Ten of the Best Everyday Watches

Don’t let the term “everyday watch” fool you. There is nothing average about a watch for daily use. They can be some of the most complex timepieces on the market. In addition, nearly every manufacturer has an everyday watch in its catalogue. An everyday watch has to bridge many gaps at the same time. It needs to be casual yet elegant, functional yet simple, stylish yet practical. With so many factors to think about, shopping for an everyday watch can become quite overwhelming, so at Watches World, we’ve come up with this guide to the best everyday watches.

What is a watch for everyday wear?

When you’re switching from an office meeting to drinks out with friends followed by a special celebratory occasion with family over the weekend, you need an everyday watch. Nearly everyone needs one in their life. It needs to look natural - not too dressy and not too casual. You need it to pair well with a suit and briefcase but also it needs to look at home on your wrist when playing a spot of golf. An everyday watch can do all these things and more, provided you know what to look for in a good investment.

While some people prefer their watch to look classic, others like theirs to communicate modernity with a clean-cut contemporary design. Choosing the style of an everyday watch is down to personal choice, but we’re confident we’ve included a little something for everyone in this guide. Although a watch for everyday wear should be neither too casual nor too dressy, some like their timepiece to be notable for one defining feature. It may be a knurled bezel or a large crown. A colourful central hand, maybe? Or an interesting counterweight on the base of a hand, designed to echo the brand’s logo.

Ideally, the key to finding the best everyday watch is selecting a timepiece that is going to get noticed by a fellow watch enthusiast. On the slip side, you don’t want it to draw too much attention away from your outfit. All of the above factors define what an everyday watch is, but where did this style of watch come from?

Everyday watches – where it all began

Despite technological breakthroughs like the smartwatch, the everyday watch proved many wrong who thought it may have met its demise. In actual fact, nothing really comes close to wearing a beautiful wristwatch. Your mobile phone may be able to tell you the time, but nothing quite beats tilting your wrist and enjoying the mesmerising beauty of a flawlessly operating mechanical movement. These timepieces are a symbol of horological mastery – an instrument to marvel at and a token of elegance and value.

Wristwatches, particularly those that can be enjoyed every day, are family heirlooms that tell a unique story. They are functional and practical items that won’t become outdated or unstylish. What’s more, they also make for great investments. During the 19th century, the classic pocket watch was considered an everyday item required by any stylish gentleman. These instruments were considered an item of jewellery until they became respected for their many uses on the wrist. It took an entire war and improvements in materials to highlight the need for a daily wristwatch and its convenience.

Our top 10 picks

Cartier Santos watch reference WSSA0039

The Santos de Cartier watch is the brand’s classic pilot’s watch but it’s also great for wearing every single day. This 39.8mm model, crafted from ADLC black steel, features a crown adorned with a faceted black synthetic spinel. Its black silhouette creates a modern and masculine style that will pair well with any wardrobe. The black outline of the case is paired with a black dial and matching black steel hands, carved into the archetypal sword shape. Luminescent material on the hands enables them to stand out in the dark. They point to an hour track represented in traditional Roman numeral hour markers. The hands are powered around this black dial via the automatic Calibre 1847 MC – a reliable movement with a calendar aperture at 6 o’clock. This everyday watch also promises the added benefit of a QuickSwitch interchangeable system. The innovative feature enables you to switch between a black leather or rubber band easily.

Blancpain Villeret Jour Date watch reference 6652-1127-55B

The Jour Date watch by Blancpain belongs to the Villeret collection and is powered by an automatic calibre that gives you a 72-hour power reserve. Its white dial colour is classic and reserved yet is elevated by a classic Roman numeral hour track in silver. The day-date feature at 3 o’clock lets you keep on track of your diary throughout each month. Its small second counter donates more space for reading the central hands easily. The Blancpain Villeret watch collection demonstrates some of the brand’s most innovative research and development to date, with models offering calendar and moon-phase mechanisms, as well as a timeless and understated aesthetic.

Glashutte Original Senator Excellence Panorama watch reference 1-36-04-02-05-30

If you’re looking for a technically sophisticated timepiece that you can wear every day of the week, the Senator Excellence Panorama watch is a great choice from Glashutte Original. It features an 18ct rose gold case measuring 40mm in diameter, a sapphire crystal glass front, and a traditional black alligator leather band that completes its look perfectly. Perfect for the office, but just as stylish when dining out, the Glashutte Original Senator Excellence Panorama is an everyday watch with a difference. Its shots of colour afforded by a blued steel handset and moon phase detailing are our favourite components of this German-engineered design.

Rolex Datejust 36 watch reference 126200-0021

The Rolex Datejust 36mm model is a unisex design that can be enjoyed by anyone with a love for the brand’s classic aesthetic. The watch has been a hit since 1945. Originally, it was released to mark the company’s 40th anniversary but soon became a collector’s staple. This model boasts a bright blue fluted motif dial and a highly corrosion-resistant Oystersteel case. The Jubilee bracelet is a highly coveted feature of the Datejust and is designed for maximum comfort, durability and suppleness. Its elegant five-link design was made exclusively for this collection and secures to the wrist with a folding Oysterclasp and 5mm comfort extension system.

Rolex Datejust watch reference 126334-0028

For something a little larger, the Rolex Datejust 41 creates more wrist presence and will easily get noticed, even in a crowded room. Its mint green dial commands attention with its Chromalight features that assist with timekeeping, even in the darkest of situations. Its Oystersteel and white gold case is also more luxurious than a conventional steel model, enabling you to enjoy its opulent and elegant style whether in a boardroom meeting or out dining on a yacht. Its fluted dial is screwed to the case, helping to uphold the model’s 100-meter water-resistant rating. The sunray effect of this dial is quite an entrancing feature. Once treated, the dial colour is applied using a process called Physical Vapour Disposition. The dial is then varnished to create this exquisite shimmering surface. 

Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M Small Seconds watch reference 220.22.41.21.03.001

With its 150-meter eater-resistant case crafted from steel and Sedna Gold – this beautiful Omega Seamaster watch from the Aqua Terra collection is perfect for you if you’re always on the go. Its blue-grey dial with a horizontal teak pattern bears an opaline small seconds dial and luxurious 18ct Sedna Gold hands to enhance the timekeeping experience. At night, the Super-Lumi-Nova-coated hands and hour markers stand out against a sandblasted minutes track. This chronometer-certified dive watch from Omega features a matching grey-blue rubber band with contrast stitching that gives the band a more textured and interesting look. You can also turn this Omega everyday watch over and observe the movement as it performs through a sapphire exhibition window.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Classic Large Duoface watch reference Q3842520

The Reverso watch by Jaeger-LeCoultre is a timepiece that carries a piece of history in its design. The model nods to a time when polo players required a robust instrument that could withstand the shocks, knocks and impact associated with the sport. Jaeger-LeCoultre developed the timepiece in 1931, keeping its 20th-century design codes ever since. To this day, the Reverso watch is one of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s most recognised designs. This large Duoface design is crafted from 18ct rose gold. It features a silver-grey dial with black transferred Arabic numerals and a rose gold-coloured handset. These features complement a small second dial. On the reverse side, a black velvety Clous de Paris textured dial features baton hour markers and a 24-hour track at 6 o’clock. This double design is perfect for wearing every single day, where either side can be enjoyed depending on the occasion.

IWC Portofino Hand-Wound Moonphase watch reference IW516401

Moonphase indicators are a nice feature to add to any wristwatch. Displaying the moon, exactly how it is seen in the sky at night adds a unique facet to this multi-functional design. The model measures a diameter of 45mm and has been crafted from stainless steel. The manually winding model lets you keep track of time and the passing days of each month, whilst also admiring the moon phase display at 12 o’clock. You can also keep track of the energy left inside the hand-wound calibre via a power reserve indicator at 9 o’clock. Its classic design is nicely rounded off with a dark brown alligator leather band and a traditional pin buckle crafted from matching steel.

Zenith Pro-Pilot watch reference 49.4000.3620/21.I001

Every day is great for wearing a Zenith watch, especially a pilot’s watch like this black ceramic model from the Pro-Pilot series. It measures 40mm in size. Its compact proportions and legible black dial, characterised by large white Arabic numerals, are perfect for enjoying day or night. The oversized crown at 3 o’clock is one of the model’s most distinctive features. It is screwed down into the case and protects the Zenith El Primero 3620 Calibre from water damage down to 100 meters. Great as a watch to accompany your wrist every day, the Pro-Pilot also offers a power reserve of 60 hours once fully wound.

Girard Perregaux Laureato Absolute Wired Limited Edition watch reference 81060-36-694-FH6A

As one of the oldest traditional watchmakers in the industry. Girard Perregaux has a history that begins in 1791. That said, the company prides itself on manufacturing timepieces that are geared for modern wearers. The Laureato Absolute Wired watch is an example of such. The watch has a case crafted from layers of carbon fibre and fibreglass that create a lightweight and highly resistant housing for an automatic movement. This special material promises unprecedented water resistance. Its matte textured surface is married with a bezel that features electric blue veins that come alive under the light. Limited to just 88 pieces, this Girard Perregaux is a stunning timepiece to own, promising to turn heads with its bold and attention-demanding presence.

Conclusion

When looking for an everyday watch, remember the key characteristics that define one. Your chosen timepiece should be versatile, comfortable and stylish. It should also be made from durable materials and should measure an ideal size that looks and feels great on the wrist. With so many luxury watch manufacturers producing everyday watches, there is a really broad choice out there. Our guide to the best everyday watches has hopefully provided you with plenty of inspiration when the time comes to extend your collection with a special timepiece.