Top 20 Best Minimalist Watches for Men [Affordable List & Guide]

”Less is more” is a common saying that is becoming increasingly common in today’s world. And the fact of the matter is that this can be completely true for watches.

Watches are available in all kinds of different designs and executions- all to cater to different tastes, purposes, and preferences. Oftentimes, you don’t want a bulky and flashy timepiece that catches everyone’s attention. Sometimes, you just want something clean, simple, and classic that can work on many different occasions. And it is here minimalist watches come in.

Minimalist watches are just what they sound like – watches that are designed with minimalism in mind. To a great extent, they have omitted all kinds of different details and decorations that are superfluous to their design, following the concept of less is more. A minimalist watch does what it is built to do, namely to tell the time, but in addition to this, it also enhances and complements your style without stealing the show. These watches have increased in popularity in recent times, perhaps because most of them are truly timeless, or perhaps because minimalism is today seen as contemporary, and goes well with modern design.

If you’re a person who appreciates simplicity and wants something beautiful yet classic and discreet, you have come to the right place. In this article, we are taking a look at some of the best and most popular minimalist watches for men on the market. And we have done so from an affordable perspective. Brands like Patek Philippe and Rolex also make some minimalist timepieces, but most people don’t have thousands or even tens of thousands to spend on a watch.

Best Minimalist Watches for Men

Below, we’ll take a look at the best and most popular (affordable) minimalist watches for men. Further on, we’ll also go through everything you need to consider when choosing the perfect watch for your taste and preferences.

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Skagen Jorn Minimalistic

First up, we have the Skagen Jorn. This watch can be seen as a perfect example of a minimalist watch that has eliminated every single thing that is not absolutely necessary. The result is a clean, contemporary timepiece that works surprisingly well for many different occasions.

In Skagen’s own words, with this watch, ”you’ll see your refined style take on a whole new level of sophistication. ”

The watch has a 41mm stainless steel case with a slim profile. The case isn’t clumsier or bulkier than it needs to be, but instead, it has a thin bezel with curved and slightly angled lugs and a small crown at 3 o’clock. On top of the case sits a mineral glass, and inside is a quartz movement

As for the dial, it offers ultimate simplicity with a white background and nothing more than black hour markers. The hands are black and have a slim pencil shape. Apart from that, the only thing is the Skagen logo at 3 o’clock.

As you can see, this watch offers nothing more than the bare minimum of what is necessary for showing the time, and the result is a perfect example of a minimalist timepiece. The best part is that it is a timepiece that can be worn on so many different occasions and not only tells the time but also complement your style.

Specifications

Water resistance: 50m
Diameter: 41mm
Movement: quartz
Crystal: Sapphire

Bulova B01I83F9TC

This Bulova watch is a minimalist timepiece, but it is more on the dressy side of things with a more elegant design. It does have some details and decorations so it is not a watch that is focused 100% on minimalism, but it still has a clean and simple design.

The watch is presented with a 40mm rose gold-tone case with a flat mineral crystal on top. To allow it to slider under a cuff easily, it has a thickness of only 5.6mm. Seeing it is primarily made as a dress watch, the elegant rose gold case helps give it that formal and classy look. Still, the case has a simple design with a smooth polished bezel and slim lugs with a crown at 3 o’clock.

Overall, the dial is clean and elegant, although it does have some details and decorations. First off, the watch has a striped pattern which adds some texture and makes it more interesting. To give it a more classic appearance, it has a cream color. For added elegance, it has rose gold hour markers and beautiful beveled rose gold hands. To achieve a more minimalistic dial layout, there is no date window.

Powering it is a quartz movement and to match the dress-watch style, it is fitted on a crocodile-embossed leather strap. The water resistance is 30m/100 feet.

All in all, this is a stylish dress watch that achieves an elegant look and a classy appearance, whilst at the same time remaining minimalistic in its design. If you’re not a fan of this particular watch, there are a few versions.

Specifications

Diameter: 40mm
Thickness: 5.6mm
Crystal: flat mineral
Water resistance: 30m/100 feet
Movement: quartz

Movado Swiss Museum Classic

If you’re looking for ultimate minimalism, the Movado Swiss Museum Classic is hard to beat. This watch truly has no superfluous detail to it, resulting in a very clean design.

It has a 40mm gold-tone case with a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal on top with a simple design. The bezel is slim and polished, with the lugs being slim and short. Its yellow gold dial makes it slightly more elegant and dressed, but this is also a watch that could be used for every day.

The highlight of this watch is undoubtedly the dial. This is because it is completely black with no hour or second markers. The only thing you’ll find on the dial is ”Swiss made” and ”Movado” at the bottom of the dial at 6 o’clock. There is also a discreet Movado logo at 12 o’clock. For a nice contrast, the watch has beautiful yellow-gold hands with a beveled finish. At 3 o’clock, it has a small crown. Whilst the fact that it does not have hour or seconds markers can make it more difficult to read the time, it does allow for a distinct and very striking look.

Powering this watch is a quartz movement and the water resistance is 30 meters / 100 feet.

This watch is a perfect choice for someone who wants a minimalist watch with an elegant tough primarily for formal occasions.

Specifications

Diameter: 40mm
Crystal: Sapphire
Movement: quartz
Water resistance: 30m/100 feet

MVMT 40 Series

The MVMT 40 series is a versatile minimalist watch that has a casual touch to it, but can also work great for formal occasions as well.

It is presented with a simple and sleek case with a diameter of 40mm with a thin bezel and slim lugs. The thickness is only 7mm. On top of the case sits a hardened mineral crystal.

The watch is powered by a Miyota quartz movement and has a water resistance of 30m. Naturally, the dial is kept clean as well with nothing more than slim applied baton hour markers and printed seconds markers. The hands have an elegant shape. Its grey dial together with its grey case also helps keep it more discreet and toned down, but also adds a touch of sportiness to its design.

This is a great minimalist for everyday wear, and it is particularly appropriate if you find it more convenient to just have one watch in your collection and not have to change between different watches for different occasions.

Specifications

Movement: Miyota quartz
Water resistance: 30m
Crystal: mineral

Skagen Signatur Three-Hand 40mm Minimalist

The Skagen Signatur is a contemporary minimalist timepiece with a simple and versatile design.

The watch has a stainless steel case with a diameter of 40mm and an elegant case with a thin bezel, a small crown, and short lugs. This is complemented by a sandblast dial which allows it to reflect the light beautifully. The hour markers on the dial are small and discreet to not cause too many distractions. Whilst the hands have a simple design, both the hour and minutes hands have applied luminesce which helps with legibility in low-lit conditions. Apart from that, we have a very clean dial with nothing more than a logo at 3 o’clock. The grey sunburst dial adds some masculinity and versatility to this watch that helps take it from a dress watch to something more casual.

The watch is presented on a black leather strap for a stylish and versatile look. The water resistance isn’t the best at 30m, but for an everyday watch, it is decent.

All in all, if you are looking for a stylish minimalist watch for any occasion, this is a great choice.

Specifications

Diameter: 40mm
Movement: quartz
Water resistance: 30m

Bulova Classic Quartz 96B104

This Bulova watch is designed as a dress watch, but it still achieves great minimalism with a clean and simple design. First and foremost, it has a classic case design with a diameter of 37mm which is a common size for dress watches and helps give it a more classic appearance. It has a slim case with a thin bezel and slim rectangular lugs. The case is also very slim at 6mm and slides under a cuff without any issues.

The watch has a classic and simple dial with a beautiful silver sunburst finish and applied baton metal hour markers. At 3 o’clock, it has a date window, but it is discreet and simple so doesn’t quite harm the simplicity of its dial. To match the metal hour markers, it has thin pencil-shaped hands. On top of the case sits a mineral crystal. To go with its elegant theme, it is fitted with a shiny black embossed leather strap.

The watch is powered by a Japanese quartz movement and offers a water resistance of 30m/100 feet.

Overall, this is an excellent choice for a dressy gent who appreciates minimalism but also wants a classic and elegant timepiece that can complement formal outfits.

Specifications

Diameter: 37mm
Thickness: 6mm
Crystal: mineral glass
Water resistance: 30m/100 feet
Movement: quartz

Timex Modern Easy Reader 40mm

The Timex Easy Reader is a watch for those who are looking for a practical and minimalist everyday watch that is meant to make reading the time as easy as possible (hence the name). At the same time, Timex has been able to achieve a stylish and elegant design that works for many different occasions – including formal ones.

First off, it has a 40mm brass case with a mineral crystal on top and a simple design with curved, small lugs and a thin polished bezel. Worth noting is that the watch is available in a number of different versions so you can find the one that suits your taste and style the most.

The watch has a dark blue bezel and large Arabic numerals to ensure excellent legibility. Apart from that Time has eliminated all other details to give it a clean and minimalist look. To maintain the simple design, it has slim pencil-shaped hands.

Apart from the design, the best part about this watch is its Indiglo light-up watch dial which helps improve legibility by lighting up the dial. This together with the large Arabic numerals means that it has great legibility in both light and dark environments. It offers a water resistance of 30m/100 feet.

Specifications

Diameter: 40mm
Water resistance: 30mm/100 feet
Crystal: mineral glass

Seiko Solar SUP863P1

The Seiko Solar SUP863P1 is a watch with a classic and traditional design that makes it a great choice for traditional and formal occasions, but also for everyday use for those who appreciate minimalism and traditional style.

The watch has a relatively small stainless steel case with a diameter of 37.8mm which makes sense for a dress watch. On top of the case, it has a Hardlex crystal. The crown is small and discreet at 3 o’clock. The thickness is 6.2mm

Whilst the dial is designed to be clean and minimalistic, it still has several design elements that go well with its design. The dial is white and features Breguet-style numerals. Together with this, it has black dauphine hands that, whilst slim, provide a good contrast against the dial.

The watch is powered by a solar quartz movement which gets its energy from solar and ambient light. This is practical as it means you won’t have to replace its battery. Whilst water resistance isn’t really important in this type of watch, it has a water resistance of 50m.

All in all, it makes for a great elegant dress watch for the traditional man.

Specifications

Water resistance: 50m
Crystal: Hardlex
Diameter: 37.8mm
Thickness: 13mm
Movement: solar quartz

Movado Bold Thin 3600260

As mentioned, minimalism doesn’t have to mean dress watch, and the Movado Bold thin is a perfect example of that.

This minimalist Movado achieves a simple design, whilst having a touch of sportiness that makes it more versatile. The watch has a relatively large case with a diameter of 44mm and a k1 mineral crystal on top. In addition, the case has a rather distinct design with a large round shape and short lugs with a dial which takes up most of the watch’s property. For a more elegant look, it has a polished finish. To make it more versatile, it is fitted with a stainless steel mesh bracelet.

A nice feature that Movado has done a great job with is to create a seamless look by making essentially all of the elements of the watch in a silver color. The result is a more sophisticated look and style. The water resistance is 30m.

Since this is a minimalist watch, it naturally has a very simple dial design. The dial is silver-colored and has a beautiful sunburst finish. The hour markers are positioned on the outer part of the dial, on the rehaut, and the hands are made in a matching silver color with a sword shape.

It is powered by a Swiss quartz movement which offers great accuracy and durability.

All in all, the Movado Bold thin 3600260 is a versatile watch that has a great balance between sportiness and elegance. This is a timepiece that can work great as an everyday watch and on most occasions. It’s also really affordable considering what you are actually getting. And most importantly, it has a minimalistic style without any unnecessary details or fuzz. It doesn’t even have a date window. It only has the most necessary which is regular timekeeping.

Specifications

Crystal: k1 mineral crystal
Diameter: 44mm
Movement: Swiss quartz
Water resistance: 30m/100 feet

Fossil Copeland Steel Quartz

The Fossil Copeland is a contemporary watch with classic design inspiration. It has a stainless steel case with a diameter of 42mm and a thin polished bezel. What stands out about this watch is its wire-style lugs. This watch is not as minimalistic as many of the other watches on this list, but it has still been able to achieve a great deal of simplicity. On top of the case is a mineral crystal.

It features a blue sunburst dial with Roman numerals and a lovely but subtle pattern on its outer part. To give it a cleaner look, it does not have a date window. The hands have luminescence applied to them for improved legibility, and both the hands and hour markers are gold-colored, adding to its elegance.

It is powered by a quartz movement and has a water resistance of 50m/165 feet.

Fossil has achieved an interesting and appealing combination of elegance, minimalism, and class. Whilst it is particularly stylish on formal occasions, it will look exceptionally stylish with a suit or other formal attire.

Specifications

Diameter: 42mm
Movement: quartz
Water resistance: 50m/165 feet
Crystal: Mineral glass

Orient ‘2nd Gen Bambino Version III’ Japanese Automatic

The Orient 2nd gen Bambino Version III is one of the most popular affordable automatic watches on the market, and for great reasons. It has a classic and minimalistic design but with great build quality and of course a robust and high-quality automatic movement.

Whilst its design is modern and contemporary, it has several vintage-inspired design elements including a domed mineral crystal and a domed dial. It features a stainless steel case with a diameter of 40.5mm which suits many different wrist sizes. Its larger size is a nice complement to its elegant design which helps make it more versatile and suitable for more occasions than just formal. In fact, this is a popular everyday watch for many.

The watch has a beautiful sunburst dial and a simple design with only a discreet date window at 3 o’clock.

As mentioned, it is powered by a Japanese automatic movement and has a water resistance of 30m/100 feet. The movement has proven to be robust and long-lasting. It also has a hand-winding and hacking seconds function which you don’t always find in the most affordable automatic watches.

Specifications

Water resistance: 50m
Diameter: 40.5mm
Crystal: domed mineral
Movement: Automatic

Timex Unisex Weekender 38mm

The Timex Unisex Weekender is a minimalist watch with a field-watch inspiration. As a result, it has a slightly sporty and tools design, although simple.

It has a 38mm stainless steel case with a rounded shape and slim, polished lugs. On top of the case, it has a mineral crystal. The watch has a black dial with large white Arabic numerals for both the 12-hour and 24-hour markers. The hands are slim and the only touch of color is the red hour hand which creates a nice touch to the otherwise monochrome dial.

Like many of Timex’s watches, it features an Indiglo light-up watch dial. Thanks to this, you can light up the dial to make it easier to read the time in dark environments. The water resistance is, unsurprisingly, not that great at 30m/100 feet.

Whilst this watch doesn’t completely focus on minimalism, it has a clean design but is also quite versatile and suitable for all kinds of different occasions.

Specifications

Diameter: 38mm
Water resistance: 30m/100 feet
Crystal: Mineral glass

Fossil Minimalist Slim Casual Quartz

For a sporty and masculine minimalist watch, this Fossil watch may be for you. It features a 42mm black plated case with a simple, round design. It features a matching black dial with a matte finish. The dial has discreet, applied hour markers with luminescence and traditional, military-inspired hands. Whilst it is mostly monochrome, it has subtle red/orange accents, including the second hand. It also uses a mineral crystal.

The watch is powered by a quartz movement and has a water resistance of 50m/165 feet.

Worth mentioning, this watch is available in a number of different iterations and versions. As an everyday watch, it is a great choice if you want a straightforward, simple watch.

Specifications

Diameter: 42mm
Water resistance: 50m/165 feet
Crystal: mineral glass
Thickness: 7mm
Movement: quartz

Orient “RA-AC0E” Japanese Automatic

The Orient RA-AC0E is a contemporary timepiece with minimalism and simplicity in mind. The result is a stylish and versatile timepiece that works just as great on formal occasions as it does on casual occasions.

Most of the focus is placed on the dial due to the slim case and the fact that the dial takes up most of the property. To make it more versatile, it is presented on a three-link Oyster-style bracelet. The case measures 40mm and the bezel is thin with short lugs. For the crystal, it uses mineral glass.

Something that is greatly appreciated by many is the fact that it is powered by an automatic caliber f6722 with hacking seconds and a manual-winding function.

The water resistance is also quite good at 100m/330 feet.

Minimalism, versatility, and a touch of sportiness. That is what this watch is all about. And if you also like automatic movements, then this is a great choice.

Specifications

Diameter: 40mm
Water resistance: 100m/330 feet
Crystal: Mineral glass
Movement: in-house Orient caliber f6722

Bonus tips Minimalist Watches for Men

Timex Marlin Automatic 40mm

Specifications

Diameter: 40mm
Thickness: 13mm
Water resistance: 30m/100 feet
Jewels: 21
Movement: Automatic
Power reserve: 40 hours
Crystal: domed acrylic crystal

Junghans Mens Minimalist 041/4817.04

Specifications

Diameter: 38mm
Thickness: 7.9mm
Crystal: Convex Hard Plexiglass
Movement: quartz

Junghans MAX Bill Unisex 34mm 027/3004.44

Specifications

Diameter: 34mm
Thickness: 9mm
Water resistance: 30m/100 feet
Crystal: Convex Hard Plexiglass crystal
Movement: hand-wound

Casio MTP-VT01L-7B1 Minimalistic

Specifications

Diameter: 40mm
Thickness: 8,2mm
Water resistance: 30m
Movement: Japanese quartz
Crystal: mineral

MVMT Element

Specifications

Movement: Miyota quartz
Water resistance: 50m

Daniel Wellington Classic

Specifications

Diameter: 40mm
Movement: Japanese quartz
Water resistance: 30m
Thickness: 6mm

What are minimalist watches?

Minimalist watches are exactly what they sound like – watches that are designed with minimalism in mind. This means that they are designed to be simple, clean, and free from the most distracting details and features. Minimalist watches are a great choice for anyone who wants a simple and refined timepiece that doesn’t have countless details, decorations, and distracting elements. With this said, they are particularly suitable for individuals with limited eyesight or for those who only want a watch as a means of telling the time and nothing else. However, this doesn’t have to mean that minimalist watches have to have great legibility, even though this becomes natural when a watch is free from all (or most) distracting details.

Today, minimalism has become more trendy, as a reaction to designs that incorporate too many details and elements. Minimalist watches are therefore considered modern and also timeless.

Choosing a minimalist watch for men

Because minimalist watches are simple and tend to have classic designs, they go very well on formal occasions, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are dress watches. Minimalist watches can often be used as dress watches, but they are normally often much more versatile than that and can be worn as everyday watches for everyday wear.

In general, minimalist watches have one key purpose in terms of function, which is to tell the time. Some of them include additional functions, and this is completely fine assuming it does not clutter or harm the minimalist design of the watch too much.

But how do you choose a minimalist watch? Well, the starting point is obviously simplicity in terms of design. This generally means a simple and clean dial, with a case design that is also simple and refined. Apart from that, there are several variations between different minimalist watches. Some are powered by automatic movements, others by quartz movements, some are higher quality with more premium materials whilst others focus on affordability. It really all comes down to your preference.

In the list above you can find watches in all these spectrums, whether you want quartz or automatic watch, or anything in between. There really is a minimalist watch for everyone.

Just like when buying any type of watch, there are a number of things you want to take into consideration to ensure that you find the perfect watch for your needs, taste, and preference.

Dial color

Since minimalist watches don’t have a ton of other features and details, the dial color becomes one of the most central parts of a minimalist watch. Although white or black becomes the natural choice for anyone who wants a super clean and simple timepiece. But if you still want a simple watch with limited details yet a more striking and interesting design, perhaps to pair with your outfit, you can opt for a more colorful dial, for example, blue.

Size

Minimalistic doesn’t have to be small. Although minimalist watches naturally gravitate towards the dressier side (which often tends to mean smaller sizes), they don’t have to be small. Minimalist watches are available in many different sizes to suit all kinds of different wrist sizes. The size of a watch is one of the most important aspects because just like with your clothes, you want your watch to fit you well. Think about which sizes work best for your wrist as this will help you narrow down the alternatives. Also, remember the fact that it is not only the diameter that affects how a watch fits and feels on your wrist. Things like the case shape and thickness also affect how a watch wears and looks.

Mechanical or quartz?

Most affordable minimalist watches tend to be quartz (due to the obvious reason that quartz is cheaper than mechanical), but there are still both mechanical and quartz watches to choose from. Both of these have pros and cons, so which you choose ultimately comes down to your preference. Quartz is more affordable, cheaper to maintain, and has better accuracy. Mechanical watches, however, still tend to be favored amongst watch enthusiasts who appreciate fine mechanical craftsmanship.

Strap type

Most minimalist watches have leather straps which give them a more elegant and sleek appearance. However, as you can see in this list, they are available with metal bracelets and NATO straps as well (amongst other strap types). With this said, you want to consider the strap or bracelet type that you prefer for your watch.

Metal bracelets tend to be more sporty and versatile whilst leather straps make the watch more elegant. If you want a minimalist watch that works better for many different occasions and is more suitable for everyday wear, then a metal bracelet is a natural choice. However, if you prefer a more elegant look, you cannot go wrong with a leather strap.