To many people around the world,” Swiss” is a mark of quality. This label has come to be associated with excellence, precision, high-quality, and luxury. Some of the things that come to mind include chocolates, banks, knives and, of course, watches.

If you know your watches, you’re aware that the Swiss make excellent timepieces. Their reputation for producing many of the world’s finest watches has made them a strong contender for the title of the best watchmakers in the world, though many fans of Japanese watches will argue otherwise. But however strong the competition from the east, the Swiss have consistently proven that their rich history, high-precision workmanship, and overall sophistication have cemented their place as the unsurpassed masters in watchmaking.

Here are the 18 best swiss watches for men.

Citizen Promaster Dive Watches mix modern functionality with classic looks. Underwater, they can alert you to rapid ascents and serve as max depth reminders.

Dive watches are still a relatively modern accomplishment. The Citizen Promaster Dive watch exemplifies the achievement with construction that encases delicate parts within a sealed, stainless case.

From there, the brand offers classic and modern styles with the latest dive-specific technology.

Modern Function, Classic Styling

Citizen has made watches for more than a century and has earned iconic status among watch enthusiasts and collectors who value durability and function in addition to design. That is, in part, due to the brand’s innovations.

In 1970, Citizen was the first to use titanium — then a relatively new, space-age material — in its X-8 Chronometer.

In 1996, Citizen introduced its Eco-Drive technology. This powers the company’s watches using any light source, not just sunlight. This removed the need for a battery and thus the chance of running out of power at an inopportune time — such as a dive.

It also adds a component of sustainability to the watch, in addition to an insanely long run time. Citizen notes that on a full charge, an Eco-Drive watch will keep running for 6 months in complete darkness.

The following Citizen Promaster dive watches are all powered by Eco-Drive technology even today. And they vary in the number of dive features, depth of water resistance, and styles.

The ISO compliance notes refer to the industry standards for reporting water resistance claims.

Citizen Promaster Aqualand Men’s Strap Watch BJ2168-01E

A classic stainless steel case paired with a black polyurethane strap. This dive watch is water-resistant up to 200 m. Divers should note it has a maximum depth memory and a power reserve indicator. It displays the date and time in 12- or 24-hour time formats. And it boasts a chronograph as well.

Citizen Aqualand Promaster Limited Edition Men’s Watch BN2037-03E

The Aqualand 30th Anniversary Limited Edition ISO-compliant watch has diving features like maximum depth memory, rapid ascent alarm, auto-start dive mode, and a power reserve indicator. The case is stainless steel with rose gold-tone ion plating that contrasts with the black rings, dial, and polyurethane strap.

Citizen Promaster Diver Men’s Watch BN0191-55L

This Promaster Diver men’s watch meets ISO compliance down to 200 m. It has a 43mm stainless steel case styled with an aluminum one-way rotating elapsed-time bezel, a matching blue dial, and luminescent hands and markers.

Promaster Diver Men’s Watch BN0152-06E

This popular dive watch is ISO rated for depths up to 200 m. The 42mm stainless steel case comes with a black polyurethane strap. Gold highlights contrast the black dial and one-way rotating bezel. And the black polyurethane strap fastens with a buckle clasp.

Diving Deeper

Citizen Promaster Dive watches are not only high-performing but also affordable in the competitive watch market. The most expensive of the bunch tops out at just over $500, while the most affordable clocks in near $260.

And each is backed by a 5-year warranty, with an extra year added if you register your watch through Citizen.

Citizen also employs the use of atomic timekeeping with its world multiband models. This radio control technology updates your watch, thanks to a time signal from an atomic clock. The margin of error is one second every 100,000 years. That’s tight timing.

Check out the Citizen Promaster Dive Collection below.

This article is sponsored by Jared. See more of the Promastercollectionand other watches online.

Swiss watchmaker Reservoir’s new Airfight Titane expands the future by delving into the past. The Airfight Titane delivers an instrument panel as a timekeeper, with a retrograde minute hand, jumping hour window, and fuel gauge as a battery meter. Nothing like it has ever come across our desk, but its ancestors have prolifically flown skies both friendly and unfriendly.

To put it in the company’s words, the Reservior Airfight Titane watch “takes its inspiration from the functionalities and the aesthetic appeal of measurement instruments of days gone by.” Get behind the joystick with the deeply retro, but eminently functional, Airfight Titane.

Airfight Titane: Old-School Display as Update

The coolest thing about the Airfight Titane is that it uses anachrony to forge an update. But before you banish it to the same category as steampunk or lumbersexual, think again. Not only is the Airfight’s face novel and eye-catching, but it’s also highly functional.

Aircraft instrument panels have to be easy to read because it’s crucial for the pilot to limit distractions. So the Airfight watch’s display, by proxy, is equally functional. The retrograde minute hand has clearly marked 5- and 10-minute designations. The jumping hour counter has a high-contrast border. And we all know how to read a fuel gauge.

The watch’s stark black and white color scheme emphasizes its utility.

Specs

This Swiss watch has a self-winding mechanical movement that charges the watch for 37 hours. For those that don’t know, self-winding watches charge their own batteries through perpetual motion mechanisms. The mechanisms draw energy from random movement while on the user’s wrist. The movement can be observed through a 240-degree window on the back of the case.

The case is 43 mm, satin, and polished titanium. And if you pilot through any squalls with the Airfight on your wrist, you’ve got no problem if your open canopy takes on some spitting rain. 5 ATM waterproof capability protects the watch.

The NATO strap completes the tacti-cool look. The reservoir includes an extra, in case you lose one in a dogfight.

Take Flight: Purchasing

Reservoir prices the singular Airfight Titane at $4350 MSRP. It also annotates prices with HT, seemingly indicating it accepts Huobi Tokens, a cryptocurrency on the Ethereum blockchain. At the time of writing, $4350 USD exchanged for 330 HT.

Purchase

An upcoming watch auction by Christie’s New York features various interesting specimens. But certainly one of the most elegant and intriguing is a Patek Philippe Calatrava, once owned by Andy Warhol. The art legend was famous for collecting objects of all kinds, and he had a reputation for treasuring certain watches.

Opinions on Warhol’s art are fraught and contentious. But whatever yours are, it’s pretty clear this Patek Philippe is a handsome piece.

“Andy’s Stuff”

While he was busy creating arguably the world’s most recognizable art and cultivating a singular creative scene of misfits at his apartment, Andy Warhol also amassed an enormous collection of objects. The artist had always collected items, some as trivial as receipts and takeout menus.

Warhol kept vacuuming up objects as his personal wealth mounted. Eventually, the collection included 175 cookie jars, a desk patterned with lacquered eggshell fragments (measuring 5 mm and smaller), and 57 Navajo blankets (cringe), among other things. Of course, he also collected watches.

Warhol’s Patek Philippe Calatrava History

This particular Patek Philippe entry first hit the market as part of a 1988 auction. That auction was staged to liquidate the recently deceased Warhol’s collection. (Read up on Warhol’s death if you don’t know much about it — if you’re into the supernatural, it may be the most interesting part of his life!) Warhol’s Calatrava Reference 570 watch finally resurfaces in the upcoming Christie’s auction, which starts on June 8.

Patek Philippe luxury watches are not cheap, and those owned by globally recognized celebrities are even not cheaper. But this particular specimen should pull down an even higher auction price because it’s signed by storied watchmaker Hausmann & Co. The iconic company has made timepieces at its location in Rome’s historical center since 1794. The marking, of course, insinuates that Hausmann & Co. originally sold Warhol the watch, which adds to the piece’s historical allure.

Auction Information

Even if you have a collection that rivals Andy Warhol’s, adding this watch to it would make a splash.

In this Patek Philippe Calatrava Reference 570, Christie’s New York knows what it has. That’s why the auctioneer estimates it will pull down anywhere from $45K to $95K at the upcoming online auction, starting June 8.

Unthinkably deep-pocketed — I mean, interested — parties should proceed to the lot number page to enter.

Learn More

The enticing Mudra Band is a gesture control wristband for Apple Watch. The gadget, the world’s first wrist-worn brain-to-device interface, won Best Wearable status at January’s CES conference. Mudra Band wearers can use finger gestures (not necessarily every finger gesture) to control their Apple Watch. Upgrade!

Mudra Band’s Scary-Good Science

Mudra Band connects with any Apple Watch Series 3 or above, and iPhone 7 and above. Setup is simple: just attach the band to your watch, then pair the devices with Bluetooth. After that, sensors in the wristband take over. The sensor bank reads your finger movements, then delivers the instructions to your watch.

Though impressive, the technology involved is, in some ways, dystopian and horrifying. The wristband works by reading neural signals (or “biopotentials”) as they travel from your brain, through your nerves, and out to your hand. Mudra Band has patented the SNC sensors, which deliver signals to “deep learning AI algorithms [which] decipher the signal pattern and classify which finger is being moved.”

If this prospect terrifies you into sci-fi fantasies of relinquishing motor control over your fingers to your rogue wristwatch, which then sends you on an involuntary murder spree, you’re not alone. Granted, the possibility of becoming an Apple-controlled murder zombie seems remote. And of course, the technology is pretty cool. It’s also super extensive, and Mudra is not shy about sharing it. (I just don’t have the bandwidth to cover it all here — nor do I really understand it.)

Practicality

Mudra’s (genuinely funny) marketing content focuses on the watchband giving the user superpowers. It is a cool effect, and the one-handed utility makes sense. You generally never have to touch a normal wristwatch — why should you have to touch your Apple Watch so much?

The simplicity of the gestural method makes multiple functions work with Mudra Band. Our recommendations in parentheses: answer or reject calls (reject, obvi), control music (turn up), and manage notifications (turn off).

And Mudra Band looks just as sleek as any Apple Watch Band. It adjusts to fit wrists and fits bezels from 38-44 mm. There’s no gray area in the color department: choose between black and white.

Secure the Band: Availability & Purchasing

Mudra Band, the watchband that reads and interprets your neural signals, costs $180 MSRP. It wasn’t available at the time of writing, but it was primed: worldwide shipping is estimated to start in June 2021.

Purchase

Earlier this spring, a few minor leaks generated a storm of speculation about the Apple Watch 7. At that time, we learned that the watch’s calling card would be a form factor redesign — its first since 2018. Soon, another bread crumb trail indicating possible blood glucose monitoring appeared. Consensus indicates a September release date, concurrent with previous versions.

This iteration of the world’s most popular watch (which at one point outsold the entire Swiss watch industry) will feature a flat edge design that puts it on track with the rest of Apple’s handheld catalog.

If the watch does include a blood glucose monitor, it will be the first of its kind. And with robust cycling GPS capability already on deck, the addition would put Watch 7 alone among the best fitness tracking watches.

Apple Watch 7 Flat Edge Design

The Apple Watch 7’s new flat edge screen triggered its first publicity wave. Leaked images indicating a stripped-down bezel and iPhone 12-style edge-to-edge screen generated the internet frenzy. That screen will deliver a clean, fully updated look and performance; but so far, its main utility has been generating hype. In some ways, Apple forced itself into the form factor update for Watch 7 by giving flat edges to the rest of its handheld device catalog.

A new seafoam green color has also generated some anticipation.

Blood Glucose Monitoring?

Will Apple be content with a style redesign for the Watch 7? Or will it deliver the goods and introduce an industry-first blood glucose monitor?

The feature would put the Watch 7 securely in a league of its own, but it’s unclear whether it will be on board.

The internet roils with speculation over the highly-anticipated capability, and it’s well-known that Apple has targeted it for some time. One thing is clear: whoever introduces it will corner the market for diabetics, break new ground in fitness tracking for athletes, and set a formidable benchmark for competitors.

To Be Noted: Images this Article Uses

This article utilizes images created by a renderer — not Watch 7 images from Apple. Jon Prosser, the popular leak reporter for Apple and Android, contacted Renders by Ian (Ian Zelbo) to generate them. They are available for open sharing with watermarks.

Prosser first established his reputation by sleuthing out Android leaks around 2013. He’s newer to the Apple scene, but he reportedly has multiple sources within the company and supply chain. Prosser has a mixed track record for accuracy, but Apple Insider reports that he tends to hit the mark as far as product details; pricing and release dates can be hit or miss.

Speculative Release Details

Most industry heads expect Apple to drop the Watch 7 in mid-to-late September this year. Around the second week of September, Apple regularly holds a keynote to announce its new releases. Previous Apple Watch releases have conformed to that precedent and debuted at or around $400 MSRP.

Last week, Seiko added the Style 60’s to its Presage line. The watch line takes inspiration from vintage Seiko watches from the 1960s. As you’d imagine, taking design cues from watches that were made in the middle of the last century results in a simple, clean design. The two models within the series display either the time and date or a simple 24-hour subdial. The Style 60’s sport earth-tone dial variations as well as vintage-looking crystal and bezel designs, mixing older styling with some updated tweaks.

Seiko Presage Style 60’s: Retro Look

The watch rocks a “Mad Men in Japan” vibe, thanks to the earth tones and faux-aging details. Among the variants (of which there are plenty), the ivory dial with gilt accents looks like it came straight out of a time when everyone wore fedoras and people dressed up to get on an airplane.

Versatility & Innovations

Mid-century modern styling aside, the versatility of these Seiko watches is outstanding. The thin bezel gives the classic styling a sporty look and adds a casual touch to an otherwise dressy watch. The Presage Style 60’s blend of classic and minimalist styling works just as well with a three-piece suit as it does wearing a sweatsuit in first class.

Little tweaks like downward-facing lugs for a wrist-hugging fit and lug holes for easy band swapping are great touches, and the 40.8-millimeter case is big enough to be noticed, but not so big that it shouts from the rooftops.

Bringing It All Back Home

Seiko reached back into the past and tweaked a classic design to create a new watch that drips with old-school style. If you’re looking to upgrade your look regardless of your style, keep an eye out for these bad boys when they hit select retailers this June (MSRP $525-$575).

Purchase

Sometimes owning a multi-million-dollar supercar isn’t enough. Some folks also need a diamond-encrusted replica of the engine mounted on their wrist as well. This is why Jacob & Co.’s Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon Baguette Black and Orange Sapphires watch exists.

Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon Specs

In partnership with Bugatti, noted luxury watch brand Jacob & Co. has just released a highly technical watch inspired by the absurdly powerful Bugatti Chiron. The tourbillon houses a blinged-out miniature reproduction of the Chiron’s W16-cylinder engine.

Sporting 190 baguette white diamonds, 169 baguette black sapphires, and 42 baguette orange sapphires invisibly set in an 18k white gold case. To properly fix the stones in the case, Jacob & Co. stated that the get-setters used new proprietary techniques and advanced technologies.

The 55mm by 44mm case sports the similar flowing lines of the Chiron and a few Bugatti logos to make the watch’s inspiration clear. Inside the case is a replica of the Chiron’s 1,500 horsepower 8.0-liter 16-cylinder engine, with 16 tiny pistons and a steel crankshaft that actually move as they do in the real engine. To complete the illusion, two turbochargers spin in tandem with the cylinders (two less than the actual car, but likely two more superchargers than you’re wearing right now). Framing the engine are two “exhausts” which complete the theme.

It’s equipped with Jacob and Co.’s 578-component JCAM37 manual winding movement, which is suspended in four places with parts reminiscent of the Chiron’s automobile shocks. The shocks are visible through the sapphire crystal window and provide a 60-hour power reserve that’s indicated by the gas pump symbol on the side of the gauge (because why not).

Even the crowns pay homage to the famed supercar. Set into the back of the case like exhaust pipes, the left crown sets the time, the middle crown winds both the movement and the engine animation, and the right-hand crown starts the animation.

Availability & Pricing

Yes, it is an extremely gaudy and intricate timepiece, but if you’re a Bugatti fan, subtlety is probably not your thing anyway. While most people aren’t in the market for a watch in this price range, it is a beautiful example of artwork, engineering, and design. Just like the car that serves as its inspiration.

If black and orange sapphires aren’t your thing, the watch is also available in black, blue, or grey titanium, rose gold, and diamond baguette versions as well as one with a case made entirely out of a single block of sapphire crystal.

Jacob & Co.’s Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon Baguette Black and Orange Sapphires is going for $560,000, which is a steal compared to the 3 million dollar supercar on which it’s based. Good thing you loaded up on all that Dogecoin.

If you’re still feeling the hangover from Star Wars Day, the Citizen Star Wars watch collection will help you keep the Force going strong until the next May 4^th and beyond.

The 15-watch series offers a range of styles and themes from the Death Star trench run to an array of the iconic characters from both sides of the Force. The two newest offerings in the lineup take the watch styling back to the 80s with some modern upgrades.

A Long Time Ago…

The stainless steel Rebel Pilot and the black stainless steel Trench Run both sport the square case and digital-analog features from the 80s with some modern Star Wars-inspired tweaks. The Rebel Pilot (MSRP $350) sports dual time and subdials with X-Wing and Rebel colors, as well as the Rebel emblem and an X-Wing profile in the analog faces.  In addition, the mode indicator screen showcases Rebel helmet accents on the face.

If you’re on the fence between the Rebellion and the Empire, the Trench Run has details from both sides of the fight. Commemorating the epic race to destroy the Death Star in Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope, it has the same square profile and digital-analog faces, but the analog faces showcase the X-Wing and Tie Fighter cockpit views as well as silhouettes of both ships peppered throughout the face.

The Features are Strong with These Ones

Both watches have two analog and two digital displays, with a mode indicator and temperature sensor, just like the original models from the early 80s. The analog faces display two different time zones, while the digital faces display a range of functions, including temperature and date. They also have an alarm function and are splash-proof, but not submersible.

A Galaxy (Far Away) of Options in the Citizen Star Wars Watch Collection

If the 80s look doesn’t suit your style, Citizen also offers 13 other models in a more contemporary circular face. These watches are based on fan-favorite characters such as Boba Fett, Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, and Yoda, as well as watches with designs with Stormtrooper and Millennium Falcon designs.

These analog watches come with a variety of bands, from leather on the Yoda, Millennium Falcon and Dagobah Limited Edition watches, to stainless steel on the R2-D2 and Prequel watches and a rugged fabric strap on the Boba Fett watch.

The watches also sport Star Wars quotes and designs etched on the case backs, including the classic Boba Fett quote “He’s no good to me dead” on the Boba Fett watch and an iconic Han Solo silhouette on the back of the Millennium Falcon watch.

For die-hard Star Wars fans, the Citizen Star Wars watch collection timepieces are a stylish and understated way to carry the Force with you wherever you go.

Want a Swatch watch but don’t want to add another piece of plastic waste to the planet? Look into the brand’s newest minimalist watch to find your solution.

Swatch makes the Big Bold Next line that much bolder with ceramics and sustainable bioplastics. The deep, architectural 47mm case showcases Swatch’s progressive material choices, and an array of distinct pastel color choices draws even more attention to the line, called simply Big Bold Next.

The Swedish watchmaker sends a loud “welcome to the future” vibe with the noticeable, sustainability-oriented piece.

What are Bioplastics and Bioceramics?

Swatch appears to co-opt the term “bioceramics” for the Big Bold Next line; Swatch adds bioplastics to traditional ceramics. We’ll define the whole material range for clarity.

Bioceramics were developed for use in bone and dental implants in humans. This is not what Swatch uses in the Big Bold Next watch. Swatch uses a mixture of ⅓ bioplastics and ⅔ traditional ceramics for a soft touch and high durability in the bands and cases.

Bioplastics can either be made from renewable sources (corn, sugar cane, etc.) or biodegradable — or both. The plastics industry reports that the bioplastics sector is growing rapidly, at an estimated 20 to 30% per year. Swatch sources its bioplastics from castor plant seeds.

Investing in bioplastics seems like a strategic move on Swatch’s part; though non-renewable plastics are still the norm, the tide of sustainability is rising to meet us.

Swatch Big Bold Next Utility

Big Bold Next speaks for itself with a simple design that emphasizes its materials. As Swatch puts it, “[t]he 47 mm diameter see-through case, deep and architecturally structured, provides plenty of room to appreciate the pure and refined BIOCERAMIC characteristics to the fullest.”

Besides an environmental statement from the brand, the watch is simply a timekeeper; quartz movement operates three hands behind a glass lens. It’s available in five colors, notably a new “Power Pink.”

Swatch Big Bold Next: Putting a Price on Sustainability

Navigate to Swatch’s website to check out the brand-new Big Bold Next line, released April 27, 2021. The loud piece is typical of Swatch’s style but represents a potential turning point in the brand’s approach to environmental responsibility. MSRP is $125.

Sources

Bioceramics – Science Learning Hub

Bioplastics – Plastics Industry Association