I am sure there will be some disagreement here. Were there some watches that you felt were left out? Do you agree with my takes?

I would put the Casio Calculator watch on this list.

I give this list a C- at most. So many truly "important" watches are missing: Hamilton Ventura (first watch powered by a battery) Timex Marlin ("Takes a licking and keeps on ticking" - was an icon of the 1960s-70s) Bulova Accutron (first electronic watch) Pulsar (first digital quartz watch) Casio G-Shock Citizen Eco-drive Timex Indiglo Grand Seiko Springdrive etc... And Teddy, the original Mickey Mouse watch absolutely deserves to be on the list. That watch was the gateway for loads of children into the watch obsession. It was also the first "collaboration" between the worlds of watchmaking and pop culture.

Oh boy, we're in for a ride... And Teddy's driving.

I don’t understand why one would omit the Casiotron, Date-Just, and the G-Shock. Those are just stunning omissions. A Timex Marlin should surely be there, too

no hamilton khaki? or doxa 300T? or even zodiac seawolf?

Definitley needed to include the Hamilton Ventura.

“Takes a licking and keeps on ticking”. C’mon, we’ve all heard that slogan. So yeah, no Timex on the list? Almost as big of a fail as omitting the G-Shock. Esquire should have made it a YT video, as nothing stirs up comments more than a “list” video.

Rolex Submariner, Bulova Accutron, Universal Geneve Polerouter, Hamilton Khaki, Hamilton Ventura, Lange 1, Lange Datograph, Vacheron Constantin Historiques American 1921, Vacheron Constantin 222, Nomos Tangente, Breguet Classique, Timex Marlin, JLC Memovox, Tissot PRX, etc, etc, etc.

C+. You know the richer guy in the room - the one who is senior to the others and whose orders are followed - shouted over the others and wanted his funky rich man's toys in there, over the SKX, G-Shock and Airman.

Citizen's eco drive.... Vostok's rugged performance....

Maybe about 30 years ago, when I was a teenager who knew nothing about watches, I loved Fossils and ended up buying a few of them. But of course there’s no specific model that comes to mind so I can see why it was left off, but as a brand I think it was the gateway for a lot of people my age.

I’d rather wear a Mickey Mouse watch than a Hublot.

Waiting 28 minutes for a Bulova to be included is nonsense. Let’s forget they built the most accurate watch ever made? Hence Accutron?

No Vacheron Constantin, not even the 222? No Bulgari Serpenti? No Tissot Prx? No Porsche Design Chronograph 1? I don’t know if I agree with this list either 🤷🏼‍♂️

Puzzling how no Timex made the list. Growing up in North America, I think anyone who ever wore a watch at some point wore a Timex. Indiglo alone was a significant influence. No Citizens is also puzzling. I think of Citizen as the real force behind solar movements. And no G-Shock, as you said, is just ridiculous. How can they make the case that the best-selling watch of all time hasn't been one of the most influential? But the Vianney Halter X Jeff Barnes Antiqua has been?

Not even mentioning the god tier Casio Gshocks ???

The list definitely needs G-Shock on it, possibly even the Casioak as it also helped to bring even more watch buyers and make watches appealing to a younger audience. Aside from Casio, I'd say that Seagull 1963, Vostok Amphibia, Longines, Vacheron Constantin, and either Waltham or Elgin for being the vintage watch that spurred on Swiss watch industry.

Obvious misses: Bulova Accutron Seiko SKX At least one Vacheron (puleeeze!) And yeah, a gshock square Possibles: Hamilton khaki Most Rolexes, frankly Seiko Bullhead Seiko Willard

Timex Group USA, Inc. (formerly known as Timex Corporation) is an American global watch manufacturing company founded in 1854 as the Waterbury Clock Company in Waterbury, Connecticut. In 1944, the company became insolvent but was reformed into Timex Corporation

MISSING: 1) Hamilton/Pulsar PSR: For me this was the most glaring omission. Ok, LED watches had their day and never progressed but the impact they made upon introduction was immense. I remember it looking like alien technology. 2) Seiko G757: For me the coolest Bond watch of them all. A massive leap forward that married beautifully with his ice white Lotus Esprit that made his previous Aston Martin look as high tech as a whistling kettle. 3) Timex: Any model really because they were the watch of the working man. Simple, reliable and affordable with unique running gear. 4) Tissot Seastar: A 'luxury' watch for real people. Still a stretch for many in an affordable sense but that's what made it a luxury watch for many people. 5) G Shock: For obvious reasons. 6) Seiko Bullhead: Quintessential 70s man's watch

Unless I missed it, I didn't see a Vacheron Constantin on the list. For being one of the "big 3", that's interesting. I thought maybe the Historiques American might make it.

Seiko 6139! I mean the first ever automatic chronograph?

This list is a C- : I don’t understand how G-Shock is left out.

No SKX? No Glycine Airman? No Vostok? No Timex Marlin? No Smith's? No Breguet? No Nomos? No Navitimer? No thanks... Not a great list, but a great video!

Outstanding video. Even though you added your own thoughts in the end, and I agreed with all of them.. It would still be interesting to see your "Top 50" and the reasoning behind each one. Then, take it a step further and reach out to peers like Nico and others to get reaction videos to your list and get their thoughts. Would make a great series of videos for all.

Another watch that I think MUST be on this list is the original Garmin Forerunner. Garmin doesn’t get much (any) love from watch enthusiasts, but its impact was huge. It was the first mainstream watch to do pace and mileage well, which is incredibly important for runners and athletes in general. Garmin really produced the first mass market fitness watch and I would argue that without the innovations introduced by Garmin you would never have seen brands like Fitbit and even the Apple Watch take off. To this day, most serious runners and bikers use Garmin over the competition because of their superior location accuracy compared to the competition.

Totally agree with you that a Grand Seiko Spring Drive should be on the list. With regards to the Harwood Automatic, how did you set the time? I didn't see a crown. ETA: I found a video on the Harwood. The bezel rotated and turned an internal crown. I don't think I've seen that before.

Timex Easyreader, and the other models sold *everywhere* in post WWII America. Very often a person's 1st watch.

You cannot have a list of the 50 most important watches without a having a Timex on it. Ironman, Indiglo, Easy Reader, collabs with Peanuts characters, most famous tagline, etc. So much heritage! Even "A Man and His Watch" features two Timex's.

I miss the whole eco-drive family. All the solar powered watches.

Teddy make your own list for us 😀❤️💯👊🏻⌚️, C grade for Esquire 😂

Great video as always. Thank you. Just wondering would glycine GMT be potentially more influential than the patek gmt given that glycine gmt came first? They have similar design queues as well? More curious than disagreeing. I dont really have a strong opinion on this.

Breguet Reine de Naples. It is the first wristwatch and it is still an iconic design!

Yes, on Mickey Mouse watch. Back in early 1960's when I was 8 or 9 years old my parents gave me my very first watch. A Mickey Mouse watch. I think that's what got me started on this crazy watch collecting journey.

Dufour Simplicity for bringing attention back to hand finishing. Citizen Eco Drive. Grand Seiko VFA. A Breguet pocket tourbillon. This list is basically 80% a facebook poll of “best watches” + 20% random historic watches to try to legitimize the list.

Love your thought-provoking video. In no particular order, Fabergé Visionnaire Chronograph, Patek Philippe's reference 5035 the first annual calendar watch, Grand Seiko Spring Drive, Citizen Eco Drive, BULGARI OCTO FINISSIMO ULTRA (1.8mm), PIAGET ALTIPLANO ULTIMATE CONCEPT (2mm), IWC Portugieser Eternal Calendar, Zenith El Primero Captain Winsor (probably the only annual calendar chronograph watch with 5Hz movement), Alain Silberstein Krono, Omega Louis Brandt minute repeater, Vacheron Constantin Tour de l’Ile Grand Complication, Rolex Datejust, A. Lange & Söhne Grand Complication 912.032, Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime 5175R-001, Vacheron Constantine Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication 3600, Konstantin Chaykin Joker, The Jaeger-LeCoultre Hybris Mechanica Grande Sonnerie, Universal Genève Polerouter.

Bulova Accutron?

The Micky Mouse watch definitely belongs on this list.

The Mickey Mouse watch belongs on the list. Growing up in the 60's and early 70's, absolutely everybody wanted one. All the cartoon watches we see now from Snoopy to Kermit to Homer Simpson. The Mickey Mouse watch was the first.

Missing Bulova Accutron.

Should there not be a solar watch, maybe an ecodrive. Something like a Certina DS? And i defintely agree on a Seiko diver like the 62MAS affecring watches worn today.

From reading American literature over the years got the impression that the Mickey Mouse watch was somewhat iconic in the USA but not so much abroad.

With FP Journe, I always found his sideways tourbillon watch to be a gift from Zeus. How he made that is a level of genius and creativity I genuinely can't fathom. A real true accomplishment in watchmaking.

Teddy: you REALLY need to invite Matt Farah from The Smoking Tire to your event. He’s a huge fan of Grand Seiko, knows lots about watches, and could be a very interesting interview on your channel!

That Mickey Mouse watch is a huge reason kids got into watches. It's the watch that got me into watches. It deserves its place.

Id add a timex in there. The marlin from the 60s, or even the expeditions from their modern catalogue, just because od the brand and value proposition of the watches.

So many other ones could have been in the selection : the Frank Muller Crazy Hours, the Yema Superman, the Konstantin Chaykin Joker, the an0rdain Model 1, the Sea-Gull 1963, the Roger Dubuis Excalibur, the M.A.D. 1 from MB&F, an Accutron, A Movado, perhaps a Pulsar, ...

Hi Teddy! I am new to the watch scene and would love to see a video on your thoughts about best his and hers watch combinations!

lol that nico's vid on Hublot, nice one! oh btw hi teddy, quick question, do you have any recommendation for affordable or "maybe" under 1000 USD for enamel watch or minute repeater? thanks!

I woud include JLC Reverso, Hamilton Pulsar, Seiko DK001, Timex ironman, Casio Calculator, Texas Instruments rg07, Citizen Aqualand, Breitling Emergency. All of these were a great evolution. adding never seen before features to a wirstwatch. Cheers from Rio de Janeiro/ Brazil 🇧🇷

I think the Mickey Mouse Watch absolutely deserves a spot on the list. For many, this watch started their love for watches, and at a very young age. Can you make another that can claim that impact? Maybe the Casio. You mentioned the Seiko 5 was an entré for many. I’d argue that the Mickey Mouse Watch was as well.

Hamilton Pulsar. Really advanced tech for the time period and proved to everyone that quartz could also be on par with any other luxury watch brand. Not having a Hamilton on the list is just baffling.

8:38 There is a difference between most important and “iconic” those words are not synonymous. The Braun isn’t iconic, but the design language absolutely ushered in a wave of functional watch designs that is common decades later. It’s the next generation Bahaus design.

i know this sounds unusual , but the original tissot prs516 that had the racing bracelet , was as far as i know the first watch with that design of the bracelet, it saved tissot and changed the whole design of sporty watches maybe till now , Roger Moore wore it in one of his 007 movies .

50 is a big number when considering "the most important" examples of anything, especially watches. A more discerning number might have been 20 or 25.

I seriously wonder which muppet considered Braun AW10 on the list 🤦🏻‍♂️

The Mickey Mouse Watch at one time was highly sought after. Seiko, was a regular along with Hamilton, and various high end watch makers were in the game. I’m talking in the 1980’s especially. It’s not like that anymore. I still love a Disney watch but the environment is very different.

The Ingersoll Mickey Mouse Watch was the first Mickey Mouse watch & second Character Watch ever been made. It was the ancestor of all Character Watches. For many people, their first watch was a Character Watch which Ignited their interest in watches. If Ingersoll was acquired by LVMH and was making character watches at Gerald Genta’s quality and price point, then you may not have problem with the Mickey Mouse Watch being on the list?

You are wrong about the Ingersoll Mickey Mouse watch. It absolutely belongs on that list. 1933 was the height of the Great Depression. The unemployment rate was 24.7%. Millions of Americans were waiting in lines at soup kitchens every day and the number one cause of death for senior citizens was starvation/ malnutrition. It was the most dire economic time in our nation's history. Despite this, according to the article, Macy's in NYC sold 11,000 Mickey Mouse watches on the first day! $3.75 in 1933 is $90.10 in today's dollar. That is an insane amount of money to spend on a kid's watch when Grandma is literally starving to death. It became the world's first watch to surpass one million in sales. The watch saved both companies from bankruptcy and they both are still in business today. Ingersoll changed their name to TIMEX in 1969 and they have gone on to sell BILLIONS of watches thanks to that Mickey Mouse watch.

Timex Ironman

Missed a citizen eco-drive and the Longines Legend Diver.

Another good and distinctly objective review -- of a review, no less! Bravo! (where's Movado?).

TEDDY’s brand = Class, Elegance and longevity! From a watch novice and long-time executive, you have a bright future my friend!

Teddy, I love your watch videos. I just saw the most profound video on watches this morning, and you made it. The video you made about The Ball Watch Co. and their importance to the North American Railroad System absolutely blew my mind. It was a riveting story you told. I am 76 years old now and yet I've never heard of Ball watches before. The brand never comes up in the list of "usual suspects" in any cool watch discussions that I've ever heard. Your video made me curious to see what Ball watches are doing today, so I went to the website and I was totally blown away with what I saw. So why is that brand with such a rich important history never given any love? I love watches but I do not own anything one would consider a Luxury Watch, but after seeing your Ball Watch video this morning, there is no question for me. The Ball watch would be my #1 choice for owing a luxury brand. I am curious why you didn't mention anything about Ball watches as making the "Most Important" list. Thank you for the great job you do. Much respect - Jim

Samuel Smith (1826-1875) began trading as jeweller and watchmaker (S Smith & Son) in 1851 at 149/151 Newington Causeway, London. His son (also Samuel, 1850-1932) took over the business aged 25 after his fathers death. By end 19thC

They should’ve included the Brosnan era Omega Seamaster.

Citizen ecodrive/dive watches…. Excellent video as ever

❤ Love you Teddy! This video was so much fun for me… while I was scratching my head thinking how Esquire came up with the list at the same time I was confused why you were mixing up being Important with being Iconic. 😂

This was fun! I would say that Piaget is way more than just ultra thin. They’re great dress watches suited for daily wear. Respect for anyone not sporting one at a ballgame

Great show. Dead-on with G-Shock, but also missing the Hamilton electric, the accutron, Seiko Arnie, and yeah, all those Seiko divers! Way too many chronos and perpetuals on the original list for sure. 👍

The page on the IWC B-Uhr/Flieger is quite muddled. Firstly, the picture is that of the 'A-Urh' (Baumuster A) or Pilot's watch. The B-Urh is is the navigator's watch and has an outer ring for the minutes and an inner ring for the hours.

I sure learn so much from your channel. Timex is on par with Casio and Swatch for overall influence.

The should've put a Breguet Tourbillon. Also a Casio Calculator watch.

Esquire did a pretty good job and your comments were also spot on. I think there are two that were not mentioned that deserve consideration. One is the JLC Memovox Alarm. The other is a watch/jewelry design hybrid that although iconic is rarely mentioned among great watches probably because it is for women. That is of course the Bulgari Serpenti Tubogas.

1:27 What was this event? Is there a video of it? 24:02 I have a hard time accepting this because the design is so generic. It looks like any old 1950s watch.

I give this list a C. It has things like the Halter-Barnes, the Altiplano, the Octo Finissimo, but it has no SKX, Eco-Drive, or G-Shock models. This is like when a student crams for a test: he gets most of the multiple-choice items right, but flunks the essay. Or like when a guy cooks a steak medium rare, but forgets to season it.

The same argument you made for Junghans Max Bill fits perfectly for Braun as well. Otherwise, good overview..

Maybe I didn’t pay attention, but was the Bulova Accutron mentioned ? That “tuning fork” marketing blitz was classic !

Whoa Teddy! Great event with GS! You guys are really pushing the boundaries for watch nerds

Not having the Vacheron Constantin Overseas was a huge miss-forgot about this one Teddy! Props on filling in most of the blanks on the rest though like the Patek Aquanaut and G Shock, also I agree with every last one of your “fringe” picks on this list.

I think it's a pretty fair list. Mickey mouse should have gone on as it was important in getting kids into watches and introduced pop culture. Richard Mille I would simply because if you walk down the high street you'll see loads of people wearing fakes or a copy of the design - so clearly they've become culturally important, not just among those thst can afford one. I think most people have mentioned other possible additions. Maybe there should have been a hunter/half hunter or a trench watch as they're historically important. Or the Juvenia Mystere considered being the first mystery dial.

Did I miss Vacheron or was it not mentioned? Surely the 222?

Fun video. My 1953 Rose Gold Patek 96 was happy to see itself on the list. +1 on datejust. If you're going to have the 96, you must include the datejust. Both quintessential dress watches of their eras. I will read the Esquire article and might get the answer, but if you're going to list the "most important" watches, the criteria should be defined up front.

0:59. Joe Kirk is already preparing by doing one arm push ups, meditating, and drinking tea (made from tea leaves harvested from Mt Cheechenchonga)

Casio World Time (Royale) Obviously not among the best watches of all time. But in terms of functionality, price, units sold and Icon status. It’s a very important watch.

Maybe the Movado Museum watch for starting the minimalist fashion watch trend

I agree with their take on Mickey Mouse watch. Is there another watch every child wanted.

Grand seiko spring drive and Gshock missing on the list is a bummer.

I think one of the most telling things about this list is how little non watch people know about time keeping and its importance to the history of the world. This is especially glaring when it comes from a publication with the resources at its disposal. The Citizen atomic time keeping watches, or the most accurate wrist watch in the world, the Citizen caliber 0100. There are many others that have been mentioned but the omissions say more than what was included to me.

Vertex is coming out with a reissue of the Dirty Dozen here shortly. Can wait!

The term “Mickey Mouse” is used to describe something shoddy and cheap. And I’d say 99% of versions of the Mickey Mouse watch made over the years (including ones you could actually buy at Disneyland) epitomizes the term. Because it was a term my grandpa used so much, I picked up a $17 Mickey Mouse watch from Amazon. I hardly wear it because it’s silly. But it does make me happy to have it since it reminds me of him. Ironically enough it keeps time far far better than my wife’s Brietling Navitimer.

The article is the definition of clickbait

Very nice vidéo Teddy ! I would love to see you making this kind of video with Nico Leonard ! 😁

Excellent analysis Teddy. Esquire get C- for me. Besides the ones you mentioned, I would include: JLC Memovox, Bulova Accutron, Hamilton Ventura, Universal Geneve Polerouter and a Doxa sub.

I have wanted to ask this for quite a while: In the opening sequence of the movie "The Wall" Pink (Bob Geldof) is wearing a Mickey Mouse watch. Can anyone shed some light on this? What year of manufacture? Is it a prop? Where can I get one? Thanks in advance,

Good vídeo Teddy ..I agree with you. Some Seiko watches should be included....And also some brands that were pioneer on a trend Though today it is not a current brand

I personally love when you do reaction videos. Feels like we get to see a more personal side of your view on the watch world. Would love if you did more of them

learned so much! and your omissions stunned me too. no timex, g-shock, spring drive? makes one wonder who their target audience was. or maybe just provoke controversy.

I absolutely agree with all the additional watches Teddy mentioned. Particularly the type XX. I think Longines was very under-represented but then again, this is not new with Longines in this day and age.