Every year, we post our “best everyday watches” of the year (2018, 2019, 2020). While the list changes a bit each year, the reality is that the watches I consider the best everyday or go-anywhere-do-anything watches are stalwarts of that brand’s collection. They are models that have been in the catalog for years, and will continue to be — sure, brands might add a new colorway or update a movement, but the watches remain familiar. I prefer the classics.
Watches & Wonders 2022 was the first physical show in two years, and brands came correct. So many releases were surprising, exciting, or just downright proper watches. So this year’s list of 10 of the best everyday watches features a mix of new releases and old favorites. All are destined to be classics, and would serve well on your wrist every day.
There’s a little something for everyone here, with watches from $200 to almost $100,000. Some are affordable or budget watches, some are expensive and downright grail-worthy.
What is an everyday watch?
A reminder: there are no real requirements for an everyday watch besides general durability and comfort. We’re talking about watches that can be dressed up or dressed down. Watches that look as good with a suit as they do alongside a t-shirt and jeans. Lume and water resistance are nice, but not necessary. An everyday wearer can come on a bracelet or strap, as long as it sits comfortably on the wrist. And while we’re willing to pay good money for a watch we’re going to be wearing every day, we can’t spend so much that we feel we have to baby it through every door jamb.
Without further ado, here are 10 of the best everyday watches of 2022.
The best new (and old) everyday watches of 2022 for men in every budget
Seiko 5 Sports
Any honest, self-respecting list of the best everyday, go-anywhere-do-anything watches has to start with the Seiko 5. For many (myself included), the Seiko 5 line is like the Playboy Magazine that a young teen finds under dad’s bed: it represents an introduction to the vast, confusing world of watches.
I’ve gone in-depth on the Seiko 5 Sports line before, but to summarize the specs here: 42.5mm diameter x 13.4mm thickness, and 46mm lug-to-lug, featuring Seiko’s 4R36 automatic-winding movement, visible through the display caseback. The model features 100m of water resistance and a clicking uni-directional rotating bezel. While 42mm is a relatively large diameter, the shorter lugs mean it wears well on pretty much any wrist.
I also love the Seiko 5 Sports limited-edition collabs from the last few years. I’ve gone hands-on with the Rowing Blazers x Seiko 5 Sports collection and the BAIT Seiko 5 — both were fun, unique takes on the classic Seiko 5.
The Seiko 5 is a great first mechanical watch for anyone, but years after acquiring my first, I still enjoy wearing one. You can find the Seiko 5 sports for around $200-250 dollars, usually on Amazon too.
Nomos Club Campus
For many, Nomos is the next stop on their watch collecting journey after Seiko. To me, the Nomos Club Campus is the Glashutte brand’s best everyday option. Watchmaker Philippe Dufour himself has said so. It’s more casual than some of the brand’s other models — and with more water resistance — but it can still be dressed up. Nomos also introduced a pop of color to the model, and its 2022 additions to the Club Campus line might be the most fun yet.
Sure, colorful dials are hot nowadays. But Nomos has been doing it for awhile, so it doesn’t feel like chasing a trend with them. This year, they’ve brought a pink and blue/purple (blurple?) dial to their youthful Club Campus lineup. A Club Campus was one of my first “luxury watches”, and I still maintain its one of the best first luxury watches out there, and these colorful new dials don’t change that. The dials are offered in the Club Campus 36mm and 38.5mm cases. And let’s face it: in 2022, the best men’s watch can be small, pink, and affordable!
I’ll be going hands-on with this one too, so look for more on the new lineup of Nomos Club Campus dials soon.
The new Club Campus starts at $1,500; check out Nomos for more.
Tudor Black Bay 58
Black Bay 58 925 Silver
Since Tudor released the Black Bay 58 a few years ago, it’s probably the watch I recommend most for those who “just want one nice watch.” From the original black dial with gilt accents to the Navy Blue follow-up and finally to 2021’s Silver and Gold options, the entire Black Bay 58 lineup delivers.
For me, the Black Bay 58 925 Silver is my go-to everyday watch now, but that’s only because I traded in my original Black Bay 58 for it. Sure, I miss the bracelet and durability of the original stainless steel model, but the Silver 925 is so fun.
Every Black Bay 58 have specs straight out of an enthusiast’s “dream watch” wishlist: 39mm, about 11mm of thickness (seriously, these things wear like a dream), manufacture caliber MT5402 (COSC, 70-hour power reserve), 200m water resistance, domed sapphire crystal, aluminum bezel.
And sure, you should probably go with the bracelet (mock rivets be damned) if you’re opting for a steel Black Bay 58, but the Tudor cloth strap and new “soft touch” strap are also great OEM options that don’t seem to get the respect they deserve. In short, this isn’t just the best everyday watch of 2022, it’s one of the best of the last decade-plus. The Black Bay 58 “Navy Blue” has a bit more of a modern feel as compared to the original Black Bay 58, providing the perfect counterpoint in Tudor’s dive watch lineup. The Silver 925 is the option for those who want to be different.
At $3,700 retail, the steel Black Bay 58 watch offers more value than a Happy Meal. For more, visit Tudor
Omega Speedmaster
The Omega Speedmaster might be the most recognizable watch in the world. Lucky for us, Omega updated the Speedmaster at the beginning of 2021. And while I haven’t historically been a “Speedy guy”, the newest Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch “Master Chronometer” finally has me understanding why there’s a common watch collecting axiom that “everyone needs a Speedmaster.”
The updated Omega Speedmaster features Omega’s caliber 3861, a master-chronometer certified manual-wind chronograph movement with 50 hours of power reserve that runs at 21,600 vph. The master-chronometer certification means it’s been tested to within +/-0.5 seconds per day.
The thing that got me about the newest Speedmaster though, is the bracelet. Compared to previous Speedmaster bracelets, the links are smaller, the clasp wears more comfortably, and it tapers more from the lugs to the clasp. The overall effect is a bracelet that wears much better than any recent Speedmaster I’ve tried on, seamlessly draping over the wrist.
Sure, the caliber upgrade is important to Speedy diehards, but when I tried on the new Speedmaster at a local boutique, it was the bracelet that immediately captured my attention (and had me thinking about opening my wallet).
Aesthetically, there are also some dial upgrades to add depth to the tracks and subdials, but the form of the latest version of the ST 105.012 will be familiar: 42mm in diameter, twisted lugs, robust and asymmetrical stainless steel case.
Prices: Steel with Hesalite, $6,300 (bracelet) $5,950 (strap); Sapphire, $7,150 (bracelet) $6,800(strap); For more, visit Omega.
IWC Portugeiser Chronograph
If the Seiko 5 Sports is an entry point at a few hundred bucks, the IWC Portugeiser is something like the entry point for a few thousand bucks, perfect for baby bankers looking to blow their first bonus on something besides cocaine and Coachella tickets.
In 2020, IWC came through with perhaps the most important update in the recent history of the line: an in-house chronograph caliber. IWC announced the line will now use the brand’s 69000 series of chronograph movements, and at a price that’s just as good as the line has always been ($7,950 in steel). Last year, I featured the IWC Mark XVIII (specifically calling out the “Spitfire” edition as an exciting new option) — the Portugeiser Chronograph is another classic, pilot’s-inspired model from the brand.
Listen, we make a bit too big of a deal about “in-house” calibers — just give me a quality, reliable movement and I don’t necessarily care who made it — but it’s certainly important to make consumers feel like they’re getting something special too. The introduction of the IWC caliber 69355 to the Portugieser chronograph line feels like that. The steel model is offered in either blue or silver dial variations; both are timeless. The model’s design is just one of the most classic around, so it’s nice to see IWC re-committing to making sure it’s a real value at under $10,000. With water resistance of 30 meters and no lume, it misses some of the everyday watch traits I’d otherwise look for, but the guts of this one give it a pass.
The IWC Portugeiser Chronograph starts at $7,950. For more, visit IWC
Rolex Explorer
Courtesy of Subdial
If you close your eyes and picture an everyday watch, it’s probably the Rolex Explorer. The vintage Explorer 1016 is one of the most popular collectible watches in all of vintage Rolex. In 2021, Rolex brought the Explorer back to its roots, downsizing the modern Rolex Explorer from 39mm to 36mm. It was a great choice. It’s more wearable, the bracelet has a beautiful taper, and the overall package works with just about any reasonably-sized wrist.
Technically speaking, it’s got all the highly-tuned specs you’d expect from a sports Rolex: super accurate in-house caliber 3230, 100 meters of water resistance, super strong lume. With the smaller case, it’s the sports Rolex for people who don’t like sports Rolex.
With the Rolex Explorer, it all comes down to that iconic 3-6-9 dial. It’s simple but immediately recognizable; plain, but never boring.
The MSRP of the Rolex Explorer is $7,200
Cartier Santos-Dumont
I was thrilled when Cartier re-introduced the iconic Santos model back in 2019. Widely hailed as the “first men’s wristwatch,” it’s one of the most important and historic models around (by the way, it’s led to huge interest in the vintage Cartier Santos-Dumont). For some hardcore “purists” though, the new Santos-Dumont lacked one thing: a mechanical movement. No longer.
In 2020, Cartier introduced the Santos-Dumont XL, a larger version for the model line. The new model measures 46.6mm x 34mm, with a thickness of 7.5mm. Importantly, it features a new hand-wound mechanical movement, the Cartier 430MC. It’s a modified Piaget 430P, a movement from the ultra-thin pioneers that’s been around for 20-plus years. While dubbed the “XL”, the Santos-Dumont’s size can still be handled by most wrists.
Cartier is offering the XL in three metals: an all-steel version, an 18k pink gold version, and a two-tone version with an 18k pink gold bezel. Of course, for our everyday watch purposes, the steel is the most enticing.
It’s a more classically-styled option compared to some of the other options on this list. But, let’s not forget that the Santos-Dumont is the “original” pilot’s watch, designed by Louis Cartier for his airborne friend Alberto Santos-Dumont. It’s a sports watch at heart, and in a watch landscape often defined by big, bold designs, sometimes it takes a classically styled option like a Cartier to really stand out.
For more, visit Cartier
Grand Seiko SBGM221
If every list of the best everyday watches has to start with the Seiko 5, they all have to include a Grand Seiko now too. Show up at any watch get-together or meetup, and I swear you’ll hear the name Grand Seiko mentioned more than any other brand. Collectors singing the praises of their gorgeously crafted dials, the polishing, the value proposition each model represents.
I’ve always loved the Grand Seiko SBGM221 GMT. More broadly, I’m totally transfixed by so many of Grand Seiko’s GMTs: the ‘Peacock,’ the ‘Mount Iwate’ patterns, and so on. It must be Grand Seiko’s textured dials combined with the additional colorful accents that make so many of them work so well. To me, the GMT has become a signature complication of the brand, so I love seeing a limited edition that brings together elements I love, even if the end results wasn’t something for my wrist.
The SBGM 221 got every single detail right. At 39mm and a manageable 47mm lug-to-lug, it’s wearable for most wrists. The dial is a creamy off-white, giving the GMT a bit of vintage charm. But the blue accents and GMT hand somehow balance out the dial, making it feel sporty and modern for a watch that’s on the dressier side. Add in Grand Seiko’s legendary technical watchmaking — here, the caliber 9S66 ticks away inside with its healthy 3-day power reserve.
The MSRP of the Grand Seiko SBGM221 is $4,600.
Vacheron Constantin 222
A solid gold watch and bracelet might not be an “everyday” proposition for most, but we’ll make an exception for one of the most exciting releases of Watches & Wonders 2022. This is the Vacheron Constantin 222, a faithful recreation of the original 222, a 1970s icon along with the Nautilus and Royal Oak. It’s thought that less than 1,000 original 222s were made: 500 in steel, 150 in gold, and less than 100 in two-tone.
The new Les Historiques 222 appears to largely replicate the original, with a new caliber inside. The yellow gold case measures a svelte 37mm x 7.95mm — huge credit goes to Vacheron for resisting the modern temptation to upsize this perfect vintage case design.
Vacheron introduced the original 222 amidst the integrated sports watch hype of the 70s, and it often feels like the wrongly-forgotten cousin of its more famous predecessors. With this release though, it doesn’t seem like that will be the case much longer. A faithful reinterpretation like this will only increase interest in the original, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see some big auction results for original 222s this coming auction season (Phillips has already teased a yellow gold 222 at its May Geneva auction, so watch out!).
Sure, heritage releases are hot and the Les Historiques 222 falls firmly in that trend, but you’ve got to tip your cap to VC’s heritage department. They’ve done well to promote the brand’s history with their Les Historiques line, while also celebrating actual vintage pieces with their Les Collectionneurs efforts.
For more info on the 222, visit Vacheron. They haven’t revealed pricing information yet, but the Les Historiques 222 will be available only at VC boutiques.
Patek Philippe Travel Time Annual Calendar ref. 5326G
Patek’s unique implementation of a “Travel Time” functionality has always been a favorite of mine, so combining it with an annual calendar (a signature complication of Patek in its own right) in a new Calatrava case makes this one of my favorite new releases of 2022. The new Patek Annual Calendar Travel Time features a new caliber, the Patek 31-260 PS QA LU FUS 24H, and a new 41mm white gold case. A hobnail pattern on the mid-case adds interest and texture to the round Calatrava case. According to Patek, eight patents are incorporated into the new movement. Perhaps most importantly, the travel time can now be set with the crown itself, which means Patek didn’t have to add any additional pushers to the case (remember those large pushers on the old Travel Time?). It’s these types of subtle, incremental technical improvements that make Patek Patek.
Like the case, the dial also has an interesting texture, evoking a certain vintage aesthetic, especially with the syringe hands. I also like this new release for what it’s not — namely, another steel sports watch.
Of course, a complicated Patek like this will cost you. In this case, the 5326G’s MSRP is $76,882.
Oris Pro Pilot X Calibre 400
The new Oris Pro Pilot X Caliber 400 falls right in that sweet spot of “I want to treat myself to a nice luxury watch, but want something that’s cheap enough I can still wear it without worrying.” A long way of saying: It’s tough to beat an integrated bracelet watch in titanium with an in-house movement for $4,300. I can totally see myself buying this watch (the gorgeous pink dial, for the record).
At 39mm, the specs of the Oris Pro Pilot X Caliber 400 seem downright wearable, even for my modest wrist. Sure, this watch is rooted in Oris’ long history of making pilot’s watches, but it feels thoroughly modern and exciting. When an independent like Oris is able to release this much watch at $4,300, it can make you wonder what the other brands are doing.
The Oris Pro Pilot X Caliber 400 MSRP is $4,300.
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Filed under: everyday watches, gada watches, affordable watches, budget watches