As the doors closed yet again on Watches and Wonders 2026 – a high horology gathering that we could call the fashion week for watch enthusiasts and experts – it is fair to say that this year was arguably the most exciting edition since the fair kicked off in 2020.
From integrated-bracelet sport watches to ultra-thin tourbillons and highly precise perpetual calendars, it seems that every year, watchmakers around the world are pushing their boundaries, challenging previous releases with more refined updates and once again bringing new ideas to the table. For us watch nerds, we are all in and hyped and could spend hours talking about each release but, in the end, what matters most is if it’s a watch that you would actually want to put on your wrist.
So we took some time to digest it all and picked only those watches that really stood out. Trust us, it was not an easy task, but we believe these are some of the best to actually wear because, ultimately, it’s all about your preferences and which brand you can connect with.
IWC
This Swiss watchmaker stepped up the game once again this year and not only had a very interesting booth, but also offered an impressive lineup of novelties.
IWC Ingenieur Perpetual Calendar 41
The brand continues to expand the modern Ingenieur line, pairing the Gérald Genta-inspired sport watch with its perpetual calendar, operated via the crown. This 2026 release comes in a full titanium, making it one of the lightest perpetual calendar watches for the brand. With 100 meters of water resistance and a 60-hour power reserve, this sports watch offers more than just timekeeping. More info here.
IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Ceralume®
We were already teased by IWC’s prototype with Ceralume technology – something that allows the watch to glow fully in the dark -some time ago, and now it has officially entered production. The effect is achieved by combining a full white luminous ceramic case and rubber strap, both enriched with Super-LumiNova® pigments. This means the material stores light and releases a long-lasting glow in the dark. Limited to 250 pieces, it’s not necessarily an everyday watch, considering as well its large 46.5mm case, but rather a special one for those who appreciate its concept.
There was also a lot of buzz around a new model with a completely modern design; the Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive, a so-called space watch designed for astronauts to operate while wearing gloves. Instead of a crown, it features a system to wind and set the watch via the bezel: something we can imagine not only astronauts, but also tech bros wearing too…
Tudor
As Tudor marks its 100-year anniversary, we didn’t expect anything less than exciting. The Swiss watchmaker continues to refine its key collections through stronger technical specifications, in-house movements, and advanced certification. But of course, heritage remains in focus, especially in the Black Bay line, handled though with precision.
Tudor Monarch
The Monarch is probably the most symbolic release tied to the brand’s anniversary. While the watch is new, the name has been used in the past. The new model mixes a classic, chic feel with a sporty look, featuring a very vintage-inspired dial. With a 39mm case, 100m water resistance and a 65-hour power reserve, it could easily be an everyday watch. Find out more at Tudor’s website.
Tudor Royal
Apart from the Black Bay, the Royal line is still one of our favourites from the brand. It has been updated across the full size range, from 30, 36 to 40mm, with a new movement offering 70 hours of power reserve, all within a 100m water-resistant case. The integrated bracelet design still carries nods to the past, which we absolutely love. And the dial’s options, such as salmon, chocolate brown, as well as classic navy and green, play in our cards, too. Just put it on the wrist. More info here.
Cartier
With more than a century of design to draw from and some of the most recognisable shapes in watchmaking, for us, Cartier’s novelties are always highly anticipated. And this year didn’t disappoint. But don’t expect overly advanced complications, rather a clean, sleek design and watches that simply look great.
Roadster de Cartier
Inspired by automotive design, the Roadster returns this year with a refined and renewed design with a contemporary twist. It comes in two sizes, Medium and Large, and three case options: steel, bi-metal and gold. Most versions feature the classic white dial with a circular pattern and Roman numerals. We really need to try this one on.
Cartier Santos-Dumont
The Santos-Dumont, one of the brand’s most loved models, has mostly been seen on a leather strap. This year, Cartier pairs it with a dressy bracelet composed of ultra-thin links, making it flexible and comfortable to wear. Offered in yellow gold and platinum, and being one of the thinnest watches in the brand’s collection, this is a piece we can imagine wearing a lot. An absolute winner for us this year.
Vacheron Constantin
If there’s one thing Vacheron Constantin does well, it’s balancing heritage design with technical innovation while maintaining contemporary elegance. And we are all for it.
Vacheron Constantin Historiques American 1921
When it comes to heritage, the Historiques American 1921 is of the brand’s most recognisable iconic models, known for its asymmetrical cushion-shaped case, with a look of a pocket watch. Powered by a manual-winding movement with a 65-hour power reserve, it comes in 36.5mm and 40mm pink gold versions, with very slim profiles. Definitely a unique dress watch that stands out from the crowd. More info here.
Vacheron Constantin Overseas Self-Winding Ultra-Thin
With the Overseas line being one of the biggest in the brand’s portfolio, and with it coming in many style complications, you would not expect anything totally new or groundbreaking, yet this year, the Overseas line introduces its thinnest version ever, thanks to a new in-house movement that has been in the making for 7 years. Housed in a 39.5mm platinum case and limited to 255 pieces, each of them individually numbered, it makes one of the most exclusive models in the line. We love everything about this watch, but we guess all of them are now reserved. Plus, the price point is somewhere else, too. Find more info at the official website.
Jaeger‑LeCoultre Master Control Chronometre
For us, Jaeger-LeCoultre is the watchmaker of watchmakers, and each year we are excited to see what the brand will bring. Considering the past couple of years, we were pleasantly surprised that its Chronometre line took the spotlight. A line that needed some love, but finally got a revamp, and the collection moves into the integrated bracelet game, with slim, wearable cases starting at 38mm for its Chronometer Date model and 39mm for the Date Power Reserve. For us, the winner is its perpetual Calendar, which looks beautiful both in the steel version and in gold, too. With 50m water resistance and a 70-hour power reserve, these could be your next everyday option. More info here.
Piaget Polo 79 Automatic White Gold Sodalite
There are not that many brands that use stone dials as well as Piaget. This year proves it again as the maison expands the portfolio with the Polo 79 in white gold – a model featuring a sodalite dial – right after the previously released iterations in yellow gold and the two-tone models. In a very thin case of 38mm, with a 44-hour power reserve, the dial, with its natural veining, introduces variation to every piece, reinforcing the brand’s focus on material as the primary design element. We can see ourselves pulling off this watch from time to time on our wrist. More info at Piaget’s website.
A. Lange & Sohne Saxonia Annual Calendar
If there’s one thing A. Lange & Söhne knows very well, it’s the understanding of a balance between design and complications. The Saxonia Annual Calendar is a great example of that. It brings together a compact 36mm case, a new automatic calibre and a clean dial layout. With 60 hours of power reserve, it proves that complicated watches don’t need to be big. It comes either in rose gold with a grey dial or white gold with a silver-colored dial. It’s a perfect dress watch that has more to offer than just showing the time. More info here.
And what else? Worth mentioning is Patek Philippe’s Nautilus anniversary model, celebrating the line with a refined and slimmer case. While we still can’t decide if we love Nautilus or not, we have to say that this newest version looks and fits damn well on the wrist. Other highlights include new releases from good old Grand Seiko, Bulgari’s Octo Finissimo 37 in yellow gold, and the Chopard Alpine Eagle 41 XPS – what a watch, what a dial. Put it on our wrist.
However, yet again, brands like Rolex didn’t make it to our list. Don’t get us wrong. We still respect the brand, and there are a couple of models we really like…
Becoming a watch nerd?
- Bezel – the part of the watch case that surrounds the watch glass, serving as a protective guard and as an aesthetic frame. Rotating dive watch bezels help to track a diver’s bottom time – the total time spent underwater – a reminder to prevent divers from exceeding their diving time with limited oxygen.
- Black Bay – one of the lines that put Tudor back on the map. Launched in 2012, it draws from the brand’s dive-watch heritage, iconic snowflake hands, and vintage-inspired bezels, giving it the tool-watch vibe. Over the years, it’s grown into different variations, from classic divers to chronographs and GMTs, nowadays many powered by Tudor’s own in-house movements. It’s the collection that shows the brand heritage and how the brand blends vintage cues with modern watchmaking.
- Calibre – Simply the movement inside the watch.
- Cartier – quick history; In 1903, Cartier redefined timepieces by creating what many consider the first wristwatch. Louis-Francois Cartier’s friend, pilot Alberto Santos-Dumont, had complained about the difficulty of reading time while flying. In response, Cartier designed a small, practical wristwatch suited for pilots. Named the Santos de Cartier, this wristwatch featured a distinctive square face, a difference from the traditional round pocket watch, making it both comfortable and functional for flying. Though it sparked debate on being the ‘first’, it’s widely seen as the first pilot watch, available to the public in 1911.
- Ceralume – According to IWC, Ceralume is produced by homogeneously mixing ceramic powders with high-grade Super-LumiNova pigments — likely the same pigments that go into the paint that are then used to fill up the hands and markers on a dial. The brand claims, “In dark chamber tests, a fully luminous concept watch manufactured using the Ceralume technology has emitted a bright blueish light for more than 24 hours.”
- Chronometer – a Chronometer certification focuses mainly on the precision of the movement itself. Traditionally certified by COSC, for a watch to receive Chronometer certification, it can lose up to 4 seconds or gain up to 6 seconds over 24 hours. The term “Chronomètre” is commonly used as the French spelling, and is often seen on dials and official documentation from Swiss watchmakers.
- Crown – is the small knob typically located on the side of the watch case. It allows the wearer to adjust the time, date and other functions. In mechanical watches, it’s also used to wind the movement. Crowns come in different designs, such as screw-down crowns, which create a watertight seal for improved water resistance (dive watches). The crown is both a functional and aesthetic feature, often bearing the watch brand’s logo.
- Dial – also known as the face, is a big part of a watch’s personality and the portion of the watch that displays the time, or any other indicators, such as date, day, moon phase etc.
- Gérald Genta – was a Swiss watchmaker and artist, who is known for his eponymous lines of timepieces. Throughout his career, he created some of the most iconic models in the watch world, many of which remain popular to this day. To name a few: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, IWC Ingenieur, Omega Constellation and Patek Philippe Nautilus.
- Historiques American 1921 – From Vacheron Constantin, the Historiques American 1921 is a cushion-cased, asymmetrical wristwatch inspired by early 1920s designs. Originally created for the American market in 1921, the distinctive watch, with its 45-degree rotated dial and unconventional crown placement, made it practical for motorists to read the time without taking their hands off the wheel. It was relaunched in 2008 in a 40mm case, followed by a 36.5mm version in 2017, revised again in 2021 to mark the centenary of its namesake year, and revisited once more in 2026.
- In-house movement – A movement that is developed and produced by the brand itself, rather than sourced from an external supplier. It signals a higher level of control over design, engineering, and finishing. For many brands, it’s also a way to show their technical capability and independence.
- Integrated bracelet – is designed as a seamless extension of the watch case, creating a more streamlined, sleek look. First popularised in the 1970s with luxury sports watches, it became a signature of high-end design. Today, it’s all about comfort and style and as a showcase of precision craftsmanship.
- IWC – IWC Schaffhausen, founded in 1868 by American watchmaker Florentine Ariosto Jones, is a Swiss luxury watch manufacturer based in Schaffhausen. Jones planned to combine Swiss craftsmanship with modern engineering and hydropower sourced from the nearby Rhine to produce high-quality watches. The brand has a long tradition of innovation and is known for applying engineering to watchmaking. Over its history, IWC has developed many iconic families, including pilot’s watches, Portugieser, Ingenieur and pioneered materials such as ceramic and titanium.
- IWC Ingenieur – was born in the mid-50s as a watch designed for engineers working in magnetic environments (thus the name), the IWC Ingenieur is mostly known for its redesign by Gerald Genta in the 70s, using his classic sports watch concept with an integrated bracelet. Some of the most popular models came out in the late 80s and early 90s, now with the latest version released in 2023.
- Jaeger-LeCoultre – JLC, in short, the Swiss watchmaker, was founded in 1833 by Antoine LeCoultre in the Vallée de Joux, becoming the region’s first true Manufacture by bringing every aspect of watchmaking under one roof. In 1844, LeCoultre invented the Millionomètre, at the time the most precise measuring instrument in watchmaking, along with a keyless system for winding and setting watches. In 1903, a collaboration between Jacques-David LeCoultre and French watchmaker Edmond Jaeger brought together Swiss technical expertise and French design, and the company later adopted the name Jaeger-LeCoultre in 1937. Over the years, the Maison has developed thousands of calibres and registered hundreds of patents, earning a reputation for serious technical know-how. Models such as the Reverso remain one of the most recognisable and well-designed watches ever made.
- Manual-winding movement – the manual (or mechanical) watch movement is the oldest movement, that is completely driven by the mainspring, which is wound by hand.
- Movement – can be automatic/self-winding, manual winding or quartz and is what keeps the watch going.
- Novelties – new products released by a brand
- Perpetual calendar – a watch uses a complex system of gears and levers to automatically adjust and display the correct date, accounting for different month lengths and leap years, making manual date adjustments unnecessary for many years.
- Piaget Polo – debuted in 1979 as a slim, all-gold watch with an integrated bracelet, defined by its horizontal gadroons (rounded ridges that play with light and shadow across the case and bracelet). In 2016, Piaget reintroduced the Polo, transforming it into a steel, cushion-shaped luxury sports watch, closer in its design to the brand’s Emperador line. Carrying over some of the original Polo’s design codes, the modern Polo collection adopted its signature gadroons on the dial.
- Power reserve – how long the watch can show you the time when it’s not on your wrist.
- Roadster de Cartier – First released in 2002, its design took inspiration from the world of automotive speed, with its curvy case and speedometer-inspired dial. The most defining detail is still very much present; the crown is shaped almost like a car component, paired with a distinctive date magnifier integrated into the sapphire crystal, recalling automotive elements in its form.
- Tudor – established in 1926 by Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of Rolex, with a need for more sturdy and reliable watches, yet still at an affordable price point. Early models incorporated the Rolex Oyster case, often with third-party movements to keep the cost down. Right after and during the following years, the Swiss watchmaker built a reputation for tool watches, specifically for divers and the military. Since the late 2000s, and then especially with the introduction of the Black Bay and Heritage line, Tudor established itself as a distinguished watchmaker with in-house movements and a bold design identity and became one of the more interesting names in modern watchmaking.
- Vacheron Constantin – Founded in 1755, Vacheron Constantin is the world’s oldest watchmaker in continuous operation. From early decorative engravings to ultra-thin movements and complex complications, the brand has always pushed boundaries. The 222 in the ‘70s, now with its rerelease and the Overseas today prove its ability to evolve while staying true to refined craftsmanship that remains a benchmark of high watchmaking.
- Water resistance – refers to a watch’s ability to withstand exposure to water without damage. It is measured in meters (m), atmospheres (ATM), or bars, indicating the depth or pressure the watch can endure. However, these measurements are theoretical and don’t always equate to actual diving depths. 30m (3 ATM): Splash-proof, suitable for everyday use but not for swimming. 50m (5 ATM): Safe for showering or light swimming. 100m (10 ATM): Suitable for swimming and snorkelling. 200m+ (20 ATM or more): Ideal for professional diving or water sports.
