Tudor’s most iconic pieces, often being the first one to come to mind when you see the brand’s logo. It is a beautiful, stainless steel powerhouse whose aesthetical prowess is only rivaled by its detailed intricacy. The case measures 39mm with a polished and satin finish, with a thickness of 11.9mm and a lug-to-lug of around 48mm.
Powered by a Calibre MT5402 COSC, the self-winding mechanical movement features a bidirectional rotor system and has a power reserve of approximately 70 hours. The Black Bay bezel is arguably the highlight of the piece as it is unidirectional, meaning that you can rotate it in any direction you wish. It’s colored in matte black and is domed, adding more curves to the already curvy watch.
The Tudor Black Bay 58 costs $4,175.
Patek Philippe Calatrava (ref. 5227J)
Dubbed by Patek as “the very essence of the round wristwatch,” the Calatrava is truly elegant. It has a subtle charm, with each curve complementing the other and a color that implements its sly hand, even if it’s not the boldest piece on the market. The case is yellow gold measuring in at 39mm.
The strap comes in shiny alligator leather with square scales colored chocolate brown, and the dial is lacquered with ivory, with gold applied to the hour markers to reinforce the elegant aesthetic. The Calatrava from Patek Philippe comes with a retail price of $41,710.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Tourbillon Chronograph (ref. 26622CE.OO.D002CA.01)
The case, bezel, push-pieces, and crown on the Royal Oak Offshore by Audemars Piguet are all made of black ceramic giving it a sleek, smooth texture. The case measures 43mm across with a thickness of 15.5mm and a water resistance of 100m. The dial has a luminescent coating and compliments the rest of the aesthetic. The iconic Royal Oak Offshore hands are made of white gold.
The rubber strap comes with a titanium AP folding clasp. This piece also comes with an additional black alligator strap. It is a self-winding flying tourbillon with a power reserve of 65 hours, which beats at 21,600 vph.
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Tourbillon Chronograph is a limited edition watch requiring an appointment to determine the price.
Vacheron Constantin Overseas Dual Time (ref. 7920V/210A-B546)
This 18k pink gold watch features a dual time zone with a day and night indicator and a date hand, which is quite a notable feature when comparing it to other watches on this list. Its diameter measures 41mm with a thickness of 12mm, making it a little bit larger than watches we have seen before. The transparent sapphire crystal case-back allows you to view the in-house caliber 5110 DT that powers the watch.
The dial is a rich green with a sunburst-finished base. The internal minute track is circular, and the external track is velvet-finished.
The date window is at the 6 o’clock, and the red 18k dual-time hands fit perfectly with this elegant aesthetic. The Overseas Dual Time is truly a visual masterpiece that radiates a luxurious energy, which justifies its $75,500 retail price.
The Navitimer was originally developed to help pilots perform all necessary flight calculations while in the air. Now, it has become a staple of the Breitling brand as one of their most desired and aesthetically pleasing pieces. It is a stainless steel watch measuring 41mm with a thickness of 13.6 mm, making it ever so larger than the Vacheron watch from earlier. The bezel is bidirectional with a slide rule. The crystal is a cambered sapphire, and it is anti reflective on both sides.
The self-winding mechanical Breitling 01 movement powers the piece, providing it with a power reserve of 70 hours. It beats at 28,800 vph with a whopping 47 jewels. The strap is made from alligator leather, and it is a striking blue, which pairs nicely with the rest of the design.
The Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 41 costs $16,200.
Cartier Tank Must Large
The Cartier tank is a slick, subtle, shiny piece made of stainless steel that measures 41mm. Like most Cartier pieces, it is a square watch with square glass. While it measures fairly large, it has a sleek design with elegant curves that comfortably fit your wrist.
It is a self-winding mechanical watch with blue, sword-shaped hands. The dial has an off-white tone, and the signature Cartier Roman numerals are bold, black, and brilliant.
The Cartier Tank Must costs $5,000.
IWC Mark XX (ref. IW328201)
The Mark XX comes in a 40mm stainless steel case. The case back is closed, displaying the IWC logo on the back of the watch. The date window sits at 3 o’clock, and the dial is a bold navy blue. The white minute indices look nice on the backdrop and the elegant hands are finely polished and work wonders on the aesthetic.
The IWC 32111 Calibre powers the watch, giving it a power reserve of 120 hours. It beats at 28,800 vph and is made up of 21 jewels. It comes with a wide variety of straps. In my opinion, the best one is a nice black calfskin leather that fits well with the other features of the piece.
Made from a smooth ceramic, the Bathyscaphe case is 43.6mm in diameter. The strap and dial are both a rich navy blue, which gives the piece a subtle flare and highlights the beautiful ceramic. The gradient sunburst dials are quite large, displaying Super-LumiNova black indexes that light up in dark places.
The open case-back features a sapphire crystal, allowing a full view of the movement. The Caliber 1315 automatically powers the watch, giving it a 120-hour power reserve and a smooth 4Hz frequency. This movement comes equipped with an antimagnetic silicon balance spring and a black 18k gold oscillating weight. I love the dark beauty of this watch; it pairs nicely with any formal attire.
Zenith Chronomaster Original El Primero 38mm (ref. 03.3200.3600/69.M3200)
The casing is crafted from 38mm of bright, stainless steel with the same measurements and proportions as another Zenith piece, the A386. The dial is a beautiful white matte, featuring three different colored counters, all in their own unique shade, contrasting each other quite elegantly and rounding out the indices quite nicely.
El Primero movement powers this piece, operating at a very comfortable frequency of 36,000 vph and a power reserve of 60 hours. This high-frequency chronograph movement is the culmination of over 50 years of dedication to mastering the intricacies of the El Primero Calibre.
The Zenith Chronomaster Original El Primero 38mm costs $10,300.
Breguet Type 20 Flyback Chronograph (ref. 2067ST/92/3WU)
The Type XX from Breguet is a 42mm timepiece that follows the footsteps of similar watches from the 1950s and 60s. It is made of stainless steel with a sapphire case back, and the dial is jet-black with numerous time indicators and indices with Arabic numerals coated with ivory luminescence.
The strap is made of calf textile leather with an ardillon, stainless steel buckle. The Calibre 728 powers the piece with a power reserve of 60 hours and a frequency of 5 Hz. It is a bidirectional automatic watch with a flat silicon spiral and inverted silicon anchor.
The Breguet Type 20 Flyback Chronograph costs $19,100.
Chronoswiss Strike Two Terra Limited Edition (ref. CH-5023-BRSI)
The Two Terra Limited is a very unique-looking watch. The first thing you’ll notice is that the dial mimics the rugged beauty of the earth’s terrain. It’s a rough, light brown color, with extremely detailed texturing to give it a grainy feel. The case is sleek and silver, measuring 40mm, and it aims to deliver a tactile experience on the wrist.
Chronoswiss’ newly manufactured C.6000 powers the piece, distinguished by its ruthenium plating. It delivers 15 hours of power reserve to the watch, and the primary aim of Chronoswiss, at the moment, is to implement this complex moveset into more timepieces.
The Chronoswiss Strike Two Terra Limited Edition (ref. CH-5023-BRSI) costs $10,800.
Glashütte Original SeaQ Blue Dial 39.5mm on Bracelet (ref. 1-39-11-09-81-70)
The Glashütte Original Sea Q was designed to adapt to changes in water pressure during a deep dive. The water resistance measures 200m and the watch is fitted with a unidirectional rotating bezel with scratch-resistant inlay.
The case is made of 39.5mm of stainless steel, with an intense blue dial to give it a striking look and match the feel of the deep seas it will traverse. The case features vertically brushed finishing and can come with either a sapphire crystal case back or a stainless steel case back.
It has an automatic movement, coming directly from Glashütte Original. Its power reserve totals 40 hours, and its frequency reaches 28,800 vph. There is a fine adjustment of the swan neck with beveled edges and polished steel parts, and it also comes with a skeletonized rotor with a double-G symbol.
The Glashütte Original SeaQ costs $10,600.
Hublot Big Bang Unico King Gold Ceramic 44mm (ref. 421.OM.1180.RX)
The Big Bang Unico King Gold Ceramic, as the name suggests, is made with polished and satin-finished 18k king gold. The case measures 44mm and is striking, with the bezel complimenting the gold with its black ceramic and titanium screws. It has a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment and features 100m of water resistance.
Unico has developed its own automatic chronograph movement with the aim of being different and unique. The “open heart style” reveals the design, featuring a double coupling system and column wheel, as well as a 72-hour power reserve. It has a whopping 354 components that have been simplified as much as possible to give the wearer a smooth movement.
The Hublot Big Bang King Gold Ceramic costs $41,600.
Frederique Constant Classic Moonphase Date 40mm (ref. FC-716S3H6)
This watch is designed for everyday wear. It features a 40mm stainless steel case that has been polished to perfection. The dial is a sleek silver that compliments the shape of the case, as well as the color. It has a sunray finish with diamond cut indexes, and it is a stunner. The case effortlessly bleeds into the dial, which gives it a very simple look but one that is elegant and subtle in its own right.
It is an automatic watch with an FC-716 powering the movement. The power reserve lasts up to 72 hours, and it beats at a frequency of 28,800 vph. It also comes equipped with 26 jewels to ensure flawless precision.
The Frederique Constant Classic Moonphase costs $3,895.
Oris ProPilot X Kermit Edition (ref. 01 400 7778 7157-Set)
Made of titanium, the Oris ProPilot X Kermit measures 39mm in diameter. The dial is bright green, and on the date window—as the name suggests—Kermit the frog can be seen on every first day of the month. The purpose of this is to encourage everyone to slow down and focus on the joyful things in life. A simple reminder, one that can be hard to remember at times.
The Kermit is powered by the Calibre 400. This automatic movement has a five-day power reserve with very high accuracy. It is tremendously reliable with anti-magnetism to deliver flawless timekeeping.
The Oris ProPilot X Kermit costs $5,900.
Longines Spirit Zulu Time Titanium (ref. L3.802.1.53.6)
The Spirit Zulu time was made to capture Longines century-old expertise in multiple time zones. It is a round, 39mm titanium watch with a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and an anti-reflective coating. It has a bi-directional rotating bezel, and the dial is stark black with gold numerals and indices that pair nicely with the flawless titanium.
It is an automatic watch with a Caliber L844.4 powering the self-winding movement. It beats at 25,200 vibrations an hour with a monocrystalline silicon balance spring, which delivers a power reserve of 72 hours.
The Longines Zulu Time costs $4,275.
Hamilton American Classic Intra-Matic Chronograph (ref. H38429730)
The American Classic Intra-Matic features a mechanical chronograph movement with a 60-hour power reserve. It measures time with modern precision while keeping the charm of the old-style Hamilton watches that their core audience is so familiar with.
The case is made of stainless steel, and the dial is sharp black with two different time indicators that give a precise level of detail to the piece.
The indices are small, and the hands are elegant, mimicking the classic feel of original Hamiltons while incorporating that modern touch.
The strap is a smooth, black cow leather with a pin buckle that fits flawlessly around the wrist, optimizing comfort. This is a very traditional piece that doesn’t lean too heavily into an elegant aesthetic but still manages to look quite luxurious while staying true to its own style.
Rounding out the list is the Tissot PRX Chronograph. It measures 42mm of stainless steel and features a satin finish.
It has a sleek, angular form mimicking the sports watch style of the 70s while also keeping true to the modern era of watchmaking. The dial is a simple yet beautiful blue that gives the appearance of calm waves amidst the ocean. Quite the peaceful aesthetic.
Inside, the ETA/Valjoux caliber A05.H31 automatic movement offers a power reserve of 60 hours, with 12-hour, 30-minute, and 60-second counters that assist in keeping the most accurate time possible while moving smoothly and efficiently.
The PRX Chronograph costs $1,895.
Conclusion
So there you have it. Swiss watches come in many shapes and sizes, making it hard to distinguish one specific shape that sets Swiss making apart from any run-of-the-mill designers. All of these pieces do have one thing in common.
However, they are crafted with an unmistakable amount of detail, with each one telling its own story and flawlessly embodying the brand it derives from.
Swiss watches are some of my favorites in the market. I find that they are the most powerful and the most elegant, and, in some cases, they are much more affordable than opposing designs, which will always earn you a few extra points in my book.
I hope I have helped you narrow down what best fits your style. The differences in these pieces can be overwhelming at first, but I promise, as you become more accustomed to the watch world, you will find a piece, Swiss-made or not, to suit your every need
About Exquisite Timepieces
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