People generally ask this question do chefs wear watches? Or can a chef wear a watch? Yes, the chefs can also wear watches as it can make their workflow more efficient. Today you can find watches that come with a chronograph function and rotating bezels that can be used in the kitchen. Using those features you can accurately time your activities such as how long you have left the cake in the oven or prepare a time-sensitive dish conveniently.
However, not every watch can be used in the kitchen as watches with plastic or leather straps can be a health hazard. And, going with a metal strap is also not ideal as it conducts heat which can make the wearer uncomfortable in the kitchen. Therefore I recommend watches that come with ceramic or rubber straps for chefs because these materials are heat-resistant and easy to clean.
Keeping that in mind, I have listed the 12 best watches, smartwatches, and clip-on watches for chefs that can accompany you in the kitchen. So without wasting any time let’s see what are the best watches for chefs.
Quick Navigation
- Best Chef Watch Comparison Table
- Best Watches For Chefs
- Best Smartwatches For Chefs
- Watch Worn By Famous Chefs
- Best Clip-on Chef Watches
- Buying Guide To Best Watches For Kitchen: What To Look For Before Buying A Watch For Chefs?
- Can You Wear A Watch In A Kitchen? Final Verdict
- FAQs
Best Chef Watch Comparison Table
IMAGE | PRODUCT | SPECIFICATIONS | VIEW ON AMAZON |
Best Durable Watch For Chefs  | Burberry Ceramic Gunmetal Black |
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Best Smartwatch For Chefs  | Apple Watch Series 8 |
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Best Chef Watch For Kitchen  Best Famous Chef Watch | Citizen Men's Promaster Dive Watch |
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 | Rolex Submariner Date 11610 |
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Best Clip-on Watch For Chefs  | Polder Clock Time Stopwatch Chef |
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Best Watches For Chefs
1. Citizen Men’s Promaster Dive Watch
This gorgeous-looking watch is made by the well-known Japanese brand Citizen and it is powered by their Eco-drive technology. It allows the watch to use any light source to charge itself, be it artificial or solar. Therefore, you can charge the watch under the sun or with indoor fluorescent lights.
For chefs, it is important to keep your cutlery clean and a watch is no different, that’s why I recommend going with this watch as it is water-resistant up to 200m. Moreover, the watch comes with rotating bezels which makes it one of the best watches for kitchen. With this watch, it is easier to keep track of time while preparing time-sensitive dishes. Also, the rotating bezel ring of the watch is made of aluminum which does not corrode when it comes into contact with water.
Working in the kitchen is hectic already and a watch with metal bands can get heated due to steam or heat coming from the stove or dishes. However, you won’t face this issue with Citizen Promaster Dive Watch as it sports a rubber strap that is highly heat resistant compared to metal straps.
Talking about the build of the watch, it sports a 43mm case which is accompanied by a 19mm strap. And, what makes this the best watch for chefs is the placement of the crown which is located at the lower right side of the watch. This allows you to work in the kitchen comfortably all day long as the crown of the watch won’t dig into your hand while working.
If you don’t like the color of the watch then it is also available in two other colors green and blue so pick one that suits your style.
2. Technomarine Men’s Cruise Watch
If you don’t prefer rubber straps and love bracelet watches then the solution is to go with a ceramic watch. Because ceramic is highly heat resistant compared to watches that have stainless steel straps making them perfect for the kitchen.
However, good-quality watches with ceramic straps are not easy to find at a reasonable price. So if you have a limited budget then the Technomarine watch is an ideal choice for chefs as it features a ceramic strap and is available for less than $200.The ceramic strap on the watch ensures that it doesn’t get warm while cooking so that the wearer doesn’t feel uncomfortable after prolonged usage.
Moreover, it is also a diving watch so you can wash the watch after cooking without any worry. The watch also comes with a chronograph function which basically means a stopwatch along with rotating bezels to time your culinary activities.
It sports a 42mm watch dial and 25mm grey ceramic strap which gives the watch its exquisite look. And, if you want you can also change the strap with any strap of your choice. Overall, it is one of the best watches for kitchen under budget, you can definitely give it a try.
3. Peugeot Ceramic Crystal
The next watch on our list is from none other than Peugeot, one of the best French watch brands. The watch gets its gorgeous look from the black ceramic body and Swarovski crystal hour markers which exemplify its looks.
The watch comes with a chronograph function and hence includes dedicated sub-dials for measuring the time elapsed. It comes with a Swiss quartz movement that ensures the accurate timekeeping of the watch. While the looks of the watch might suggest that it sports rotating bezels but that’s not the case as it is a fixed bezel.
Moreover, this chef watch comes with a luminescent hand so you can also read time in the dark. This chef’s watch also features a date window located at the 4 o’clock position of the dial. And, the dial of the watch is protected from hits and bumps by mineral glass.
The company also offers a limited lifetime warranty along with free battery replacement for life making the watch a complete value for money.
4. Tag Heuer 300 Aquaracer
Tag Heuer is the well-renowned Swiss brand preferred by all racers and drivers all over the world. And, this bracelet watch is part of the Aquaracer collection of Tag Heuer. Being a diving watch it is water-resistant up to 300m so water is one less thing to worry about with the watch.
It also comes with luminous watch hands and markers which allows you to read the time even in the pitch darkness of the night. Also, the watch has a rotating bezel which is useful for timing your activities. The dial of the watch is protected by a premium synthetic sapphire crystal which is the strongest glass after diamond. It is highly durable and scratch-resistant glass compared to mineral glass found on cheaper watches. So it can definitely survive in rough conditions such as a kitchen.
However, the watch sports a stainless steel body that is prone to heat but if you are the head chef and your job is to supervise junior chefs then this will be a perfect stylish Swiss watch for you. Talking about the dimensions of the watch, it sports a 40.5mm case and a 20mm bracelet stainless steel band. And, the weight of the watch is 15.84 ounces.
To sum it up, if you are a chef looking for a watch from a Swiss brand then this has got all the things going for it whether its looks, features, or build quality.
5. Burberry Ceramic Gunmetal Black
The next chef’s watch on our list is from the British luxury fashion brand Burberry. And this elegant-looking Burberry watch right here is a premium ceramic watch for men from them. It sports a gunmetal dark grey finish which gives the watch its elegant look.
The watch sports a 42mm watch face and a 22mm strap which is made of ceramic. This watch uses hypoallergenic material so it won’t cause any allergies or rashes which makes it perfect for prolonged usage. Moreover, the watch also comes with a unidirectional bezel along with a chronograph function.
It has a dedicated sub-dial for minutes located at the 9 o’clock position of the watch and a sub-dial for seconds at the 3 o clock position. Also, a sub-dial for hours is located at a 6 o’clock position. You can track time elapsed accurately right down to the seconds with the help of those subdials.
Also, the watch comes with Swiss movement which ensures the accuracy of the watch. It also features a date window located at the 4 o’clock position.
If you still have doubts then let us tell you that this watch comes with 2 years warranty so you can rest assured that your investment will not go to waste. On a closing note, we would say that not only is this a perfect watch for chefs but also a gorgeous dress watch that leaves a lasting impression both inside and outside of the kitchen.
6. BERING
If you have a limited budget and still want a kitchen watch that comes with a premium finish then take a look at this one. This gorgeous-looking watch is from BERING a Danish brand and it is part of their ceramic collection. And, you will be glad to know that this affordable watch for chefs is available for less than $200.
And, despite its reasonable price the watch sports a dual-tone grey and black finish which gives it a premium look. The strap of the watch features ceramic links and stainless steel strap so the watch won’t be a complete heat magnet. Moreover, the strap is made of high-quality stainless steel 316L which is the same grade of steel used to make surgical instruments as it is highly anti-corrosive.
For a chef, it is important that you have clean hands, utensils and your watch is no different. You would be able to thoroughly clean this watch as it is water-resistant up to 50m. Talking about the dimensions of the watch, it sports a 41 mm watch case which is only 9mm thick and the strap of the watch is 28mm wide.
This affordable watch comes with a GMT function, so if you are a chef who is working out of the country and want to keep track of your hometown timezone then you can do that as well using the watch. The watch has a second sub-dial located at the 6 o’clock position of the watch that is used to keep track of any other timezone. It also has a date window located at the 12 o’clock position of the watch.
Best Smartwatches For Chefs
7. Apple Watch Series 8
The first smartwatch for chefs that I recommend would come as no surprise to anyone, it’s Apple Watch. It’s one of the best smartwatches available in the market so it’s no shock to find that it is also a perfect smartwatch for chefs.
The watch comes with raise to speak feature, so you can activate Siri and give voice commands by raising your wrist. Therefore, if you have a messy hand then you won’t need to stop your cooking just to call or text someone.
Moreover, using Siri you can set reminders for reordering ingredients, remind yourself when guests are coming, get weather updates, and more. Also, the watch comes with an inbuilt timer and stopwatch function which is very easy to use and read when compared to chronograph watches.
And, if you like to listen to music while cooking then this smartwatch comes with music support so you would be able to download or play music on the watch itself.
Sometimes you might forget an ingredient for a dish you haven’t made in years, in that case, you can download several cooking apps from the App Store such as Kitchen Stories, Yummly recipes, etc.
Outside the kitchen, the watch can enable you to make wireless payments using Apple Pay on the watch. Additionally, you can track your fitness or sports activities, take ECG tests, and do sleep analysis to better manage your overall health.
It’s a great value-for-money smartwatch for chefs with the only downside of not being compatible with Android devices. However, if you are an iOS user then I would say go for it as you can’t go wrong with this one.
8. Fitbit Versa 3
If you want a watch that not only helps you out in the kitchen but also to achieve your fitness goals then Fitbit is just the smartwatch you are looking for.
As Fitbit offers one of the best sleep analyses on the market so after a long day of work you would be able to track your sleep accurately. It would also offer recommendations to make your sleep better so you wake up energized and ready to cook your specialties the next day.
Moreover, you can work with peace of mind knowing that you won’t miss any crucial notifications like email, messages, or social media updates because it comes with notification sync. When you will be out after a long day of work you can make contactless payments at outlets like Starbucks, and Target using Fitbit Pay.
Once you are in the kitchen wearing the watch you would be able to use Google Assistant or Alexa to set reminders, get weather updates, set alarms, and a lot more. Furthermore, using the watch you would be able to take calls as it comes with a built-in speaker and mic so you can focus on your cooking knowing you won’t miss any important calls.
Cleanliness is very important when it comes to cooking and you can fully clean the watch using water as it’s water-resistant up to 50m. Also, while at work you can keep track of how many steps are taken during the day, steps climbed, and calories burned, and earn Fitbit badges which would encourage you to lead an active lifestyle.
With the Fitbit app, you can sync all your data to Android and iOS devices and analyze your day-to-day activities. Another reason that makes Fitbit Versa 3 one of the best smartwatches for chefs is the good battery life as it can last 3 to 4 days on a single charge.
You can also check out my detailed Fitbit Versa 3 on my YouTube channel.
9. Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
If any watch can rival Apple Watch Series then it’s Galaxy Watch 5 from Samsung. The watch is built for people who are always on the move which makes it the perfect smartwatch for chefs who spend most of their time in the kitchen.
It comes with a water lock feature which prevents accidental touches when the watch comes in contact with water. It can be useful while washing hands, vegetables, or doing similar activities in the kitchen. Also, with Bixby AI you can set reminders, alarms, open apps, and a lot more with your voice.
Furthermore, you won’t ever miss any important notifications as the watch can sync notifications from your phone to the smartwatch. Moreover, you can pick up and make important calls without taking your phone out of your pocket.
Outside the kitchen, the watch can track all of your fitness activities from running to swimming. After your fitness sessions are complete you can get in-depth fitness analysis such as workout duration, distance covered on your run, calories burned, and a lot more. If you happen to have a Samsung smartphone then you would also be able to take an ECG test using the smartwatch.
Also, Samsung is one of the only few brands that is offering Qi wireless charging on a smartwatch so just place the watch on any wireless charging pad to charge the watch.
I have done a detailed review of Galaxy Watch 5 on my YouTube channel so if you are considering buying this smartwatch then do have a look at it.
Watch Worn By Famous Chefs
10. Gordon Ramsey – Rolex Submariner Date 11610
Gordon Ramsay is a popular British chef well known for his stern attitude in the kitchen and for appearances in TV shows like Hells’s Kitchen, MasterChef, and Masterchef Junior just to name a few. And, it isn’t far-fetched to say that he is one of the most popular chefs worldwide.
So a world-class celebrity like him would definitely prefer no ordinary watch and that’s why he is mostly seen rocking a Rolex Submariner Date 11610. Although that’s not the only watch he has in his collection as he owns watches from several other brands as well.
As the name of the watch suggests it’s oriented towards divers and swimmers that’s why the watch is water-resistant up to 300m. It also comes with unidirectional bezels so that you can time all your culinary activities in the kitchen. And, you won’t have to worry about the strap of the watch corroding with exposure to water as it is made of high-quality steel 904L used in the aerospace industry.
In addition to that, watch hands comes with a luminescent coating so you would be able to read the time even at night. Another reason that celebrity chefs would prefer this watch is that the dial of the watch is protected by premium sapphire glass which is highly scratch-resistant.
Moreover, it is an automatic mechanical watch which means it is not powered by any battery instead uses inbuilt gear which generates energy from the movement of the wearer’s wrist.
If budget is not a constraint for you then this could be the best watch for chefs that you can go for as not only this is a good watch from a good brand but also worn by Gordon Ramsey.
Best Clip-On Chef Watches
Most kitchens don’t allow their chefs to wear any pieces of jewelry like rings, bracelets, or watches. The reason for that is if you don’t clean them then it can be a sanitation hazard. And, food inspectors are also not big fans of chefs wearing watches either so you can go with clip-on watches. They are mostly clean as well as won’t conflict with your kitchen’s no-wristwatch policy. Furthermore, using them will not affect the sanctity of ingredients in the kitchen.
11. Polder Clock Time Stopwatch White
Unlike most clip-on watches this is an extremely lightweight clip-on watch for chefs that comes with a lanyard. You can tie it around your neck or loop of your pants, or simply keep it in your pocket. In case you don’t like to wear the watch then it comes with a powerful magnet at the back so you can mount it on metal kitchen appliances present in the kitchen.
Talking about the functionalities of the watch, you can keep track of time, use the stopwatch, and timer function, and even set an alarm for the meat you are roasting in the oven.
If you don’t like the white color then it is also available in the black color variant as well. This watch for kitchen has all the features a chef might find himself needing while working.
12. Dakota Watch Company
Last but not least is the clip-on watch from Dakota and you can tie it to your pant loop or apron. Unlike the previous watch for chefs, it doesn’t come with a lanyard and instead uses a carabiner closure. It is also more durable and well-built so it can survive fast-paced action in the kitchen. Also, the watch is water-resistant up to 30m so you can even clean the watch periodically without any worries.
Moreover, the watch also comes with luminescent watch hands allowing you to read time in a dark environment.
Buying Guide To Best Watches For Kitchen: What To Look For Before Buying A Watch For Chefs?
1. Build Material Of The Watch
Ceramic is highly heat resistant when compared to metal like stainless steel that’s why we recommend going with watches that uses ceramic strap. If you want you can go with a watch that comes with stainless steel strap however you may find that the watch gets uncomfortably warm while cooking in the kitchen.
Another benefit of going with ceramic watches is that it is a hypoallergenic material so you won’t have to worry about getting rashes after wearing the watch for a prolonged period of time.
2. Rotating Bezel And Chronograph
For chefs rotating bezels and chronograph functions can be a boon. The chronograph function is basically a stopwatch that can time your activities from 30min to hours depending on the watch you have selected.
On the other hand, the rotating bezel helps you keep track of time by simply rotating the bezel to wherever the minute hand is pointing at any point of time and then you would be able to measure the time elapsed accurately.
So if you are looking for a watch for a chef then go with a watch that offers at least one of these features to effectively time your cooking activities.
3. Water-Resistance
A kitchen wristwatch should be waterproof as it allows you to thoroughly clean the watch until you are fully satisfied. Therefore we would recommend going with a watch that is water-resistant to 50m as you don’t want to pollute the food ingredients with the dirt on the watch.
It may not seem like much but given the current pandemic situation and safety standards that your kitchen needs to meet, it makes sense to invest in a waterproof watch.
4. Watch Type
Apart from traditional watches, chefs can also go with smartwatches as it allows them to be phone-free all day in the kitchen. Using the smartwatch you can make and receive calls, sync notifications, listen to music on the watch, and a lot more.
However, if you find smartwatches too distracting then a traditional watch will be perfect for you. And if your kitchen follows a no-wristwatch policy then you can go with clip-on watches. You can tie them to a loop of your apron and carry them with you.
Can You Wear A Watch In A Kitchen? Final Verdict
Yes, you can definitely wear a watch in the kitchen unless your hotel prohibits it. If you are a chef then a watch can be a great tool for you to stay productive and prepare all the orders on time. When looking for the best watch for a chef you should keep your budget in mind because you can get a kitchen watch for yourself from as low as $200 to even more than $2000. Besides the price of the watch, you should also look for its durability and its resistance to heat and water. Overall, if you are a chef you can definitely wear a watch in the kitchen.
FAQs
What Watches Do Chefs Wear?
Watches made of ceramic are perfect for chefs as it is highly heat resistant which makes them perfect for the kitchen. It doesn't conduct heat as easily as watches made of stainless steel and is also hypoallergenic at the same time.
What Kind Of Watch Does Chef Ramsay Wear?
Chef Ramsey wears Rolex Submariner Date 11610, it's one of the many watches in his collection.
Is Apple Watch Good For Chefs?
Yes, using the Apple watch chefs can download recipes, set timers, or start a stopwatch using Siri, pick up important calls, play music while cooking, and a lot more.
Can You Wear Apple Watch While Washing Hands?
Yes, you can wash your hands without any worries wearing Apple Watch Series as it is water-resistant up to 50m underwater and also meets ISO Standard 22810:2010.
