Best watch for 5000

True luxury watch aficionados aren’t afraid to put their money where their horological love is. However, finding a great deal on a luxury dress or sports watch with key features like a comfy rubber strap or lengthy power reserve is an even better proposition.

You might want a sleek, classy timepiece with a clean white dial. You may prefer a traditional dive watch with a blue dial that exudes gravitas. No matter what kind of luxury watch you’re hoping for, you can find the right timepiece with the model features you desire for less than $5,000!

Get more watch for less. Read on and enjoy our in-depth countdown of the 7 Best Luxury Watches For Under $5,000 In 2021. On the list below, you’ll be able to find your first watch or best watch loaded with fun specs such as a slide rule bezel, integrated bracelet, tachymeter scale, helium escape valve, water-resistant casing, and/or a lightweight watch body perfectly built to tuck your shirt cuffs under (or to drape them over.)

Let’s get going with watch #7!

The 7 Best Watches Under $5,000 For 2021

7) TAG Heuer Carrera Analog Automatic Silver Watch

Officially C.S.O.C. certified as a precision chronometer for everyday and specialty use, the TAG Heuer Carrera Analog Automatic Silver Watch sports a gorgeous high-contrast design that’s a cinch to read and an absolute pleasure to look at. You may have plenty of other TAG Heuer offerings in your browsing history. But, the Carrera is the class of the bunch thanks to everything from its new ceramic bezel to it’s well-position date window.

Specs

Display Window Material: Anti-Reflective Sapphire Crystal

Display Type: Analog

Clasp Type: Push Button Deployment Clasp

Case Material: Stainless Steel

Case Diameter: 41 mm

Case Thickness: 13 mm

Strap Material: Stainless Steel

Strap Length: Men’s Standard

Strap Width: 20 mm

Strap Color: Silver

Dial Color: Blue

Bezel Material: Stainless Steel

Movement: Swiss Automatic

Water Resistance: 100 meters

Pros

• The high-contrast white-on-black dial is sensual without being slight.
• The sapphire crystal dial window is easy to look through, even in direct sunlight.
• The included Swiss automatic movement lives up to TAG Heuer’s extraordinary reputation.

Cons

• The dial design scheme is a bit overwhelming and won’t appeal to minimalists.
• We wish that this watch was water resistant to a depth of 200 meters or more.

6) Panerai Radiomir Brown Leather Men’s Dress Watch

A callback to the Panerai watches made for members of the Royal Italian Navy during World War II, the Panerai Radiomir Brown Leather Men’s Dress Watch is the ideal marriage of homage and new-school horological thinking. This stunning hand-wound mechanical watch offers an eye-popping 72-hour power reserve and an in-house movement crafted to absolute perfection. This is one watch that embraces its minimalism without sacrificing an ounce of class.

Specs

Display Window Material: Sapphire Crystal

Display Type: Analog

Clasp Type: Tang Buckle

Case Material: Stainless Steel

Case Diameter: 45 mm

Strap Material: Leather

Strap Width: 27 mm

Strap Color: Brown

Dial Color: Black

Bezel Material: Stainless Steel

Movement: Manual Hand Wind

Water Resistance: 100 meters

Pros

• This is vintage at its finest. The timeless cushion shape features wire lugs that hearken back to yesteryear.
• The hand-wound P.6000 caliber movement is a watch fetishist’s dream.
• The 72-hour power reserve is about as lengthy as they come.

Cons

• 100 meters of water resistance is good enough, but not exemplary.
• The design is quite minimal and might come off lacking for those wanting more.

5) Omega Seamaster Diver Master Dive Watch

The official watch of James Bond in the 1990s, the Omega Seamaster Master Diver Watch is available in multiple colors and complications. It’s also available in different case sizes, allowing you to customize your experience to fit the size of your wrist. Two key features that come standard with every Seamaster purchase are a helium release valve and a laser-etched wave dial that always catches the light in new, exciting ways.

Specs

Display Window Material: Anti-Reflective Sapphire Crystal

Display Type: Analog

Clasp Type: Deployment Clasp

Case Material: Stainless Steel

Case Diameter: 42 mm

Case Thickness: 14 mm

Strap Material: Stainless Steel

Strap Width: 20 mm

Strap Color: Silver

Dial Color: Blue

Bezel Material: Ceramic

Movement: Automatic

Water Resistance: 300 meters

Pros

• The ceramic bezel is a looker and turns like a dream.
• This watch exudes luxury in every respect. It’s no wonder why it was built for the spy’s lifestyle.
• The new ceramic bezel is a fantastic addition.

Cons

• The style might be somewhat played out for those looking for something new.
• It’s a little chunky for very small wrists.

4) Tudor Black Bay Men’s Automatic Watch

A modernized take on the original Tudor Submariner series, the Tudor Black Bay Men’s Automatic Watch is a bronze beauty with personality in spades. The first dive watch in Tudor history to include solid bronze, the Black Bay boasts an always-legible dial scheme perfect for water lovers with eye problems and easy to read in low light. Water resistant to a depth of 200 meters, this is one of those luxury watches that can go on land and in the wet stuff without a hint of slowing down.

Specs

Display Window Material: Scratch-Resistant Sapphire Crystal

Display Type: Analog

Clasp Type: Deployment Clasp

Case Material: Stainless Steel

Case Diameter: 41 mm

Strap Material: Stainless Steel

Strap Width: 22 mm

Strap Color: Bronze

Dial Color: Black

Bezel: Bi-Directional Rotating Coin Edge

Movement: Automatic

Water Resistance: 200 meters

Pros

• 200 meters of water resistance and a 70 hour power reserve? How amazing is that???
• The bronze affects make every nuance of this watch pop differently.
• We love the durability and clarity of the scratch-resistant sapphire crystal dial window.

Cons

• We’d prefer Arabic numeral hour markers around the full dial.
• The strap might wrap a little tight for some larger wrists.

3) NOMOS Glashütte Tangente Hand-Winding Mechanical Watch

NOMOS watches are true outliers in the watch industry. Inspired by the breakneck speeds of the German Autobahn, the NOMOS Glashutte Tangente Hand-Winding Mechanical Watch features eight luminous strips in the center of the dial positioned to resemble a race car’s dashboard. It also includes an mechanical hand-wound movement well worth double the price you’re likely to pay. And to top things off, the leather strap is so soft and easy on your skin out of the box.

Specs

Display Window Material: Sapphire Crystal

Display Type: Analog

Clasp Type: Buckle

Case Material: Stainless Steel

Case Diameter: 35 mm

Strap Material: Leather

Strap Width: 22 mm

Strap Color: Black

Dial Color: White

Bezel Material: Stainless Steel

Movement: Mechanical Hand Wind

Water Resistance: 30 meters

Pros

• The Bauhaus-influenced dial design takes luxury to a different artistic level.
• The dash-inspired luminous strips light up the night with atypical brilliance.
• The in-house hand wind movement is one of our top luxury movements we’ve ever tested.

Cons

• This watch isn’t the most water-resistant offering on our list.
• It’s got a personality all it’s own and may not fit some style profiles.

2) Breitling Navitimer Chronograph 1 Watch

A C.S.O.C certified chronometer built for land, sea, and dinner parties galore, the Breitling Navitimer Chronograph Watch is one of our favorite watches under $5,000 ever produced. The self-winding automatic movement is on point and always on time. The scratch-resistant cambered dial window is glare-proof and clear from any angle in any light. And from a pure aesthetic standpoint, this watch bridges the gap between dress watches and specialty naval watches to dizzying effect.

Specs

Display Window Material: Scratch-Resistant Sapphire Crystal

Display Type: Analog

Clasp Type: Tang Buckle

Case Material: Stainless Steel

Case Diameter: 41 mm

Case Thickness: 14.44 mm

Strap Material: Leather (Crocodile)

Strap Length: 7 inches

Strap Width: 22 mm

Strap Color: Black

Dial Color: Black

Bezel Material: Stainless Steel

Movement: Automatic

Water Resistance: 30 meters

Pros

• Other watches use the crocodile leather design, but not this well.
• The sapphire crystal dial window is nearly impervious to scuffs and scratches.
• The look of the dial reflects the past while always moving forward.

Cons

• It only offers 30 meters of water resistance.
• A bit of gold would have gone a long way on the casing.

1) Omega Speedmaster Professional Chronograph Automatic Watch

The Omega Speedmaster series has broken barriers for decades now, and the Omega Speedmaster Professional Chronograph Automatic Watch is the fruit of its evolution. Featuring a smaller case than its predecessors and a dial/case combination that’s both utilitarian and outright gorgeous, this Speedmaster model is a gorgeous remote island on a crowded watch world map. Forge the Tissot Heritage. Leave the Oris Divers Watch to others. Get yourself a Speedmaster and wear the difference.

Specs

Display Window Material: Sapphire Crystal

Display Type: Analog

Clasp Type: Deployment Clasp

Case Material: Stainless Steel

Case Diameter: 40 mm

Case Thickness: 15 mm

Strap Material: Stainless Steel

Strap Width: 22 mm

Strap Color: Black

Dial Color: Black

Bezel Material: Stainless Steel

Movement: Swiss Automatic

Water Resistance: 100 meters

Pros

• The Speedmaster series has played host to some of the best watches at any price point in the industry. This is no exception.
• The Swiss automatic movement runs so smoothly and ticks like a dream.
• It offers a 52-hour power reserve to ensure it’s always operational when you need it most.

Cons

• If you like the gaudier Speedmaster designs, this one might be a little underwhelming.
• The three sub-dial design might come off somewhat busy for some tastes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best luxury watch brands?

For those looking to purchase luxury chronograph watches, dive watches, dress watches, and/or sports watches, there are a wealth of options for you to consider. All the watches on the countdown above represent the pinnacle of affordable luxury. But, you may want to expand your watch brand horizons a bit and find either a timepiece for special occasions or an everyday watch for yourself.

We’ve curated a list of the 16 best luxury watch brands going today to help you narrow things down. Whether you want to go with a classic Rolex Submariner or Oyster Perpetual or mix it up with a true dive watch like the Oris Diver’s Watch, the 16 brands below have something worth your time and investment:

• Rolex
• Patek Philippe
• Breitling
• Audemars Piguet
• NOMOS
• Panerai
• A.Lange & Söhne
• Tudor
• Omega
• Blancpain
• TAG Heuer
• IWC Schaffhausen
• Jaeger-LeCoultre
• Cartier
• Oris
• Grand Seiko

What’s the difference between luxury watches and more affordable watches?

It’s all about quality and style. You might see an affordable watch with a Swiss automatic movement and stainless steel bracelet. It may even have a lengthy power reserve and watch features that are quite impressive. Yet, luxury timepieces take things to a completely different level that excites watch enthusiasts to no end.

Maybe it’s because of an in-house movement (and exhibition caseback) that’s been painstakingly crafted by artists of the horological trade. Maybe it’s the classic lines or modern appearance of an artful watch case that will mesmerize anyone who sees it around your wrist. Maybe it’s the quality of the brown leather strap or black leather strap that looks amazing and feels even better.

Whatever it is, luxury watches almost always have unique watch features (such as in-house movements) and aesthetics that separate them from the pack of other watches.

Closing Thoughts

Price points are everything in the watch world. If you can score a gorgeous luxury dress watch or sports watch for under $5,000, you are way ahead of the curve. The seven men’s watches on the list above range from stalwarts with a classic look to upstarts that would make James Bond blush. You don’t need an inflated price tag to get what you want. You can be at the pinnacle of style for less money than you might think.