Like all things in life, watches come in various levels of quality and with varying degrees of prestige. While some wealthy people are 100% happy wearing various funky watch brands from the likes of Gucci, Swatch, and other quality brands, there is a Swiss Watch hierarchy that only the super-wealthy turn to.

The de lux brands carry high status and are made with only the finest materials and most precise engineering. It is to these brands that we turn to find 7 of the finest gold watch timepieces for men out there.

7 Watch Brands That Stand Apart

We look to celebrities and high-end businessmen to find the latest trends when it comes to the best men’s gold watch brands. Collectors often turn to these iconic pieces, as they represent the best watches around. These include pieces from watchmakers like Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Rolex, Richard Mille, Hublot, Jacob & Co, and Vacheron Constantin.

Our Top Pick of Gold Watch Pieces

Now, we know that you could probably list several more brands that might belong on this page, and of course, we recognize that there are plenty more premium designers out there. These include the houses of Breguet, Jaeger-Le Coultre, Roger Dubuis, Blancpain, Franck Muller, and more. However, we’ve elected to go with some of the more popular gold watch brands seen on the wrists of A-lister sportsmen and celebrities.

1. Patek Phillippe Nautilus 5990/1R-001 – Rose Gold (Up to $600K)

There is no way that you can go shopping for the best timepieces without exploring the range of gold watch pieces on offer from the stable of Patek Philippe. Many top stars like Kevin Hart, Conor McGregor, and other known watch connoisseurs have PPs in their collections. The company has excelled in Genevan watchmaking artistry since 1839. Its founders, Antoine Norbert de Patek and Andrien Philippe established the brand to be among the world’s best.

The Nautilus range of watches is for the everyday wearer. The class of the watch makes it great for the business day or for a night out on the town. Of course, the fact that you can purchase one in Rose Gold is a dream. It makes this particular model of Patek Philippe quite rare and costly.

The gold watch comes with a state-of-the-art caliber self-winding mechanism with a power reserve of 45 to 55 hours. Patek Philippe even uses 21-carat gold on the inside of this masterpiece. The face comes in various color options, all with a dual chronometer that displays a 60-minute counter and a watch face for a second time zone. The date is also displayed for convenience.

2. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore – Pink Gold (Up to $80,000)

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore men’s gold watches are a direct competitor for the Patek Philippe Nautilus brand. The sporty, yet sophisticated look of the watch makes it a versatile timepiece that can be worn on just about any occasion thanks to the fact that it comes with an interchangeable strap system. This means you can fit either the rose gold, leather, or rubber straps to suit your mood.

The case is a brushed pink gold finish with a glare-proofed sapphire crystal case back sealed to provide up to 100-meter water resistance. The mechanism calibre is a self-winding flyback chronograph that is visible through the sapphire back casing. The watch reserves an impressive 70-hour power reserve thanks to its ingenious engineering.

The 42mm size ensures that this gold watch is noticeable from far off. The face boasts separate hours, minutes, and small seconds displays. The blue dial with the “Petite Tapisserie” pattern and gold counters smacks of class and adds to the pricey look of the timepiece.

3. Rolex – Presidential Day-Date 40 Oyster – Everose Gold with Diamonds ($100K +)

When expensive watches are mentioned, it’s very rare that the name “Rolex” won’t be one of the first names to pop up. We’re not sure whether it’s television that has helped market the brand so well, but it is certainly one of the most popular Swiss watches out there. While there is a wide range of Rolexes, you cannot talk about Rolex gold watch pieces without mentioning the iconic Day-Date variant nicknamed the “Presidential.” One of Conor McGregor’s most expensive watches is a custom Day-Date.

The Rolex Day-Date 40 is a classic timepiece that is aptly named because it displays both the day of the week (at 12 o’clock) and the date (at 3 o’clock) on the dial. Some Day-Dates are readily available to purchase over the counter, however, you may have to search a little further to find a men’s rose gold watch with a diamond-encrusted bezel. Something like that would set you back close to $100K. of course, if you’d prefer less bling, you can resort to a less flashy bezel and watch face.

The Day-Date 40 is an 18-carat watch with a wide display and is the ultimate Rolex for those looking for prestige in the range. The gold watch is equipped with a new generation movement according to Rolex. The caliber 3255 offers self-winding mechanics and boasts some of the best precision in the market space. As such, it receives a benchmark quality grading as a superlative timepiece.

4. Richard Mille RM 21-01 (Approx. $800K)

You may be wondering if the watch pictured above is really classified as a gold watch. Well, when you look at the front casing and then flick the piece over to view the movement mechanism inside, you’ll notice that it’s a red gold and carbon finish that makes this specific piece pop.

Richard Mille is known for its original case designs. They probably suit sporty types more than conventional businessmen, but like all great pieces, it’s versatile and can be worn with just about any outfit.

This particular watch is not a self-winding piece, but rather a tourbillion manual winding movement. However, it does have a power reserve indicator to let you know when the watch should be wound again. The reserve is around 70 hours give or take 10% either way.

The watch pictured above is one of only 50 pieces made, so it might be extremely difficult to get your hands on one. As such, expect a wealthy price tag if you do find one. While most Richard Mille timepieces average around the $200K mark, you can expect to pay quadruple that for this specific piece.

5. Jacob & Co. Bugatti Chiron Tourbillion Baguette White Diamonds ($1+ million)

Jacobs & Co are a watchmaking company that specializes in the production of one of a kind themed piece. Each time you buy a watch from them, you know you will have to splash out with a price that is well into the 6 figures. Each iconic watch is a unique talking point and could quite easily be considered a work of art. While the standard Bugatti watch without diamonds will fetch $280K or more, this piece is valued at well over that.

The Bugatti Chiron watch was made in partnership with the Bugatti car brand. If you look closely at the face, you will even see that the watchmakers have recreated the W-16 motor and pistons which pump up and down. It is a self-winding piece, and the creators have used the innovation of a fuel gauge as a power reserve indicator.

While standard Bugatti Jacob & Co watches fetch a mint, this specific piece boasts a gold and diamond finishing, pushing both the prestige and price of this watch through the roof. However, one thing you can be assured of with this piece is that you’ll probably never bump into anyone else with the same watch on their wrist.

Jacob & Co are also known for other fantastic pieces. Their “Astronomia Casino” roulette watch made the headlines when both Drake and Conor McGregor purchased one. It’s a fully functional roulette wheel with pockets, a ball, and all.

6. Hublot – Aerofusion King Gold Diamonds ($45,200)

There’s a good chance that most high-end watch collectors will have at least one Hublot timepiece in their safe. The Aerofusion King Gold is a masterpiece worth a little over $30K, but when you opt to encrust the bezel in diamonds, the blingage raises the tag to a whopping $45K each.

Firstly, it’s interesting to note that Hublot has developed its very own gold color. King Gold is a fusion of metals with a warmer shade than traditional 18K gold. It contains a high concentration of platinum in the alloy, providing a polished satin finish.

Despite the impressive and sporty looks, this gold watch is backed by a bespoke movement, developed especially for the brand. It combines the unique design of tourbillion and MP-11 calibers. It provides a 50-day power reserve.

7. Vacheron Constantin Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin (4300V/120R-B547) Pink Gold ($140,000+)

Imagine having the day, date, and month displayed on the face of a watch in addition to the timekeeping mechanism. Well, with Vacheron Constantin’s perpetual calendar piece, you needn’t imagine anymore. With a waterproof resistance of up to 5-bar, this pink gold watch is an attractive everyday wearer. Just look up close and stand in awe at how the watchmaker fits so many intricate moving pieces into a 41.5-millimeter face. While it may be dubbed “ultra-thin”, you can feel the quality of the components in its 181-gram weight.

The hands and indexes are coated in a special “Super-Luminova” luminescent material that stores light in the day and glows in the dark all night long. While the front of the watch looks busy enough, turn it over for a real eyeful. Only the finest 22-carat gold and finest metals are used to craft the mechanism –  an art form perfected over the last few centuries.

Round-Up

Beauty is always in the eye of the beholder. There are so many fantastic timepiece collections available through each of the brands listed on this page. We’ve simply endeavored to highlight some of the most special pieces from each stable. Each watch is fit for a wealthy man and is certainly a status piece in its own right.