Four Watches for the Super Rich

Watches for Lottery Winners 

[This article is adapted and updated from an article I published on the now defunct Yahoo Contributors Network and on this blog many years ago. However, it is still fun to dream. I've updated some of the watch picks so that they are still out there to add to your collection.  They are all just a lottery ticket away.]

Watch making is an art. It reaches it's pinnacle in watches for the world's wealthiest people. If I were one of those people, here are five watches that would definitely be on my shopping list.

Every week the Megamillions and Powerball lotteries get bigger and bigger. When they do, they give everyone something to dream about. If I were to win a big lottery or become super wealthy, here are five watches for the super rich that would join my watch collection:

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver. As a man of wealth and means, I would enjoy yachting again. Of course, I'd have to step up from the 19-foot Flying Scot sail boat of my youth. I'd have to buy a much larger yacht with steeped in teak and tradition. I'd also need a watch to go with it. For yachting, I'd have to go with the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Diver. According to Audemars Piguet, the Offshore Diver is made of exotic materials including "black ceramic case, glareproofed sapphire crystal, glareproofed sapphire crystal caseback, black ceramic bezel and crowns."I like the octagonal bezel that evokes the looks of a nautical portal.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Diver

Breitling Bentley Super Sports Watch. Of course, if I were super rich, I wouldn't spend every waking moment on the yacht. I'd have to drive around some too. Thus, I'd need a watch to go with my car. That would leave me with no choice but to buy a Breitling Bentley Super Sports watch. A certified chronometer, the Bentley Super Sports watch features a Breitling automatic movement, a date window, and three subdials. You can see one here on Amazon.com. It is price at just over $10 grand. For now, I'll just keep looking for a Toyota Highlander watch.

Breitling Super Sports Watch (Amazon Photo)

Constantin Vacheron. One can't join the ranks of the super-rich and not wear a suit from time to time. I'd at least have to don a sport jacket to sit with my skybox friends for big sporting events. For those formal occasions, the perfect dress watch would be the Constantin Vacheron Traditionnelle Perpetual Calendar Chronograph. According to Constantin Vacheron, this 43mm diameter watch has a manually wound 1142QP movement with a 48 hour power reserve. But, the workmanship and materials make this watch amazing. There is something special about the platinum case, white gold hands and indices, the fine alligator strap, and a happy or sad moon gracing the dial depending on the moon phase. Plus, at only $117,671.40 on watchxnyc.com, it's a bargain. When a company has been making fine watches since 1755, they must be doing something right.

Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Perpetual Calendar Chronograph (VC Photo)

Wait, isn't salmon the same thing as pink? I might have to choose another watch. 

RGM Pennsylvania Tourbillon. Of course, being super-rich doesn't mean you stop being patriotic. I like watches that are made in America and one of the finest is the RGM Watch Companies Pennsylvania Tourbillon. It has a movement that is made in the United States of America. That's a tremendous accomplishment for a small watch company. Plus, the watch is simply a stunning handmade work of art. Pictures on the RGM website reveal an exhibition side window on the case as well as an exhibition case back. Starting at $125,000 at RGMwatches.com, it is a truly awesome watch that should make the watchmakers of Europe a little nervous.

An RGM Pennsylvania Tourbillon (RGM Photo)

When I look at these watches only one question remains: Is it too late to buy a lottery ticket today? If I were a rich man, I know exactly which watches I would buy!

Watch Deal Alert: Citizen Eco-Drive Men's Marvel Hulk Watch

If you search for Citizen Marvel on Amazon, you'll be amazed at how many watches come up. It seems like every Avenger movie hero is well represented. But, on Friday night, I found a great deal. On Amazon, as of February 1, 2025, the Citizen Eco-Drive Men's Marvel Hulk Stainless Steel watch is on sale for 49% off! That brings this amazing solar-powered watch to just less than $200. You can see this watch for yourself and get this Citizen Hulk Watch deal here on Amazon.

Citizen Eco-Drive Men's Marvel Hulk Stainless Steel Watch

With a 43mm case that is 11.7mm thick, this watch has bulk befitting the Hulk, but still fits in perfectly under long sleeved shirt cuffs. It's a well built watch that adult fans of the comic book hero will find perfectly appropriate in most situations.  A novel watch like this is also a great conversation starter.

TGIF: More Sophisticated George Watches at Walmart

Something wild is happening in the watch department at Walmart! Walmart's George brand is bringing more polished and more sophisticated watch designs onto store shelves and raising prices for some watch to fit more solidly in the $15 to $25 range. One example is this George watch with a larger date track window, tiny gem diamond, and guilloché pattern on the dial.  Quite frankly, that's a lot of watch value for only $25.

A George watch with sophisticated features

While George watches don't bring much to the table in terms of prestige, at $10 to $25 per watch, they do allow everyone to enjoy collecting watches. Plus, whenever the brand adds something new to their inventory, they put pressure on brands like Armitron, Casio, and Timex to up their game and bring something new to their own lines of value-priced watches.

Watch Wearing Wednesday: Caribbean Joe Watch with Coin-Edged Bezel and Two Faux Subdials

My affection for my little collection of Caribbean Joe wristwatches continues to grow. They are great beater watches and have a style that is carried throughout the watch line up. I've reviewed this watch before on this blog at the watch review post linked here. I don't know why I like them. It must be the hut.

My Caribbean Joe Coin-Edged Bezel watch and a Great Book

If you like Caribbean Joe watches, you can typically find them at Kohls or Boscovs. I guess bringing a little tropical island flavor to the wrist isn't a bad idea.

The Caribbean Joe Watch with the Fishes

Affordable Alternatives to the Tudor Ranger

The Tudor Ranger line has always embraced it's vintage roots as a tool watch. It's a premium watch from a sister-brand of Rolex. But, while the Ranger is somewhat similar to the Explorer, it has a decidedly vintage vibe. For many watch collectors, the Tudor Ranger is a good alternative choice to the Rolex Explorer. You can see the Tudor Ranger here on Amazon here. The listing isn't very descriptive, but it should have a 39mm diameter case. Unfortunately, at well above $2000, it is priced out of my reach.

Tudor Ranger (Amazon Photo)

A Tactical Frog Ranger Homage

Fortunately, there are affordable alternatives to the Tudor Ranger. The Tactical Frog Thorn T003 PT5000 is an excellent alternative powered by the respected Japanese NH35 automatic movement. It comes with this amazing red dial or a tamer black dial. Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on how vintage you want to be, it only comes with a 34mm dial.  

Tactical Frog Thorn T003 Automatic

I think this one truly embraces the vintage watch look. You can check out the Tactical Frog Thorn T003 PT5000 here on Amazon. The Tactical Frog is certainly much more affordable.

A Pagani Design Ranger Homage

As always, Pagani Design also offers a watch that seems inspired by the classics. This NH35-powered automatic watch looks much like Tudor Ranger in a 36mm case size. Even less expensive than the Tactical Frog, it offers 200 meters of water resistance.

Pagani Design 36mm Automatic

You can check this Pagani Design watch out here on Amazon. I'm excited to see some of the vintage looks and retro vibes resonating from these homage watches. To see more Rolex alternatives, check out my post on Affordable Rolex Explorer Alternatives. The Explorer and the Ranger are quite similar so you might find a look you like there.

Winter Weather Watch: Luminox Men's ICE-SAR Arctic Swiss Quartz Watch

With the United States gripped by cold, ice, and snow in areas where it is seldom seen, it seems like a good time to think about a watch that could withstand the worst that winter could muster.  One such winter watch is the Luminox Men's Icelandic Search and Rescue (ICE-SAR) Watch. Luminox is a sponsor of Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue, and they designed this watch to meet their needs.

Luminox Men's ICE-SAR Arctic Swiss Quartz Watch (Amazon Photo)

This Luminox watch has a 44mm diameter case that is 12mm thick.  It has a screw-on caseback and offers 200 meters of water resistance. It's made of a strong, lightweight, material called CARBONOX.  The watch has a fixed bezel, a protected crown, and an innovative, self-powered, illumination system that uses micro-gas tubes that need no external power, require no buttons to be pushed, and can provide lighting for up to 25 years. 

Luminox ICE-SAR Arctic Watch (Amazon Listing)

If you'd like to get the Luminox ICE-SAR Arctic watch, you can find it here on Amazon.

Watch Wearing Wednesday: Relic "Moonphase" Quartz Watch

Last year, I revived my Relic "Moonphase" quartz watch (Model ZR15557).  It's not really a moon phase watch, but it has a complication that shows the moon at night and the sun during the day. It's a sophisticated look on a relatively inexpensive watch. I've been wearing it about and find that it still very comfortable, very readable, and quite the good looking watch. Here it is pictured below with a science kit for kids that doesn't sound like a great idea.

Relic Model ZR15557 with Sun Moon Complication

The watch also has additional subdials to tell you the day of the week and the date.  Unfortunately, I find those a little difficult to read without dedicated reading glasses. The watch has held up quite well in over a decade of ownership. I first wrote about it in this post way back "in the day." If I'm not careful, this watch will become vintage.  

Here's a nice close up of the subdials on this Relic watch.  You'll notice the rays of sunlight emanating from the sun.  I also like the chrome trim around the top two subdials and the nice detail of the marker batons.

Relic "Sun & Moon" watch subdials

If you are looking for Relic watches, they are sold at JC Penney and here on Amazon.com. Over the years, I've found that the Relic by Fossil brand provides a really good value for the price.