The Best Watches of August 2025

Piaget’s wares exist at the crossroads of ultrafine — and often ultra-thin — watchmaking and high-end jewelry. The Altiplano Ultimate cal. 910P, which was the world’s thinnest automatic watch upon its release in 2017, continues to wow collectors with its 4.3mm case height, futuristic dial design, and impressive movement technology. The newest version introduces 18K yellow gold to the equation for the first time, pairing a 42mm case with a handsome khaki green dial — which, you’ll notice, is actually the movement, whose mainplate forms the watch’s caseback and which features a 50-hour power reserve. Thinness is maintained using a peripheral-rotor design, while a green alligator strap finishes the package.  

Diameter: 41mm

Movement: Piaget cal. 910P automatic

Water Resistance: 20m

Malaysian microbrand MING is celebrating eight years in business with the new 57.04 Iris, a colorful piece that puts the brand’s creative spirit front and center by offering a case with stepped lugs, a left-hand crown with monopusher chronograph actuator, and a crystal with laser-cut and MING Polar White-filled indices. The fluted and dished dial is a thing of distinct beauty: Boasting a shifting set of colors achieved via a multiphasic coating over a machined brass base, it features floating indices and a 30-minute chronograph counter at 6 o’clock. Powered by the specially developed Sellita for MING Cal. SW562.M1, the 57.04 Iris is unfortunately sold out…but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep a keen eye on the secondary market. 

Diameter: 40mm

Movement: MING Cal. SW562.M1 hand-wound

Water Resistance: 100m

The Wren Diver One is one of our favorite microbrand watches and one of the best dive watch values on the broader market. Available in several executions, the latest may also be the “hottest”: Designed in collaboration with Ben Cook of Ben’s Watches, the Diver One Magma features a unique dial that fades from black to molten red-orange, lending it an awesome volcanic look. It also features two Wren firsts: A special black lume formulation that glows like coal, and a black ceramic dive bezel colored to resemble volcanic rock. Measuring 41mm in stainless steel, it ships with both a matching bracelet as well as a rubber strap and is powered by the reliable Sellita SW200 automatic movement. 

Diameter: 41mm

Movement: Sellita SW200 automatic

Water Resistance: 200m

Shinola’s Detrola watch has been reimagined and integrated into the brand’s Runwell collection. Featuring colorful designs inspired by famed industrial designers and artists of the Bauhaus and other modernist movements, it’s available in five different colorways at launch, each of which measures 41mm x 10.85mm and is powered by the Argonite 705 quartz movement. Personally, we love the Black Multi, a limited edition, art-inspired reference whose sandblasted black, horizontally ribbed dial features 12 custom-designed, multi-colored indices. Machined from stainless steel paired to black TR90 resin, it comes with a matching black rubber FKM strap and features 50m of water resistance.

Diameter: 41mm

Movement: Shinola Argonite 705 quartz

Water Resistance: 50m

Part of the Swatch Group, Rado offers compelling heritage-inspired designs at prices that won’t break the bank. Two new takes on its Captain Cook dive watch are notable not only for their summery colorways, but also for their new 39mm diameter. Housed in stainless steel cases paired to beads-of-rice bracelets, they feature a light blue-to-white dial with a matching ceramic bezel insert or a black-to-turquoise dial with a black ceramic bezel. Either way, you get 300m of water resistance, the automatic Rado cal. R763 movement with an 80-hour power reserve, plenty of Super-LumiNova for night-time visibility, and vintage touches such as red date wheels and no crown guards. 

Diameter: 39mm

Movement: Rado cal. R763 automatic

Water Resistance: 300m

Norwegian watchmaker Micromilspec offers rugged tool watches at approachable prices, some of which are designed in collaboration with military units. The new Dualtimer, produced in partnership with the Royal Norwegian Air Force, is one such model: Housed in a 42mm barrel-shaped case with a matching, brushed stainless steel bracelet or a black leather or black rubber strap, it features a 24-hour rotating bezel and a black dial with a luminous sword handset, a 3 o’clock date window and a fourth GMT hand. Powered by the automatic Sellita SW330-2 movement, it can easily track a second time zone and boasts 200m of water resistance, to boot. 

Diameter: 41mm

Movement: Sellita cal. SW330-2 automatic

Water Resistance: 200m

The value that American microbrand Nodus is able to deliver for under $1,000 often beggars belief. Take the new Evergreen version of the Contrail GMT, for example: Measuring 40.5mm by just 11.8mm thick, it features a 48-click bidirectional bezel whose luminous sapphire insert boasts a 24-hour scale. Using this white and green scale in combination with 24-hour scale found on the green dial’s rehaut — plus the centrally mounted, bright yellow GMT hand — one can easily track three time zones at once. Powered by the automatic Miyota cal. 9075 movement and paired to a matching stainless steel bracelet, the Contrail GMT Evergreen is perfect for intrepid travelers and adventures — especially considering its 300m of water resistance. 

Diameter: 41mm

Movement: Miyota cal. 9075 automatic

Water Resistance: 300m

The redesigned Bremont Supermarine series of dive watches offers serious specs, good looks and the military-inspired pedigree of Britain’s most famous modern watchmaker. For those desirous of a unique aesthetic, check out the Supermarine Full Ceramic Polar White: Measuring 43mm in sandblasted black monobloc ceramic, it features a titanium PVD-treated bezel with a ceramic insert framing a bright white wave dial with applied luminous indices, a luminous sword handset and a date window at 3 o’clock. Powered by the automatic BB64AH movement and paired to your choice of rubber or NATO strap, it’s the perfect choice for a spot of polar plunging. 

Diameter: 43mm 

Movement: Bremont cal. BB64AH automatic

Water Resistance: 500m