10 Watches For Young Professionals

Whether you’ve just signed on the dotted line for your first job, or you’re a few years into your career, having the right timepiece on your wrist can be a game-changer. From the confidence that comes with wearing a good watch, and the networking opportunities that arise from a mutual watch enthusiasm with colleagues and clients alike, if you’re looking for a way to spend your bonus cheque, a new watch is one of the best ones.

It’s generally accepted that more than 70% of all human communication is non-verbal, so just as the right suit or the pair of shoes you’re wearing can be the difference between building strong rapport or not, the right watch on your wrist can do plenty of talking for you. After all, in the age of ubiquitous smartphones, wearing a watch is less about telling the time and more about telling those around you who you are.

With this arena of personal expression and social signaling in mind, we wanted to take a look at a few different industries and the timepieces that best suit the high flyers within them. From the creativity of media professionals and the function-forward precision of engineers, to the dynamic problem-solving of those in the world of start-ups, here are a few of the best watches for young professionals.

Finance Professionals

If there’s one watch that unquestionably belongs in the boardrooms of the world’s largest financial institutions, it’s the Rolex DayDate. Synonymous with success, power and influence, Rolex’s solid gold masterpiece didn’t earn the nickname “The President’s Watch” by accident, and this example arrives in yellow gold, with a crisp white dial, and an Italian day-wheel, speaking to a charm that’s both classic and cosmopolitan. Powered by Rolex's in-house calibre 3155 and boasting 100m of water resistance, it’s a timepiece that has witnessed countless empires built.

For the young professional who prefers a slightly more understated timepiece on their wrist, Patek Philippe’s modern ref. 5205G annual calendar sits firmly within the “if you know, you know” camp. Those who do know, understand the significance of Patek Philippe’s pioneering invention of the annual calendar complication in the late 90s, as well as how exemplary the ref. 5205 is of the Genevan watchmaker’s approach to horology today. Cased in 40mm of white gold and housing the in-house calibre 324 S QA LU 24H/206, the ref. 5205 represents some of the very best in modern watchmaking.

Start-Up Professionals

Generally speaking, start-up founders have a great idea and product, but one that isn’t yet respected or well-known enough in its industry to be considered as one of the established legacy players. If there was ever a name to appear on a dial that represented that story and struggle, it’s King Seiko, as the brand under the Seiko umbrella that was established in the 1960s alongside Grand Seiko to make world-class watches. The ref. SJE087 is a revival of this underappreciated name, featuring a 38mm case that embodies Taro Tanaka’s legendary Grammar of Design and is powered by the workhorse 6L35 calibre, to offer one of the best everyday watches that enjoys “if you know, you know” status among young and seasoned collectors.

In the challenging economic conditions faced by so many founders today, a display of thoughtful frugality can go a long way in communicating long-term budget responsibility. As counterintuitive as it might be, wearing a Rolex Explorer can showcase this financial discipline, as a more affordable option within the Big Crown’s catalog that’s built for challenging times as much as it is for easy times. This example arrives with the classic 36mm stainless steel case and is powered by the impressive calibre 3230, with 70 hours of power reserve.

Media Professionals

Within the world of young media professional — be it in advertising, editorial or design — a common thread is taste that ventures off the beaten path and this Louis Erard La Semaine Blanche x Alain Silberstein Excellence Limited Edition offers that to a tee. With its unusually “framed” case and set of hands that are quintessentially Alain Silberstein, even the date window has been replaced with a changing set of faces that reflect how one might feel as they move through the working week. Inside is the value-focus workhorse Sellita SW220-1 automatic movement, offering a modest 38 hours of power reserve and visible through the exhibition sapphire crystal caseback.

Another watch destined for a creative wrist is this Zenith Defy El Primero 21 chronograph, born from the mind of Argentine-Spanish artist Felipe Pantone who is primarily interested in the intersection of color. Crafted from 44mm of black ceramic, the hands and dial details exhibit a kaleidoscope of bright colors that contrast strongly against such a dark backdrop. While it’s eye-catching from the outside, beneath the dial is the calibre El Primero 9004 chronograph movement that ticks away at 36,000vph and is able to measure increments of 100th of a second. 

Engineering Professionals

Designed with a relentless pursuit of robust functionality, the classic Rolex Sea-Dweller ref. 116600 is an ideal watch for any professional working in the precision-obsessed engineering industry. An archetype within the dive watch landscape, the Sea-Dweller was first introduced to the world in 1967 after being developed in partnership with the French engineering and deep-sea diving firm COMEX (Compagnie Maritime d'Expertises). The ref. 116600 is one of the best ones within the Sea-Dweller legacy, as the first to feature a Cerachrom ceramic bezel and powered by the calibre 3135 remains an important part of the history of Rolex diving watches.

Another timepiece from Louis Erard (this time with a more scientific lean to its design), the Excellence Le Régulateur Louis Erard x Massena LAB makes specific design reference to the marine chronometers of centuries past, which allowed captains to safely navigate the oceans of the world. Created in collaboration with watch industry veteran William Massena, the regulator-style design of this watch emphasizes precision and accuracy, with the dominant minute hand taking pride of place at the center of the dial. Powered by the reliable and affordable Sellita SW266-1, its 42mm stainless steel case wears comfortably on the wrist.

IT Professionals

Most of the time displays we read are electronic in today’s digitized world, but there was an era when this time-telling method was the exception, not the rule. In the 1970s — following the development of the quartz watch — digital time displays were both cutting edge and futuristic, and the Girard-Perregaux Casquette 2.0 is a reissue from that important chapter in the history of watchmaking. Cased in blacked-out titanium and ceramic, its unusual shape displays the time through a narrow window on the side of the case, and brings a retro-futuristic presence to the wrist unlike anything else.

Another watch that’s distinctly futuristic in its design is the MB&F M.A.D.1 Red, which also displays the time on the side of the case, but this time via a pair of rotating rings. While it looks like a technology landed from another solar system, its heart remains unambiguously mechanical, complete with a winding rotor on the dial side of the watch, rather than the more common underside. Powered by a Miyota 821A automatic movement, it’s an affordable watch for any young professional who’s unafraid of doing things a little differently.