With its futuristic designs and boundary-pushing mechanics, Richard Mille has defined a new era of ultra-high-end watchmaking. Instantly recognizable by their tonneau-shaped cases and complex-looking dials, these are less traditional timepieces and more hyper-technical sculptures for the wrist, beloved by collectors who crave innovation and exclusivity.
For those who appreciate Richard Mille’s bold aesthetic and technical mastery but want to explore the wider world of avant-garde horology, there are plenty of other brands pushing the limits of what a watch can be. Here are 19 luxury watch brands that share a similar spirit of innovation and standout design.
If Richard Mille is a high-tech racing machine, Jacob & Co. is a high-octane blockbuster film. This brand is known for its jaw-droppingly extravagant watches that are filled with diamonds, gems, and mind-bending complications like the rotating globes of the Astronomia collection. While Richard Mille focuses on lightweight performance materials, Jacob & Co. leans into unapologetic spectacle.
Both brands cater to a client who wants an undeniable statement piece. If you’re looking for a watch that’s as much a piece of high jewelry as it is high-horology, Jacob & Co. delivers unforgettable wrist presence. It offers that same level of in-your-face luxury, but with a more glamorous and decorative flair.
Shop now at jacobandco.com
MB&F doesn't make watches, it creates "Horological Machines." These are futuristic, sculptural timepieces that often look more like something out of a sci-fi movie than a traditional watch. Think spaceships, jellyfish, and robot-inspired designs crafted with incredibly complex movements.
Like Richard Mille, MB&F is all about pushing creative and engineering boundaries. However, where Mille’s designs are often rooted in the world of high-performance sports, MB&F's inspiration is pure rebellious artistry. For collectors who see watches as wearable art and crave unparalleled originality, MB&F is a must-see.
Shop now at mbf.com
Hublot’s "Art of Fusion" philosophy makes it a natural comparison to Richard Mille. Famous for combining unexpected materials like rubber, ceramic, carbon fiber, and precious metals, Hublot created the blueprint for the modern luxury sports watch. The iconic Big Bang collection is bold, unapologetic, and sporty, sharing Mille's high-tech, architectural vibe.
Hublot offers a similar statement-making feel at a much more accessible (though still very high-end) price point, starting around a few thousand dollars. If you love the modern, industrial aesthetic of Richard Mille but are looking for a brand with a wider range of styles and entry points, Hublot is a perfect place to start.
Shop now at hublot.com
Greubel Forsey operates at the absolute peak of watchmaking, creating extraordinarily complex and impeccably finished timepieces. Their focus is on pure horological innovation, particularly with their multi-axis tourbillons. The level of finishing and hand-craftsmanship is staggering, visible in their multi-layered, three-dimensional movements.
This brand shares Richard Mille’s commitment to no-compromise technical excellence and exclusivity. The key difference is aesthetics - Greubel Forsey’s designs are technically complex but lean towards a more classical, albeit architectural, style. It's the choice for a connoisseur who prizes movement finishing and traditional artistry above futuristic materials.
Shop now at greubelforsey.com
Long known for its marine chronometers, Ulysse Nardin shocked the watch world with its trailblazing Freak collection - a watch with no crown, no hands, and no dial where the movement itself rotates to tell time. This spirit of radical innovation makes it a great alternative to Richard Mille.
The brand balances its avant-garde pieces with a deep catalog of technically impressive, marine-inspired watches. They use high-tech materials like silicium and offer bold designs that feel both modern and tied to a classic watchmaking legacy. It’s great for buyers who admire Richard Mille's innovation but want something with a touch of Swiss tradition.
Shop now at ulysse-nardin.com
Roger Dubuis is famous for its "Excalibur" collection, which features bold, skeletonized watches that showcase their intricate and star-shaped movements. The brand combines exuberant Swiss watchmaking with a contemporary, almost theatrical flair, often partnering with brands like Lamborghini for high-octane designs.
Like Richard Mille, Roger Dubuis builds watches that are meant to be seen. They share a love for visible mechanics, aggressive case designs, and a refusal to be subtle. Roger Dubuis often leans into a spikier, more expressive aesthetic, making it the perfect choice for someone looking for hyper-modern watchmaking with a touch of gothic drama.
Shop now at rogerdubuis.com
De Bethune is the master of futuristic elegance. Known for its use of heat-blued titanium, floating lugs, and sci-fi inspired designs, the brand creates watches that are incredibly innovative yet sleek and refined. Their timepieces often look like minimalist sculptures, with unique dial displays and celestial themes.
Both De Bethune and Richard Mille push material and engineering science forward, but De Bethune’s approach results in a quieter, more artistic aesthetic. It offers the same level of exclusivity and technical mastery, but with a sophisticated, space-age feel that appeals to collectors who appreciate understated avant-garde design.
Shop now at debethune.ch
While aesthetically quite different, F.P. Journe shares Richard Mille's position as a fiercely independent and innovative watchmaker. Journe focuses on creating unique complications and movements with an emphasis on chronometric precision. The brand’s motto, "Invenit et Fecit" (He invented it and made it), reflects its commitment to originality.
F.P. Journe is the connoisseur's choice for collectors who value pure horological genius over futuristic design. The appeal isn't flashy materials but the subtle mastery of the mechanics within. It represents a different side of the same coin: exclusive, small-production watches made by a modern watchmaking legend.
Shop now at fpjourne.com
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore is the bigger, bolder sibling of the iconic Royal Oak. This collection trades slim elegance for a robust, powerful presence, featuring rubber straps, bulky cases, and chronograph complications. It was one of the first watches to make luxury sports watches a mainstream phenomenon.
The Offshore captures the same rugged, hyper-masculine luxury that appeals to many Richard Mille enthusiasts. While its design language is more rooted in the classic Genta-era aesthetic, its use of materials like forged carbon and ceramic resonates with the material innovation seen at Mille. It's a legendary statement piece that combines heritage with modern attitude.
Shop now at audemarspiguet.com
Bulgari's Octo collection, especially the Octo Finissimo line, is a masterpiece of modern watch design. Combining a distinctive octagonal case with record-breaking ultra-thin movements, these watches are sleek, architectural, and undeniably Italian in their stylish execution. They are sophisticated without being stuffy.
The Octo Finissimo collection shares Richard Mille’s dedication to pushing technical limits, albeit in the opposite direction - by making things impossibly thin and light. It's a more angular and minimalist interpretation of modern luxury, ideal for someone who wants an innovative watch that can slide under a cuff.
Shop now at bulgari.com
The Laureato collection from Girard-Perregaux is a strong contender in the luxury sports watch category, featuring an octagonal bezel nested within a circular case and an integrated bracelet. It has a chic, versatile vibe that channels the jet-set era of the 1970s but feels completely contemporary.
While more traditional than a Richard Mille, the Laureato provides a gateway into high-end watchmaking with a distinct modern style. Some modern versions incorporate advanced materials like carbon glass, ceramic, and titanium, bringing a hint of Mille’s technical approach into a refined and classic architecture.
Shop now at girard-perregaux.com
Revived through crowdfunding, Czapek & Cie is a boutique brand known for its exceptional craftsmanship and elegantly complicated designs. Their Antarctique collection, popular for its sporty-chic looks and stunning "lamé" dials, offers a high-horology alternative to mainstream sports watches.
Czapek doesn’t share Richard Mille's futuristic aesthetic, but it excels in creating exclusive, highly sought-after watches for a discerning audience. The brand offers fine finishing, unique movements, and a sense of being "in the know," which appeals to collectors who appreciate subtle, artisanal luxury.
Shop now at czapek.com
Inspired by the work of 18th-century English watchmaker John Arnold, this modern brand focuses on creating mechanically beautiful watches with symmetrical movement architecture and dazzling complications. They are masters of skeletonization, often showcasing dual-time displays and multi-day power reserves in a visually balanced way.
Like Richard Mille, Arnold & Son puts the mechanics front and center. Their designs blend classical English watchmaking principles with a very modern, three-dimensional aesthetic. It’s a superb choice for someone who loves the intricacy of Richard Mille’s dials but prefers a more traditional round case.
Shop now at arnoldandson.com
Louis Moinet creates artistic and highly thematic limited-edition watches, often incorporating exotic materials like meteorite fragments, dinosaur bone, and lunar rock. The brand sees a watch dial as a canvas and combines these unusual materials with high-end mechanical complications.
This brand shares Richard Mille’s flair for storytelling and creating hyper-exclusive "conversation pieces," but with a focus on historical and cosmic narratives. A Louis Moinet watch is for the collector who is fascinated by materials and tales as much as they are by gears and springs, offering a unique blend of art and tech.
Shop now at louis-moinet.com
Now known as RJ, this brand made its name creating polarizing watches inspired by pop culture legends like Batman, Pac-Man, and Spider-Man. They famously incorporated actual moon dust in their Moon-DNA collection and steel from the Titanic in another, making their watches wearable artifacts.
RJ watches are all about boldness, thematic depth, and a rebellious spirit that doesn't take itself too seriously. This edgy attitude is very similar to Richard Mille's, but RJ's focus is on culture and icons rather than automotive and aerospace engineering. If you want a watch that’s fun, futuristic and a little bit provocative, this is your brand.
Shop now at romainjerome.com
HYT, the "Hydro Mechanical Horologists," are known for one thing: telling time with liquid. Their watches use a patented micro-fluidic module with fluorescent liquids pushed through tiny glass tubes by mechanical bellows to display the hours. This blend of mechanics and fluid dynamics is as radical and futuristic as it gets.
This dedication to completely rewriting horological rules is what makes HYT a kindred spirit to Richard Mille. They both attract buyers searching for true, risk-taking innovation. HYT's industrial, almost alien-like design language is perfect for someone who loves Mille's technical aesthetic but wants something even more unconventional.
Shop now at hytwatches.com
While known for its leather goods, Louis Vuitton’s watchmaking division (La Fabrique du Temps) is a serious player in high horology. The Tambour collection, defined by its drum-shaped case, blends high fashion with real watchmaking chops, featuring everything from dive watches to minute repeating "spin time" jumping-hour displays.
Like Richard Mille, Louis Vuitton operates in the world of ultimate luxury, where craftsmanship, exclusivity, and brand power converge. While LV’s watches are decidedly more fashion-forward, their most complicated pieces demonstrate an appetite for mechanical innovation that will appeal to the same avant-garde taste.
Shop now at louisvuitton.com
Urwerk is a pioneer in avant-garde and experimental horology. Instead of traditional hands, their watches use a mesmerizing system of revolving satellites and retrograde minutes to indicate the time, housed in futuristic, shield-like cases. Their designs often look like they came directly from the bridge of a starship.
Urwerk shares Richard Mille's core DNA of breaking with the past to create something uncompromisingly modern. For decades, they have been pushing the boundaries of mechanical display and futuristic aesthetics. For the buyer who wants a timepiece that feels genuinely forward-thinking, Urwerk remains one of the most innovative and exciting independents.
Shop now at urwerk.com
Founded by a direct descendant of Napoleon Bonaparte, DeWitt creates technically superb watches with a flair for imperial luxury. Their signature design feature is the "imperial columns" on the cases, which lend their pieces an architectural and unmistakably classic feel. However, under the hood are some highly innovative and complex movements.
DeWitt offers a balance between traditional watchmaking traditions and modern innovation. Like Richard Mille, they produce watches in extremely limited numbers for a discerning clientele. For a collector who likes Mille's exclusivity and technical prowess but wants it packaged with a touch of old-world royalty, DeWitt is a fascinating choice.
Shop now at dewitt.ch
At Apart Style, we're obsessed with curating the best in fashion, beauty, and jewelry to help you discover new brands we think you'll love. Every brand we feature is independently selected by our editorial team based on quality, style, and uniqueness. When you make a purchase through our links, Apart Style may earn a commission - which helps support our small team, and allows us to continue bringing you the best in online style brands.
Looking for more inspiration? Explore our full brand directory or check out our curated brand guides to find your new favorite thing.
