Let’s face it. There aren’t many dads out there who wouldn’t love a nice watch for Father’s Day this year. Maybe there’s a timepiece he’s always wanted, his absolute grail watch, and you’ve finally gotten to the point in your life where you can afford to gift it to him. Or maybe he isn’t very experienced in watch collecting but would still appreciate a classy, all-occasion luxury wristwatch that will hold its value well and never go out of style. If that’s the case, you might not know where to begin your search. We’re here to help with our buying guide of watches Dad actually wants for Father’s Day this year.
To compile the ultimate list, we’ve called upon fellow dads and industry experts: Bob’s Watches owner Paul Altieri, our in-house photographer Justin Morton, and television writer and watch enthusiast Spike Feresten. We’re confident there’s a watch on our list that will make both dad and your wallet happy.
Click here for our Ultimate Father’s Day Gift Guide.
Paul’s Pick Under $10k – Omega Speedmaster 310.30.42.50.01.001
Omega Speedmaster Specs:
- Size: 42mm
- Materials: Stainless Steel
- Dial: Black “Step” Dial
- Movement: Manual-Winding
- Crystal: Hesalite
- Bezel: Anodized Aluminum
- Water-Resistance: 50 Meters/167 Feet
Speedy – an absolute industry icon; widely considered one of the best watches under $10k, and you can buy it without having to spend an eternity on the waiting list or pay multiple times its retail price.
Fact: The Speedmaster was the first wristwatch on the Moon, earning it the charming nickname “Moonwatch.” Ref. 310.30.42.50.01.001 pays homage to Speedmaster worn on the Moon with a similar step dial, dot over 90 bezel, and asymmetrical case.
Justin’s Pick Under $10k – Omega Speedmaster 311.30.42.30.01.005
Omega Speedmaster Specs:
- Size: 42mm
- Materials: Stainless Steel
- Dial: Black
- Movement: Manual Winding
- Crystal: Hesalite
- Bezel: Aluminum
- Water-Resistance: 50 Meters/167 Feet
Absolutely the most watch for the money on this list. The Moonwatch is an all-time classic that has withstood the test of time. I love having the chronograph complication available and end up using it almost every time this one is on my wrist.
Fact: Driving the Omega 311.30.42.30.01.005 is the caliber 1861, a descendant of the hand-wound movement that went to the Moon.
Spike’s Pick Under $10k – Omega Speedmaster Reduced 3510.50.00
Omega Speedmaster Reduced Specs:
- Size: 39mm
- Materials: Stainless Steel
- Dial: Black
- Movement: Automatic
- Crystal: Hesalite
- Bezel: Aluminum
- Water-Resistance: 30 Meters/100 Feet
Every Dad needs an Omega Speedmaster. Sporty, handsome, and modest yet desirable. Add a black leather strap, and he’ll have a watch for all occasions.
Fact: The Omega 3510.50.00 earns its name “Reduced” because it features a smaller case size than the 42mm Speedmaster Pro. Perfect for average to smaller-sized wrists.
Paul’s Pick Under $20k – Rolex Submariner 16610LV
Rolex Submariner 16610LV Specs:
- Size: 40mm
- Materials: Stainless Steel
- Dial: Black
- Movement: Automatic
- Crystal: Sapphire
- Bezel: Aluminum Green “Kermit”
- Water-Resistance: 300 Meters/1,000 Feet
A Rolex Submariner is easily one of the best go-anywhere, do-anything watches out there, and it could easily be the only timepiece that a person ever needs. The classic all-black Submariner is absolutely fantastic, but with a budget of $10k to $20k, you can get yourself something even more special. The “Kermit” is the 50th-anniversary Submariner, and it offers several different features that set it apart from all other Submariner watches.
Justin’s Pick Under $20k – Rolex Submariner 16610LV
Rolex Submariner 16610LV Specs:
- Size: 40mm
- Finish: Stainless Steel
- Dial: Black
- Movement: Automatic
- Crystal: Sapphire
- Bezel: Aluminum Green “Kermit”
- Water-Resistance: 300 Meters/1,000 Feet
I feel like a great dive watch is almost obligatory to the list and at the top of that category is the Rolex Submariner. I love the classics, but I also like to be a bit different, and the 16610V hits those marks perfectly for me. The green bezel adds just enough to change it up and make it special while keeping with that classic Submariner tradition.
Spike’s Pick Under $20k – Panerai Luminor Chrono Flyback PAM00580
Panerai Luminor PAM00580 Specs:
- Size: 44mm
- Materials: Black Ceramic
- Dial: Black Sandwich
- Movement: Automatic
- Crystal: Sapphire
- Bezel: Ceramic
- Water-Resistance: 100 Meters/330 Feet
Does your dad like bourbon, cigars, and the Sly Stallone vibe? Then this black ceramic Panerai Luminor Chrono Flyback will guarantee he will call you his favorite child.
Fact: The convenient Flyback function returns the chronograph hands to zero with a simple push of the button located at 8 o’clock.
Paul’s Unlimited Budget – Platinum Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 116506
Rolex Daytona 116506 Specs:
- Size: 40mm
- Materials: Platinum
- Dial: Ice Blue
- Lume: Chromalight
- Movement: Automatic
- Crystal: Sapphire
- Bezel: Chestnut Brown Cerachrom
- Water-Resistance: 100 Meters/330 Feet
With an unlimited budget, how can you not go for a solid platinum Daytona? The Daytona is easily one of the most iconic and desirable Rolex watches in the modern era. A full-platinum version fitted with an ice blue dial and chestnut brown ceramic bezel is truly unlike any other Daytona watch Rolex has ever produced.
Justin’s Unlimited Budget – White Gold Rolex GMT Master II 126719
Rolex GMT-Master II 126719 Specs:
- Size: 40mm
- Materials: 18kt White Gold
- Dial: Meteorite
- Lume: Chromalight
- Movement: Automatic
- Crystal: Sapphire
- Bezel: Red and Blue “Pepsi” Cerachrom
- Water-Resistance: 100 Meters/330 Feet
No holds barred, I have to go with the white gold meteorite dial GMT. It is the perfect combination of classic and cutting-edge. I love a classic Pepsi GMT, and this just raises the bar with the white gold and meteorite. That dial is the real star, and it is AMAZING! It is also a bit of a sleeper because someone who doesn’t know may recognize that it’s a luxury watch, but it isn’t immediately apparent that it commands the high price that it does.
Fact: The Meteorite dial is among the rarest dial options on the market because it is sourced from an actual meteorite, the Gibeon meteorite in Namibia, Africa, to be exact. It is quite literally out of this world.
Spike’s Unlimited Budget – Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5968A-001
Patek Philippe Aquanaut 3968A-001 Specs:
- Size: 42.2mm
- Materials: Stainless Steel
- Dial: Black Embossed
- Movement: Automatic
- Crystal: Sapphire
- Bezel: Stainless Steel
- Water-Resistance: 120 Meters/393 Feet
If you can afford this killer timepiece, dad raised you right. He’ll be speechless. And when I see him, champagne yacht-hopping in Monaco, I will be very jealous of his new orange wrist-wear. Very, very, very jealous.
