9 of the best minimalist watches

Sometimes, less is more. Minimalistic design language covers a number of visual elements, at times translating to having fewer of those elements, but often it can just be a simplistic representation of a unique concept. It’s a fantastic style to apply to watches, because it can incorporate the use of simple colour palettes, basic shapes and textures to give a clean and subtle aesthetic, rich in functional simplicity. Whether you’re a conceptual architect, a connoisseur of the Bauhaus movement, or just prefer a more modest appearance with your watch, there’s a minimalistic watch for you.

Swatch Skin Classic Caricia Negra

In terms of Swiss watches, you can’t really get more accessible than Swatch. The brand with the plastic cases pretty much saved the entire Swiss watch industry, and its products are still adored for their design inventiveness and lightheartedness. The Caricia Negra isn’t just another black watch though, because it’s in an ultra-thin, Bioceramic case measuring just 4.3mm in height. The result is a surprisingly elegant wearing experience, backed up by a total lack of markers on the blacked-out dial with a small dish to contain the stark, white hands. The 34mm diameter is gender-neutral, and all Swatch watches get free battery changes at Swatch stores. Price: US$135

Braun BN0211 Classic

Braun’s design applications are legendary. The company is known as the first to introduce “good design” to the mass market, producing kitchen appliances, electric shavers, and radios to name a few. A minimalist design classic, the German-made Braun BN0211 has simplicity in abundance. The proportions are understated, with a 38mm diameter and 6.6mm thick stainless steel case linked to a fine mesh bracelet. The black dial is perfectly balanced and uncluttered, featuring a simple minute track and three-hand setup, connected to a simple, no nonsense quartz movement. Even the hands are simple, thin rectangles, free of complication. Price: £200

Junghans Max Bill Automatic

Junghans is one of the pioneers in German watchmaking, and part of this journey was the iconic Bauhaus-inspired Max Bill collection. Max Bill was a Swiss artist, product designer, architect, and student at the famous Bauhaus art school, and was commissioned by Junghans to design a wristwatch. The result was a minimalistic and functional timepiece, which Junghans has now formed a whole collection around. The Max Bill Automatic is a slim 38mm stainless steel watch with a classic domed crystal covering a white dial, with the thinnest indices you’ll ever find. Its caseback features Max Bill’s signature, and the watch is finished with a simple black calfskin strap. Its uncluttered details were described by Max Bill as “logical”, and this sums the watch up perfectly. There’s nothing unnecessary, it simply tells the time in the most functional way possible. Price: €1,375

Rado DiaStar Original 60th Anniversary Edition

The best thing about stripping back details is that it allows for experimentation in other areas, and that’s exactly what the Rado DiaStar Original 60th Anniversary Edition does best. With a healthy amount of inspiration from the original watch, the cushion case capped with scratch-resistant Ceramos flows easily into its Milanese mesh bracelet. Above a brushed silver dial sits the hexagonally faceted sapphire crystal, creating subtle layers of distortion and shadow. There’s a small date display at 6 o’clock and a slot above it for the weekdays, but instead of words the slot merely fills up as the week progresses, keeping the minimal effect going. Price: US$2,050

Cartier Tank Must

For all of Cartier’s extravagance as a brand, sometimes it’s best results come from reining it in. With a focus on colour, the Cartier Tank Must in green, red, blue or black are all elevated to an artistic realm beyond dress watch traditions. The case architecture is borrowed from the Tank Louis Cartier, offering a more affordable taste of perhaps the most iconic rectangular watch of all time. Paired with a quartz movement, the simplicity of its design extends to its utility and reliability. The “large” model wears beautifully at 33.7mm long, 25.5mm wide, and just 6.6mm thick, and the colour-matched alligator straps allow the perfect balance between decadence and minimalism. Price: US$3,450

Grand Seiko SBGW301

With a delectable eggshell dial and a stainless steel case which could easily have time-travelled from 1958, the Grand Seiko SBGW301 proves that the Japanese brand doesn’t need to rely on flashy dial textures to reel us in. Sharp dauphine hands and cleanly-faceted applied indices are all it needs to be captivating, and its 37.3mm case is spot-on for vintage accuracy. The gothic-style GS logo is about as loud as the dial dares to get, before you turn the watch over and get to see the beautiful calibre 9S64. It’s hand-wound with a 72-hour power reserve and an average daily rate of -3/+5 seconds per day. Price: US$4,800

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