Our Favorite Watches for Playing Eighteen Holes

There is quite a bit of overlap between those who collect luxury timepieces and those who enjoy playing eighteen holes of golf with friends or coworkers. After all, upscale watches and the game of golf have a few things in common. Both require patience, an appreciation for the finer things in life, and people who are willing to invest in the best of the best. Like watch lovers, many golfers are collectors in their own right: They keep track of their top scores, constantly trying to best themselves, and they seek out new and challenging courses to push themselves further and further. Watch collectors are the same way, often upgrading their collections or discovering new timepieces that can take their watch boxes to new heights.

The best part? Golf fashion has plenty of room for luxury, with dressing nicely being the expectation rather than the exception. In the world of golf, plenty of professional players and hobbyists alike dress to the nines with exquisite luxury timepieces serving as the finishing touches to their refined outfits. Plus, as golf is not a contact sport, you can actually wear high-end watches on the course without worrying about damage or wear.

We have written about golf watches before here at Avi & Co., but now we are taking a new look at the modern golf landscape and the fashions that will help you stand out even among the best of the best. Explore our list of the top watches to pack for your next golf weekend.

Before we get into our official list of our favorite watches for golfing, a short pause is deserved. If you search for “golf watches” or “the best watches for golfing,” chances are that you will find compilations of smart watches designed to track your steps, your heart rate, and more. There is a time and place for smart watches, but frankly, we think that a day on the fairways with friends deserves a higher level of style and flair.

When you are golfing, you are not just making memories and enjoying friendly competition with your fellow sportsmen. You are also making a statement about who you are and how seriously you take yourself. Do you believe you are someone worthy of a $70 sports watch? Or do you recognize that you deserve an elevated luxury timepiece. Do you believe that you are someone worth investing in? We sure do.

Smart watches perform many technical functions; nobody is arguing that is not the case. But ultimately, they are not marvels of mechanical engineering and historical achievement in the way that analog wristwatches are. Luxury timepieces hail from generations of innovation and creativity, showcasing the finest artistry and precision craftsmanship around. They tell a story of building a business from the ground up, rooting yourself in a strong reputation, and believing that you deserve the good things that come your way. Wearing a watch on the golf course is an opportunity to show what you stand for, and smart watches have nothing to say in that respect. A luxury watch, on the other hand, exudes confidence, taste, and power.

Are you ready to redefine luxury on the golf course? Investing in one of these exquisite high-end timepieces is the perfect way to show your commitment to the finer things in life. These watches go just as well with a round at Scotland’s hallowed St. Andrew’s Old Course as they do with eighteen holes at California’s renowned Cypress Point.

We cannot talk about luxury watches on the golf course without discussing the brand dubbed “The Crown.” Rolex has been a staple of the golf world for years and has a substantial presence as both a tournament sponsor and a partner of many pro golf ambassadors. Some of Rolex’s best-known ambassadors in golf include Tiger Woods, Scottie Scheffler, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, Phil Mickelson, and others. Rolex has also extended its ranks into women’s golf. We begin our list with one of the most famous wristwatches of all time: the Rolex Day-Date.

This Rolex has been dubbed the “President’s Watch,” as it has made its mark not only in golf but also in politics and is a favorite of world leaders far and wide. Tiger Woods himself, a name eponymous with golf throughout the 2000s and 2010s, often sported a Day-Date on the course. As Woods hoisted countless trophies overhead, crowds would catch a flash of sparkle from his iconic signature watches. The Day-Date may not be considered Rolex’s most traditional “sporty” line, but it is perfect for this gentleman’s sport and signifies taste and elegance all around.

Not to be outdone by their competitors at Rolex, Audemars Piguet also has a significant presence on the fairways and partnerships with elite professional golfers. The brand’s hallmark Royal Oak line is always a favorite. One of Audemars Piguet’s highest-profile golf ambassadors, Norwegian Viktor Hovland, has been photographed wearing a ceramic Royal Oak perpetual calendar watch on numerous occasions. Hovland has taken home a number of wins wearing this timepiece, contributing to his career-high ranking of 3rd on the PGA Tour back in 2022.

That said, we cannot help but gravitate toward the original Royal Oak’s sportier counterpart, the Royal Oak Offshore collection. Available in many different styles, sizes, and colors, the Royal Oak Offshore line offers a more rugged, adventurous look for wearers. We love the black ceramic version of the watch pictured above, which also offers a handy chronograph function that essentially works like a stopwatch. The three subdials on the watch’s face show time elapsed in hours, minutes, and seconds. This timepiece is sleek and geometric, offering a functional and aesthetic companion as you walk the fairways.

Richard Mille is a well-known name in the golf world, perhaps because of the brand’s legendary partnership with American golfer Bubba Watson. Known for his outsized personality and bold sense of style, Watson collaborated with the burgeoning watch brand to put his name on a select few limited edition models, each of which is highly coveted on the secondary market. As a brand, Richard Mille is known for tech-savvy creations that highlight both mechanical and aesthetic artistry. Many Richard Mille watches have larger-than-life, tonneau-shaped cases and skeletonized dials. However, to truly channel the spirit of Bubba Watson, opt for a more unconventional Richard Mille creation, like the RM 028 pictured above.

This titanium watch departs from the brand’s usual fare with a large, round dial. Still, it maintains an oversized look and partially skeletonized dial that gives the wearer a glimpse of the engineering prowess hidden within the watch’s 47 mm silhouette. The pale blue strap and accents complete the look for a memorable and fashionable accessory perfect for golf and anywhere else that life takes you along the way.

Swiss powerhouse Patek Philippe does not have as large of a presence on the professional golf circuit as some of the other brands on this list. However, that does not mean you should avoid this iconic company when it comes to fairway-worthy watches. Patek Philippe is one of the most established and respected luxury watch companies in existence today, and sporting one of its refined, sophisticated timepieces is a direct ticket to building your own reputation as a golfer to respect. Patek Philippe is perhaps best known for its elegant Complications and Grand Complications lines as well as its more modern Nautilus collection, which is a celebrity favorite and a masterclass in sports watch making.

For golfing, we love the look and feel of the Patek Philippe Aquanaut, which is the brand’s sportier take on the 1970s Nautilus lineup. The Aquanaut features a comfortable and durable rubber strap paired with the classic cushion shape of the Nautilus case, which is said to be inspired by a ship’s porthole. The timeless elegance of the Aquanaut will never go out of style.

Here at Avi & Co., our collection of luxury watches appeals to collectors far and wide, both those looking for a trendy accessory and those looking for an heirloom timepiece. We strive to curate an elite inventory of the world’s most beloved watch brands, from Rolex to Richard Mille and from Audemars Piguet to Patek Philippe.

In addition, we have created three of our very own Avi & Co. watch lines and an exciting new collection of bespoke fine diamond jewelry to choose from. Visit us at any one of our three boutique locations to get a true taste of opulence fastened around your very own wrist.

Make an appointment today to shop with us in person. We look forward to welcoming you into the Avi & Co. family.