by OREN HARTOV

The Best Luxury  Sports Watches

Zenith Defy Skyline

Zenith’s new Defy Skyline collection is one of the newer players in the luxury sports watch world, but the value it delivers is truly remarkable considering the research and development that has gone into over 50 years of the El Primero movements program.

Piaget Polo Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin

The sporty and handsome Polo collection from ultra-thin specialists Piaget dates to the late 1970s, though it’s truly come into its own recently. To wit, the new Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin combines a wildly thin 8.65mm stainless steel case (with integrated bracelet) with a to-die-for, emerald green dial.

Patek Philippe Nautilus reference 5811

The 5811, which was announced in late 2022, is currently available only in white gold, but is otherwise largely a classic Nautilus: present and accounted for are the porthole-esque case flanges, the horizontally embossed gradient dial, the integrated bracelet, and the thin profile, which measures just 8.2mm.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph

Combining the luxurious appointments of the Royal Oak with thicker case silhouettes, increased robustness, and all sorts of complications, the Offshore became a favorite of folks with the wrist size to pull them off — such as Arnold Schwarzennegger.

Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF GMT Rattrapante Steel Platinum

Coming up with an entirely new compilation in the 2020s is no mean feat, but Parmigiani Fleurier managed to do it with 2022’s Tonda PF GMT Rattrapante Steel Platinum: A sort of combination of the “flyback” chronograph mechanism with the GMT mechanism, it features two superimposed hands that remain in this position until a pusher is activated

Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222

Executed in solid yellow gold, this 37mm beauty has a monobloc, tonneau-shaped case with a grooved bezel (just like the original), a simple dial with applied, gold makers and a matching baton handset, and the maison’s Maltese cross logo at 5 o’clock.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak “Jumbo” Ultra-Thin reference 16202BC

If you’re looking for an “OG” luxury sports watch, what you’re really after is a simple, time-only Royal Oak from AP. The new reference 16202BC, available now in white gold, adds a textured, deep blue dial to the mix in place of the usual petite tapisserie motif, and upgrades the movement to the automatic, in-house Calibre 7121 with 55 hours of power reserve.

Below, we examine examples of some of our favorites from the current crop of luxury sports watches. Though most are highly expensive, super refined timepieces from notable purveyors of haute horlogerie, we’ve also included some of the aforementioned “microbrand” watches that merely embrace the same aesthetic, but offer their wares at more down-to-Earth pricing.

More on best watches for men

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Best Watches Under $1,000

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