Gold is formed when neutron stars clash in supernovas and are regarded to be the earliest metal known to humanity — but more importantly, it probably looks beautiful on your wrist. It also has a lengthy history in watchmaking, although you might overlook all of that for its famously alluring gleam. Although stainless steel is the primary material for most watches nowadays, the gold watch retains a powerful fascination. 22k gold watches for mens price
Gold carries cultural and physical weight. In the United States, for example, a tradition of awarding a gold watch to retiring employees after decades of service originated in the 1940s. That tradition is mostly gone now, but the gold watch as a sign of worth, achievement, and something exceptional lives on in popular memory.
There are several options available nowadays if you desire a gold watch. You can achieve the look with a “gold-toned” or “gold-plated” watch, which has a gold coating over a less expensive metal (typically steel), or you can invest in a genuine gold watch. Most solid gold watches are made of 18-carat gold, which is a 75% gold alloy blended with additional metals to help harden it (and cost less than pure 24-carat, which is generally too soft for watches anyway). A less expensive option (albeit rare) is 14 carats (about 53% gold). The term “gold-filled” refers to a thin layer of gold (less than 5% of total weight, but thicker than gilding or gold plating) over a core of another metal, however, this is uncommon in current watches.
Gold is popular among watchmakers because it allows them to mark up their products. When compared to a steel watch, the price of a gold watch is frequently far higher than the value of the material itself, but watchmakers can also add value through finishing — even if gold is easier to work with than a cheaper, harder metal like steel. Many watches manufacturers employ red gold, pink gold, and rose gold, and even create and name their own unique alloys in addition to standard yellow gold.
For today’s chrysophilist, there are various possibilities below that offer just the warm or blingy look of gold at low rates, as well as some more serious investments that will remind you of their auriferous composition by the weight on your wrist.
Casio Vintage A168WG
One of the numerous available digital masterpieces from Casio is about the cheapest gold-colored watch we can recommend. Go for a gold calculator watch, a Casio World Time, or an analog-digital… yet this is a classic iteration that even many serious watch collectors may appreciate with more sincerity than cynicism.
Materials: Gold-toned stainless steel
Diameter: 35mm
Movement: Quartz
Price: $48
Q Timex 1975 Reissue
One of Casio’s innumerable digital masterpieces is about the cheapest gold-colored watch we can recommend. Choose a gold calculator watch, a Casio World Time, or an analog-digital… nonetheless, this is a classic rendition that many genuine watch collectors may admire with more sincerity than cynicism.
Materials: Gold-toned stainless steel
Diameter: 38mm
Movement: Quartz
Price: $169
Seiko 5 Sports SRPE74
The ridiculously high return on investment The Seiko 5 Sports collection is built on a rough sports watch concept, but there are also gold-toned variants available. It may not be the type of gold watch that will make you look like a high roller, but it may be a fun and affordable piece of bling for your wrist. In addition to the yellow gold, a rose gold version is offered.
Materials: Gold-toned stainless steel
Diameter: 42.5 mm
Movement: Seiko 4R36 automatic
Price: $281
Casio G-Shock Full Metal GMWB5000GD-4
If you enjoy the retro feel of a gold digital watch, Timex, Nixon, Bulova, and even Hamilton have fantastic options. Few designs are more exciting than the original G-Shock from 1983, and seeing it done up in metal (gold, no less) rather than its famous black plastic seems both meta and amazing. Premium features such as Tough Solar, Bluetooth, and Multiband 6 are also included in these versions.
Materials: Rose gold ion-plated (IP) stainless steel
Diameter: 43.2 mm
Movement: Casio quartz module 3459 with solar charging
Price: $589
Apple Watch Series 7
When the Apple Watch debuted in 2014, it also included an 18ct gold Edition option priced between $10,000 and $18,000. Although it is no longer manufactured, gold-colored variants of the Sport in aluminum are still available, as is the Series 7 in stainless steel with gold coating.
Materials: Gold-toned stainless steel
Diameter: 38mm or 42mm
Movement: Apple Wear OS
Price: $749
Hamilton Intra-Matic Auto
Of course, one of the top dress watches available looks great in gold. Hamilton truly got the intricacies and elegance of its Intra-Matic dial and simple design right, and it’ll make you feel like Don Draper no matter what else you’re wearing. This basic case has a PVD gold finish and an automated movement inside.
Materials: Yellow PVD-coated stainless steel
Diameter: 38mm
Movement: ETA 2892 automatic
Price: $925
Tissot Excellence Automatic 18K Gold
You’ve just discovered the cheapest modern watch in genuine 18ct gold available. We’re pleased to report that it not only meets that condition, but also boasts a fantastic classic design, a nice 39.8mm case size, a superb Swiss automatic movement, and more. Isn’t it cool? There are yellow or rose gold variants, black or white dials, and a quartz version for roughly $900 less.
Materials: 18k rose gold
Diameter: 39.8 mm
Movement: ETA 2892 automatic
Price: $3,200
Cartier Tank Louis Cartier
There is almost no more traditional, recognized, and (yes) elegant watch than the Cartier Tank, and it is best in this form: with a tiny hand-wound movement and rose gold casing as the Tank Louis Cartier. This is the classic gold watch experience, with a 6.6mm thick case and an in-house movement inside.
Materials: 18k rose gold
Diameter: 25.5 mm
Movement: Cartier 8971 MC
Price: $13,500
A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia
It’s no exaggeration to say that when you handle an A. Lange & Söhne watch for yourself; it’s undeniably unique. You’ll understand why the company nearly exclusively utilizes precious metals for its cases; it just seems fitting for something of this level of quality. The Saxonia in pink gold is the brand’s most affordable product. (Also look for the brand’s unique “Honey Gold” alloy, which is normally reserved for limited editions.)
Materials: 18k rose gold
Diameter: 37 mm
Movement: A. Lange & Söhne L941.1
Price: $18,800