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9 of the best goth watches

9 of the best goth watches

Buffy Acacia

It doesn’t get much opportunity to surface in my position of watch journalism, but I have a deep love of the dark and cryptic. From classic Lovecraftian literature to Reznor-esque dystopian fleshscapes, the goth in me rejoices in fictional despair no matter how gruesome or cheesy. With the recent revival and success of gothic horror in media such as AMC’s Interview with the Vampire adaptation, Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu remake, and even Netflix’s Wednesday, it’s clear that goths are coming back out of the coffin. Here are the best goth watches to wear your black heart on your sleeve.

Casio G-Shock DW-6900MS-1

Casio G Shock DW 6900MS 1

A perfect blend of shadowy and bloodcurdling, the DW-6900MS-1 uses a murdered-out case and dial to reduce its visual bulk while making its sanguine numerals pop. The bold digital numerals and its trio of segmented wheels in red offer up a distinctly vampiric take on a G-Shock classic from 1995. Its shock resistance also makes it as indestructible as the undead. It may be more suited to blood raves and meetings of the Camarilla than medieval castles, but techno vampires deserve their time in the metaphorical sun. Price: US$99

Timex Waterbury Classic 40mm

Timex Waterbury Classic 40mm

Founded in 1853, Timex has its roots in the same era from which many goths take fashion tips. Granted, Connecticut was no Victorian England, but the slender Roman numerals and the off-white dial on the modern Timex Waterbury Classic evoke that period well. The W-shaped counterweight on the seconds hand also provides an aged touch of heritage, blending restraint and ornate detail in perfect balance. There are many watches with ivory-tone dials and Roman numerals, but few hit the gothic tone quite like the Waterbury Classic. Price: US$119

Seiko 5 Sports SRPD79

Seiko SRPD79

Taking on a modern streetwear style, the Seiko SRPD79 is a pitch-black and brooding effort based on the legendary SKX dive watch. The coated hands and indices blend into the shadows of the blackened case and dial, while the black-toned LumiBrite is still visible in darkness, albeit unsurprisingly dim. All that remains punchy is the Seiko 5 logo, the seconds hand to remind you that time is running out, and the day/date display. Aesthetics aside, the Seiko 5 Sports range is one of the best value watches you can get combining reliability and brand power. The 4R36 movements generally perform well, and the whole watch can be a great base for modification if you want to personalise it. Price: US$360

Vario Versa

If you’re the type of goth to don a suit and tie every day, no matter the occasion, then the Vario Versa in its silver and black dial configuration is the choice. Not only is it a wonderfully affordable alternative to the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso or the Cartier Tank Basculante, but the black side of the dial makes for a perfect brooding dress watch without the need for a black-coated case. The high-polish steel actually helps to highlight the black of the strap and dial. There’s minimalist white printing around the perimeter for legibility, and should you want to brighten things up slightly, the silver dial with even more Art Deco influence can be flipped over whenever you’d like. Price: US$428

Swarovski Millenia Watch

Swarovski Millenia Watch purple

Gothic style isn’t just about wearing black. Feminine gothic in particular draws much of its accessorising from the Victorian period, and with that comes gold tones, colourful gemstones, and overall lavish bedazzlement. The Swarovski Millenia Watch with its purple shade of crystal glass is highly reminiscent of amethyst, a gemstone that hit its peak popularity during the Victorian years. It is not inherently gothic by itself, but it would look incredible as the centrepiece of a bracelet stack of other chains and textures. Price: US$500

Peren Nera Rogue BW

Peren Nera Rogue BW Strap

Peren is quite a prolific brand considering how niche its USP is, focusing on Transylvanian heritage blended with contemporary watchmaking. Although its early releases went pretty hard on the vampiric associations of the region, recently it’s been taking more inspiration from the actual historic culture and connection with ancient Dacia (not the Sandero-making kind). Released towards the end of 2022, the Peren Nera Rogue BW still carries the vampire fang logo on its dial and crown and embraces a dark, brooding aesthetic with a blacked-out bezel, making it both spooky and a functional diver. Price: CHF 689 (~US$755)

Tissot Savonnette Mechanical

Tissot Savonnette Mechanical

Let’s be real. If you’re the type of goth who longs for a twisted romance by the misty moors, then you’re probably not going to be wearing a wristwatch. Pocket watches were popular for hundreds of years before wristwatches became the norm, and now they may be old-fashioned, but that’s exactly what some of us crave. The Tissot Savonnette Mechanical is not only a novelty for being a newly produced pocket watch you can readily buy, but it’s also a glorious recreation of the mid-19th century style. The Breguet numerals and hands are accompanied by a script-style Tissot logo, and the stainless steel case is lavishly engraved with floral motifs. There’s even a blank shield in the centre, ready for your initials to be engraved. Price: US$850

Strom Memento Mori, Carpe Diem

Strom Memento Mori Carpe Diem Argentum Classic White
Image courtesy of WatchesSeven

Originally featured on my evil watches list, the Strom Memento Mori, Carpe Diem has lived in the recesses of my mind ever since. Strictly speaking, the Memento Mori tradition of acknowledging the inevitability of death has nothing to do with evil, ghouls or goblins, but its embrace of gothic truths and gruesome aesthetics makes it a perfect choice for lovers of darkness. Seeing a wealth of rock and metal music royalty in the brand ambassador list makes a lot of sense. The brand itself is the brainchild of Daniel Strom, son of the late Armin Strom and legendary in his own right for his tenure as Product Manager at Omega where he oversaw the introduction of several iconic designs including the Seamaster Diver 300M. There are many configurations of this watch including one with a case made of sterling silver and even some with genuine bone dials. Price: CHF 16,000 (~US$18,460)

Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Depeche Mode

Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Depeche Mode 2

Depeche Mode were one of the quintessential dark and moody bands even when their style ventured into the bright and poppy, but their 2023 album Memento Mori witnessed another dive into the morbid. The Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Depeche Mode followed them down in despair, dressed all in black. Its dial features an hourglass with moving sand that rolls with your wrist, crafted out of minuscule ceramic spheres. The imagery of a skull and hourglass together is peak Memento Mori, while the hobnail texture across the bezel and strap will be right at home at any goth club. Price: US$34,100

Time+Tide Timeless Pick: Hamilton PSR MTX

Hamilton PSR MTX H52434130 Detail 3 scaled e1638334689257

Although changing the digits from red to green may seem like a trivial thing, any time a green LED appears on a black backdrop it evokes the Wachowski Sisters’ legendary cybergoth odyssey from 1999, The Matrix. In fact, the first green-dialled iteration of the Hamilton PSR MTX was a 1,999 limited edition run with black PVD as a celebration of the film. While that version is long sold out, you can still get one with a green LED/OLED hybrid screen set into a stainless steel case, currently available from the T+T Shop. Both versions match the aesthetic of the film, and won’t look out of place alongside light-up dreads, spiked welding goggles, and your tallest pair of Demonias.