“Blacked-out” – Back in 1972, Porsche Designed introduced the Chronograph 1 and the world’s first all-black watch – it was designed by Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, the designer of the legendary Porsche 911 and founder of Porsche Design. It is generally accepted as the first all-black watch design, with other renowned watchmakers following up soon after with their own blacked-out watches. Black goes with anything, and below we have compiled a list of the best all-black watches for men.
1. Porsche Design Chronograph 1-1972 Edition – $7,700
Porsche Design celebrated 50 years of the legendary Chronograph 1 re-releasing the first ever watch designed by Ferdinand Alexander “Butzi” Porsche. Housed in a 40.8mm titanium carbide coated case and bracelet, this modern re-issue is equipped with a high performance, modern Porsche Design automatic movement Porsche Design Kaliber WERK 01.140 with COSC certification. Limited to just 500 units worldwide Porsche Design Chronograph 1 1972 Limited Edition is priced at $7,700.
2. Swatch x Omega Bioceramic Moonswatch Mission to the Moon – $260
Omega teamed up with Swatch to introduce a more accessible version of the iconic Speedmaster Moonwatch. Housed in a 42mm case made entirely out of BIOCERAMIC, a material that blends ceramic and a byproduct of castor oil the MoonSwatch reimagines the iconic timepiece with signature Swatch materials. It is powered by a Quartz movement and finished with a velcro strap branded with both parties’ logos. The Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch ref.SO33M100 makes the iconic design accessible to fans everywhere, the watch cost only $260.
3. Hublot Square Bang Unico All Black – $26,200
Hublot ventures into new territory with its Square Bang Unico presented at the 2022 Watches & Wonders in Geneva. This 42mm All Black is satin-finished and polished black Ceramic case is the first four-sided silhouette in the Maison’s history, and is finished with 6 H-Shaped Titanium screws. Powered by the HUB1280 UNICO Manufacture Self-winding Chronograph Flyback Movement with Column Wheel it has a power reserve of 72 hours. Priced at $26,200 USD the Hublot Square Bang Unico All Black ref. 821.CX.0140.RX is finished with a black structured rubber strap and is limited to just 250 pieces.
4. Casio G-Shock MRG-B5000 – $4000
Casio extends their flagship MRG collection with the new MRGB5000 which is modeled after the iconic design from 1983, the original G-SHOCK DW-5000C. The case and bezel are made of high-hardness Ti64 titanium alloy, while the bracelet is made of special titanium known as DAT55G (three times stronger than regular titanium). The new MRGB5000 model is made up of 25 parts that have been individually polished with Sallaz polishing, which gives the watch a stunning, elegant finish. Price for the Casio G-Shock MRG-B5000 reference MRGB5000B-1 is $4,000 USD.
5. Hèrmes Arceau Le Temps Voyageur – $28,825
Hermès unveiled at Watches and Wonders 2022, Geneva, the Arceau Le Temps Voyageur. The black model is 41mm and features a case that mixes platinum lugs with matte black DLC titanium, while inside is the Hermès H1837 mechanical self-winding movement with 40-hour power reserve. Designed for globetrotters who are in a constant love for fashion, the dial, which is a stylized fantasy map, was imagined by Jérôme Colliard for the “Planisphère d’un monde équestre” silk scarf. The timepiece is offered with calfskin or alligator straps. Priced at $28,825.00
6. Panerai x Brabus Submersible S Black Ops Edition Watch – $46,200
Panerai unveiled at the Monaco Yacht Show a collaborative timepiece with German tuning company Brabus, the Submersible S Brabus Black Ops Edition. Inspired by Brabus’s Shadow Black Ops series of dayboats, the watch comes housed in in a 47 mm case made from Panerai’s Carbotech composite material, featuring Brabus’s signature gunmetal gray, black and red colors. Limited to just 100 examples Panerai Submersible S Brabus Black Ops Edition is priced at $46,200. A must for collectors, divers and thrill seekers.
7. Richard Mille RM 47 Tourbillon – Price: TBA *UPDATE : Priced at CHF 969,000 excluding taxes (approximately $1.04M USD).
Richard Mille is paying homage to Japanese culture with the RM 47 Tourbillon Time of the Samurai. The all-new RM 47 Tourbillon is housed in a classic square case design crafted from lightweight TPZ black ceramic with 18k Gold accents. Many details make reference to the Asano clan, a family said to symbolize the bushido spirit. The Asano family’s kamon is featured on the tourbillon at 6 o’clock. Each samurai clan had its own kamon, a heraldic sign borne on their clothes, their sabres and the banners carried onto fields of battle. Inside is the manual winding tourbillon movement RM47 calibre with hours and minutes with circa 72 hours of power reserve. Limited edition of just 75 pieces.
8. Longines Legend Diver Watch – $2,725
The Longines Legend Diver with all-black treatment ref. L3.774.2.50.9 is a reinterpretation of a 1960s diver watch, and occupies a special place in the brand’s Heritage segment. Water-resistant to 30 bar it is housed in a 42.00 mm case with scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, with several layers of anti-reflective coating on the underside. Inside is the L888 caliber, a self-winding mechanical movement beating at 25’200 vibrations per hour, with a power reserve of approximately 72 hours.
9. Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Phantom – $4,144
Inspired by cockpit instruments, Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Phantom is the stealthiest version of the brand’s signature BR 03-92. Housed in a 42 mm matte black ceramic case, the military marvel features a blacked out dial and comes completed by a black rubber straps and steel pin buckle with black PVD finish. Priced at 3,800 € (approx. $4,144USD).
10. Tudor Black Bay Ceramic – $4,843
Tudor has been making some surprising moves lately, last year introduced another surprise: The Black Bay Ceramic. The contemporary icon ref.m79210cnu-0001 is housed in 41mm matte black ceramic case with micro-blasted finish and monobloc middle case, while inside is the caliber MT5602-1U (COSC), in-house, with silicon balance spring beating at 28,800 vph and 70 hours of power reserve. Priced at a cool CHF 4500 (approx. $4,843USD).
Which one is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below.
Tudor is my favourite one