If you’re a chef, you know how temperature changes in the kitchen can wreak havoc on your gadgets. You also know that a wristwatch is essential for keeping track of cooking times, shift changes, and potential rushes when it’s not feasible to grab your phone.
Whether you’re working as a sous chef at an esteemed restaurant such as the French Laundry or you’re the executive chef of a new joint looking to make your mark alongside the celebrity chefs you know and love, you need a reliable watch which won’t get ruined by the everyday stress of food preparation. The best chefs watches don’t just have a reliable chronograph function. No ordinary watch will do in such extraordinary circumstances.
If you’re looking for chef watches and aren’t quite sure which to grab, look no further. We’ve curated the ultimate list of the top watches for chefs in 2021. (We’ll even highlight the infamous Gordan Ramsay watch seen in his hit television show, Hell’s Kitchen! All rights reserved, of course.)
Without further ado, let’s get to the list!
The 6 Best Watches For Chefs In 2021
1) Seiko Prospex Samurai Automatic Dive Watch
- Seiko 24 Jewels Self-Winding Automatic Movement with Hackable Second Hand (Calibre 4R36)
- Stainless Steel Case and Band, Push Button Deployment Clasp with Safety Lock Feature
- Hardlex Mineral Crystal, Date Display, Luminous Hands and Markers
- Case Size: 44 mm Diameter, 12 mm Thickness
- Water Resistant - 200 M, Screw Down Crown and Case Back
A watch built for divers but perfect for those who spend their days and nights in stuffy kitchens, the Seiko Prospex Samurai Automatic Dive Watch is one of three non-luxury watches included on our list. That’s for good reason! It’s constructed with extreme water sports in mind and is definitely primed for the humidity of the most busy kitchens in the world.
Specs
Display Type: Analog
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Case Diameter: 44 mm
Case Thickness: 12 mm
Band Material: Stainless Steel
Band Color: Silver
Dial Color: Black
Water Resistant Depth: 200 Meters
Movement: Self-Winding Automatic
Pros
- Seiko does mid-level watches right with unparalleled durability and lasting strength at its price point.
- The accuracy of the self-winding automatic movement is quite impressive.
- This is our pick for the second-best watch on the list in terms of complete water resistance, which is amazing considering it’s not a luxury offering.
Cons
- The chapter ring doesn’t quite line up with the indice at 12 o’clock.
- It can be a bit noisy when you move your wrist quickly. The band is a bit clunky in that way.
2) Hublot Big Bang Automatic Watch
The favorite watch of world-renowned chef Andreas Caminada, the Hublot Big Bang is a breathtaking time piece you’ve probably never heard of. And while Caminada was working his way towards becoming the youngest chef in Europe to be rated with three Michelin stars, he was wearing this. That’s because it’s just as durable as it is beautiful, especially with its scratch-resistant sapphire crystal dial window.
Specs
Display Type: Analog
Clasp Style: Push Button Foldover Clasp With Safety
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Case Diameter: 44 mm
Case Thickness: 15 mm
Band Material: Rubber
Band Width: 25 mm
Band Color: Black
Dial Color: Black
Water Resistant Depth: 100 Meters
Movement: Swiss Automatic
Pros
- The Swiss automatic movement is the pinnacle of precision and self-winding ease.
- This is our choice for the prettiest watch on the countdown. If you want a rugged watch which also looks like a million bucks, this is it.
- The materials are top notch. Everything from the body to the dial window is built to make it through decades of hard kitchen work.
Cons
- It’s not as expensive as a Rolex, but it’s pretty darn close. This is a luxury watch for those who can afford it.
- While the rubber strap is comfortable, it may not have the feel you’re looking for.
3) Peugeot Black Ceramic Crystal Accent Chronograph Watch
- Round black ceramic case with stationary sport bezel
- Black chronograph dial
- White stick markers with Swarovski crystals, silver tone luminous hands
- Black ceramic bracelet
- Swiss Movment
If you want a mid-level watch which doesn’t cost you an arm and leg but still will last you for years and years of long kitchen shifts, we present to you the Peugeot Black Ceramic Crystal Accent Chronograph Watch. Its glossy look will definitely be the talk of the break room, but it’s the strong ceramic case and precise Swiss quartz movement which makes it a must buy for any aspiring or entrenched culinary master.
Specs
Display Type: Analog
Clasp Style: Push Button Deployment Clasp
Case Material: Ceramic
Case Diameter: 42 mm
Case Thickness: 8 mm
Band Material: Ceramic
Band Width: 20 mm
Band Color: Black
Dial Color: Black
Water Resistant Depth: 30Meters
Movement: SwissQuartz
Pros
- The Swiss quartz movement is reliable and extraordinarily precise.
- We adore the black-on-black look and we know your coworkers will as well!
- The rugged nature of this watch’s ceramic construction will keep it running through the longest and hardest of kitchen shifts.
Cons
- The feel of a ceramic case and band can take a little bit of getting used to. Some don’t find it very comfortable.
- It’s got the lowest water resistant rating on our list. It’s still adequate, but not the greatest.
4) Rolex Submariner Date Watch
We promised the inclusion of the infamous watch from Hell’s Kitchen, and here it is! Gordon Ramsay swears by it for its durability and apex quality. And it makes sense as this is the perfect balance of Rolex’s trademark luxury and true practicality. This watch is built to last with only the finest and most rugged of materials, but it’s also a real looker. If you want flash and sensibility out of your watches, here you go.
Specs
Display Type: Analog
Clasp Style: Deployment Clasp
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Case Diameter: 40 mm
Case Thickness: 13 mm
Band Material: Stainless Steel
Band Width: 20 mm
Band Color: Black
Dial Color: Black
Water Resistant Depth: 300 Meters
Movement: Mechanical (Automatic)
Pros
- No watch on this list balances lasting construction with a luxurious air quite like this.
- However intense your kitchen gets in the middle of a rush, this watch will soldier through without scratches or cracks.
- When it comes to water resistance, there’s no better. It’s rare you find a watch with a water resistant depth of 300 meters.
Cons
- This watch costs as much as some people’s yearly salaries.
- Rolex watches are handmade and thus sometimes you’ll run into waiting lists and delays.
5) Casio G-Shock Rangeman Watch
- Solar-powered digital watch in stainless steel with multiple displays, red contrasts, and textured pushers
- Quartz movement with analog display. The watch has memory for storage of up to 40 records of various types. If you perform an operation that creates a new record while there are already 40 records in memory, the oldest record is deleted automatically to make room for the new one
- Protective mineral crystal dial window
- Features digital compass, altimeter, barometer, thermometer, sunrise and sunset date, time stamp, Mb6 atomic timekeeping, auto LED, four alarms, 1/10-second stop watch, countdown timer, day/date/month calendar, and buckle closure
- Water resistant to 660 feet (200 M): suitable for recreational scuba diving
This is a bit of a dark horse pick considering it’s a watch built with outdoors activities in mind, but the rugged Casio G-Shock Rangeman Watch is simply stands up to pressure. It features Casio’s trademark G-Shock shock resistance, water resistance up to 200 meters, and a sturdy overall construction which will withstand sudden impact and temperature changes in the kitchen.
Specs
Display Type: Digital
Clasp Style: Tang Buckle
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Case Diameter: 53 mm
Case Thickness: 17 mm
Band Material: Resin
Band Width: 22 mm
Band Color: Black
Dial Color: Gray
Bezel Material: Resin
Water Resistant Depth: 200 Meters
Movement: Quartz
Pros
- This watch offers extraordinary durability in a price range that won’t zap your bank account.
- The amount of features included in this watch are insane! You get everything from a digital compass to a host of different useful timers.
- We love its water resistant constitution. When things start splashing in the kitchen, this watch doesn’t buckle.
Cons
- Compared to the luxury watches elsewhere on our list, this watch is a bit of an ugly duckling.
- We’d have preferred a fabric strap as the resin strap can make your wrist sweat.
6) Rolex GMT Master II Watch
- Featuring a Silver-tone Band, Silver-tone Case, Scratch Resistant Sapphire Crystal
A personal favorite of Juan Roca, chef and co-owner of El Celler de Can Roca, the Rolex GMT Master II Watch has a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal dial window and a uni-directional rotating steel bezel. It also has a 50 hour power reserve and a goreguos black dial with luminescent hour markers and hands. If it’s good enough for the executive of a three Michelin star restaurant ranked number two in the world in 2018, we’re pretty sure you’ll love it.
Specs
Display Type: Analog
Clasp Style: Deployment Clasp With Safety
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Case Diameter: 40 mm
Band Material: Stainless Steel Rolex Jubilee
Band Width: 22 mm
Band Color: Silver
Dial Color: Black
Water Resistant Depth: 100 Meters
Movement: Mechanical (Automatic)
Pros
- The sapphire crystal dial window is as durable as they come.
- The watch feels like it was built for a chef under constant stress. From its 100 meters of water resistance to its sturdy construction, it’s perfect for the kitchen.
- You know what you’re getting with a Rolex — unbeatable quality that will last you for generations.
Cons
- Rolex watches are one-of-a-kind time pieces which require a one-of-a-kind monetary investment.
- Because Rolex watches are hand made, you may have to wait to procure one if the supply is low.
Frequently Asked Questions
What watch does Ramsay wear in Hell’s Kitchen?
The Rolex Submariner Date is often referred to as the Gordon Ramsay watch for its routine appearance in his hit television show. And just like his food and attention to detail, Gordon Ramsay watches are second to none.
Who is the best chef of all time?
While the designation of the “best chef of all time” is open to interpretation, there are definitely a handful of chefs both past and present which we consider to be as influential as they come. This list includes the aforementioned Ramsay, Joel Robuchon, Julia Child, Auguste Escoffier, Alain Ducasse, Anthony Bourdain, Thomas Keller, and Heston Blumenthal.
Who is the number one chef in the world?
The claim to the mantle of best chef in the world has two caveats — everyone has different taste in food and everyone has a different opinion on what makes a chef stand out above the rest. Even though chefs may cook similar dishes at their restaurants, no two chefs are completely alike.
Our pick of the contenders for the number one chef in the world are as follows — Ramsay, Andreas Caminada, Alain Ducasse, Pierre Gagnaire, Martin Berasategui, Yannick Alleno, Anne-Sophie Pic, Thomas Keller, and Yoshihiro Murata.