In fashion, a few select items are universally regarded as timeless classics. A Burberry trench coat, a Dior Bar jacket, an Hermès Kelly bag—you get the picture. Classic and elegant, yet relevant no matter the era, these rarities are special even when they’re not “trending.” When they are, they reach a level of popularity and allure that no one-off trend, no matter how big it is on TikTok or how many celebrities have worn it, can or will ever reach.
Another item of this same caliber is a luxury gold watch, whether it’s a larger, more masculine style like the Rolex Day-Date or a daintier alternative like Cartier’s Baignoire or Panthère. And right now, gold timepieces are experiencing one of those aforementioned periods of even greater favor than usual. “As we [begin to] enter 2025, fondness for gold timepieces hasn’t wavered,” says Jack Stephens, an in-house watch expert at pre-owned-watch specialist Watchfinder & Co. “Interest in watches made of the precious metal has risen, especially in the last 30 days.”
A tray of vintage yellow-gold Seiko watches at Grand Bazaar in New York City
Anyone who’s ever looked into investing in a high-end gold timepiece, though, knows that they’re oftentimes pricier than their steel companions, as well as harder to come by, especially for the most sought-after styles. There are also different brands, karat counts, colors, and styles to consider. To take some of the mystery out of buying one of fashion’s most lauded accessories, I called on Stephens and Dimepiece founder Brynn Wallner to answer my burning questions about the world of gold watches. Their answers? Well, you’ll have to scroll down to find those.
What are the top gold watch trends in 2024?
“Watchfinder’s best-selling gold watches in 2024 are, no surprises, Rolex, with the Day-Date coming out on top, closely followed by the Lady Datejust and the Daytona; Patek Philippe with the Calatrava and Complications series watches; and of course, Audemars Piguet with the Royal Oak,” says Stephens. “It’s also interesting to note that two-tone gold watches have a powerful presence in the 2024 pre-owned market.”
Wallner name-dropped a few more sought-after styles, specifically in the fashion world: “Smaller, jewelry-forward pieces like the Cartier Baignoire on a bangle and the frosted gold Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Mini.”
Audemars Piguet
Royal Oak Selfwinding
What are the top gold watch trends in 2025?
Kristen Nichols trying on two Cartier Tank Américaine watches
(Image credit: @kristenmarienichols)
“As we move into 2025, I believe these watches, due to their popularity, will stay on top,” says Stephens. “But I think we’ll start to see more watches from Cartier and other household names bring up the rear, especially with so many brands turning to the material for its new watches over the last few years.”
cartier
Tank Louis Cartier Watch
cartier
Tank Américaine Watch
Which brands make the best gold watches?
“Nothing beats a gold Rolex,” Wallner says. “I’ll never not want a Presidential Day-Date.” That being said, she’s also a fan of gold watches by brands that specialize in both jewelry and watches. “The Cartier Panthère is the most frequently worn gold watch I see around in real life (on women, in particular) and then there’s Bulgari, with its Serpenti watch playing with gold in a very creative way,” she says.
Stephens agrees, adding a few others to make note of: “The most popular brands for gold watches are Cartier—particularly vintage watches from the brand—Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, and Rolex, which even has an in-house foundry where it creates its own blends of gold,” he says.
cartier
Panthère De Cartier Watch
Bulgari
Serpenti Tubogas Watch
What can shoppers expect to spend on a luxury gold watch?
According to Stephens, gold watches will almost always be more expensive than steel watches. “Prices for gold watches depend on the brand, level of quality and complication, and whether or not you buy pre-owned,” he says. “Between [roughly] $2000 and $12,000, you’ll find some great pre-owned gold choices from Rolex, Omega, Tudor, TAG Heuer, and Cartier.” Past that and up to around $50,000 is where many of the well-known watch houses sit, with new and used models by Rolex and Jaeger-LeCoultre, as well as entry-level gold watches from Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin. “Past that and beyond, you start getting into some really sought-after pieces, like those from Audemars Piguet and Complication watches from Patek Philippe,” he says.
cartier
Panthère De Cartier Watch
How does gold compare in price to, say, platinum or steel watches?
TyLynn Nguyen wearing a Cartier Tank Américaine watch with Charlotte Chesnais jewelry
“At the more affordable end, we have steel, which is the most common and cost-effective material in watchmaking, as it’s the easiest to work with and boasts a whole range of benefits to the user at a lower price point,” says Stephens. “Next is gold, with the price of the material accounting for the increase in price from steel.” Finally, he explains, you have platinum, a prestigious material reserved for a brand’s most converted pieces. “This naturally means that watches that boast the illustrious material, in most cases, cost top dollar.”
What are the benefits of buying a gold watch over other materials?
“Eighteen-karat gold, which all the high-end luxury watch brands use, is always a good investment, and when taken care of properly (i.e., not over-polished), it will always look good and age beautifully,” says Wallner. According to Stephens, gold’s warm, luxurious hue stands out from other materials like steel and titanium, appealing to all. “Gold watches are also quite substantial in weight compared to their stainless steel counterparts, adding a reassuring ‘luxury heft’ to any piece,” he says.
cartier
Ballon Bleu De Cartier Watch
Citizen
Corso Gold-Plated Watch
Jaeger-LeCoultre
Monoface
What are some important factors to consider before buying a gold watch?
According to Stephens, the two most important factors to keep in mind when shopping for a gold watch are price and use. “Gold is much more expensive than stainless steel, so it’s up to you to decide whether the added luxury of the material is worth the additional cost or whether the equivalent value could be spent on a higher-end steel piece,” he says. You do have to consider that gold watches are more prone to scratching than stainless steel. However, if you’re wearing it more as an everyday watch and less like a tool watch, you likely won’t run into many issues. “While you could use a gold watch as a tool watch—one like the very capable Rolex Submariner 116618LB—you’d find increased durability, reduced weight, and better peace of mind in a harder-wearing material like steel, titanium, or ceramic,” Stephens says.
Wallner also brought up the important point that gold in any form is flashy by nature. “Gold says ‘money,’ so if I’m on the NYC subway, I’m not wearing a gold watch,” she says. “These days, you have to be mindful of where you’re rocking that Rolex Prezzy.” She also reiterates Stephens’s point about gold being a softer metal. “You can’t be tempted by the tendency to polish it to maintain its sparkle,” she says. “Each time you polish gold, a layer of the metal is stripped, and it can lead to the fading of sharp lines and hallmarks essential to the watch’s design.”
How many karats do you recommend looking for?
“Most luxury watch cases and bracelets will be 18 karat,” says Stephens. “Twenty-four karat is pure gold, and for watchmaking, it is far too soft.” Therefore, he says that 18 karat, which is 75% pure gold, is the go-to. “The remaining 25% is made up of other metals like silver and copper—depending on color and manufacture—which help to increase strength and durability.”
Bulgari
Serpenti Seduttori Watch
omega
Constellation 39 mm
Can gold watches get wet?
The short answer is yes, says Stephens: “Gold watches can get wet, but water resistance differs for each watch.” His suggestion is to check your manufacturer’s handbook for depth ratings and care before attempting to test your timepiece in water of any kind.
Which will hold its value and style most over time: white gold, rose gold, or yellow gold?
Eliza Huber stacking two rose-gold Piaget Polo Date watches
“While style is subjective, yellow gold is timeless,” says Stephens. “Yellow gold has been used for thousands of years, cementing itself as a quickly identifiable symbol of luxury and status that doesn’t lean toward any particular gender.” As for financial value, Stephens says that each of the golds have experienced periods of highs and lows in the pre-owned market. “I predict that yellow gold is very much on its way back in, with more and more watch manufacturers turning back to that particular gold for its new timepieces,” he says.
Though Wallner agrees that yellow gold is an icon of both the fashion and watch worlds, she also appreciates the more hushed value of white gold. “White gold is beautiful because it could be mistaken for steel, but YOU know it’s gold,” she says. “It feels more subtle and intimate.”
tiffany & Co.
2-Hand 25.6 x 42.4 mm Watch