Getting married is no small task! There is significant planning involved in executing a wedding. Looking sharp is just as critical – naked wrists have no place at the altar, friend. Luckily, I have some ideas on where you can start regardless of how much money is leftover after paying for an open bar. You are going to love the way you look – I guarantee it.
About
I think the idea of a wedding watch is something that a lot of men (and women) think about with fondness. The show is finally here, you are about to get married, and you have something special to mark the milestone with. Wedding watches are commemorative by definition, but I think the underlying nature of such watches is agnostic to price and even style. They can be special whether the ultimate quantum is $500 or $5,000, and today we’re going to be taking a look at five different options that will perfectly complete your formal ensemble.
Remember, all the usual rules apply when buying watches – if you haven’t read my post about ground rules, skip over and start here. Beyond those guidelines, we are going to add one more parameter by targeting watches with enough flexibility to go from “suited and booted” to jeans and tee shirts. I think this is an oft-ignored quality of watches purchased for special occasions, and we should be making picks that, with the right outfit, are just as easy going as your daily driver. Even after the wedding is done, you should be able to snag this watch from your desk at any time and head to the bar without a second thought.
1. Orient Bambino
Orient’s Bambino is the ultimate realization of value potential, coming in as low as $120 with almost infinite permutations to choose from. When I got married, I splurged a bit to gift 6 Bambinos, paired with engraved straps, to my groomsmen. Today’s pick is a recent release in the Bambino Small Seconds, whose name is derived from the small seconds register right above 6 o’clock. It comes in either a silver or champagne sunburst dial, both of which provide a very classic dress watch feel. With a stainless-steel case, mechanical movement, modern case diameter of 40.5mm (fret not, there are smaller options), a date register and domed mineral crystal, the Small Seconds punches far above what its price tag suggests. This particular version is listed at $350 on Orient’s website, but sales have placed it at $175 and secondary retailers like Amazon or Jomashop can undercut MSRP as well.
- Case Diameter: 40.5mm
- Movement: Caliber F6222 (Automatic)
Product Photos by Orient
2. Nivada Grenchen Antarctic Spider 32023A
Nivada Grenchen flies under the radar as an undercover brand. Formed in 1926 by Jacob Schneider and serving its clientele with rugged tool watches, this company has a colorful history under both its name and the brand “Croton,” which handled product distribution in the United States. Like so many other incredible watch companies, Nivada Grenchen disappeared in the 1980s under a tidal wave of quartz watches. Luckily for the consumers of today, however, this historic name was finally revived in 2018 and has since begun re-issuing watches from the original company’s impressive catalogue.
The Antarctic Spider is one such spin on Nivada Grenchen’s original watch release. Underneath the domed sapphire crystal is the most attractive feature of the watch, a wonderful sector dial with a silver sunburst finish. I am happy to report that the proportions of the Antarctic Spider’s alternating polished and brushed surface case are on trend – a 38mm case diameter and 11.1mm of thickness make this very attractive for smaller wrists. The movement, an automatic SOPROD P024, is a trusty ETA-derivative and should be easily serviceable by any watchmaker worth their salt.
You can purchase the Antarctic Spider with various strap or bracelet options between $812 and $975, which is the definition of attainable as far as watches go. Consider the uniqueness here as well – I guarantee you’ll be the only one in the room wearing one of these bad boys. Shouldn’t a wedding watch stick out from the crowd?
- Case Diameter: 38mm
- Movement: SOPROD P024 (Automatic)
Product Photos by Nivada Grenchen
3. Longines Silver Arrow
When it comes to classic style, no one does it better in the entry-level luxury segment than Longines. This brand’s catalogue is lined with well-executed re-issues of watches from yesteryear – if you want serious vintage inspiration, the Big Eye, Legend Diver, Ultra-Chron and Heritage Military are but a quick google search away. Some may cry foul at the consistent recycling of old designs, but let it be known that I personally come to praise Longines, not to bury them. Today’s choice is the Silver Arrow, originally released in 1955 as a tribute to the famous Mercedes race cars of the era. All of the individual components come together in the aggregate to create a respectable time piece. Ivory-toned dial? Check. Applied fluted indices? Check. Elegant sword hands? Check. Luckily, the Silver Arrow is as compact as it is clean – we are looking at 9.9mm of thickness, perfectly slim for slipping under both shirt and suit cuffs. Old school notes aside, Longines modernized in a few key areas such as the power reserve (72 hours) and crystal (boxed sapphire). The Silver Arrow can be obtained at an MSRP of $2,225.
- Case Diameter: 38.5mm
- Movement: Longines L888 (Automatic)
Product Photos by Longines
4. Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Caliber 3861
In the infinite calculus of the multi-verse, there is no version of this list where Doctor Strange sees me excluding the Omega Speedmaster (probably because I wore a Speedmaster to my own wedding). A lot of the Moonwatch formula has remained consistent over time, but the latest release holds some substantial upgrades over the outgoing cal. 1861 generation. A new stepped dial adds further visual depth, the bezel has been reverted to the classic “Dot over 90” configuration and Omega has upgraded wearability with a new bracelet that noticeably tapers towards the end. However, the real star here is the new cal. 3861, which is METAS-certified for 0/+5 seconds per day and is also equipped with a silicon balance spring.
Quick note about a uniquely Speedmaster conundrum: this watch comes in two stylistically different packages. The Speedmaster traditionally has a raised hesalite (plexiglass) crystal, which is scratch-susceptible but easy to buff out. Hesalite creates some playful distortion along the edges in a way that sapphire, the other available option for the Speedmaster, cannot. However, sapphire crystals are significantly more durable and modern looking. Be aware that the hesalite-equipped Speedmaster has a printed dial logo and solid caseback, whereas the sapphire-equipped version has an applied dial logo and display caseback (aptly nicknamed the “Sapphire Sandwich”). Price is the final factor in this equation: when both are packaged with the steel bracelet, the hesalite option is priced at $6,400 whereas the Sapphire Sandwich is priced at $7,200.
Given the upgrades over the previous generation, I think the cal. 3861 is worthy of both its recent price increase and your praise. The Speedmaster certainly isn’t a dress watch, but we aren’t compiling a list of dress watches. The versatility of its design affords the most opportunity in casual situations post wedding day out of the five watches selected.
- Case Diameter: 42mm
- Movement: Caliber 3861 (Manual-Wind)
Product Photos by Omega
5. Vacheron Constantin Historiques American 1921
In the world of haute horology, Vacheron Constantin is considered one of the “Big Three” alongside Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe. These maisons are known for ultra high-end materials and impeccable hand finishing, and their watches always command a premium for good reason. In my opinion, Vacheron is undeservedly the most underrated of the trinity. They are significantly less one-dimensional than either of their counterparts, which have become respectively synonymous with either the Royal Oak or Nautilus. Vacheron has a much more balanced lineup, and there is one watch amongst the group that I think, if you have the capital, deserves serious consideration: the American 1921.
This manual wind watch has its roots and inspiration in the Roaring Twenties, with the legend supposedly being that this may have been intended as a driver’s watch due to its rotated dial and crown positioned between 1 and 2 o’clock. The Breguet numerals really pop against the dial’s silver-grained finish. Supporting the American 1921’s dial presentation is the packaging it is wrapped in; the case material is 18-karat white gold. Our contestant also comes in pink gold, but the white gold option to me best supports the silver dial. Note that there are 36.5mm and 40mm options in addition to the case material optionality – they are equally razor thin, coming in respectively at 7.4mm and 8.06mm.
No doubt, I can’t help but think the American 1921 is a choice fit for the Jay Gatsbys of the world. Its price makes it a prohibitively difficult acquisition, but this watch’s qualities and construction make it worthwhile. The 36.5mm version, probably the safer sizing bet given the cushion case design, is priced at a whopping $30,400, while the 40mm version is priced only a mere $6,400 more at $36,800.
- Case Diameter: 36.5mm / 40mm
- Movement: Caliber 4400 AS (Manual-Wind)
Product Photos by Vacheron Constantin
There we are, folks! Five wedding watches across the price spectrum – no doubt there are multitudes of great candidates to choose from, but I think these have the potential to stand above the rest as memorable companions on your big day. Granted, they would also make great companions if you just want to splurge on the side… but that is on you to come up with a new purchase rationale, not me. Good luck with the hunt, friends.
Leave a Reply