Best Diesel Watches For Men in 2022
Nearly everyone agrees that Swatch ignited the fashion watch revolution during the 1980s. Before that time watches had largely been formal, expensive affairs intended to make a statement about the status of the wearer. While status watches are still with us Swatch took the starch out of the watch industry and it wasn’t long before Diesel joined the fray with their own brand of high quality, fun, affordable and hyper-functional timepieces. Below we’re going to take a close look at the 10 best Diesel watches for men, in no particular order.
The Best Diesel Watch For Men
1Diesel Men’s DZ1437 Double Down Black Silicone Watch
Diesel plants its flag on black tie mountain with the men’s DZ1437 Double Down Black Silicone watch. When they say “double down” they mean they’re really doubled down: on looks, on comfort, and especially on value. Fortunately (and smartly) Diesel is not trying to get away with something here. They’re not hoping you’ll mistake this for a Movado or some such thing. They’re making a much more important statement. They’re saying “You can have luxurious style in a beautifully engineered timepiece for the price of a decent shirt.” It’s really pretty astonishing that they’ve been able to carve out a look that is as distinct as the watch is comfortable and dependable.
The monochromatic design motif is not some trick as they deploy it. It’s not intended to hide some deeper flaws in concept or execution that a more traditional color scheme might betray. The black here serves a purpose. It comments on and complements the simple geometry of the watch and all its component parts while the judicious application of phosphorescent material on the hands provides subtle movement that effectively negates what could otherwise be perceived as a static and rather boring experience. The Double Down all black Diesel Watch is anything but boring and at its remarkably affordable price point, it’s not easily ignored either.
Analog display
Silicone band
Men’s standard band length
- BrandDiesel
- ModelDZ1437
- Weight2.08 Ounces
2DIESEL DZ4329 Mens Analog Sport Watch
The grey, ion-plated stainless steel of the Diesel DZ4329 Men’s Sport Watch says everything you need to know about this fashion timepiece. It tells you it’s versatile and tasteful and that the designers at Diesel are on top of their game. The subtle colorings of the watch (white, Windsor blue, and grey) are a thing to behold and reinforce the notion that less is indeed more. From a functional standpoint, the DZ4329 embodies Diesel’s trademark Swiss quartz analog motion, its commitment to comfort, and its understanding that water is a part of life. The 10 bar capability of the DZ4329 will hold you in good stead even if you forget to take it off before snorkeling.
The deployment style clasp holds all 7.2 ounces of the watch in place whether you’re hustling after that taxi at rush hour or jockeying for position under the boards in the pickup basketball game and the scratch-resistant crystal ensures the watch won’t assume a run-down look after a few bumps and scrapes. The crown and other control knobs are also fully waterproofed. This is not your grandfather’s dress watch. But you’re not your grandfather and this is not 1958, it’s 2018. Show you’re in step with the times with the Diesel DZ4329 Men’s Sport Watch.
Black Ion-plated steel casing
Deployment-style clasp
Water resistant to 100 meters
- BrandDiesel
- ModelDZ4329
- Weight7.20 Ounces
3Diesel Men’s DZ1206 Master Chief Watch
The Men’s Master Chief Diesel watch sports a classic design that allows you to always put your best fashion foot forward. The face presents a traditional layout with contemporary design touches that manage to place the watch squarely in 2018 while still tipping its hat to the classic men’s watch of the past. The leather strap is fully fleshed out; satisfying and sumptuous in appearance and extremely comfortable on the wrist all year round. In spite of the fact that the look here is all business it’s nonetheless water resistant down to 100 feet. Which means you’ll never worry about your watch when you’re caught in heavy weather between the subway and the office.
The DZ1206 Master Chief is a beautiful timepiece that’s bold without being ostentatious, solid without being too heavy, and well-engineered without costing you an arm and a leg. The clasp buckle on the band is robust and solid, the Swiss quartz analog motion is as dependable as your smartphone clock and the coloring is tasteful without being pretentious or exclusive. The chronograph features are intuitively easy to digest and the date window is prominently displayed and clear as can be. Whether you’re heading out to dinner with that special someone or to a potentially life-changing job interview with the DZ1206 on your wrist you’ll ooze refined confidence.
Clasp Buckle
Band width 27 millimeters
Dial color grey
- BrandDiesel
- ModelDZ1206
- Weight2.88 Ounces
4Diesel Men’s DZ4282 Mega Chief Gunmetal Watch
The DZ4282 Mega Chief from Diesel is an example of the company’s commitment to both performance and cutting-edge style. This is a large watch and one that is unapologetically intended for robust male wrists. It’s crammed with features but somehow the designers here make all the different components work harmoniously together both in an aesthetic as well as functional sense. This is a watch that would look just as appropriate on a sailboat slicing its way through rough chop off Bermuda as it would in the boardroom. And achieving that design middle ground is no small feat.
Speaking of sailboats, the DZ4282 will not only allow you to determine the right time to tack from your close reach it will also keep working regardless of how thick the spray from the waves. And should you find yourself temporarily in the drink don’t worry; it’s water-resistant down to more than 300 feet. The gunmetal finish is handsome and versatile, the scratch-resistant mineral crystal is virtually undetectable, the activation mechanisms for this Diesel men’s chronograph watch are reliable and discreet and the analog Swiss quartz movement never lets you down. The deployment clasp on the stainless steel band holds firm under all conditions and the band itself remains comfortable through April showers and the dog days of August.
Chronograph functionality
Band width 26 millimeters
Water resistant to 330 Feet
- BrandDiesel
- ModelDZ4282
- Weight7.04 Ounces
5Diesel Men’s DZ4323 Mega Chief Watch
The Men’s DZ4323 Mega Chief by Diesel puts a space-age spin on the classic Master Chief profile, updating the design motifs to place it squarely and proudly in the 21st century looking forward. Make no mistake, this is a big watch, but not one that will look unbalanced on the right wrist. It’s also a compelling timepiece to look at as it borrows design cues from both the Mega Chief Gunmetal and the Master Chief and ties them together with subtle twists like the onyx toned finish and slightly oversized scratch-resistant crystal. The leather band is from the same design template as that on the Master Chief but the coloring of this Diesel watch gives it a gravitas all its own.
Surprisingly, while the casing is thick it doesn’t feel that way, and the fact that the watch tips the scales at a trim 4.08 ounces has a lot to do with that. Like most Diesel timepieces this one is also highly water resistant. And while that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s built for diving wrecks for hours at a time it won’t falter if you dive off the catamaran to take a quick dip with it on. As on all Diesel watches the Swiss quartz movement is dependable as the sunrise and the buckle closure means the watch is going to stay put even if you are diving from the boat or shagging down fly balls at the company softball game. An essential piece of everyday carry if you have the wrist for it.
Analog quartz movement
Leather calfskin band
Water resistant to 330 Feet
- BrandDiesel
- ModelDZ4323
- Weight4.80 Ounces
6Diesel DZ4290 Mega Chief
The classic Mega Chief from Diesel effortlessly rides the line between looks and function, between casual and professional, between old school and new. Wear it with your khakis, polo shirt, and boat shoes or your double-breasted Burberry suit. The Mega Chief offers a bold round face, a brown leather band that’s as supple as it is durable, chronograph functionality (minutes, seconds, and tenths of seconds), and is beautifully balanced for such a relatively heavy timepiece. Water-resistant down to 100 meters the Mega Chief is as comfortable poolside or on the deck of the sailboat as it is in the conference room. And while you’re not going to want to take the leather strap in for a dip, you don’t have to worry if you do so accidentally.
This is the perfect watch for the active guy. One he can wear anywhere at any time of the day or night. It’s handsome and well-engineered and the textbook Swiss quartz movement is always accurate, always dependable. It has overtones of the company’s Master Chief watch with a few more oh so subtle art deco design cues that give it its own voice and provide it a timeless edge. Those unfamiliar with diving watches may wonder what the “10 bar” designation at the 3 o’clock position on Diesel watches refers to. Essentially 1 bar equals 10 meters of water resistance. So 1 bar would be water-resistant to 33 feet while 10 bar is water-resistant to 330 feet.
Dial color grey
Leather calfskin band
Water resistant to 330 Feet
- BrandDiesel
- ModelDZ4290
- Weight4.96 Ounces
7DZ4341 Diesel Leather Watch
The Diesel DZ4341 got a real shot in the arm publicity-wise when Conor McGregor was spotted wearing it during a recent fight promo. Sales spiked because hey if it’s good enough for Conor it’s good enough for those of us who don’t make $40 million a year. The things that drew Conor to the watch are the same things that have been attracting men in general to this outstanding Diesel timepiece for several years since it was first introduced: looks, durability, and price. Okay, so McGregor probably isn’t as concerned about affordability as most people but the fact is the DZ4341 is an incredible value considering the quality of the engineering and the resulting dependability.
While you won’t want to wear the DZ4341 Diesel Leather Watch in the MMA ring you can wear it just about anywhere else: the office, out to dinner on a big date, to the ballpark or to watch one of those MMA bouts. The leather wristband is thick and comfortable and closes easily and firmly with a no-nonsense buckle. The mineral crystal is scratch-resistant and the analog display is easily readable day or night. The watch features 10 bar capability so you can wear it on your trip to Thailand for the Songkran water festival or on the speed boat as you slam through the surf off of Montauk. It’s surprisingly light as well so you’re not going to suffer watch fatigue by wearing it all day. If you’re an active guy who also likes to look good the DZ4341 may be just the timepiece for you.
Analog display
Leather calfskin band
Water resistant to 330 Feet
- BrandDiesel
- ModelDZ4341
- Weight3.84 Ounces
8Diesel DZ1657 Men’s Master Chief
The Diesel DZ1657 Men’s Master Chief is definitely one of the most stylish watches in the range. It’s a versatile and modern watch that looks sharp with a suit and casual enough to wear with a t-shirt. The most striking thing about this watch is the modern face. The bold, multicolored dial sits behind a mineral crystal that looks slightly frosted. This futuristic style will leave people wondering if it’s an analog watch or smartwatch. For us, it gives the watch a perfect neutral look that goes with pretty much any attire. It looks expensive, rugged, and humble, all at the same time.
While this isn’t a tactical watch, it’s still pretty rugged. You could wear it on a three-day hike, boating trip, or even snorkeling and it won’t show any signs of distress. All Diesel watches are made to stand the test of time but this one is particularly tough. With rugged black leather straps, a stainless steel case, and water-resistance to 100m, you can take this watch pretty much anywhere.
Stainless steel 45mm case
Multi-colored dial
Black leather strap
Water-resistant to 100m
Available in eight colors
- BrandDiesel
- ModelDZ1657
- Weight3.04 ounces
If you’re into oversized watches, bigger isn’t always better. There’s an art to it. An oversized watch should be immediately noticeable on the wrist, without looking comical. In our opinion, the Diesel DZ7372 Men’s ‘Uber Chief’ gets it just right. The 55mm case is huge, but it still looks great. The gunmetal stainless steel case and strap are both chunky, so the watch face doesn’t look out-of-place, especially if you have thick wrists. Following Diesel design traditions, this watch isn’t set up to tell the time like other watches. It kind of takes some getting used to. It’s a four-time zone watch – the movement at the 3 o’clock hour is 2 disks. The smaller, inner disk is the hour and the larger, outer disk in minutes. The red arrow points to the current time. In our opinion, the Diesel DZ7372 Men’s ‘Uber Chief’ is more about style than function.
Stainless steel 55mm case
Water-resistant to 100m
Analog-Quartz movement
Stainless steel band
- BrandDiesel
- ModelDZ7372
- Weight5.28 ounces
10Diesel DZ7363 Men’s Little Daddy
If you’re reading this review, we can assume that you’re looking for a watch that stands out. You don’t want an unassuming Casio to watch that you can hide under the sleeve of your suit jacket. You want a loud watch that lets everyone know you’re doing well. If that’s you, the Diesel DZ7363 Men’s Little Daddy is perfect. It has an oversized 51mm case that is painted in gold to make it really stand out. For a little over $100, you can get a watch that looks like a million dollars. The black leather strap helps the gold case stand out even more because of the difference between the two colors. It’s not the ideal watch for rough adventures and diving trips, but who cares when it looks this good.
Stainless steel 51mm case
Durable mineral crystal
Gold-tone dial
Water-resistant to 30m
Analog-Quartz movement
- BrandDiesel
- ModelDZ7363
- Weight4.2 ounce
The History of Diesel and Diesel Watch
Diesel have carved out their own unique position in the world of fashion watches, one upping the overtly campy and inexpensive competition by embracing leading-edge design concepts that look to extend the tried and true classic motifs of the past and not simply discard them.
Back in 1978 though, Italian designer Renzo Rosso scarcely imagined that someday he’d be head of a multibillion dollar fashion conglomerate when he created Diesel out of the ashes of two financially distressed Italian predecessors. His goal was to establish a platform for exciting new clothes designers but when the fashion watch revolution overtook the market in the late 80s he knew he and his craftsmen and women had something to contribute.
In 1988 a young Dutch fashion designer named Wilbert Das traveled to Italy in the hope of impressing Rosso, whose Diesel brand was still having trouble getting much international traction. Das so impressed Rosso that the Italian businessman hired him on the spot and within just a few short years Das was in charge of making all creative decisions. Many credit him as the brain and the eye behind the creation of many of the best Diesel watches for men.
It was obvious from the start that Das wanted to carve out a unique position for Diesel although it took a few turns round the design studio to get things moving in the right direction. What he and the company settled on was an approach that looked both backward and forward while staying true to the company’s European roots.
Today, Diesel watches continue to blaze an independent trail that defies easy categorization. The company’s willingness to continually experiment along with their commitment to affordability put them squarely in the fashion watch community. But their equally firm dedication to quality engineering and pushing the bounds of what is possible material and design-wise, along with their bold courting of luxury watch fans, points to loftier expectations and an unwillingness to be pigeonholed.