Wedding Watches: The 10 Best Brands According to Our Instagram Fans

Weddings are an occasion for gift giving, and a fine watch always makes an ideal gift, whether it’s from a parent to a prospective son- or daughter-in-law, a groom to a best man, or exchanged between the betrothed couple in addition to (or in place of) the traditional rings. What are the best wedding watches? We put the question out to our 300,000-plus followers on Instagram (some but not all of them married or engaged) and were overwhelmed by the response. Here we break it down into the top 10 watch brands named in the survey and spotlight some of the specific models that our respondents favored.

1. LONGINES

Leading the pack with 25 mentions is Longines, a brand known for making elegant timepieces for both men and ladies and pricing them reasonably. Among the models mentioned specifically are the Master Collection Chronograph, Spirit, Hydroconquest, Flagship Heritage, and Legend Diver. When it comes to Swiss watchmakers, it seems, the venerable maison in bucolic Saint-Imier hits the sweet spot for many prospective brides and grooms.

Longines Legend Diver Bronze

The Longines Legend Diver is a modern re-issue of a compressor-style dive watch

Price: $3,000, Case Size: 42mm, Thickness: 12.7mm, Lug to Lug: 48.2mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 300m, Movement: Automatic ETA A31.L11

The Longines Legend Diver is a modern re-issue of a compressor-style dive watch it produced in 1960, here with a case made of bronze, a metal historically used in maritime equipment due to its anti-corrosive properties, and a sea-green lacquered dial. The 42-mm, 300-meter water-resistant case replicates the silhouette of the original and includes that vintage model’s two crowns — one for winding the watch, the other for operating the internal rotating divers’ bezel. The lacquered dial has a gradient effect, with an emerald green center radiating to an outer edge of black. The solid titanium caseback has an engraving of a diver and hides the movement, the automatic Caliber L883.3, a modified ETA A31.L02 produced exclusively for Longines.

Longines Spirit Titanium

Price: $2,750, Case Size: 40mm, Thickness: 12.2mm, Lug Width: 21mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 100 meters, Movement: Automatic Longines Caliber 888.4

Longines references its heritage as a provider of watches to adventurers and aviators of the early 20th century with the Spirit collection, which launched in 2020 with a design DNA derived from historical pilots’ watches. Originally issued in steel cases, the three-handed Spirit model added a titanium-cased version in 2022, distinguishing it further with a sleek anthracite dial. Like its big brothers, it has an oversized fluted crown, a stepped bezel and minute-scale flange, large Arabic hour numerals and diamond-shaped indexes, and large, luminous baton hands — all elements drawn from early 20th-century Longines pilots watches. A date window occupies the 6 o’clock position; above it is the row of five stars that the brand has historically used to denote its highest-quality movements, along with the “Chronometer” text that speaks to its COSC-certified accuracy.

Longines Conquest

Price: $1,975, Case Size: 41mm, Thickness: 10.9mm, Lug Width: 21mm, Water Resistance: 100m, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic ETA A31.L11 

The Conquest collection is one of Longines’ oldest and most enduring, having initially launched in 1954. The core Conquest collection, revamped in 2023, is today defined by its ultra-legible dials with baton hands, lume-coated faceted indices at the hour markers, and a small date window at 6 o’clock. Below the 12 o’clock numeral is Longines’ familiar logo with its winged hourglass emblem to represent the flying of time. The 41mm watch has a black or sunray blue dial and fastens to the wrist with a steel link bracelet whose links bear the same combination of brushed and polished finishes as the case. The movement inside is the ETA-based Longines Caliber L888, with a weekend-proof 72-hour power reserve.

Longines Hydroconquest 39mm

Price: $1,375, Case Size: 39mm, Thickness: 11.9mm, Lug Width: 19mm, Water Resistance: 300m, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic Longines Caliber L888

The Longines HydroConquest builds upon the design of the Conquest for a more sport-oriented aesthetic, one aimed squarely at divers and those looking to emulate their look. Now a full-fledged collection in its own right, the Hydroconquest offers case case sizes that range from 39mm to 41mm to 43mm (also 11.9mm), all equipped with automatic movements. The watch’s unidirectional ratcheting bezel has a 60-minute dive-scale insert, with the first 15-minute sector delineated by minute markers and Arabic numerals at each subsequent 10-minute interval. The sword handset of the original (non-diver) Conquest model is here replaced by a short, faceted hour hand with a luminous diamond-shaped bulge, a baton minute hand, and a lollipop-style sweep seconds hand. The 300-meter water resistant case contains the Longines-exclusive Caliber L888, built upon the ETA L31.L11 base movement and souped up with a 72-hour power reserve.

2. SEIKO

Seiko nabbed the number two spot in our fans’ list of top wedding watches, cited by 15 respondents and with a number of models mentioned, from sporty to dressy. Among the named favorites are models from both the Presage and Prospex collections, both of which offer distinctive style at prices that won’t curtail a young couple’s honeymoon plans.

Seiko Presage “Cocktail Time” SRPB43

Price: $319, Case Size: 40.5mm, Thickness: 11.8mm, Lug to Lug: 47.5mm, Lug Width: 20mm, Crystal: Hardlex, Water Resistance: 50m, Movement: Automatic Seiko 4R35

The “Cocktail Time” series within Seiko’s automatic-only Presage family of attainable, attractive dress watches are designed to evoke the types of high-end cocktails served at Japan’s famously atmospheric rooftop bars — and at higher-end wedding receptions. This model with a stainless steel case and a sunray ice-blue dial takes its nickname and inspiration from a classic Martini. The glossy-finish dial’s ridged, rippling edges help give it the look of a birds-eye view inside the cocktail glass; the tone-on-tone date window is a subtle but impressive bonus at this price point, as is the in-house, automatic movement inside. The 40.5-mm case is topped by a box-shaped crystal made of a proprietary Seiko material called Hardlex. A specially sculpted crown helps ensure the case’s 50-meter water resistance, and the movement is magnetic-resistant to 4,800 A/m.

Seiko Prospex “Turtle” SRPE93

Price: $495, Case Size: 45mm, Thickness: 13.3mm, Lug-to-Lug: 46.9mm, Water Resistance: 200m, Movement: Auto Seiko 4R36, Crystal: Mineral 

Following in the footsteps of the fondly remembered  SKX007 and 009 models, the modern Prospex “Turtle” collection from Seiko revives the cushion case shape from the iconic 6309, which was produced from 1976 to 1988, and updates it for today’s audience. Firstly, the watch is larger than both the SKX and the 6309, coming in at a 45mm case diameter that luckily wears smaller than that dimensions might suggest, a factor aided by the restrained under-47mm lug-to-lug length. Second, whereas neither the SKX nor the 6309 offered hacking or hand-winding functionality, the SRPE93 and its relatives are equipped with Seiko’s modern 4R36 caliber, which provides both attributes as well as possessing a strong reputation for ruggedness.

3. OMEGA

Our Instagram fans are also partial to walking down the aisle wearing an Omega, which garnered 13 shoutouts to take third place on the list. As one might expect, the brand’s most famous and emblematic watch, the Speedmaster, was preferred more than once, but the diving-oriented Seamaster models, the current go-to watch for James Bond, also found some love (who wouldn’t want to rock some 007 style on their wedding day?), as did the Seamaster Aqua Terra, the dressiest of the Seamaster family.

Omega Speedmaster Professional “Moonwatch”

Price: $5,350, Case Size: 42mm, Lug Width: 20mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 50 meters, Movement: Manual-wind Omega 1861

The Omega Speedmaster “Moonwatch” is the first watch worn on the moon, and one that’s been a standard item on every NASA space mission since then. At just under $5,500 in its basic version, it’s also one of the most accessible “icon” watches on the current market. Best of all for traditionalists, the contemporary version of the watch is still more or less identical to the one that Buzz Aldrin rocked on the Apollo 11 mission more than 50 years ago, with a 42mm steel case, a hesalite crystal over the tricompax dial, luminous hands and hour markers, and the trendsetting tachymeter-scale bezel that speaks to the model’s origins as a watch for auto racing. It’s even equipped with a modern version of the hand-wound movement that powered the original, Omega Caliber 1861, with a 3Hz frequency and a 48-hour power reserve.

Omega Seamaster Diver 300M

Price: $5,100 - $26,000, Case Size: 42mm/43.5mm, Lug width: 20mm/21mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 300 meters, Movement: Automatic Omega Caliber 8800

The Seamaster Diver 300M made its debut in 1993 and shortly thereafter achieved cinematic glory as the go-to watch of superspy James Bond. Now available in dozens of colorways and executions, this stylish tool watch can be had for just over $5,000 in a stainless steel case on a sporty rubber strap. The case’s unidirectional bezel has a scalloped edge for easy gripping and a ceramic insert with an enamel scale to set dive times; its 300-meter water resistance is ensured by a screw-down crown and enhanced with a helium release valve. The dial, also made of ceramic and boasting an array of colorways, hosts a laser-engraved wave pattern and skeletonized hands. Despite the model’s extreme water resistance, Omega has installed a sapphire crystal caseback, offering a view of the automatic, co-axial Master Chronometer Caliber 8800.

Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra

Price: $6,300, Case Size: 41mm, Thickness: 13.2mm, Lug to Lug: 47.9mm, Lug Width: 20mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 150 meters, Movement: Automatic Omega Caliber 8900

A more understated sibling to the Seamaster Diver, and to some extent harkening back to the original 1948 Seamaster gents’ watch, the Aqua Terra collection eschews the core models’ rotating divers’ bezels and other tool-watch accouterments for a more streamlined style — more suitable for steering a ship than for diving deep beneath one (or, to carry the metaphor a bit further, perfect for a wedding at sea). Aqua Terra dials are characterized by simple wedge-shaped hour markers inspired by the silhouette of a sailboat, a triangular hour hand paired with an arrow-tipped minute hand, and a textured line pattern on the dial that echoes the teakwood deck of a boat. This model’s 41mm stainless steel case houses Omega’s Master Chronometer Caliber 8900, which offers chronometric precision, a 60-hour power reserve, and a high degree of antimagnetic protection.

4. HAMILTON

Another one of our favorites, USA-founded Hamilton Watch Company, performed impressively as a favorite wedding watch in our social media survey. Respondents named an array of timepieces from the brand’s diverse portfolio, from the retro-futuristic Ventura to the vintage-inspired Intra-Matic Chronograph to the military-flavored Khaki Field, and specifically the model from that collection made famous by its role in a blockbuster sci-fi film. 

Hamilton Ventura

Hamilton introduced the first electronic watch, the Ventura, to great fanfare in 1957, and the watch would go on to even greater fame when it was worn by Elvis Presley in the 1961 film, Blue Hawaii. (Our IG fan who nominated the model said that wearing it “made him feel like Elvis.”) The watch was notable not only for its unusual, futuristic curved case design but for its movement, Caliber 500, which used a battery, magnets, and an electronic coil rather than a mainspring to drive the gear train and balance wheel. The Ventura remains a presence in Hamilton's collection today, though modern models are now equipped with quartz or mechanical movements rather than the now-outdated electronic mechanism. It remains one of the most uniquely iconoclastic designs in the watch world, with the lightning-bolt motif on its dial and the shield-shaped case that calls to mind the contours of a guitar.

Hamilton Intra-Matic Autochrono

Price: $2,195, Case Size: 40mm, Thickness: 14.4mm, Lug-to-Lug: 49mm, Lug Width: 20mm, Water Resistance: 100m, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic Hamilton H-31 (Valjoux 7750 base)

Based on the original Hamilton Chrono-Matic — one of the world’s first self-winding chronographs, debuting in 1968 — the Intra-Matic Autochrono has a 42-mm steel case with elongated lugs, pump-stye pushers, and a large, right-side-mounted crown. Its black “reverse-Panda” dial, which pairs nicely with a wedding tux, has an outer white tachymeter scale, applied hour markers with luminescent inserts, and two parallel, snail-finished white subdials for running seconds and 30 elapsed chronograph minutes. A vintage-style Hamilton logo appears at 12 o’clock. The movement is the automatic Hamilton Caliber H-31, based on the ETA 7750, which maintains a 60-hour power reserve. The black leather perforated strap harmonizes with the tachymeter details to give the watch a classic "racing" look.

Hamilton Khaki Field Murph

Price: $895, Case Size: 38mm, Thickness: 11.1mm, Lug-to-Lug: 44.7mm, Lug Width: 20mm, Water Resistance: 100m, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic Hamilton Caliber H-10

This model takes its nickname from the character played by Jessica Chastain in the 2014 movie Interstellar and its design from the Hamilton watch that the actress wore in the film (Hamilton, for those who aren’t in the know, is one of the most prolific suppliers of watches to Hollywood movies among watch companies today). The watch is, for all intents and purposes, an exact replica of the watch featured in the movie, with a steel case, a black dial with nickel-coated cathedral hands and applied Arabic numerals and a black leather strap with a pin buckle. The notable but subtle difference is the seconds hand, upon which the Morse code for the word “Eureka” is subtly printed in lacquer, a reference to Interstellar’s climatic scene in which Chastain’s character uses the Hamilton watch to, essentially, save world by using it to send coded signals.

5. TUDOR

We weren’t surprised to see Tudor rounding out the top five, as the Rolex-owned sport-luxury brand has long proven to be a draw on our social media channels as well as on our main YouTube channel. Also not surprisingly, nearly all of the 11 respondents who called out the brand celebrated their nuptials with a timepiece from Tudor’s flagship Black Bay family — though one of them was also very proud of his Royal model, from the more elegant wing of Tudor’s collection.

Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight 925

Price: $3,475 - $16,825, Case Size: 39mm, Case Thickness: 11.9mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 200 meters, Movement: Automatic Tudor Caliber MT5402/MT5400

Offering the crowd-pleasing design of Tudor’s 41mm original but at a more modest case diameter of 39mm, the Black Bay Fifty-Eight hits the sweet spot for many contemporary connoisseurs. Named for the year 1958, in which Tudor released the Oyster Prince Submariner Ref. 7924, the most clear forerunner to the Black Bay, the Fifty-Eight sub-family contains the automatic, COSC-certified Caliber MT5402 and has played host to a number of bold experiments in the areas of color and case materials. The Black Bay Fifty-Eight 925, released in 2021 as one of the first all-precious-metal iterations of the Black Bay, has a case made of 925 silver, a rarity in the watch world, pairing it with a matte, taupe-colored dial and matching dive-scale bezel insert. (And if it’s too pricey for your wedding, maybe you can make it a “silver” 25th anniversary gift.)

6. ROLEX

Like its little brother Tudor, mighty Rolex was a popular choice, and a foregone conclusion to make the Top 10 Wedding Watches list — though its daunting price proposition (and the even more daunting scarcity of the most popular models) likely prevented the Swiss megabrand from placing higher. The classic Datejust is always a special-occasion staple, though fans also showed some love for the sportier (and somewhat more accessible) Explorer.

Rolex Datejust 36 

Price: $12,700, Case Size: 36mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 100 meters, Movement: Automatic Rolex Caliber 3235

Released in 1945, the Datejust was a cavalcade of firsts: the first Rolex watch with the now-familiar phrase “Oyster Perpetual” spelled out on the dial; the first to feature the date display at 3 o’clock; the first automatic watch with a quick-change function for that date display; and the first to be mounted on Rolex’s now-famous five-row Jubilee bracelet. In 1948, it was a Datejust that featured the first “Cyclops” lens over the date aperture that enabled greater legibility of the date numeral at a glance. The earliest models used a bright red numerical font for the date, an element that was eventually abandoned as the Cyclops lens became common throughout the line. The Datejust has been a mainstay in the Rolex collection ever since, retaining its 36mm case size and upgrading over the years to more advanced movements as Rolex continually upgrades its technological savoir-faire. 

Rolex Explorer 36mm

Price: $7,200, Reference: 124270, Case Size: 36mm, Case Height: 11.5 mm, Lug Width: 19mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 100 meters, Movement: Automatic Rolex 3230

The Explorer was targeted at mountaineers when it launched in 1953 but has found a wider audience in succeeding years with its simple, legible field-watch-style dial and modest dimensions. As of the most recent version in 2021, the Explorer is even available in its original 36mm case size that fits nicely under a tuxedo sleeve. Inside the corrosion-resistant “Oystersteel” case is another recent upgrade, Rolex in-house Caliber 3230, packed with an array of up-to-the-minute Rolex-patented technologies, including the Chronergy escapement with its blue Parachrom hairspring, and a “Superlative Chronometer” certification for accuracy. The dial’s hands and hour markers glow a bright blue in the dark thanks to generous coatings of Rolex’s proprietary Chromalight lume, meaning it’ll be readable no matter how late the wearer will be partying at the reception. 

7. CARTIER

With their timeless, elegant, and undeniably unisex appeal, Cartier watches have long been a mainstay in the world of special-occasion gifting. The watch-and-jewelry house’s two most historical and enduring models, the Tank and Santos, will likely still be popular choices on a list like this one a hundred years from now. Even better, these are the types of watches that one might be tempted to buy right alongside rings and other jewelry and accessories for the big day.

Cartier Tank MC

Price: $7,350, Case Size: 44mm x 34mm, Case Height: 9.5mm, Lug Width: 25mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 30 meters, Movement: Cartier Automatic Caliber 1904-PS MC

Louis Cartier created the Tank watch in 1917, deriving its rectangular, curvilinear case shape as well as its name from a French military vehicle used during the First World War. Perhaps fittingly, the recipient of the first Cartier Tank watch was U.S. General John “Black Jack” Pershing, a commander of the Allied forces; later, it was famously worn by President John F. Kennedy (admittedly, not the best role model for prospective husbands). The Tank has been a coveted style object ever since, in a variety of sizes, colorways and materials designed to appeal to men and ladies alike. The Tank is instantly recognizable for its rectangular ring of Roman hour numerals, interior rectangular minute track, blued sword hands, and beaded winding crown with a blue sapphire cabochon. The Tank in the modern era is offered in numerous variations and sizes, like the Tank MC (for “Manufacture Cartier”), distinguished by a silvered flinqué dial with a date window at 3 o’clock and a small seconds subdial at 6 o’clock. The case’s sapphire back displays the movement, the automatic Caliber 1904 PS-MC, and the decorative Geneva waves that adorn its rotor and plates.

8. BULOVA

Founded in New York City in 1875, Bulova is one of the most important watch brands with roots in the United States. Its hold on American watch enthusiasts remains strong thanks to its value-oriented pricing and diverse array of crowd-pleasing designs, some of which are enjoying a modern renaissance after making a mark in their original historic era, like the vintage-style diver (below) that one respondent admitted to buying for himself as a wedding gift. Several models from the brand's classically elegant Sinatra series also merited a mention. 

Bulova Oceanographer Devil Diver

Price: $750, Case Size: 41mm, Thickness: 14.55mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 200 meters, Movement: Automatic Miyota 821A

In 1972, Bulova released a dive watch called the Oceanographer Snorkel, which built up something of a cult following in later years. This was largely because of its affordable price as well as its nickname, “Devil Diver,” which referred to the 666-foot water resistance that Bulova proudly touted on its dial; most dive watches at the time topped out around 600 feet, or 200 meters. Bulova brought back the Devil Diver in 2018, basing it on the 1972 version, and expanded into other variations in subsequent years. The steel “turtle” case is a hefty 44mm, with a 200-meter water resistance ensured by a screw-down crown. This model’s orange dial, under a box-shaped sapphire crystal, hosts the distinctive crosshairs motif of its 1970s predecessor, with wide rectangular hands and large dot indexes filled with Super-LumiNova. The Japanese-made, automatic Miyota 821D fuels the watch’s 42-hour power reserve.

9. TISSOT

Tissot, another Swiss brand known and admired for packing lots of aesthetic appeal and technical excellence into very affordable timepieces, was another popular choice for wedding watches, with the runaway hit PRX models earning several shout-outs along with other, more elegant options from the Heritage and Le Locle families. 

Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 Green Dial

Price: $650, Case size: 40mm, Thickness: 11mm, Lug to Lug: 44.6mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 100 meters, Movement: Automatic Powermatic 80.111

The Tissot PRX sport-luxury watch is a contemporary re-release of a watch that first hit the market in 1978. The “P” and “R” in the name stand for “precise” and “robust,” and the “X” is actually a Roman numeral “10” depicting the model’s 10 atmospheres (aka 100 meters) of water resistance. Like its predecessor from the disco era, the first modern PRX model had a quartz movement, but that one was swiftly followed by an automatic version containing the brand’s Powermatic 80 caliber. The stainless steel, barrel-shaped case of this green-dialed model from 2022 measures 40 mm in diameter, a relatively svelte 11 mm in thickness, and integrates smoothly into a supple steel bracelet. The dial features a distinctive waffle-pattern motif and a sunray finish. The Powermatic caliber is showcased by a sapphire caseback.

10. JAEGER-LECOULTRE

Jaeger-LeCoultre, established in 1833 in the heart of the Vallée de Joux in the Swiss Jura Mountains, has been called “The Watchmaker of Watchmakers,” and its most iconic watch is undeniably the Reverso, made since 1931 and recognizable by its swiveling, reversible case, which was initially conceived as a sports watch for polo players to wear during matches. Today the Reverso, in its various iterations for male and female wearers, represents the purest distillation of Art Deco aesthetic into a dress watch and is accordingly a popular choice for weddings.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute

Price: $8,750, Case Size: 45.6mm x 27.4mm, Lug Width: 20mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 30 meters, Movement: Jaeger-LeCoultre Manually Wound Caliber 822

The three-handed Reverso Tribute is the model that most faithfully echoes the classical Art Deco look of its ancestor. The rectangular case has clean lines and gadroons, the sunray green dial features Dauphine hands, trapezoidal applied hour indexes, and a small seconds subdial at 6 o’clock. Jaeger-LeCoultre’s manually wound manufacture Caliber 822, shaped to fit the case’s soft rectangular dimensions, beats inside. In another callback to the Reverso’s polo-playing origins, the leather strap, which echoes the forest green tones of the dial, is from Casa Fagliano, an Argentinean purveyor of high-end polo boots.

Honorable Mentions

Of course, numerous watchmakers placed outside of the Top 10. All receiving three votes each were Casio (including two G-Shocks), Citizen, Oris (including for the Roberto Clemente Limited Edition spotlighted below), Patek Philippe, and TAG Heuer. Two votes each went to Baume & Mercier, Breitling, IWC, Junghans, Movado, Nomos, Orient, and Timex.

Oris Roberto Clemente Limited Edition

Price: $2,200, Case Size: 40mm, Thickness: 11.8mm, Lug to Lug: 46mm, Lug Width:  20mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 50m, Movement: Automatic Oris 754 (Sellita SW200-1 base)

If you’re exchanging vows with a big baseball fan, it’s hard to go wrong with this 3,000-piece limited edition, which pays homage to legendary Pittsburgh Pirates player and renowned humanitarian Roberto Clemente, who won a World Series title with the Pirates in 1960 and perished in a plane crash in 1972 while on a humanitarian aid mission to Central America. The watch’s white dial, with black-and-gold accents, is inspired by Clemente’s Pirates uniform colors, and its 40-mm stainless steel case has a solid engraved caseback with a relief image of the Hall of Famer along with the watch’s limited edition number. The fluted “big crown” securely screws into the case to ensure its water resistance. The watch is equipped with the Sellita-based automatic Caliber 754, which powers the timekeeping as well as a pointer date indication, and is mounted on a brown leather strap with baseball-style double stitching.

The remaining brands, which all received a single vote, represent the wide range of tastes, interests, and budgets that have always defined this platform’s audience: Audemars Piguet, Baltic, Breguet, Farer, Fossil, Frederique Constant, Glashütte Original, Lorier, Maen, Marathon, Mido, Mühle Glashütte, Panerai, Raymond Weil, Shinola, Union Glashütte, and Wenger. Many thanks to everyone who participated in the survey — and best wishes to those who responded even though their wedding day, and/or the watch they desire for that day, is still in the future. (And if you missed the Instagram survey and have a wedding watch you'd like to call out to your fellow readers, feel free to do so in the comments section below.)