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These days, there are literally thousands of watch brands to choose from, so the likelihood is that you may feel swamped whilst looking at what to buy. This is especially true if you’re looking to shop at a black-owned business that specializes in timepieces. However, worry not. As this is the 21st century, there are plenty of black-owned watch brands to choose from. Not only this but they also have their own unique designs, styles, and prices to match everyone. With this said, you shouldn’t have any problems if you are wanting to buy black.

Whether you’re looking into buying one of these brands for community reasons, or whether you just happen to love the look of them, we’ve scoured the internet and found the best black-owned watches for you.

Asorock

Asorock was created by Ben Iroala and Andrew Mutale who truly use their sales for a good cause. A percentage of each watch sold goes to building a library in a Nigerian village. What’s even cooler about this is that each individual who originally backed the enterprise, gets their name written on the back of the library.

For those wondering, the peculiar name comes from the Asorock which is a landmark in Nigeria. When it comes to watches, it could be argued that the strongest feature of the Asorock brand is the straps. These are usually made from distressed leather, that look really good. In terms of the design and philanthropic vision, it seems that Asorock have got it spot on.

Benjamin Banneker

Benjamin Banneker was the name of an African-American who was also considered by many to be a genius. Born in 1731, Banneker was an astronomer and mathematician who loved to study and had a genuine passion for watches. One day, he happened to open up a watch and analyze the inner mechanics. He then applied his findings to pieces of wood, which acted as replicas of these watches and told the time. These carvings could even run and keep time for up to fifty years later.

Paying respect to Banneker, Derrick Holmes named his watch brand after the former. However, it gets better. Each watch has wooden parts involved in the design, so it really is a tribute to Banneker. The logo of this brand is a lion which is a nod towards the life of Banneker too and some of the models even have wooden dials, which looks truly unique. Costing around $1000, the skeleton watches, in particular, are very striking. With this said, if you fancy something a little different and classy, then Benjamin Banneker watches offer just that.

Vitae London

Created by Claudia and William Adoasi, Vitae London is a socially conscious brand that really does help to give back. When purchasing a Vitae London watch, proceeds will go to buying a child a school uniform in Africa. Similarly, some of the profits also go to providing impoverished parts of Africa with electricity. Sometimes, charitable brands that give back can suffer from lacking in style, however, this isn’t the case here. Vitae London watches look similar to most fashion watches and wouldn’t look out of place on anyone’s wrist.

Visually, the Vitae London designs are quite simplistic and basic looking. In brief, if you like the aesthetics of the Skagen brand, then you will also like those from Vitae London. What’s even more impressive, is that these watches retail for a similar price to Skagen, so they are highly affordable too.

Seventeenth Watches

This brand was founded by Chris Johnson who was an ex-soldier in the US army. Apparently, the name came from his family size, which was 7 people. Johnson gained an interest in watches whilst serving and his watches show a high attention to detail.

These often have a minimalist style and vary in designs, with some opting for detailed chronograph dials, to others that have a plain blue background. Perhaps the most interesting model of Seventeenth is the solar system dial that has a nebula as the dial. With creative ideas such as these, it’s no wonder that Johnson quit the army to pursue his dreams of creating watches…it seems to have served him well too. These watches typically retail for around $100, so they are in most people’s price range too.

SPGBK

SPGBK offers something a bit different on this list. In short, some of their watches are outlandish and unique, to say the least. Take The Southview model for instance. This has black hands and a neon, orange dial and silicone strap. Cross between an outlandish Swatch and a colorful G-Shock, people will see you coming whilst you’re wearing a SPGBK. Of course, the brand also has more subtle models, but is mostly built on visually appealing designs that catch the eye.

SPGBK was created in college by two brothers and stands for ‘Springbreak’. Apparently, the typical SPGBK colors are to match the look of college life, so they are vibrant and full of life. They also offer models that are crafted from recycled wood, so they are not only black-owned, but also environmentally conscious. As it can be tough to shop green for watches these days, SPGBK will also appeal to those looking to cut down on waste.

Benson

Benson watches offer a minimalist design and are the brainchild of Marcel Benson. According to Benson, he has always had a genuine passion for watches that stemmed from a young age. As a child, he was given a Kenneth Cole as a watch and never looked back.

Usually, Benson watches offer a minimalist look that uses a ‘less is more’ vibe, with not much going on with the dial. Therefore, if you want something subtle yet smart, then Benson ticks all the boxes. Benson watches has also been valued at over $1 million dollars, so it’s fair to say that Marcel is reaping the benefits of his hard work and dedication.

Talley and Twine

Talley and Twine was made by Randy D. Williams, who named his brand after a neighborhood in Virginia. Growing up, this was a tough place to live, but has since profited from investment and has seen a new lease of life. Thus, the name celebrates this in the form of a quality watch brand. Although there are several models under the Talley and Twine umbrella, they are most easily recognizable under their chronograph models.

Typically, these models have a jubliee strap, with a dial and two horizontal subdials. Available in various colors, this is the main model of Talley and Twine that has seen the brand succeed. These watches also have the number 7 on them, which represents the days in the week. This number pays homage to Randy D. Williams, who worked every hour under the sun to get this brand off the ground in the early days, when he was struggling with unemployment.

Enbois by Maxim

Enbois literally stands for Each New Bead Offers Its Support and was a company created by in the USA. What’s more impressive about Maxim is that he started this business whilst he was still at college, which says a lot about his drive and vision. These are fashion-looking watches that retail for around $50. However, just because they are inexpensive, it doesn’t mean the quality is lacking either.

Enbois is quite different in offering watches that are usually made from wood. Whether that is in the form of the strap, or the face is up to each design. An interesting side note about Enbois is that they also sell beads and wooden jewelry. This means that if you buy a watch, you don’t have to worry about a matching accessory either, as it’s easily available in the form of matching beads.

Youngblood

Youngblood watches were founded by Patrick Martin and date back to 2006. What’s nice about Youngblood is that down the years, they haven’t compromised their style or designs. Instead, they have stuck with their typical square and rectangle faces that they began with.

Interestingly, Youngblood also offer other products under their umbrella. These include wallets and other pieces of clothing such as active wear. Apparently, Martin was embroiled in a stressful trademark dispute when he created the brand, so he knows about drive and was determined to make his company a success.