The 8 Best Gold Luxury Sport Watches at European Watch Company

Gold has been synonymous with luxury for millennia — it’s the metal of choice of royal and rich alike, so naturally, it’s reserved for the most prestigious expressions of the watchmaker’s art. It’s even more of a statement when the malleable metal is used to make sports watches, adding a casual edge to high status. Here are eight of the best.

Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 5811/1G

Price: $140,000-$150,000, Case Size: 41mm, Thickness: 8.2mm, Lug-to-Lug: N.A., Lug Width: N.A., Water Resistance: 120m, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic Winding, Material: White Gold

A conversation about luxury gold sports watches has to begin (and possibly end) with the GOAT, the Patek Philippe Nautilus. Now, there are plenty of variations to choose from. But today, we’re keeping it current with the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5811/1G, the white gold successor of the iconic reference 5711, which hit the scene in 2022. The best thing about the 5811 is that it doesn’t mess with the formula that made the Nautilus the defining watch in the genre. Gerald Genta’s famous softly octagonal case is there, as is the deep blue dial with horizontal bars, along with the integrated bracelet with glossily polished centre links. There are a few noteworthy tweaks, however. The case width has crept up to 41mm, and the butterfly clasp now offers micro-adjustment, a much-needed quality of life improvement. Somewhat surprisingly, the new reference number doesn’t include a new calibre, using the same 26-330 as the outgoing 5711. However, the fact that this movement was added to the 5711 in 2019 means that it’s still very current and makes use of Patek Phillipe’s Gyromax and Spiromax technologies. If ever there was a case study for ‘not messing with perfection’, the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5811/1G is it.

Read our full Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 5811/1G review here.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Ref. 15413BC

Price: $280,000-$290,000, Case Size: 41mm, Thickness: 9.8mm, Lug-to-Lug: 51.7mm, Lug Width: N/A, Water Resistance: 50M, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic Winding, Material: White Gold

Another Gerald Genta design that is equally iconic as the Nautilus is, of course, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. Over the last 50 years, the Royal Oak has proved to be a remarkably versatile platform, playing host to an exceptionally diverse range of case materials, colours and complications. One of the most iconic — and the most coveted — is the Royal Oak 15413BC, a 41mm white gold model with a pavè dial set with brilliant cut diamonds, baguette-cut hour markers and an unmissable gem-set rainbow bezel. The bezel comprises of 32 stones, which gradually change the hue as they move around the dial, interspersed only by the iconic exposed bolt-heads of the Royal Oak bezel. This exceptionally limited take on the Royal Oak puts the ‘extra’ in extraordinary.

Read our full review of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Ref. 15413BC here.

Vacheron Constantin-Overseas Perpetual Calendar Skeleton 4300V/120R-B642

Price: $170,000-$180,000, Case Size: 41.5mm, Thickness: 8.1mm, Lug-to-Lug: N/A, Lug Width: N/A, Water Resistance: 50M, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic Winding, Material: Rose Gold

The rise of Vacheron Constantin’s Overseas has been — to paraphrase Thanos — inevitable. The model has just as much legacy behind it as the other integrated contenders from the big three and received a comprehensive makeover in 2017. From then on, the model has been going from strength to strength. As you might expect from a maker with Vacheron Constantin’s capabilities, it’s on complicated watches like this ultra-thin (8.1mm) perpetual calendar that the model really sings. A slender sports watch packing a QP is already remarkable, but Vacheron Constantin has flexed their muscles by showing everything off in this skeleton version from 2022, which allows you to see more of the calibre 1120 QP/1’s immaculate finishing than ever before. If you ever have the chance to see this slender marvel in real life, run, don’t walk, at the opportunity.

Check out our full review of the Vacheron Constantin-Overseas Perpetual Calendar Skeleton 4300V/120R-B642 here.

Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222

Price: $75,000-$80,000, Case Size: 37mm, Thickness: 7.95mm, Lug-to-Lug: N/A, Lug Width: N/A, Water Resistance: 50M, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic Winding, Material: Yellow Gold

Released alongside the open-worked perpetual calendar above was a watch that isn’t quite an Overseas, the Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222. It’s safe to say that this golden slice of nostalgia overshadowed not just the QP, but plenty of other watches, with many calling it the best watch of 2022. Before we find out why, it’s worth finding out just what the ref. 222 is. Designed in 1977 by Jörg Hysek, the original 222 was Vacheron Constantin’s take on the luxury sports watch genre, a design which would eventually inspire the popular Overseas collection. This ‘Historiques’ take on the 222 is remarkably faithful to the original. It’s 37mm and yellow gold. It must have been awfully tempting to increase the size and swap the material for something with broader appeal, but by holding fast to its heritage, Vacheron Constantin has paid proper tribute to one of the most stunning sports watches ever made.

Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ref. 102912

Price: $30,000-$35,000, Case Size: 40mm, Thickness: 5.15mm, Lug-to-Lug: 49.2mm, Lug Width: 20mm, Water Resistance: 100M, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic Winding, Material: Rose Gold

If you’ll forgive a moment of personal editorializing, I’ve been obsessed with this rose gold take on the ultra-slim Octo Finissimo since I first laid eyes on it in 2018. Already, the Octo Finissimo is one of the most significant designs in modern watchmaking, and a model that has placed Bulgari’s admirable watchmaking efforts well and truly on the map. Making this watch — which is only 5.15mm tall — in gold is one thing, but making it in sandblasted gold is gloriously iconoclastic. Not only is there the dissonance of such a slender object weighing so much, there’s also the fact that the finish goes against everything we expect from gold. It’s muted and lustrous rather than high polish. A masterpiece of contemporary watch design on every front.

Cartier Santos Medium Ref. WGSA0030

Price: $23,000-$28,000, Case Size: 35.1mm, Thickness: 8.83mm, Lug-to-Lug: 42mm, Lug Width: 18.5mm, Water Resistance: 100M, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic Winding, Material: Yellow Gold

It’s incredible to think that Cartier’s Santos turns 120 years old this year, meaning the Maison has been making sports watches for longer than many other brands have existed. It’s also remarkable to see how contemporary the Cartier Santos feels over a century on. This watch, in heavy yellow gold, isn’t a heritage recreation — it’s a piece of history. Of course, the iconic design has slowly evolved over generations, with the industrial bezel and bracelet of this version owing much to a 1978 revision. But if you’re in the market for a statement gold watch with the power to do it all, the Cartier Santos is a top-tier option.

Rolex Day-Date Ref. 228235

Price: $47,000-$53,000, Case Size: 40mm, Thickness: 12mm, Lug-to-Lug: 47mm, Lug Width: 20mm, Water Resistance: 100M, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic Winding, Material: Rose Gold

The other indisputable king of solid gold sports watches is the Rolex Day-Date. It may have been introduced 50 years after Cartier’s Santos, but over the years, it’s become an indisputable symbol of power and status, a watch truly worthy of its ‘President’ nickname. The reference 228235 is a 40mm version of the precious metal watch, bringing the classic up to what many people find a more contemporary size, something the choice of Everose gold certainly adds too. The model debuted in 2015 and came with a range of dial options, including the incredibly popular olive green, as well as chocolate and a more conventional silver option. Evolution, not revolution, is something of a de facto motto for the Crown, and this smoothly modernised take on one of the greatest watches ever made is a solid example of this theory in practice.

Read our full review of the Rolex Day-Date Ref. 228235 here.

Laurent Ferrier Grand Sport Tourbillon Golden Brown

Price: $47,000-$53,000, Case Size: 44mm, Thickness: 13.4mm, Lug-to-Lug: N.A., Lug Width: N.A., Water Resistance: 100M, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic Winding, Material: Rose Gold

So far, this list has focused mostly on legacy designs from the great houses of watchmaking. It’s important to remember that horology is a broad church, and smaller, independent makers can offer takes on the luxury sports genre that can go toe-to-toe with anything from the bigger brands. Indeed, you could argue that the watches of Laurent Ferrier are unique in the genre, as the man behind the brand isn’t just one of the most talented watchmakers working today, he’s also a former professional race car driver, coming third at the iconic Le Mans 24 hour race in 1979 — not a claim any of the current corporate CEOs can make. Of course, there’s more to Laurent Ferrier’s watches than a good backstory. The Laurent Ferrier Grand Sport Tourbillon Golden Brown, first released in 2019, is a strong example of what makes the brand unique. The soft curves and sporty lines of the red gold case evoke the golden age of automobile design, and the manually wound tourbillon, with double balance spring and a contemporary aesthetic, is worthy of a podium finish.

Make sure to check out our other buying guides, including our 15 Favorite Luxury Steel Sport Watches.