The 15 Best All-Black Watches for Men in 2023

When it comes to versatile everyday watch styles, it’s hard to beat the classic combo of a stainless steel case and a black dial. This is the look that frequently pops up on the most popular and timeless sports watch examples, from the Rolex Submariner to the Omega Speedmaster. And it’s easy to see why: it’s a combination that looks fantastic. But what if you’re in the market for something a little bolder? A little more daring? A little more modern? In that case, going for the tried-and-true just isn’t going to cut it. Instead, these are the occasions for which we suggest an all-black watch.

The best all-black watches for men bring a heightened sense of modernity along with a rough edge and a whisper of danger that’s difficult to calculate. While blacked-out watches obviously don’t carry with them any change in their wearer’s personality, they sure do bring a lot of swagger to a wrist. And while practically every blacked-out watch has this effect, they don’t all accomplish it in the same way. Some sport a militaristic tactical edge to their design, while others go the ultra-luxe route in their noir makeup. Whichever Stygian style suits you best, you’re likely to find an example you love below in our roundup of the best all-black watches for men.

Timex + Todd Snyder Q Blackout

Todd Snyder is arguably the premier name in menswear today, while Timex is one of the most storied brand names in American watchmaking. So naturally, every time these two get together, we know we’re in for something special. The Blackout is Snyder’s modern take on Timex’s ‘70s-inspired Q reissue, and it mixes up the formula with an all-black treatment, a sleeker bracelet, a crosshair dial, and silver-tone applied indices.

Purchase: $189

Seiko 5 Sports SRPD79

Part of Seiko’s “Street Style” line of 5 Sports watches, this blacked-out budget diver offers a ton of urban style for not a lot of cash. Using Seiko’s tried and true dive watch formula — the familiar hands and indices, chunky dive bezel, 4 o’clock crown, etc. — as its base, the SRPD79 goes bold by turning virtually everything on the watch black. Not only are the case, dial, and strap black, but also the bezel markings, the day/date wheel, and even the lume.

Purchase: $250

Luminox Original Navy SEAL Evo 3001 Blackout

If you picture Special Forces soldiers heading out on daring nighttime missions when you think of all-black watches, then Luminox’s “Blackout” version of its original official Navy SEAL watch is the tactical timepiece for you. Sporting a tough and lightweight CARBONOX case and bezel, 200m water resistance, and the brand’s trademark tritium gas-fueled always-on light technology, this is one stealthy watch that is built to perform in the toughest conditions.

Purchase: $435

Hamilton Khaki Field Titanium Auto

Speaking of watches that are made for tough conditions, Hamilton’s prototypical field watch was forged in the crucible of WWII. Of course, the version we have here is a far more advanced piece of kit than what our boys had on their wrists eight decades ago, but it’s still ready for battle (or, you know, your daily commute). Housing a Swiss-made automatic movement with an 80-hour power reserve inside of a black PVD-treated titanium case, this is arguably the sleekest of Hamilton’s many Khaki Field models.

Purchase: $995

Christopher Ward C63 Colchester

Keeping with our current military theme (what can we say, black watches are well-suited to tactical applications), we have this intriguing number from England’s Christopher Ward. Approved by the British Army’s Parachute Regiment, the Colchester is the lightest watch ever made by CW, with a watch head that weighs just 38g. The modern military marvel is loaded with advanced tech like an injected carbon case, a forged carbon dial, and a popout recessed crown that offers both comfort and protection.

Purchase: $1,195

Longines Legend Diver

While practically every watch brand in existence has jumped on board the vintage styling train, few, if any, are better at executing the look than Longines. The brand’s robust history affords it a wealth of vintage styles from which to choose when it comes to modern reimaginings, and one of the brand’s biggest successes has been the reborn Legend Diver. Attractive in any of its numerous guises, this more modern take on the super compressor-style dive watch, with its PVD-coated case and mesh bracelet, is almost too cool.

Purchase: $2,700

Bell & Ross BR 03-92 PHANTOM

After a brief hiatus, we’re back to another military-themed timepiece, except this time, we’re getting out of the field and taking to the skies. From B&R’s iconic Instruments line of watches that were inspired by cockpit instruments, the PHANTOM is the stealthiest version of the brand’s signature BR 03-92. Executed in black ceramic with a black rubber strap, literally every visible aspect of the watch is blacked out — including the lume, the dial text, and both the date text and date wheel. If you asked Spinal Tap how much blacker this watch could get, their answer would be, “None more black.”

Purchase: $3,900

Tudor Black Bay Ceramic

Shortly after Tudor released the Black Bay Ceramic in 2021, we had the chance to review it hands-on. At the time, we declared it the “New King of Cool” and sang its praises as a stealthy and sleek diver that effortlessly blended classic style and modern sensibilities. So how do we feel about it now, a year later? Well, unsurprisingly, nothing has changed. As it turns out, crafting the Black Bay — a contemporary icon — out of black ceramic was a brilliant move on the part of Rolex’s sister brand, and the BB Ceramic remains one of the downright coolest things one can strap to one’s wrist.

Purchase: $4,825

Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Ultrablack

Although Montblanc has only been making watches since the late 1990s, the brand has firmly established itself as a major player in the luxury market — thanks in no small part to its partnership with storied Swiss movement manufacturer Minerva. Arguably the pair’s greatest collab so far is the Geosphere, an adventurer’s watch with a compass bezel and a unique world time function that features displays for both the northern and (normally horologically-neglected) southern hemisphere. Available in a handful of variants, the “Ultrablack” version in distressed stainless steel is especially interesting.

Purchase: $6,900

Zenith DEFY Classic Black Ceramic

While Zenith frequently uses its Chronomaster line to honor its rich El Primero heritage, the brand’s DEFY series is where it goes to explore the future (the recent 1969 DEFY reissue notwithstanding). And while this DEFY Classic is one of the tamer entries in the model line, it remains one of the most thoroughly contemporary watches on the Swiss luxury market thanks to its sharply-angled black ceramic case, its open-worked (and star-shaped) black dial, and its black integrated textured rubber strap.

Purchase: $7,700

Omega Seamaster Diver 300M “Black Black”

Joining the previously-mentioned Bell & Ross in the “black as you can get” category, we have Omega’s ebony version of its iconic Seamaster Diver. The aptly-named “Black Black” is the same Seamaster you know and love, with the wave dial, scalloped ceramic bezel, twisted lugs, and all the rest of it, but executed in a wholly original and modern manner. Here, virtually everything you see is ceramic, not just the dial and bezel but also the case, crown, helium escape valve, and clasp on the rubber strap. Omega even used Anthracite Super-LumiNova to keep things low-key during the day without sacrificing nighttime illumination.

Purchase: $8,650

Hermès H08 Graphene Composite

Hermès is the rare designer brand that actually makes legit luxury watches that get a nod from enthusiasts, and the brand’s hot new flagship might be its most impressive piece yet. As the lightest material in the world, graphene has been popping up everywhere as of late, as the incredibly thin and strong component seems to have countless applications. With the H08, Hermès has employed it as a material for a watch case, resulting in a revolutionary timepiece that’s extraordinarily light without sacrificing strength. As a bonus, it also looks the business, no doubt a result of Hermès being one of the world’s premier fashion houses.

Purchase: $8,900

IWC Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph TOP GUN Ceratanium

Not one to shy away from revolutionary materials either, IWC employs its proprietary “Ceratanium” for the case on this TOP GUN version of the brand’s trademark Pilot’s Watch. The material is a blend of ceramic and titanium, and while it could admittedly probably use a cleverer name, it’s an impressive mashup that combines titanium’s strength and lightness with ceramic’s renowned scratch resistance. Also impressive is the watch’s movement: an in-house automatic split-seconds chronograph that’s built to withstand the rigors of aerial missions.

Purchase: $14,600

Panerai Submersible Marina Militare Carbotech

While Panerai these days is mainly thought of as a luxury watchmaker, the brand’s roots are firmly militaristic, having provided dive watches to the Italian Navy beginning in the 1930s. This nero version of the brand’s flagship diver pays tribute to the Mediterranean nation’s current frogman commandos with fittingly modern tech and aesthetics. The case and bezel are solid Carbotech, the dial is carbon, and the strap is hardwearing Caoutchouc rubber. Naturally, this watch is fully deserving of its “Survival Instrument” designation engraved on its case back.

Purchase: $19,400

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Black Ceramic

AP describes its blockbuster new 34mm Royal Oak as its first “black ceramic piece for the slenderest wrists.” A lot of people took that to mean this is strictly a ladies’ watch, but we’d wear this thing in a heartbeat. 34mm is a classic men’s watch size, and Royal Oaks wear a little large to begin with, so we’d classify this piece as thoroughly unisex. Regardless of how you feel about gendering watches, the fact remains that this is a Royal Oak executed in impeccably finished black ceramic with solid 18k pink gold for the hands, indices, and trademark bezel screws. In other words, it’s brilliant.

Purchase: $48,900

The Best Dive Watches For Your Collection

In the market for a watch that’s a bit more traditional? In that case, you can’t go wrong with a classic diver — the most timeless and versatile watch design there is. To discover our favorites, head on over to our guide to the best dive watches currently on the market.