10 Best Brand Watches for Men UK 2022 | Rolex, Patek Philippe and More

For those after a quick look, here is our Top 5:

1. Vacheron Constantin - Malte

    Manual-Winding for £22,100.00
   

2. Patek Philippe - Grand Complications

    for £76,960.00
3. Cartier - Tank Must for £2,310.00

4. IWC Schaffhausen - 

   Big Pilot's 43 Spitfire for £8,000.00

5. Jaeger-LeCoultre - 

   Master Ultra Thin for £7,450.00

For a more in-depth look at the comprehensive top 10 selection, make sure to read on to learn more about the different types of brand watches available and understand how our ranking was determined.

This article's chosen EC site price listings are reflective of its publishing date.

1. Choose a Watch Suitable for Either Occasion or Everyday Wear
2. Consider the Type of Display and Power Mechanism You Prefer
3. Pick a Design and Material to Suit Your Personal Style
4. Focus on Intended Use When Assessing Dress, Aviator, Dive or Other Type

When you're making a potentially large investment in an accessory, it's important that you purchase something appropriate for the situations you want to wear it for. We've all heard the phrase "you get what you pay for" and that can certainly be true, but that doesn't mean that lower budget watches don't serve their purpose too.

For daily use, for example, you'll want a watch that isn't too delicate and that can withstand the odd knock. Usually in the £1K-10K range, these can still feel like quite an investment but with brand watches, you are paying for quality no matter what end of the price scale you fall on. However, while more rugged, the pieces in this range typically offer fewer features and can include slightly lower-quality materials. 

If you're after a memorable gift or a piece to bring out for special or formal occasions, you'll want something a step above the everyday. On this budget, the quality of construction and materials will be markedly higher. Occasion watches will also include extra features alongside precious metals and gemstones that add to their luxe style. They're great investment pieces, but you'll want to avoid everyday wear and tear.

It's important to consider the functionality of each watch type before you commit to a particular option. Brand watches tend to lean on the side of classic sophistication, so if you prefer a digital display, you might want to consider an alternative to the big brands as they are more likely to be analogue. With analogue watches, the power mechanism will affect the way it functions. Here are the features of each type:

Quartz:

• Most common
  
• Wide price range, including the cheapest watches on the market
  
• Battery-powered (you will need to replace the battery occasionally)
  
• Most accurate and durable 
• No smooth movement, often coming with an audible tick
• More likely to be mass-produced

Mechanical:

• Doesn't require a battery
  
• Will need to be wound up periodically 
• Tend to last longer 
• Often higher quality 
• Smooth and sweeping hand movement 
• Less accurate and durable 
• More expensive

Automatic or self-winding:

• Uses kinetic energy from wrist movement
  
• No winding or batteries required 
• Will need to be worn regularly to stay accurate
• May need to be stored in a watch winder when not use 
• Similar quality to mechanical watches
• Can be thicker and heavier
• More expensive

Give your wrist a break while you're at home with a stylish wall clock

Choosing a watch style to suit your look is completely down to you! There are many different options when it comes to the diameter of the display and the thickness and material of the strap. Only you will know what type is best for your look, but consider how each style would tie in with your current wardrobe and build before picking one out. 

If you have a large build, you might want to consider a larger watch, and vice versa if you are of smaller proportions. However, for most men of average build, a watch-face diameter of approximately 40 mm is the ideal size. You can follow a similar practice of scaling the size to suit your proportions when choosing a strap thickness. For an average watch of 40 mm, the strap should be around 20 mm, but scale this up or down in proportion as needed. 

You should also consider the material of the strap. Fabric is typically the cheapest and lends itself to a more casual look. Suede is a great smart-casual middle-ground that won't break the bank. Leather and metal tend to be the most expensive but offer the best aesthetics. If you do choose leather, make sure to opt for a strap that's sewn rather than glued together, as this will last longer and be of higher quality. 

The right pair of cufflinks will have you looking sharp on any budget

Men's wristwatches come in multiple different styles and each watchmaker will have their own unique take on the traditional styles, too. Knowing which is best suited to certain uses is helpful when shopping for a timepiece to suit you. Here are five of the most popular watch styles and a few key features of each:

Dress Watch:

• Elegant 
  
• Tend to be slimmer
  
• Strive for minimalism and simplicity
  
• Often numbered with lines or numerals 
  
• Often dark leather bands
  
• Often incorporate precious metals and stones 

Field Watch:

• Rugged and sturdy
  
• Designed for troops
• High contrast face
• Often larger diameters
• Hacking second hand (fully adjustable to the second)

Aviator Watch:

• Derived from field watches, so relatively similar
  
• Ordinarily have a black face with white numbers
• Timezone feature

Dive Watch:

• Withstands high pressure
  
• Waterproof at a minimum of 100 meters
  
• Rubber or silicone band
• Tritium aluminium illumination means readings glow in the dark 

Racing Watch:

• No military heritage so not as minimalist as other designs
  
• Brighter colours
• Commonly feature precious stones and metals
• Extremely functional
• Often include small stopwatches

Complete the look with one of these top-rated men's rings or bracelets

This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.

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Written and researched by Alicia Byrne