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GQ Recommends
Upgrade your software with some flashy new hardware.
By Jeremy Freed
Photo Courtesy of Getty; Collage by Gabe Conte and Emily Agjmurati
When the first digital watches for men started cropping up in the early ‘70s, people were sure they’d replace their analog counterparts entirely. And why shouldn’t they? Digital watches were, after all, more accurate, more functional, and looked like they were beamed in straight from some utopic version of the future. Despite Apple’s ongoing efforts, analog armageddon never really happened—for the most part, at least. Today, mechanical watches remain some of the most coveted objects of desire on the planet, but digital watches have carved out their own comfortable niche in the timepiece galaxy. From god-tier G-Shocks favored by guys like John Mayer to gold-tone reboots Jerry Buss might’ve worn to the Forum Club, the best digital watches for men offer elite-level looks along with a slew of high-tech, practical features. It’s no easier to predict the future now than it was 50 years ago, but rest assured any of the picks below will get you through the next few years (if not the next few decades) in high style.
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1/19
Armitron
Griffy
Armitron started making its own line of affordable-yet-funky digital watches in the 1970s. Fortunately for your accessory budget, they recently brought this one back for the 2020s.
2/19
G-Shock
Move GBD-H2000 Series watch
The engineers at G-Shock swung for the fences with this burly fitness tracker, which packs an impressively long list of features into its shock-proof 60mm case. With sensors and software designed to help you reach peak performance at the gym, on the bike, or in the pool—plus a heart rate monitor and a sleep-tracking function—it's basically a wearable personal trainer.
3/19
Nixon
Rolling Stones Staple watch
You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes you might find a sweet cheetah-print watch with a classic rock pedigree.
4/19
Autodromo
Group C watch
All of the boxy goodness of a peak 1980s sports car, minus the oil leaks.
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5/19
Casio
A1100G-5VT
More retro goodness from the reigning champ of vintage-inspired digital watches.
6/19
Tissot
PRX Digital
A throwback to the days when digital watches were the height of technology and style, the new PRX Digital is just the latest in a long line of absolute bangers from this legendary Swiss watchmaker.
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7/19
Casio
Vibration Alarm watch
If Paul Newman gets a Rolex Daytona named after him, surely Pete Davidson can have a namesake Casio.
8/19
Timex
Ironman watch
Designed to keep pace with your sweatiest workouts, but stylish enough to rock post-shower, too.
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9/19
Garmin
Forerunner watch
This GPS-enabled smartwatch will display route maps, track your mileage, and play music via Bluetooth. But lacing up your runners and getting out the door is on you.
10/19
Hamilton
American Classic PSR watch
Hamilton's Pulsar, the first ever digital watch, dropped over 50 years ago to enormous fanfare. Thankfully, most of the changes to this modern reboot are inside the brick-like case, leaving its distinct '70s look intact.
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11/19
Casio
Databank watch
Along with Weird Al Yankovic and high-waisted khakis, this symbol of '80s geekdom is now the mainstream hit it was always meant to be.
12/19
Casio
Classic watch
Few design icons come this cheap, and fewer still can be programmed to beep when Below Deck is about to start.
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13/19
Suunto
Core watch
You might get lost wearing this compass-equipped timepiece, but at least it won’t be the watch’s fault.
14/19
Q Timex
LCA Reissue watch
There are lots of examples of analog watches with digital displays built-in. This might be the only one, however, that offers the opposite.
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15/19
G-Shock
GWM5610-1 watch
When it dropped in 1983, the G-Shock was the most advanced digital timepiece the world had ever seen. Technology has advanced in the decades since, but the OG model remains as much of a flex as ever today.
16/19
Bulova
Computron watch
The only thing more unconventional than this watch’s sideways orientation is its icy blue LED.
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17/19
Casio
Pro Trek watch
With (deep breath) altitude, barometer, and temperature sensors, Multi-Band atomic timekeeping, 100-meter water-resistance, a digital compass, multiple time zones, five alarms, a 1/100th second stopwatch, a countdown timer, a perpetual calendar, and a 30-record memory, this watch is more like a Swiss Army knife for your wrist.
18/19
G-Shock
Mudmaster watch
Mud, grit, and hard knocks are the enemy of most timepieces. This watch eats those watches for breakfast.
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19/19
G-Shock
GMWB5000D-1 watch
When a G-Shock dresses up like a stainless steel sports watch, good things happen.
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