29 Best Minimalist Watches

While there is no doubt that the age of the smartwatch is upon us, there is still a longing for simplicity and sophistication that can only come with a modern minimalist watch. And while some men prefer the beauty and styling of chronograph watches, this article is all about their minimalist counterparts. Often espoused by EDC (every-day-carry) enthusiasts, the beauty of minimalist watches is that they can be quickly and easily paired with almost any level of casual or formal business wear. Clean-cut, and free of unnecessary features, complications, and subdials, a minimalistic watch, either for men or women can be the ultimate accessory. 

From high-end luxury picks to minimalist watches for under $100, we’ve scoured the top watch brands the world has to offer to bring you what we think are currently the most beautiful and elegant minimalist watches you can buy right now. 

1. Solios – Solar White | Brown Vegan Leather

The Solar White Brown Leather Strap offers the perfect balance of minimalism and solar power. 

Solios’ objective was to create the most elegant and minimalist solar watch – they have achieved it. The brand’s sustainable watches perfectly combine technology, aesthetics and durable materials. The solar technology allows the watch to recharge itself forever, meaning you’ll never have to change your battery. That’s a mighty mandate for an 8mm case including a solar panel within it. 

The Canadian watch brand is the first to be B Corp certified in the watch industry. Each watch sold helps restore an acre of the rainforest through their partnership with Rain Forrest Trust. Proving that a small accessory can have a big impact. 

2. Stock S001W

Nothing overly fancy is represented in the Stock S001W, but that’s sort of the whole point with minimalist watches, isn’t it? With a very aesthetically pleasing balance of material and form, the S001W is a mid-sized watch from Australian company Stock. With Swiss Quartz movement, a thin bezel, a handsome face, and brushed stainless steel finish, this watch is for those minimalists who like their markers a tad larger than often seen on watches this elegant.

3. Paulin Commuter Numerical B

At an attractive price point of only $225, the Commuter Numerical B watch stands out from the usual set of minimalist watches by employing a unique set of bespoke numerals. Unafraid of going in a post-modern direction with its overall design, this watch can easily be paired with almost any outfit, particularly with other neutral tones. With a seconds sub-dial at six and a choice of ten different straps, the Paulin watch pleasantly surprises with a 2-year warranty at this price point.

4. MVMT Element – Ash Black

The darling of countless recent business profiles on how to disrupt the watch industry, and even more countless podcast sponsorship spots, MVMT continues to expand its lineup of watches by simply adhering to its core guiding principles of keeping things incredibly simple. While not everyone can appreciate a nearly all black matte watch with a minimalist look, this is easily one of it not the best looking black dial watches we’ve had the pleasure of seeing. Silver color accents to a gun-metal grey in the minute and hour hands as well as the markers create just enough contrast for the watch to be useful at a quick glance, but not distracting from the overall purpose of its otherwise all-black design.

5. Daniel Wellington Classic Bedford

Widely sold, and widely beloved, the Daniel Wellington brand of watches has become synonymous with an understated sense of balance and design delivered at a price point most are comfortable paying for. The Classic Bedford minimalistic watch is designed for those who love an ultra-thin case (6mm) and is paired with a tasteful, yet playful NATO strap. One of Daniel Wellington’s brand signatures is that all of its straps are interchangeable which makes an investment in this brand of watches particularly palatable. With a gorgeous, ivory white dial, ultra-thin bezel, it’s really hard to beat the pure and uncomplicated nature of this watch.

6. Nixon Porter Leather 40mm

While not normally known for their minimalist looks, this Nixon watch hits the mark just enough that we like what it does with its subtle use of various color options and lack of complications to fall on this list. With a 3 o’clock crown, the clean and considered lines of this watch are nicely complemented with a simple leather strap.

7. Linjer – The Minimalist Watch

Despite the name being a tad on the nose, (did they decide on the product name with SEO in mind?) this Linjer product is incredibly pleasing to the eye. It’s one of Linjer’s top sellers for good reason. Available in 38mm and 41mm options, the Minimalist Watch has extremely refined detailing, with the 2nd hand tapering into a thin point. Appropriate for dressing up or dressing down, you’ll get a lot of mileage out of this Linjer watch, no matter what type of outfit you’re trying to pair it with.

8. Matte Black – French Silver

One of the most often cited barriers to entry to owning a great austere watch is the price point. With the French Silver, you can officially consider that barrier to be non-existent. At only $52, this watch provides a simple but classy presence designed to compliment outfits of neutral colors. Note for lovers of oversized watches, at 38mm, this watch is probably not for you. 

9. Broome & Mercer – Fortyseven SLV-MTL-MSH

I always find it ironic when a minimalistic watch model decides on a decidedly convoluted model name. That said, this silver plated stainless steel watch has a unique double-layered black minute and hour markers which I find aesthetically appealing. Not to mention, the inclusion of the Broome & Mercer logo at the 12 o’clock position rounds this watch design off nicely.

10. Maven – Shadow Black – 40mm

Another fine example of a nearly all black timepiece in the form of the Shadow Black from Maven. This two-handed watch has 3 layers of markers to denote the hour and minutes as well as evenly spaced ones to complete the look. Additionally, I like the fact that despite the three layers of markers, it somehow has managed to look uncrowded, even with a fairly sizeable brand mark.

11. Nomos Glashutte – Tangente Neomatik 41 Update

Overly long model names aside, watch collectors all over the world, know that the Nomos Glashutte name stands for a level of craftsmanship befitting their price point. Without a doubt, Nomos Glashutte watches are a luxury item, but their iconic level of beauty demands the attention of any serious horology enthusiast and those looking for a minimalist watch that stands out above the crowd in a classy way. This is probably why we’ve included five different models from Nomos Glashutte on our list. What makes the Tangente Neomatik 41 unique is its date ruing, placed around the edge of the dial, using two red dots that show the current date. Combined with a secondary dial that does nothing to overly complicate this watch, the thin bezel and polished finish of the case which encapsulate the oxidized black hands is that rare combination of elements that will take your breath away when you see this watch in person. At around $3,600 USD, it’s best reserved for those that don’t mind paying for the privilege of saying that you wear a Nomos Glashutte.

12. Miansai – M12 Swiss Black

Miansai is more of a fashion brand than a watch brand, but that doesn’t stop them from producing some finely crafted pieces of timekeeping in the art and style of minimalistic principles. Though not exactly modestly priced, the M12 Swiss Black’s two outstanding design features might push you over the edge to try this watch. First, we have the markers on the black dial that may attract the eye of motorsport enthusiasts as the overall look is more evocative of a speedometer or tachometer than traditional markings on most minimalist watches. Second, the unique crown, positioning at 4 o’clock, adds a detail I’ve never seen before on a dial, a flat piece extruded and then drilled to include a hole. Certainly, an interesting design detail that sets this Miansai watch from many others.

13. Sekford – Type 1A

The Sekford Type 1A watch is what happens when the British reach back into history and become inspired by the tradition of fine British pocket watches and mid-century dress accessories. What this means is a huge heaping of white space used on the dial with only the most essential of markings and features including the hairline minute markers. Each Sekford watch is engraved with a unique number on the back and comes with a 2-year warranty. While not the most affordable watch on this list, there’s no question that adding this timepiece to your assemblage of timekeepers should immediately catapult you into the rarefied air of being, or at least posing as, a fine British chap.

14. Braun BN0171

For the uninitiated into the realm of minimalist watches or industrial design, you’d be readily forgiven for associating the Braun brand with electric razors or hair care appliances, but much of Braun’s fame comes from its line of clocks and watches. Helmed by one of the most famous industrial designers of all time, Dieter Rams, Braun has a storied history of making objects with their “less is more” design philosophy. Much of that is evident in this amazing Braun watch, the Unisex B0171. This fully ceramic (both case & strap) watch is everything that is right with minimalist watch design. I don’t even have to say too much more about it. Just look at that iconic yellow second hand.

15. Bulbul Pebble 04

Just like its lighter-colored and mesh strap endowed cousin, the Pebble 04 is the stuff of minimalists wet dreams. Designed by acclaimed Danish design trio, KiBiSi, the Pebble 04 is an absolutely perfect synthesis of form, color, and simplicity. The Pebble line of watches is just one of those watch lines that you could wind up owning in tons of different finish combinations simply by virtue of falling in love with its basic form.

16. Movado – Museum Classic

Movado’s Museum Classic should be thought of more like a fine piece of jewelry. Oh sure, it also accomplishes its primary function of timekeeping, but let’s face it that’s not why you’ll be wearing this watch. It’s clean lines, highly contrasted dial and stunning strap are designed to impress all those who happen to catch a glimpse of your wrist. Oh, and it includes a freaking diamond embedded in its dial. Did we mention it was more like a piece of fine jewelry?

17. Nomos Glashutte – Ahoi Neomatik Siren Red

Look, I get it, a red dialed watch is not for everyone. In-fact, when watch designers introduce a watch with a dial other than white, black or some form of blue, sooner rather than later, that watch has a little “clearance” tag hanging off it. On the off-chance that you like some color in your minimalist watch, the Ahoi Neomatik Siren Red might be the fix you’re looking for. Though at 3,240 EUR (that’s Euros for all you Americans), you might have to sell a used car or something to afford this beautiful flash red.

18. MVMT – Gotham

With this kind of name, perhaps even Bruce Wayne could be spotted this minimalist watch from MVMT. Gorgeous silver hands and markers are a hallmark feature of this finely crafted MVMT watch as well as a silver crown that adds a bit of panache. And at only $119 USD, you’d be excused into thinking that it’s not a finely crafted piece, but that’s exactly where MVMT always surprises you. Well made watches, for reasonable prices. That’s probably why they’ve taken the watch industry by storm and were recently acquired by industry giant Movado for over $100 million dollars.  

19. Brathwait – The Classic Slim Wrist Watch

Following in the footsteps of companies like MVMT are other newcomers to the timekeeping industry such as Brathwait, who promise radical transparency when it comes to pricing their watches. What does radically transparent pricing mean? Put simply, Brathwait actually list out the cost of each of their components for each watch they produce. With all that said, the Brathwait Classic Slim Wrist Watch is both attractively priced and exhibits an almost Mad Men-esque quality of what you’d find an advertising executive wearing on their wrist in the 1960’s. Its beautiful integration of silver throughout the entirety of the watch is exceedingly enticing, and it’s all capped off with a ruby red seconds hand that caps off the near-perfect design.

20. Daniel Wellington – Classic Durham

The final Daniel Wellington watch that lands on our list of minimalist watches features an eggshell white dial with classic minimalist design principles. Described as a classic time-capsule, the Classic Durham is a fine choice for any connoisseur of sparse watches designed to fit any casual or formal outfit. Outfitted with a thin-bezeled stainless steel case, and brown leather strap, the Classic Durham is gorgeous medium-priced watch we highly recommend.

21. Bulbul – ORE 06

No amount of cajoling by my colleagues in the office would convince me that I’ve included too many Bulbul watches on this list. I mean, just look at this damn thing. If there was ever a watch that distilled the absolute essence of what a minimalist watch should look like, the Bulbul ORE 06 is probably that watch. Made with a fine matte stainless steel finish, the clean, nay, nearly antiseptic dial combined with its perfectly circular shape is what makes this watch special.

22. Void – The VO1 MKII BL/MB

Nevermind the slightly higher price tag. This is a unique approach to a modern minimalist watch. It’s an iteration on a previous version of this timepiece and features a stainless steel case that is instantly recognizable to anyone who has ever been on the Internet as it became somewhat of a sensation back in 2008. Available in a variety of different finishes and colors, the V01 MKII is somewhat reminiscent of one of my favorite watches of all-time, the Nixon Rotolog.

23. Komono – Winston Woven Chestnut

At less than a hundred bucks, the Winston Woven Chestnut checked a lot of checkmarks to wind up on this list of scantily clad watches. There’s the price yes, but as I’ve stated before, I’m a sucker for an all-black dial, and a watch that I feel would be ideal for most casual occasions. A beautiful woven chestnut colored leather strap makes it standout from many of its brethren featured here.

24. Matte Black – Super Modern White

At an absurdly low price, I wouldn’t expect some miracle of ultimate quality, but I couldn’t resist mentioning this watch here simply because of its unique design. The Super Modern White is the antithesis to the modern smartwatch and smartphone era of being bombarded with digital information overload.

25. Picto – 40mm Red/Polished Steel

It’s red. It’s a really nice red. If you’re a fan of watches that take minimalism to its absurd end and have a penchant for anything with a shade of red, this is the watch for you. I suppose they could have taken the hand as well and simply had two traveling spheres to show the hour and minute, but this approach works just as well.

26. Eone – Bradley Mesh Back

Radically creative approaches to watch design are often considered a fool’s errand. After all, a watch is no longer about telling time, it’s almost entirely about the fashion of the thing. But when we first caught sight of the black-on-black Bradley watch, it was infatuation at first sight. The unique markers are raised and polished and when combined with the magnetized ball bearings that travel around the watch face in two separate, recessed tracks, you can tell the exact time, simply by just touching the watch without ever looking at it. Of-course that would be doing it a huge injustice as this is an all-together stunningly beautiful watch. Not everyone is a fan of the all-black aesthetic, but luckily the Bradley is available in a wide assortment of colors, straps, and finishes. One other thing to note is that unlike almost every other minimalist watch we’ve dedicated virtual ink to here, the Bradley is different in that it contains no glass, and whose case is made out of titanium. What that does for its scratch resistance as compared to 316L grade stainless steel watches is hard to say, as the exact grade of titanium being used in the Bradley is not readily knowable.

27. Nomos Glashutte – Metro 38

Designed by famous watch designers Mark Braun, the Metro 38 is one of the more pure watches in the Nomos Glashutte collection. Thin, delicate features including the minute markers and the hands on a white silver-plated dial use the concept of white space to a terrifyingly effective degree. Also a winner of multiple design awards, the Metro 38 has forgone a power reserve indicator (rarely included on hand-wound watches) and also lacks a date window. All that to say that it’s efforts for simplicity and minimalism have not gone unnoticed. Like most Nomos Glashutte watches, you’d be hard pressed to make a bad choice with this collector’s watch. Just don’t forget that it comes with a rather premium price, and that’s putting it euphemistically.

28. Komono – Winston Royale Silver

At only $99 USD, the Komono Winston Royale Silver is both curiously priced and curiously named. Reading the description of this watch on the Komono website would lead you to believe that Komono thinks that this is a watch fight for a King. We wouldn’t go that far, but it’s certainly not too shabby either, especially if you’re a fan of all silver watches. Evocative of a watch you might see your uncle wear in the 70’s or 80’s the Winston Royale, with its brushed silver metal case and matching metal mesh strap is a nice casual watch that makes quick work of other overly complicated timepieces. Bonus points for being available in nine different color permutations.

29. Void – The V02MKII-BL/MB

Landing as the fourth Void watch on this list, and a cousin or “analog extension” as Void would call it of the Void V01 MKII, the V02 uses three compass needle hands over a half-sized circular plane. So how do you tell time with half a circle and analog hands? Easy, you compress the first and the second half of the hours, minutes and seconds into a semicircle. Pretty clever. A very popular watch in the Void lineup, this minimalism fan’s watch is available in several color combinations and finishes.

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