Left-handed Watches

Are you ready to be blown away? Below is a list of famous left-handers that reads like a who’s who of history, art, and entertainment:

• Leonard Di Vinci
• Aristotle
• Jimi Hendrix
• Charlie Chaplin
• Julius Caesar
• Napoleon Bonaparte
• Marilyn Monroe
• Barack Obama
• Oprah Winfrey
• Babe Ruth

And, we cut that list way down to keep this article at a readable length! While left-handed people only make up about ten percent of the population, every last lefty is important! And that’s why left-handed watches are also important!

If you’re on the lookout for a big pilot’s watch or a diving watch, chances are that you’re going to find a timepiece made for a rightie. The crown will be on the right side. That’s a hard set up for a lefty to work with, especially having to reach over unnaturally to wind a watch on one’s wrist.

Lucky for you, many leading watch brands make watches for southpaws! We’ve looked at the best offerings of luxury brands and budget watch companies, distilling things down into our list of the Top 6 Watches For Lefties In 2021.

Let’s get going!

The 6 Best Left-Handed Watches For 2021

6) Invicta Men’s I-Force Black Stainless Steel Quartz Watch

Let’s start with the cheapest watch on our countdown. The Invicta Men’s I-Force Black Stainless Steel Quartz Watch is the best budget wristwatch for left-handers. There’s no question that it looks rad. Just look above! But, it’s also quite durable thanks to its sturdy stainless steel case and 100 meters of water resistance. And the inclusion of sub-dials and an offset date window are really nice (and useful) aesthetic touches.

Specs

Display Window Material: Mineral

Display Type: Analog

Clasp Style: Buckle

Case Material: Stainless Steel

Case Diameter: 45.6 mm

Case Thickness: 13 mm

Strap Material: Leather

Strap Length: 210 mm

Strap Width: 22 mm

Strap Color: Black

Dial Color: Black

Bezel Material: Stainless Steel

Movement: Japanese Quartz

Water Resistance: 100 meters

Pros

• This is a great budget pick for a leftie or a right-hander that wants the crown on the other side.
• The Japanese quartz movement is super accurate.
• We really enjoy the aesthetics of this watch. The layout of the watch dial is especially pleasing to the eye.

Cons

• The leather strap isn’t the greatest. It’s not low-quality, but it’s close.
• The strap also might be too short for some larger wrists.

5) SevenFriday M-Series Automatic Gunmetal Gray Dial Men’s Watch

SevenFriday isn’t your typical watch company and they don’t make typical timepieces. The oddball timekeeping setup of the SevenFriday M-Series Automatic Gunmetal Gray Dial Men’s Watch won’t be for everyone. But if you’re a lefty that’s right-brained and wants a watch with a unique artistic sensibility, this is your scene. And just to let you know, the calfskin watch strap is our favorite band we tested for this article. It’s that comfy.

Specs

Display Window Material: Scratch-Resistant Hardlex

Display Type: Analog

Clasp Style: Tang Buckle

Case Material: Resin

Case Diameter: 48 mm

Strap Material: Leather (Calfskin)

Strap Color: Brown

Dial Color: Gunmetal Gray

Bezel Material: Fixed

Movement: Automatic

Water Resistance: 30 meters

Pros

• There are no other watch brands out there doing things quite like this. Just look at the image. This timepiece is wacky and really cool.
• The scratch-resistant Hardlex dial window just won’t scuff.
• The calfskin watchband feels like it melts around your wrist.

Cons

• In the end, user-friendliness may be a problem. It’s just a weird watch that way.
• The sub-dial in the center of the watch is really hard to read.

4) U-Boat Chimera Carbon Automatic Chronograph Watch

With a 48-hour power reserve and a look that’s all its own, the U-Boat Chimera Carbon Automatic Chronograph Watch is a diver’s dream. Its automatic movement is a work of art. And its entire aesthetic is on the same page. The curvy GMT hand is a really cool look, and the titanium casing and sapphire crystal dial window will protect this one-of-a-kind timepiece for generations.

Specs

Display Window Material: Sapphire Crystal

Display Type: Analog

Clasp Style: Buckle

Case Material: Titanium

Case Diameter: 48 mm

Case Thickness: 18 mm

Strap Material: Leather

Strap Width: 23 mm

Strap Color: Brown

Dial Color: Black

Bezel Material: Carbon Fiber

Movement: Automatic

Water Resistance: 50 meters

Pros

• The carbon fiber bezel and titanium case are both built to last forever. And ever.
• The automatic movement is exceedingly intricate and fun to gawk at.
• The leather strap is comfy out of the box and doesn’t need much breaking in.

Cons

• At just under $10,000 normally, the price will scare off most people.
• The hour marker design scheme feels just a bit clunky.

3) Citizen Eco-Drive Men’s Diver Watch

The second-cheapest watch on our list, the Citizen Eco-Drive Men’s Diver Watch is a mid-level wonder. Its biggest selling point is the Eco-Drive movement which eliminates your need for a battery. Light sources both artificial and natural power this baby for days on end. Citizen products are known the world over for their quality, durability, and dependability. And this divers’ watch is no different.

Specs

Display Window Material: Mineral

Display Type: Analog

Clasp Style: Buckle

Case Material: Stainless Steel

Case Diameter: 48 mm

Case Thickness: 19 mm

Strap Material: Rubber

Strap Length: 8 inches

Strap Width: 29 mm

Strap Color: Black

Dial Color: Black

Bezel Material: Stainless Steel

Movement: Japanese Quartz

Water Resistance: 300 meters

Pros

• 300 meters of water resistance is an amazing get at such a fair price point.
• The Eco-Drive takes solar power to a new level. It’s so easy to keep this watch ticking.
• We like the compact watch face and different color accents. It all ties together nicely.

Cons

• It’s much too sizeable for most smaller wrists.
• The stock rubber strap isn’t going to be comfortable for everyone. You might want to consider a replacement early on.

2) Tudor Pelagos LHD Automatic Black Dial Men’s Watch

Tudor’s first left-handed watch was the 9401 Submariner — made on special request for the French Navy. The Tudor Pelagos LHD Automatic Black Dial Men’s Watch upped the left-handed ante for the company quite considerably. This watch may cost a pretty penny, but it’s a 10 out of 10 in every category we can think of. 500 meters of water resistance? Check. A sapphire crystal dial window? Check. A sleek, sturdy titanium construction? You get the picture.

Specs

Display Window Material: Scratch-Resistant Sapphire Crystal

Display Type: Analog

Clasp Style: Deployment Clasp

Case Material: Titanium

Case Diameter: 42 mm

Strap Material: Titanium

Strap Width: 22 mm

Strap Color: Gray

Dial Color: Black

Bezel Material: Uni-Directional Rotating

Movement: Automatic

Water Resistance: 500 meters

Pros

• This watch kicks water’s backside. 500 meters of water resistance is nearly unheard of.
• The overall look of this watch is classy without being pretentious. It’s just so good-looking.
• The titanium case and strap have great strength and an attractive understated sheen.

Cons

• It’s not the most expensive watch on our list, but it’ll still set you back a few thousand dollars or so.
• The blockiness of the hour markers and hands is appealing, but may not be for all tastes.

1) TAG Heuer Monaco Calibre 11 Swiss Automatic Watch

If legendary Steve McQueen swore by the Tag Heuer Monaco Calibre 11 Automatic Watch, who are we to disagree? An iconic timepiece in motorsports and cinema history, this square chronograph is unmistakable and undeniable. Everything about this watch is atypical yet perfectly in place. The blue dial is a perfect contrast point for the face’s red and white accents. And the rugged construction of the timepiece means it will last and last. And last. This is not just our favorite watch for lefties. It’s one of our favorite watches ever produced.

Specs

Display Window Material: Anti-Reflective Sapphire Crystal

Display Type: Analog

Clasp Style: Deployment Clasp

Case Material: Stainless Steel

Case Diameter: 39 mm

Case Thickness: 14 mm

Strap Material: Leather

Strap Length: Men’s Standard

Strap Width: 22 mm

Strap Color: Black

Dial Color: Blue

Bezel Material: Stainless Steel

Movement: Swiss Automatic

Water Resistance: 100 meters

Pros

• Everything about this watch stands out. When it’s around your wrist, people will notice.
• The Swiss automatic movement is one of the finest ever produced at a comparable price point.
• This watch looks like art but holds up in a nearly military-grade fashion. It’s strong and visually striking in equal doses.

Cons

• This TAG Heuer knockout normally retails for just under $5,000. If you don’t have that kind of cash, you’ll need a different plan.
• The square case takes some getting used to.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are watches worn on the left hand?

People tend to wear watches on their left hand because it’s typically a person’s non-dominant hand. Southpaws run into a bit of a design problem because of this — the watch’s crown is usually placed on the right-hand side of the case. Because of this, the crown faces inwards towards the right arm when placed on the left wrist. That makes it easy for someone to wind the watch with their right hand.

For lefties, this all becomes really tricky. Either you wear a right-handed watch on your right wrist and deal with the counterintuitive design. Or, you go against your left-handedness and wear watches as righties do.

(Or you buy an awesome left-handed watch from the list above.)

What hand should a lefty wear a watch?

If they can, a leftie should wear a left-handed watch on their right wrist. With the crown on the left side of the dial, a left-hander can easily adjust and wind a watch without uncomfortably bending and reaching over their arm. If you order one of the watches above by clicking any of the attached links, you’ll take your first step towards left-handed world domination. (Or something like that.)

What is a Destro watch?

A Destro watch is a left-handed timepiece. Some right-handed watch lovers like Destro timepieces because the crown is on the left and won’t cut into their wrist like a normal watch. Lefties love Destro watches because they’re set up for left-handed folks! These items come in a variety of forms. From dive watches to luxury timepieces like the Rolex Oyster Perpetual series, Destro watches are relatively uncommon yet still easy to find.

Closing Thoughts

Whether you’re looking for a low-priced left-handed watch with a quartz movement or a luxury watch with an intricate automatic movement, you don’t have to go off and search on your own. The six watches on the list above vary by size, brand, price, and design scheme. But, they’re all fantastic watches that are easy for lefties to use. In a world where watch brands place the crown on the right side by default, that’s a beautiful thing.