People strongly feel that gold watches are a little out of place. For many people who wear them, it’s more about keeping track of their money than about fashion. A gold watch was the thing for Wall Street yuppies in the 1980s. Patrick Bateman owned it. Donald Trump has a lot of them. Today, billionaires, People from the Gulf States, Instagram’s rich kids, and even Donald Trump keep the trend going.
Either yuppie style is making a comeback, which doesn’t seem likely, or people are starting to appreciate gold watches again. Just as some watch brands returned to simpler styles and smaller screens, Rolex, Cartier, and others have brought back big pieces that make a statement.
“After focusing on smaller watches for a few years, many brands pushed bold yellow gold pieces at this year’s Baselworld,” says Erica Redgrave, buyer at the high-end watch store Bucherer. “But the best pieces didn’t have diamond-studded bezels or a lot of features to show off. Instead, they had simpler dials and less detail.” Something that should make people who don’t like Mr. T’s style of items feel better.
It’s hard to eliminate those American Psycho vibes, so be safe. Terry Markham, who is in charge of buying at WatchShop.com, says that getting the wrong tone of gold is the biggest mistake. This is especially true when matching jewelry and accessories. “Too much yellow will make your outfit look bad, and lighter colors can be hard to see on the wrist.” Finding a middle ground—a gold that shines but doesn’t look like a Las Vegas gambling sign—is the key.
WHAT KINDS OF GOLD WATCHES ARE THERE?
People often say that not everything that shines is gold. When it comes to watches, this has never been truer. Looking at a total gold case may cost more than a car. You can still choose other things.
PVD stands for physical vapor deposition. This is the process of turning the material of choice into a mist. This could be gold, steel, or carbon. After being poured on the watch’s base, the two materials are mixed to make a more robust finish.
You could also use a gold finish. The shiny stuff is put on top of another metal by this process. Even though it looks like real gold, it’s more likely to get old, scratch, and lose its shine.
Markham suggests a PVD finish because “it lasts longer and is much harder to wear than simple gold-colored watches. Plating technology has improved over the past few years. The clock doesn’t flake and peel over time because of the newer soldering methods.
WEARING A GOLD WATCH
You don’t have to match your gold watch with a blue-striped suit. There are other ways to look good with it. Many movies and TV shows make it seem like you should only wear a shiny Submariner to work. But gold watches look great when you’re not working as long as you keep the rest of your outfit simple.
Wear pants with a raw edge, Oxford shirts, white T-shirts, and simple jackets. If you want to look good, wearing all black makes a 24-carat base for something shiny. You might want to wear your new arm gun with an Armani suit and a shearling jacket over the shoulders, but you’ll look it.
10 TOP GOLD WATCHES
1. PERPETUAL DATE 15037 ROLEX OYSTER
This is one of Rolex’s most famous watches. It was one of the first watches that made the brand famous in 1926. Now, it looks very different, but it will still look good in a hundred years or more because it is all gold and has features that are very 1980s.
2. AUTOMATIC TUDOR GLAMOUR
When guys like Bear Grylls, David de Rothschild, and your dad go up a hill on vacation, Tudor makes watches for them. The brand’s dress watches are less well-known but are just as stylish. The Glamour is a gold and steel automatic piece that lives up to its name. This is a great way to put gold on your wrist without drawing attention to yourself. It’s 41 mm across.
3. ELYSEE SITHON AUTOMATIC
A lot of people know that stylish watches don’t have to cost a lot of money. The hundred-year-old name offers high-quality goods at a price that most people can afford by switching from Swiss craftsmanship to German assembly. One example is this gold PVD dress watch that costs less than £500 and has an automatic movement.
4. GUCCI G-TIMELESS DIAL GOLD-TONE
When a purist looks at a high-end watch from a fashion house instead of a watch company, show them Gucci. For long, the Italian business has sold watches made in Switzerland. These watches are usually more interesting than dull family heirlooms, making them a good fit for Gucci’s new menswear line. This piece is better because it is easy.
5. CARTIER TANK
Very few brands can compare to Rolex in terms of how well-known their names are. Classic watches like the Tank don’t need to be introduced or described to people who know what they’re talking about because they look so good and are made by experts. Some gold watches look cheap, but this one looks classy with its square case and Roman numbers.
6. ARMANI EXCHANGE GOLD-PLATED WATCH
Armani Exchange is one of the most popular brands. Everyone knows it. A lot of us love it. That same amount of prestige can be found in the brand’s watch collection, even though it’s designed to be affordable. For the baller on a budget, this quartz-powered piece is gold-plated and stylish in a luxurious way.
7. LONGINES LA GRANDE CLASSIQUE
Longines sticks to what it does best: producing traditional watches for people who dress in conventional ways. Other watchmakers want to take over every market they can. This dress in classic style made of gold shows that your watch doesn’t need to change with the times.
8. AUDEMARS PIGUET ROYAL OAK
Hip-hop artists talk a lot about Audemars Piguet for a reason. Rick Ross and other celebrities who wear this brand have never been shy about how much they make. However, it’s also great. There’s no question that the Swiss giant is the king of statements. He will punch anyone on the wrist, even if they listen to Kendrick Lamar. It’s excellent that AP is one of the world’s best watchmakers.
9. TOMMY HILFIGER LUKE WATCH
Being prepared for the Ivy League is fun to show off on your wrist. Tommy Hilfiger, known as the “father” of preppy style, brings the old-school clock look to the U.S. It has a PVD shine that will last and looks sporty. A badge that’s good enough for your first day at Harvard (or Hull, if you prefer).
10. SEIKO STAINLESS STEEL WITH GOLD PLATING
During the height of the Quartz Crisis, Seiko almost brought down the sizable Swiss industry. It won’t let Geneva off the hook, either. Since then, the Japanese company has made more stylish watches for the evening that combine the first watch’s sturdy construction with a surprisingly classy touch.
