Iconic watches for men

These iconic men's watches from the 20th century cruise into the 21st century with their hereditary traits intact.

10 March 2016
15
  • Louis Cartier Tank watch
    Renowned as a jewellery house, Cartier has also produced some of the finest and most iconic watches since the early 20th century. Louis Cartier was inspired by the boxy profile of the Renault battle tank when he designed the legendary Cartier Tank watch in 1917.
  • Rolex Submariner green ceramic watch
    Still the reference among dive watches and forever linked to James Bond, 50-plus years later, the Rolex Submariner is still going strong and has been beefed up for even more extreme action.
  • Omega Speedmaster watch face
    Ever since the day in 1969 when the Apollo 11 landed on the Moon with a 1957 Omega Speedmaster strapped to Buzz Aldrin's wrist, these watches have been called the "Moonwatch". Faithful to its original, the only change to the Speedmaster 57 is that it beats to a Co-Axial chronograph calibre.
  • Panerai Radiomir watch face
    Panerai was a top military secret for decades and didn't surface until the early 1990s. Its first luminescent dive watches were trial-run by the Italian Navy in 1936, glowing in the dark thanks to the radium paste patented as Radiomir by Panerai.
  • Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watch in yellow gold
    Audemars Piguet's Royal Oak made its debut in 1972, in the middle of the quartz tempest that decimated Switzerland’s mechanical watch industry. It was a radical proposal and is still one of the most recognisable watches today thanks to its octagonal bezel with exposed screws.
  • Up next

    Ridiculously expensive wristwatches
    Hublot Big Bang $5 million watch
     
  • -
  • Previously

    Iconic watches for women
    Bulgari Serpenti turquoise and diamond watch
     
Shop Omega at Harrods Shop Audemars Piguet at Harrods

Support our Work with a Contribution of any Amount

We need your help to keep The Jewellery Editor’s independence so that we can continue to offer quality writing that’s open to everyone around the world.

It means we can give a full and varied picture of the big, wide world of jewellery and watches whether it is on our website or social media channels.

Every contribution is hugely appreciated and key to ensuring our future.

Terms and conditions

Rebecca Doulton

REBECCA DOULTON

Luxury goods and lifestyle writer Rebecca began writing for the Financial Times in Mexico City in the early 1980s. Formerly the editor of the Tiempo de Relojes website, Rebecca joined The Jewellery Editor with a wealth of experience in watches. ...