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Believe it or not, creating a simple two or three-handed ultra-thin watch is an incredibly complex process. Most thin watches make for the perfect companion to match with dressy attire. They’re sleek, sophisticated, and sit effortlessly against the wrist.
There are many advantages to owning an ultra-thin watch. They can be discreetly tucked underneath a smart shirt for the office or showcased with formal attire to enhance a professional look on those occasions when creating a good first impression counts.
There is a great choice on the market today when it comes to finding an elegant thin watch, but we’ve created this quick guide to the top five thinnest watches ever made.
View The Best Thinnest Watches Below
1. Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Minute Repeater Flying Tourbillon
Jaeger LeCoultre’s Master Ultra-Thin watch is our number 1 choice for the best overall thin watch. It combines the brand’s cutting-edge horological expertise with stylish aesthetics. It promises to look professional and sleek when paired with office or smart attire.
A slice of the company’s in-house 362 calibers can be viewed through the dial side of the watch, surrounded by a classic baton hour track and dauphine hands, framed by a 41mm white gold case. The depth of the case measures just 7.8mm thick.
Pros:
+ Silver open-heart dial exposing the Calibre 362
+ 30-meter water-resistant
+ Case depth: 7.8mm / movement depth: 4.7mm
+ Traditional black leather band
+ Minute Repeater, Tourbillon
Why We Like It – The ultra-thin movement powering the hands of this Jaeger-LeCoultre Flying Tourbillon watch is comprised of 566 intricately crafted hand-assembled components.
2. Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Ultra-Thin Calibre
Although still remarkably simplistic, this beautiful ultra-thin watch from Vacheron Constantin features a technical twist to its dial. A small seconds sub-counter is located at 8 o’clock, donating more space to straight-forward timekeeping.
If you like your watch to look classic and professional, you won’t go wrong with this slimline platinum watch from the watch company’s Patrimony collection. It measures a discreet case depth of 8.1mm, complete with a stylish black leather band to pair with your favorite suit.
Pros:
+ 41mm platinum case
+ Silver dial with polished stick indexes
+ Case depth: 8.1mm
+ Small seconds dial at 8 o’clock
+ Powered by the Calibre 1731 – 65-hour power reserve
Why We Like It – The beating heart of this elegant Patrimony watch boasts examples of beautiful craftsmanship through its sapphire-backed case.
3. Bulgari Octo Finissimo Extra Thin Watch
This eye-catching Octo Finissimo watch from Bulgari is slightly bolder and more masculine than many thin watches on the market. The watch’s case is crafted from titanium for a lightweight feel on the wrist and measures a depth of 5.15mm. The BVL 138 Caliber is secured inside the heart of this watch. However, you can admire its excellent performance through a sapphire-backed case. Spanning just 40mm in diameter, this thin watch from Bulgari is a suitable size for you if you have a slender wrist.
Pros:
+ 40mm titanium octagonal shaped case
+ Imbued with retro-inspired elements
+ Case depth: 5.15mm
+ Titanium bracelet with folding clasp
+ Exhibition case back crafted from sapphire crystal
Why We Like It – This thin watch is completed on a lightweight titanium bracelet with a foldable clasp for dressing up any casual ensemble to something more sophisticated.
4. Piaget Altiplano 910P
If you have a soft spot for hand-wound movements, you’re in luck with this ultra-thin watch from Piaget from the Altiplano collection. The model features a luxurious case crafted from 18k yellow gold and a silvered dial adorned with black slender hands and batons. This model strips timekeeping back to basics. Its unimposing 38mm diameter is met with an equally discreet depth of just 6.4mm. Inside the Altiplano’s case is a beating heart that performs at a rate of 21,600 vibrations per hour, delivering a 43-hour power reserve.
Pros:
+ Simple two-handed silver dial
+ 30-meter water resistance
+ 38mm 18k yellow gold case – case depth: 6.4mm
+ Stylish black alligator strap
+ Powered by a precise hand-wound movement
Why We Like It – This Piaget ultra-thin watch is a great option for pairing with casual attire, as well as something a little more sophisticated by night.
5. Breguet Tourbillon Extra-Plat 5367
Breguet has created a clean, simple and pure aesthetic in this elegant Tourbillon Extra Plat automatic watch. Its depth measures just 7.45mm. It’s incredible to think the famous watch company has managed to develop a movement that would sit comfortably inside a case of this size, but it did!
The self-winding 581 Calibre boasts a breath-taking 3mm depth and has been composed of 334 individual hand-assembled components that can be admired through a lens crafted from scratch-resistant sapphire glass on the back of the case. This 18k rose gold watch with the famous blued steel Breguet-style hands and a classic Arabic hour track, also features an open-heart window on the dial side. It grants an exclusive glimpse into the balance spring of this incredibly flat engine.
Pros:
+ Open-heart window at 5 o’clock
+ 80-hour power reserve
+ 41mm 18k rose gold case / case depth: 7.45mm
+ Classic brown leather strap
+ Anti-reflective sapphire glass front and back
Why We Like It – This ultra-thin watch exudes a subtle vintage-inspired look, thanks to a mix of blush pink tones from its rose gold case and the chocolate brown shades of its leather strap.
Thinnest Watches Buyer’s Guide
There’s more than just one advantage of owning a thin watch. Yes, it will sit flat on the wrist, exuding a strong sense of contemporary elegance. But, some of the thinnest watches ever are created by the most reputable watch brands in the entire industry. With that comes a guarantee of quality, amongst many other values.
What are the advantages of buying a thin watch?
Sleekness
You only have to try a thin watch on your wrist for a few moments, and it has this innate ability to make you feel slick and sophisticated straight away. There’s no science behind it – they just make you feel cool. A thin watch gives you a sense of confidence and importance, that’s why they make for such great wristwatches for business.
Wear your slimline watch on the wrist to work, and you’ll have all the ladies swooning over your charismatic charm – you won’t even have to try a cheesy chat-up line. A good quality ultra-thin watch should do all the talking for you.
Sophisticated
Everyone needs a dress watch they can don to the wrist quickly before rushing out to an important meeting or a celebratory event. You won’t even need to waste time fitting cufflinks to your suit. A slim watch will add a touch of luxury to your attire without you having to do all the hard work. The best dress watches make any shirt and tie look smart, and watches from the thin category do it so well.
Stainless Steel watches are versatile and classic, but slim models are also available in a large range of designs, styles, and sizes. If you want your thin watch to look and feel expensive, you can pay extortionate prices for a slimline watch. Likewise, you can invest in an affordable watch equipped with state-of-the-art materials and an ultra-thin movement that fits like a glove inside its case and still feel like a million bucks.
Lightweight
One of the most obvious reasons why a thin watch is so popular is not only down to its discreet dimensions. It’s also down to its lightweight finish on the wrist. A thin watch makes for a great alternative to a huge chunk of steel on your arm. Light and unimposing, they’re a great option if you don’t like the weighty feel of a steel watch on your wrist all day. There was a huge boom on the market for oversized watches just a few years ago, yet ultra-thin watches have remained unaffected by trends in fashion. You just can’t beat the discreet elegance and minimalist feel of a thin watch.
Affordable
Of course, the price tag of any thin watch will depend on who its manufacturer is. You pay for provenance and quality over anything else when it comes to investing in any luxury watch. But one advantage of thin watches is that they tend to forego a lot of technical features and complications, which can sometimes increase the price of a watch. A simple three-handed dial, although capable of delivering accuracy like any other high-end timepiece, reflects a more appealing price tag if you’re trying to avoid breaking the bank.
So, there you have it. A guide to the top five thinnest watches ever made. Choose from manufacturers like Jaeger-LeCoultre, who have refined the art of crafting tourbillons and presenting them through the dial side of their thin watches, to the slightly more technical-looking Vacheron Constantin Patrimony watch. Or go bolder with the retro-inspired Bulgari Octo Finissimo timepiece. Whatever your preference on style, you’re sure to find a timepiece from this list that combines state-of-the-art materials with a timeless aesthetic.
