Turn back the clock a couple of years and your chances of getting a luxury high end stainless steel sport watch were just as high as your likelihood of getting some kind of infection from a public swimming pool. Fast forward to 2019 and you’re probably more likely to get struck by a lightning bolt in the same spot ten times over within a minute unless you’re a celebrity or a professional athlete. Steel watches define the industry and when it comes to something you can wear day in and day out and with whatever outfit you want, a stainless steel watch has virtually no competition. We’ve put together a list of the top 11 best steel watches you can get right now in affiliation MR PORTER. No waiting lists. No begging. Check them all out!
Girard-Perregaux Laureato Skeleton
The gem of the Laureato collection (aside from the openworked tourbillon, of course). Modern, eclectic and damn good looking. Hard to beat Laureato Skeleton.
Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph
Part of Breitling’s new collection of watches, the Premier B01 Chronograph has a fantastic panda dial, an in-house chronometer movement and a certain degree of everyday wearability that I find wonderfully appealing.
Bremont ALT1-ZT Chronograph
Bulky, durable and encompassing all that you would need in a watch, the Bremont ALT1-ZT Chronograph is a delight every way you look at it
IWC Big Pilot Le Petit Prince
Little needs to be said about the Big Pilot Le Petit Prince. Enlarged crown. Oversized case. A beautiful sunburst finished dial. Heritage meets modernity meets one of our favourite steel watches, ever.
TAG Heuer Carrera Automatic Chronograph
A collection staple, especially for the budding enthusiast who only recently started collecting, the Heuer Carrera Automatic Chronograph is the perfect start. A busy aesthetic keeps things interesting. Its sporty look can be dressed up or down. If you change the strap you basically have a new watch. A solid yes.
IWC Portugieser Chronograph
The Portugieser Chronograph is IWC’s quintessential icon. Forever associated with IWC, the Portugieser Chronograph is refined, sophisticated, humble in appearance and exceptional in execution. One of the best steel watches you get, period.
IWC Portugieser Automatic
The typical twin register Portugieser Automatic is a beloved part of modern horology, and it is definitively IWC. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? We’ll leave you to be the judge of that. But one thing is for sure: the Portugieser Automatic is divine.
Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph
I had the good fortune to spend a week with this particular reference of the Laureato Chronograph and let me tell you it has to be seen in the metal to be appreciated. An absurd amount of detailing and finishing techniques create a spectacle that you are wearing something far more expensive and more prestigious. Ticks all my boxes.
Girard-Perregaux Laureato Automatic
For those of you looking for a steel watch without the extras, the Laureato Automatic is it. A blue dial encased in a stunning stainless steel package that you can wear with basically anything, the Laureato Automatic deserves so much more praise and attention than it gets.
Breitling Superocean Héritage II B01 Chronometer
Breitling’s chronometer certified Superocean Héritage II B01 is such a cool watch. And like the Laureato Chronograph, it does need to be seen in the flesh to fully appreciate. From the silver-grey dial to the riveted bezel and black bezel, everything about the Superocean Héritage II B01 screams quality and enjoyment.
Bell & Ross BR V2-92 Automatic Chronograph
As a proud owner of the BR V2-92 Automatic Chronograph (a different version, but fundamentally the same watch), I can attest to its innate qualities. I’ve worn this watch with a suit and tie, as well as with a more casual get-up with friends, and in both extremes the BR V2-92 Automatic Chronograph served me well. Give it a chance, you won’t be disappointed.
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