Loading Spinner

Men's Watches

Prior to World War I, men long preferred a discrete pocket watch to a wristwatch. As soldiers discovered the value of quickly being able to check the time on their wrist, wristwatches quickly dominated the market.

Most early wristwatches were made in Switzerland and the United States, followed to a lesser extent by the United Kingdom and Germany. After World War II, Switzerland and the United States dominated the watch making market until Japan introduced the first commercial quartz wristwatch in 1969.

Japanese manufacturers were able to build quartz movements of high quality in large amounts at low prices. They took over the global market for wristwatches entirely, shutting down mechanical watch manufacturing in the United States almost completely as the Swiss hung on by a thread. But renewed appreciation for mechanical wristwatches in the late 1980s and early '90s saved the Swiss watch industry and certain American and German watch brands.

Over the past 10 years, men's watch collecting has exploded, and continues to grow in both contemporary and secondhand markets. In high-end watch collecting in general, vintage styles from the 1940s through the '60s continue to command record-breaking prices at auction.

Recommended Items at Auction

See all items

The Night Watch
Dec 31, 9:45 AM PST
The Night Watch
by Abell Auction
Est: $5,000- $7,000
$4,5000 Bids
The Night Watch
Oct 31, 9:45 PM EDT
The Night Watch
by Grogan & Company
Est: $5,000- $7,000
$4,5000 Bids
The Night Watch
Dec 31, 7:30 PM CET
The Night Watch
by Tajan
Est: €5,000- €7,000
€4,4000 Bids
bp parity badge
Rolex Super President Style 4.50ctw Diamond DayDate Wristwatch A599
Nov 22, 1:15 PM EST
Rolex Super President Style 4.50ctw Diamond DayDate Wristwatch A599
by Eldred's
Est: $20,000- $30,000
$1,0000 Bids
bp parity badge
Men's Elegant Tourbillon Watch
Nov 22, 1:15 PM EST
Men's Elegant Tourbillon Watch
by Eldred's
Est: $100- $300
$100 Bids
Rolex Super President Style 4.50ctw Diamond DayDate Wristwatch A599
Jan 04, 2:00 PM GMT
Rolex Super President Style 4.50ctw Diamond DayDate Wristwatch A599
by Stout Auctions Toy and Train Specialists
Est: €20,000- €30,000
€100 Bids
Men's Elegant Tourbillon Watch
Jan 04, 2:00 PM GMT
Men's Elegant Tourbillon Watch
by Stout Auctions Toy and Train Specialists
Est: €100- €300
€100 Bids
The Night Watch
Oct 31, 8:00 AM PDT
The Night Watch
by Mark Sublette Medicine Man Gallery
Est: $5,000- $7,000
$4,5000 Bids
The Night Watch
Oct 31, 4:15 PM AEDT
The Night Watch
by Theodore Bruce
Est: AUD5,000- AUD7,000
AUD4,4000 Bids
Rolex Super President Style 4.50ctw Diamond DayDate Wristwatch A599
Oct 26, 3:00 PM BST
Rolex Super President Style 4.50ctw Diamond DayDate Wristwatch A599
by Stout Auctions Toy and Train Specialists
Est: €20,000- €30,000
€1,0000 Bids
Men's Elegant Tourbillon Watch
Oct 26, 3:00 PM BST
Men's Elegant Tourbillon Watch
by Stout Auctions Toy and Train Specialists
Est: €100- €300
€100 Bids
Rolex Super President Style 4.50ctw Diamond DayDate Wristwatch A599
Dec 31, 1:00 PM EST
Rolex Super President Style 4.50ctw Diamond DayDate Wristwatch A599
by Bodnar's Auction Sales
Est: $20,000- $30,000
$1,0000 Bids
Men's Elegant Tourbillon Watch
Dec 31, 1:00 PM EST
Men's Elegant Tourbillon Watch
by Bodnar's Auction Sales
Est: $100- $300
$100 Bids
The Night Watch
Oct 31, 4:30 PM AEDT
The Night Watch
by Lawsons
Est: AUD5,000- AUD7,000
AUD4,5000 Bids
The Night Watch
Nov 01, 10:00 AM AEDT
The Night Watch
by Theodore Bruce
Est: AUD5,000- AUD7,000
AUD4,4000 Bids

Sellers Who Sell Men's Watches


Stout Auctions Toy and Train Specialists

Stout Auctions Toy and Train Specialists

Eldred's

Eldred's

Bodnar's Auction Sales

Bodnar's Auction Sales

Theodore Bruce

Theodore Bruce