Photography: Jesse Leigh Elford. Styling and creative direction: Grant Pearce. Grooming: Vic Anderson.

NOT TOO LONG AGO, wearing a watch with a tuxedo was considered a faux pas. On an elegant evening, why would you concern yourself with time? is what a gentleman’s guide, such as this title, would have once spouted. But the tides and times have changed. Over the last two decades or so, and thanks to celebrity red carpet dressing, wearing a timepiece with your evening jacket and bow tie is a common sight.

As a rule of thumb, a watch for formal affairs should be modest in design, thin (to slip easily under a sleeve cuff), and made of precious metals (leave the stones at home). If anything, they should just tell the time. From there, it’s free rein over a square or classic dial, a metal or leather bracelet. Going silver? Sure, it’ll go with everything. But a gold timepiece will make you the talk of the evening.

For Esquire‘s September/October issue, we tried on 11 of the best gold watches for men to wear with their tuxedos.

The best gold watches for men to wear to black tie evening

Rolex Day-Date 40, Oyster

Rolex Day-Date 40 best gold watches for men
Angelo wears Belancē shawl collar tuxedo jacket, shirt and tie.

Size: 40mm | Material: Everose gold | Ref: 228235

$88,000 from Rolex

Piaget Andy Warhol Watch

piaget andy warhol watch best gold watches for men
Angelo wears Farage camouflage evening jacket, shirt, pants, shoes and socks. Cartier Juste un Clou cufflinks (both pages), yellow gold, diamonds, $20,600.

Size: 45x43mm | Material: 18 carat rose gold hour-markers and case with malachite dial | Ref: G0A48239

$91,000 from Piaget

Cartier Panthère de Cartier

panthere de cartier best gold watches for men
Angelo wears Farage evening jacket with gold buttons, shirt, bow tie and pocket square.

Size: medium model | Material: yellow gold

$48,900 from Cartier

IWC Schaffhausen Ingenieur Automatic 35

Angelo wears Farage evening jacket, shirt and pants.

Size: 35.1mm diameter | Material: 18 carat gold | Ref: IW324903

$65,500 from IWC

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Chronograph

jaeger le coultre watch best gold mens watch
Angelo wears Belancē split back tuxedo jacket, shirt, pants and pocket square.

Size: 49.4×29.9mm | Material: pink gold

$124,000 from Jaeger-LeCoultre

Classic Fusion King Gold

hublot best gold mens watches
Angelo wears Farage velvet shawl collar tuxedo jacket, shirt, pants and bow tie.

Size: 42mm | Material: 18 carat king gold

$36,000 from Hublot

Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M

omega seamaster aqua terra best gold mens watches
Angelo wears Belancē shawl collar tuxedo jacket, shirt, bow tie, and pocket square.

Size: 41mm | Material: 18 carat Moonshine gold | Ref: 220.50.41.21.10.001

$69,225 from Omega

Panerai Luminor Due Goldtech

panerai best mens gold watches
Angelo wears MJ Bale tuxedo jacket, shirt, pants, bow tie and pocket square.

Size: 42mm | Material: rose gold | Ref: PAM01336

$35,900 from Panerai

Franck Muller Vanguard Sfumato Slim

franck muller best mens gold watches
Angelo wears Hermès velvet suit and shirt.
$39,500 from Franck Muller

Chopard Alpine Eagle 41

chopard alpine eagle best mens gold watches
Angelo wears Belancē shawl collar tuxedo jacket, shirt and pants.

Size: 41mm | Material: gold | Ref: 295363-5001

$104,500 from Chopard

Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Sport Chronograph

Angelo wears Belancē contemporary tuxedo jacket, shirt and pocket square.

Size: 42mm | Material: 18 carat rose gold | Ref: PFC931-2020001-400182-EN

$94,900 from Parmigiani Fleurier

Photography: Jesse Leigh Elford

Styling and creative direction: Grant Pearce

Photographer’s assistant: Nik Blagojevic

Grooming: Vic Anderson

Model: Angelo

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