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Every week, we present the best new watch releases on the planet from the likes of Tudor, Audemars Piguet and Cartier. This week there's a Simpsons x Valentine's Swatch, Hamilton drops another stellar Khaki Pilot and Rado brings back an arty icon
If you're buying a new watch, be it your first or your fifteenth, it'd be good to know what the best new watches on offer are, right? Because the sheer volume of choice is insane. With that in mind, we've done the hard work for you, compiling the hottest watch releases as they happen in one wristy place.
You’ll find everything from classic dress watches and divers, to everyday-field watches and sporty chronographs; those that cost a small fortune and those that are perfectly affordable. Whatever your taste, style or budget, we're hopeful you'll find a watch that you really rate.
Go get amongst – these are the best new watches we recommend adding to your collection (or at least stick on the wishlist).
If Andy Warhol was a fan of the design of something, it’s safe to assume the thing in question is a goodun. No disrespect to Andy but Rado’s Anatom doesn’t really need the artist’s endorsement because it’s a bit of an icon in its own right. Known as the master of materials for its use of ceramic, this new version of the Anatom brings its industrial look into the present day. It’s bigger (still only 32.5mm, mind), made of ceramic and the smoked effect on the dial – in brown, green and blue – means there’s a lot to like and differentiate it from the 1983 original. Our favourite is the brown but we reckon Warhol will be looking down from you-know-where and thinking the red is green is for him. £3,150. At rado.com
Picture this: you’ve just legged it to try and catch your train home but the doors closed 30 seconds early so you’re furious. What do you do next? Glance down at your watch to see how long until the next train. What do you see? Homer and Marge Simpson smoochy smooching, of course. Fury immediately vanishes, replaced by smiles all round. There are plenty of other watches out there, but how many can honestly lay claim to turning around mood swings quite so emphatically like this Swatch ‘Sweet Embrace’? £96. At swatch.com
Roses don’t come as red as this new diver from Farer, which the British watchmakers have rightly acknowledged is their boldest yet. The name – Hecla Carmine – could easily be a Farrow and Ball paint colour, which only serves to embolden this piece. The mix of batons and Arabic numerals helps to keep the dial the right side of busy and the fact it’s made of grade-2 titanium means you’ll be surprised at how light it wears, and how good’s the sheen on that beautifully brushed finish? It also has a water resistance of 300m because being a diver is its primary raison d’etre – easily forgotten when it’s such a looker. £1,075. At farer.com
2024 brings up the century for Hamilton and its service to making pilots watches that are a) banging and b) good bang for your buck. It’s a stellar innings that will keep on giving strong strokes of aviation-inspired for – hell who knows what the future on earth looks like but let’s say – at least another 100 years. Surely an AI robot will still want to wear a watch? Well, if they do their homework (all they do is swat up on stuff, right?) they’ll know that Hamilton does a good Pilot watch. Weird futuristic talk over, there are seven new Khakis and we dig this lairy white 36mm one the most. £915. At hamiltonwatch.com
Sorry, but is that an actual rocket acting as the small-seconds hand at 9 o’clock? Yes, sir it is – shaped like NASA’s Saturn V rocket for the space nerds out there. How very cool and novel for a brand who love nothing more than to strap Omega watches on astronauts when they’re en-route to the moon. Step back from the rocket, look past the moon-likeness on the face and you’ll notice there’s also a skeletonised dial too, with the movement poking out to say hi. And it’s right to as the Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 3869 is one of the most precise movements out there – and surely the only one that has moon relief lasered on to it too? £13,500. At omegawatches.com
Before we get into the nitty gritty of this new perpetual calendar from Frederique Constant – an almost criminally underrated watchmaker IMHO – can I draw your much-appreciated attention to the fact some Patek Philippe PCs can cost more than £100,000. This one is roughly a tenth of that. While Pateks of course deserve to be desired/obsessed over the way that they are, it’s good to know brands like Frederique Constant, ably supported by Brit Peter Speake, are out there creating badass (not to mention slim) perpetual calendars that don’t cost more than a mortgage. As for describing exactly what a perpetual calendar is, I’ll say this much: it’s very complicated. £11,995. At frederiqueconstant.com
Behold, the year of the dragon. This is not the first – and won’t be the last – mythical beast inspired watch we’ll see this month but it’ll probably be the most purple. And who doesn’t love to slap the colour purple on their wrist? As far as worthy collaborators go, Chinese artist Chen Fen Wan has some pretty decent streetcred when it comes to a) dragons and b) the traditional Chinese art of paper cutting – and the artwork fits perfectly inside Hublot’s Spirit of Big Bang. Oh, and the case is made of titanium (say it like SIA sings it). £25,400. At hublot.com
Anyone else been reminded of Jet (the iconic ’90s British TV personality) after Gladiators returned to our screens recently? Unless a watch model called Electro comes out soon, this new Timex number is totally unrelated to any of that camp display of athleticism – but that doesn’t make it any less compelling. I mean, would you look at the ’60s charm of that domed crystal sat over the silver-coloured dial – the dial itself a display of A-grade minimalism. Being automatic suits us, as will that very smooth-looking navy blue woven strap. £279. At timex.co.uk
It was only a matter of time before Swatch and Blancpain found another fish in the sea (more specifically another nudibranch) to model a new Scuba Fifty on – but we weren’t anticipating this Okenia Luna-inspired one to be the sexiest of the bunch. Unless you are Newcastle United this season, you just can’t beat a black and white colourway. All the hype in 2023 surrounding the MoonSwatch 2.0 was entirely warranted so we’re all for Swatch continuing to cash in on a good thing especially – let this serve as a reminder – when we’re talking about a mechanic diver that looks this good and is only £350. At swatch.com
A Blast, it always is. Let it never be forgotten that the world has a certain Carole Forestier-Kasapi to thank for putting Ulysse Nardin on the map for its technically bonkers Freak piece. While CFK has since moved on to pastures new, her movement expertises no doubt contributed to Ulysse Nardin’s Blast model, the latest of which honours the fact 2024 spells the year of the dragon for Lunar New Year. While we’re a little disappointed Ulysse Nardin hasn't found a way to breathe actual fire out of the dial, nonetheless this special edition tourbillon is pretty fire in its execution – and yes that’s a pearl at 6 o’clock. POA. At ulysse-nardin.com
Praise the Lords for this one. Sorry but when a watch brand flexes its ties with the home of (English at least) cricket, surely it’s better than saying these two have hit this one for six (straight over long on into the MCC members only area). We digress. The cute 40mm size is everything when it comes to Oris’s Big Crown Pointer Date, of which this is a off-spin (sorry again) of. The name is taken from the iconic weathervane at Lord’s. And if you didn’t know what a weathervane was before now, you are not alone. Made of solid bronze, this has family heirloom written all over it. £2,700. At oris.ch
Where Leyton Orient has been fielding football teams since 1881, its watchmaking namesake Orient has also been making watch waves in its own right since the beginning of the 20th century. Though credited as being founded in 1950, Japanese watch genius Shogoro Yoshida has been doing mad things with watches since 1901 apparently. History lesson over, the most important takeaway here is that Orient watches like this does-what-it-says-on-the-tin retro-looking classic are now available in the UK and consequently thriving. Japan will forever be thankful to Seiko for putting the country on the proverbial horological map, and now the likes of Orient continue what’s already a strong legacy. £287.99 At orientwatch.co.uk
As if the world wasn’t excited enough to see Rafa Nadal back on a tennis court (hopefully) putting a stop to Novak Djokovic’s dominance at the upcoming Aussie Open, news he’ll likely be wearing his very own new Richard Mille has upped the anticipation levels further still. Nadal is someone who so clearly likes routine, rituals and is oh so particular about things, so wearing Richard Mille watches makes a lot of sense, because the level of detail in these machines is like few others. That and the fact its watches are so unbelievably light that it makes sense to call them athletic in their own right – fitting given Nadal is one of the greatest athletes of all time. POA. At richardmille.com
In producing 2001’s ‘Do You Really Like It?’, DJ Pied Piper and the merry Master of Ceremonies gave the (UK Garage) world lyrical gold; literally nothing amps up my mood more than hearing “Enter the dragon”. On the subject of gold and dragons, JLC’s new Reverso is a Chinese New Year-inspired beauty, going one better than Pied Piper and enamelling the dragon on the flipside of the watch. Reversos old, new, steel or gold are instantly revered for their design and distinctive shape, and this limited edition successfully continues JLC’s rich vein of form of creating icons only. POA. At jaeger-lecoultre.com
Public service announcement! If you want this watch you need to act really really quickly because there are only 37 available for a 24-hour period. Sincere apologies if you’re reading this after 2pm on December 1… but any disappointment can be channelled into getting excited for the 37th America’s Cup (hence why there’s only 37 pieces) – the countdown is on. If you are a fan of this handsome, Panerai blue-dialled 44mm Luminor, by no means don’t feel obliged to support Italy’s Luna Rossa sailing team – though for small talk purposes, it’s good to know that’s who it’s in celebration of. £14,000. At panerai.com
Not gonna lie, on first inspection my main thought was where are Paul’s iconic strips on this watch? But hang on a second – literally – they are there, on the second hands. For haute horological reasons, this collaboration won’t generate the level of buzz we’ve seen for, say, Swatch x Blancpain but that’s not taking away from the fact it’s a deadset winner. The design of that dial is so clean, and the novelty of seeing the logo of your favourite beard trimmer next to your fave designer on a watch will surely take some time to wear off. £750. At braun-clocks.com
This is what you give a Mustang-loving watch obsessive for Christmas – if money were no object. The same also applies for any closet Shelby Cobra lovers and courters of Chevrolet Corvettes as Breitling has just released three versions of its popular Top Time collection with a, wait for it, tourbillon inside. Think chronograph and this Swiss watchmaker in particular springs to mind, so these new drops – bold-coloured dials aside – shine a new light on Breitling’s technical ability (it’s complicated, and that’s all you need to know) and sheer precision too. £38,000. At breitling.com
For the most part, Hublot’s USP is bold, masculine watches. Strong cases in (and on) point – the Big Bang and Classic Fusion models. But its budding relationship with artist Takashi Murakami adds flower power gifts of prettiness to its line up. 12 petals made of sapphire make up the case for the MP-15 Takashi Murakami Tourbillon Sapphire, and inside there’s an Hublot first – a central flying tourbillon. POA. At hublot.com
When I think of luminous green things, shoot me but Slimer in OG Ghostbusters movie springs to mind – at least until I set eyes on the new Bell & Ross Green Lum. We are talking lume factor 100, it’s intense. Aside from the fact it doesn’t come with a complimentary pair of sunglasses and should definitely be worn lots in the dark, the fresh new dial is good-busy, in particular the power reserve indicator so you know when you need to wind it up. £12,000. At bellross.com
Add an ‘e’, say it with a French accent and for some reason, our brains are programmed to think things sounds fancier en français. That certainly rings true with Herbelin’s new Cap Camarat, the chronographe version. The green and black pairing on the dial is sleek and the steel case leading into the integrated bracelet has it playing in the competitive steel sports watch game. Bonus points for the transparent caseback that shows off the inner workings of the automatic Sellita movement. €2,599. At herbelin.com
Impartiality out of the window, there is no watch I fantasise about owning more than the JLC Reverso. It’s the air of mystique, the daring to be different shape, and the fact that (thanks to its polo playing backstory) you can flip it around when you don’t want to know the time. JLC is never shy of doing something wonderfully unusual, like adopting Asian motifs on its dial in homage to Japan artist Katsushika Hokusai. If ‘Waterfalls’ by TLC ranks highly in your Spotify top songs, you’re in for a treat because both of these limited edition pieces (we’re talking 10 each) feature the serenity of cascading water from two of Hokusai’s most iconic paintings. Anyone lucky enough to bag one will likely spend more time gazing at the enamel caseback than telling the time, and I don’t blame them. POA. At jaeger-lecoultre.com
Hear the word “Avenger” and you’d be forgiven if your mind jumped to the MCU. But Thor, Iron Man, and company all exist in a parallel, make-believe universe; in this reality, the only Avenger we care about is Breitling’s pilot watch. More than 20 years on from its debut, the new collection of Avenger models is testament to the brand’s long history in aviation. CEO Georges Kern prides himself on finding new ways to celebrate that heritage, hence the diverse line-up spanning a 44mm chronograph, a 44mm automatic GMT, and a 42mm automatic in black, blue, green, or sand. £6,350. At breitling.com
Some people call them hundreds and thousands, some prefer rainbow sprinkles and in the Netherlands the Dutch word for them is ‘hagelslag’. To Homer Simpson, they are the optimal finishing touch to his favourite food and pastime – doughnuts. And for reasons we need only salute, Swatch has decided to slap a pink one on a dial to celebrate The Simpsons. Called Seconds of Sweetness, there really isn’t much else to know other than this will brighten up your day, everyday. It’s a treat – sweet tooth or not – that’s worth biting into. Especially when you see the price.£91. At swatch.com
Try as we might, there is always something alluring about going back to your roots – it’s hard to escape those minute details of history we feel might define us in some way. Watchmakers love to do the same with past watches as it’s a surefire way to evoke that innate fuzzy feeling that engages us with something sentimental. Case in point, this limited edition Radiomir Officine, which takes inspo from the OG Radiomir design from 1935. Aside from a strong affiliation with the various militaries Panerai has collaborated with, this model is best known for its sandwich construction, which is responsible for the case’s unique look and finish. Brown dial, beige numerals and indices, brown leather strap mean tonally this is a perfect match for your all tones of brown autumn wardrobe – provided you can handle 45mm. £4,700. At panerai.com
Trick or treat? Or both? Spinnaker, a microbrand that has some skin in the dive watch game, linking up with Paris-based watch disruptors Seconde Seconde is the Halloween surprise we didn’t know we needed. Using its Fleuss watch as a base, Spinnaker has allowed artist Romaric André carte blanche to capture the imagination of watch lovers with this watch – while also injecting some unbridled humour too. Look closely and you’ll see ‘50 Phantoms’ on the dial, which pays homage to a certain historical dive-watch design while also displaying 50 ghosts on the dial. Only 670 pieces have been made to grab one before you get spooked. £445. At spinnaker-watches.com
Just as Omega is synonymous with some badass landing on the Moon antics, it also has some serious chops in the dive watch stakes. Google ‘Seamaster’ and you’ll learn it’s very much considered to be the horological master of the sea. What people probably don’t cotton on to as much is the contribution models like the Seamaster Planet Ocean actually offer the world. A tiny percentage of us will ever visit anywhere that’s 600m below sea level – but that doesn’t detract from the fact this watch will function down there, and serves a genuine purpose. This new one has a dark grey titanium dial and is so light for its size (45.5mm) that you’ll hardly notice you’re wearing it – were it not for all the envious looks it will attract. £21,000. At omegawatches.com
When I think of Día de los Muertos – the Mexican equivalent of Halloween – Daniel Craig in Spectre always springs to mind, especially as they filmed that particular scene IRL as the festival was in full flow. While Chopard is best known for its classic Alpine Eagle and Mille Miglia models, it has plenty of playfulness in the locker too. The dial on this limited edition Chopard does a good job of capturing the vibrance and mad buzz of the event many people flock to be a part of every year. With only 25 pieces made though, this steel 40mm is going to be a little harder to come by than a trip to Mexico – but that doesn’t make it any less appealing. £10,300. At chopard.com
Way back when in 1801 just after the French Revolution, a Swiss fifty-something somehow conspired to do a clever thing no one had ever done before – make a fricking tourbillon. Abraham-Louis Breguet was his name. Fast forward to 2023, and to this day there’s still no more accurate way to mechanically tell the time than by Breguet’s creation. The new Marine Tourbillon 5577 continues the legacy, this time in platinum and 18kt rose gold. Lately there’s been talk of men apparently thinking a lot about the Roman Empire and while I can’t say I’ve ever given that period of history much thought, I’d be lying if I said I won’t be dreaming of the Roman numerals on this hunk. POA. At breguet.com
Fresh pops of colour on rotating bezels are a surefire way to spark interest in a new release – which is exactly what Bremont has done with its latest Supermarine S302 models. For a brand predominantly built on aviation heritage it doesn’t half do a decent watch well suited to getting wet and wild while featuring a 24hr GMT automatic movement. Watch nerds love a nickname and while a certain Rolex GMT has nabbed Sprite, are we mad to say this one has a bit of the Peronis about it? The pops of orange spare its blushes while also making it the best of a good bunch of new S302s in our eyes. £3,250. At bremont.com
This new tourby has really wowed a lot of the watch fraternity in the past few days. Many a Reddit forum and Substack newsletter has been penned frothing over Frederique Constant’s new tourbillon which is celebrating two anniversaries – 35 years of Frederique Constant (FC) wonderfulness and 15 years since FC showed the world it’s possible to create an affordable (in inverted commas) tourbillon. The meteorite dial is aptly out of this world, with only 35 available, which is just as well as each one is finished entirely by the hands of two very impressive FC watchmakers. £37,995. At frederiqueconstant.com
There’s charming and then there’s the Fears MD, Nicholas Scargill-Bowman; and in watch terms there’s the Fears Brunswick, which is delightful slice of British watchmaking goodness. Not everyone abides by watch catergories like dress watches these days but if you do then this new Brunswick Aurora 40mm needs your full, and immediate, attention. It’s colour matched to the Northern Lights (aurora borealis), has the mother of all pearl dials and the hand-applied numeral indices in Fears bespoke ‘Edwin’ typeset (named after the founder) are elegant with a capital E. The fact it’s not a limited edition just speaks to how fast Fears is going places. £3,850. At fearswatches.com
There’s a lotta love for Seiko watches but if you’re looking for a Japanese watch brand that has a bit more of a IYKYK vibe about it then Orient is the one for you. Its classic dress watches and new-age divers only became available to buy in the UK this year so you’ll be one of the first cool kids to wear an Orient. While classic and simple is its bread and butter (there’s literally a collection with that name), more daring options are on the table – like this Avant-Garde Skeleton. For under £1k, this basically comes with a cursory education into watch movements and the mechanics that power automatic watches. That silver finish is also rather dashing. £989.99. At orientwatch.co.uk
If you identify most with the God of Mischief from the MCU then we’re guessing you’ll be quite into this green-eyed Citizen watch that’s been made in honour of Tom Hiddleston’s best work yet. The British actor, though very good in The Night Manager, has become a household name in Hollywood thanks to his portrayal of Loki, those tussles with Thor and his mane of jet black hair. The latest in a series of Citizen x Marvel collabs, it’s green and gold, and a steal at £299 – and the same can be said for Hiddleston’s own go-to watch (a Tissot Couturier). At citizenwatch.co.uk
Official Watch A real pocket rocket of a brand within the Swatch stable, Certina regularly pulls out some killer wrist wear for a shoestring budget, and the latest DS-7 collection is no exception. It is immediately giving off the feelgood vibes of another Swatch brands’ best watch in recent years – Tissot’s PRX. Primarily because it has drawn inspo from a retro ’70s model but brought it back cooler. Find a better all-gold watch for £815 that looks as swell as this, we’ll wait. It has up to 80 hours of tick-tocking ability inside, is antimagnetic and sits snug on the wrist at 39mm, so deal us in. At certina.co.uk