Best Minimalist Watches in 2022

There are two things you can never go wrong with: stainless steel, and black. Daniel Wellington took the prize for this truly minimalist watch, with high-end touches on the necessary functions. Light dashes and defined sub markings make up the watch face, along with a stick-straight minute and hour hand. Crafted of a black leather band and 36mm case, Classic Black Sheffield Minimalist Watch fits perfectly on your wrist, and even more so on your budget. Protected by an anti-reflective mineral dial window, your thin bezel minimalist watch comes with Japanese quartz movement, and is suitable for up to 100 feet underwater, should the occasion arise (but we recommend you don’t subject the leather band to such torture). Just like you, Daniel Wellington keeps on ticking through thick and thin. You may also like some of these stylish but functional Armani watches from our list, so check them out.

Going minimalist also means cutting down on materials where you can, without compromising the integrity of your device. The Classic Slim Wrist Minimalist Watch features a unique quick-release clasp, minimizing time spent. The ultra-durable metallic ring band ties in beautifully to the 40mm stainless steel case, wrapping around precision Swiss quartz movement. From every slim marking and plain appearance, right on down to the brand name and stick-straight seconds hand, you get all the function you need with none of the fuss. No bells and whistles, just precision clockwork engineering. Be sure to also check out our list of the best solar powered watches for more great items like this.

The FIZILI Minimalist Watch provides luxurious elegance at a super competitive price. In recent years, there has been an influx of high-quality, affordable watches to the market, which gives customers an opportunity to save some real money. The problem with most watches like this is that they feel like they cost $30. This one doesn’t. If you didn’t know the price, you’d definitely guess something closer to $100. It features a stainless steel mesh band, a super-thin (7mm) case, and a minimalist watch face that oozes class. You could argue that the watch face design doesn’t lend itself to accurate timekeeping, but when a watch looks this good, does it really matter? 

That’s probably one of the coolest names ever, and it’s strapped to one of our all-time favorite minimalist watches. Sandstone reflects the leather band with micro stitching, while the gunmetal derives from the slick black dial and bezel. That dial is protected by a hardened mineral crystal dial window, which has two plunger style crowns jutting out on the side, with a cylindrical center one. We’re a big fan of the blue hands along with the subdials, and the way this feels like it’s always belonged on your wrist. You get the added chronograph feature, as well as a small date window, all still within the scope of a minimalist design.

There’s almost an abysmal sensation glaring into the all-white dial back, fitted with detached silver markings dotting the interior edge of the stainless steel bezel. The nylon band seamlessly flows into the steel clips, giving you a smoother look, and a sleeker style. The asymmetrical crown threw us for a loop, but it fits in beautifully because this isn’t just another watch; it’s something unique. Fitted with Seiko Japanese movement and a flat mineral dial window, you’re powered, protected, and ready to take on the day. Sold by Miansai, you get full access and disclosure to warranty information, in the unlikely event that you don’t fall head over heels for M24 II White Black Nylon Watch as we did.

No Gear Hungry list is complete without a Victorinox product. Out of everything they’ve built, this has to be one of the most striking, and more subtle watches we’ve seen. Your 44mm stainless steel case blends in through the white markings along with the black bezel interior, flipping back to steel to add depth to the watch face. With angled, curved watch hands and a singular subdial, you get the sleek design you’ve been looking for, without all the fuss. As always Victorinox powers their watches with Swiss quartz movement, and fitted this beauty with the most durable lens in the world; an anti-reflective, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal dial window. No expenses spared, still in the minimalist spirit.

Casio, the budgeter kings, knocked this one out of the park. Minimalist design and functions should come with a minimalist price, and nobody knows that better than them. This watch will cost you less than your lunch today, we can almost guarantee it. You get a two-year battery life, and just enough water resistance to keep this safe from splashes and washing your hands, but not recommended for shower use or taking a dip in the pool. Resin case, resin band, and a simplistic singular embedded crown dimension make this super easy to keep clean, and comfortable at all points of the day.

While the watch sounds like an epic 22nd-century anime series, Revolver Avalon brings 110% function and aesthetics to the table. There’s never a wrong way to decide to make a watch all black (just see our guide dedicated specifically to all-black watches), and the manufacturers weren’t the least bit shy about doing so. For a more than fair price, you get a 41mm stainless steel case, and some excellent quartz movement, giving you quality and a valuable timepiece, without hemorrhaging money out of your wallet. Nice effects include the small gray squares for markings and the humerus-shaped hands that contrast against the black.

The entire name just sounds exquisite, and the aesthetics are nothing short of museum-worthy craftsmanship. Your silver-colored stainless steel case sports one smooth cylindrical crown, blending into the narrow bezel beautifully. Your black leather strap contrasts against both mixes of black along with the dial, while the narrowing hands coincide with the case material. Movado put their name on it at the six o’clock mark, keeping it small and lightly noticeable. Nothing beats Swiss quartz movement, and nothing is built better to protect it than a sapphire crystal dial window. Museum has all the best features, and an appearance any gentleman can agree on.

Citizen puts their heart and soul into the Eco-Drive series, and now, you can’t go anywhere without seeing their flagship models. The Eco-Drive brings reliability and inexpensive quality design to an entirely new level. Sporting a mostly blank canvas of a dial back, apart from the date window and Citizen logo, you get a slick style that leaves out all the unnecessary frills. We’re big fans of the leather calfskin band, enclosed by a link extender to give a seamless band-to-bezel look. Stainless steel construction, black ion-plated, and Japanese quartz movement add structural integrity and quality components to this timepiece, all safeguarded by a mineral dial window. Citizen borders on the budget-friendly spectrum, while still providing you top-notch durability; it’s why they’ve remained as one of America’s top watch brands for so long.

Minimalist comes with a minimal price tag; few understand this better than Mondaine. They added a unique design element, while toning it down on the rest of the watch to give it just enough flair to be dangerous, but not enough to offset the minimalist approach. You get a glossy black exterior on your leather strap and a waxy red color along with the interior. They went with bold lines along the clock face, adding a touch of flair to the second’s hand with bright red, and pushing the boundaries with intervals of miniature markings. Swiss quartz movement powers it, mineral crystal protects it, and your current style craves it.

We could get lost in the simplicity of this design for ages; narrow markings encroach towards the center of this dial, gently lowering to make-up smaller markings. Every time one of the three hands pass over a marking, it just makes sense. Junghans didn’t approach this with the extraordinary in mind; they applied ironclad function from quartz movement and a stainless steel case, protection for a fortified plastic dial window, and kept the design simple. Black and steel blend seamlessly, giving you insight into the fragility of time colliding with itself. SLim-fitting and lightweight, the Max Bill watch is your next power meeting companion.

Post-Minimal Quartz Watch is a bit edgy for the current theme, but it couldn’t be ignored. Despite the additional triple subdials, everything is kept narrow and strictly black and white. From the CK logo to the slightly bolder hands, there’s enough definition to stand out, yet enough simplicity to prevent overwhelming the wearer. Calvin Klein sticks to the best of the best when it comes to materials: Swiss quartz movement, plated stainless steel for the case, and a mineral dial window for maximum toughness. You get an added chronograph feature, as well as the comfort of pig skin leather gracing your wrist.

They went minimal with the case, so they could push the envelope with the red, white and blue nylon band. We couldn’t help but falling in love with this simple watch, provided by one of the most time-trusted watch brands in America. Quartz movement powers the analog display, while mineral crystal makes up the dial window, keeping everything prim and proper, protected by power. Thin markings and even thinner hands give you nothing more than the basics, while very lightly sporting the Timex name in faded black. One crown, one very thin bezel, and one comfortable fit; there’s nothing left to lose but the time in between purchasing and wearing this signature watch.

MVMT is one of the most popular minimalist watch brands on the planet. If you’re looking for a high-quality, super-stylish timepiece, this is the place to look. The 45mm case protects the simplistic watch face with its pink and black design. This is held on to your wrist with a 100% genuine leather strap. The case is made from brushed stainless steel and it’s weatherproof up to 30 meters. That means MVMT Men’s Minimalist Vintage Watch is not going to break if you take it in the shower but you should take it off before going swimming. 

The Skagen Jorn Watch oozes class. You can tell immediately that it comes from the Nordic design school of minimalism. Pair it with a slim-fitting suit and you’ll look like an international man of mystery. One of the most impressive things about this watch is the quality of the strap. Made from tan brown leather, it has a smooth and grainy finish that you don’t often see on leather in this price range. The watch face has a grey backdrop with thin silver hands. Add this together and you’ve got one of the best-looking watches on the market. 

If you’re looking for true minimalism, the Citizen Watches AU1060-51E Eco-Drive Axiom might just be perfect. The watch face has a striking design that features two hands and a date window. That’s it. No hour, minute, or second markers. No extra dials. This compromises the watch’s ability to provide the precise time but who cares when it looks this good? The beautiful stainless steel band is also worth a mention. Paired perfectly with a suit, this watch oozes professionalism and class. Other features include Japanese Quartz movement, water-resistance to 30m, and Eco-Drive to charge the watch in natural or indoor light. 

You don’t have to spend thousands to get a good looking watch. You don’t even have to spend hundreds. The BUREI Men’s Fashion Minimalist Wrist Watch is a stylish watch that costs less than $30. Yeah, you read that right! Even your fanciest friends will be impressed by your new wristwatch. Just don’t let them in on your secret. From the mesh band to the minimalist watch face, this timepiece has Nordic design in its blood. The designers have opted for stick indices as hour markers and ultra-thin hands. This keeps the face clean-looking and super easy to read. It even features Japanese Quartz movement to keep you on track. 

Skagen is one of our favorite mid-range watch brands. If you’re looking for a watch that will last you a lifetime but you don’t have the money to invest in a Rolex, Omega, or another high-end brand, Skagen is a great place to look. Designed in Denmark and inspired by the local architecture and fashion-scene, Skagen Signatur Three-Hand 40mm Minimalist Watch offers Nordic minimalism at its most pure. The watch face features stick indices with little bubbles to indicate the hour markers, three hands, and a beautifully-measured stainless steel case. The mesh band is also made from steel and provides the perfect counterbalance to the simple watch face. 

The Ben Nevis Minimalist Watch is one of the best value timepieces on the market. The fact that you can get a watch that looks this good for under $30 is nothing short of a miracle. The calf tan leather strap perfectly complements the navy blue dial and brass fittings. It looks particularly good with a dark blue suit but will suit most outfits. The minimalist watch face is super clean and easy-to-read, thanks to the stick indices and thin hands. It’s also more durable than you’d imagine. The face is protected by a scratch-resistant crystal and it’s water-resistant (although you shouldn’t submerge it in water). All in all, for less than $30, this is one of the best minimalist watches on the market. 

Timex is one of those watch brands that has been around forever. Since 1854, in fact. That means they’ve had plenty of time to perfect the formula of making the perfect mid-range minimalist watch. The Timex Men’s TW2R28800 is that watch. At less than $50, it’s relatively inexpensive for a watch of this quality. It features a beautiful 20mm genuine tan leather slip-thru strap that perfectly counterbalances the cream white and rose gold watch face. We like it because it has a slightly feminine feel that is perfect for guys that are pushing against the uber-masculine world of chunky sports watches.