Our favourite new watches from Watches and Wonders 2026

Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 in yellow Rolesor

Rolex celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Oyster case (the world’s first waterproof watch case) at Watches and Wonders 2026. To mark the occasion, the watchmaker gave the birthday boy a touch-up in the form of the Oyster Perpetual 41 in yellow Rolesor. The reference has an Oystersteel case and bracelet with a winding crown and 18-carat yellow gold bezel. The gray dial is adorned with gold and green accents. ‘Rolex’ is green, and so is each hour marker. At 6 o’clock, where you would normally find the words ‘Swiss Made’, you’ll find the words ‘100 years’, in a nod to the anniversary. A fitting release for the occasion.

Cartier Roadster

After more than two decades, Cartier has revived the iconic Roadster. The case retains its familiar tonneau-like form, but the surfaces have been refined, the transitions between bezel, case and crown made more cohesive. Details drawn from automotive design remain, including the rivets and the speedometer-style dial, though they are handled with restraint. Inside, the automatic 1847 MC and 1899 MC movements provide the expected reliability, but the emphasis is on wear. The bracelet has been reworked with shorter links, but the standout is a new blue PVD dial paired with matching rubber strap, which, combined with the guaranteed 100m water resistance, takes it into utility territory. The result is a watch that reads as assertive without feeling overbuilt, shaped to the wrist rather than merely sitting on top of it.

TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph

TAG Heuer’s new Monaco Chronograph leans much further toward the original 1969 design, bringing those sharp, angled edges to the forefront. The sides are more gently curved and the caseback is more ergonomic. The crown remains on the unconventional left side, which is practically the signature feature of the model. The dial has also been refined for increased legibility, with contrasting subdials and faceted indices.

TAG Heuer revealed three new Monaco Chronograph references at Watches and Wonders, but our pick is the signature McQueen blue.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Chronometre Perpetual Calendar

If you’d been waiting for an ID on the unreleased watch Robert Pattinson has been trotting around in at the Oscars and press calls for The Drama, here it is. Pattinson’s watch was a Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Chronometre Perpetual Calendar, which was officially revealed at Watches and Wonders.

It introduces a new direction for a line that has always sat close to Jaeger-LeCoultre’s idea of the everyday watch. This time, the shift is visual as much as mechanical. A fully integrated metal bracelet replaces the expected strap, giving the watch a more continuous presence on the wrist without losing the proportions that define the collection. The Perpetual Calendar display is spread across four sub-dials, with months and year at 12 o’clock, day at 3, date at 9 and a moon phase at 6. Powered by Calibre 868, it automatically adjusts for varying month lengths and leap years, requiring no manual correction until 2100, provided it remains wound.

Chanel J12 Golden Black Caliber 12.1 42mm

The Chanel J12 Golden Black Caliber 12.1 is a limited edition watch that’s built on contrast. The 42mm case and bracelet are highly resistant matte black ceramic, paired with steel elements in a black coating, while yellow gold-plated indexes elevate the dial. A unidirectional rotating bezel in black-coated steel is also set with a matte black ceramic ring. The sapphire crystal caseback is, nicely, marked ‘LIMITED EDITION’ and reveals the Caliber 12.1, a self-winding manufacture movement produced by Kenissi. It is COSC-certified, with a power reserve of approximately 70 hours. In a nice finishing touch, the oscillating weight matches the gold-plated indexes.

IWC Ingenieur Automatic 42 in green ceramic

We love a green watch. The IWC Ingenieur Automatic 42 (Ref. IW338902) takes a familiar Gérald Genta-derived design and translates it into coloured ceramic for the first time. The case, bezel, crown protection and bracelet are all executed in dark olive green ceramic, a material that presents consistent challenges in colour uniformity due to changes during the sintering process.

IWC approaches this challenge with a multi-part case construction, using a thin titanium ring to secure the movement and maintain structural integrity. The dial follows through in the same green tone, with the brand’s ‘Grid’ pattern, while gold accents appear in the 18-carat 5N gold crown and the bezel screws in ‘Armor Gold’. Inside is the calibre 82110, featuring a Pellaton winding system with ceramic components and a 60-hour power reserve.

Tudor Monarch

Tudor turns 100 this year, and the brand’s idea of a celebration is the exquisite Monarch – an entirely new model. It’s 39mm, with a stainless steel, faceted case and integrated-style bracelet. The dial mixes Roman and Arabic numerals in a layout similar to early 20th-century designs; and it comes in a vertically brushed tan colour that brings to mind a papyrus scroll. The movement, the MT5662-2U, is visible through the caseback and finished with Geneva stripes, perlage and an 18-carat gold rotor inlay.

Vacheron Constantin Historiques American 1921

The American 1921 was originally designed for the ‘gentleman diver’ – is there such a thing? It doesn’t matter. The watch is a beauty, no matter who its target demographic is. Watches and Wonders saw two new references unveiled, one with a 40mm case, the other 36.5mm; both in rose gold. They feature delightful grained dials with blue Arabic numerals and blue 18-carat gold hands. On the outside of the dial you’ll spot a circular satin finish, while on the inside snailing has been applied to the small seconds. The movement is the Calibre 4400 AS, which is developed and manufactured entirely in-house.

Bvlgari Octo Finissimo 37mm in yellow gold

Bvlgari’s record-breaking Octo Finissimo Ultra Tourbillon Platinum is grabbing all the headlines, but we prefer the new Octo Finissimo 37mm in yellow gold. Rather than pushing for a new record, it revises the proportions of one of Bvlgari’s defining watches. According to the brand, 37mm was the sweet spot between being too small and reading too closely to a “ladies” watch, and the 38mm and 39mm prototypes, which were too indistinguishable from 40mm.

While puritans might sniff at the departure from titanium, the choice of a satin-polished yellow gold finish takes the Finissimo into new territory. Gold offers far more flash than traditional grey colouring. Add a matching yellow gold dial, yellow gold-plated hands and indexes and an integrated bracelet, and you have yourself something that bears the traits of a piece of jewellery.

A. Lange & Sohne 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar

The 41.9mm platinum case, dark semi-transparent dial and luminous displays of A. Lange & Sohne’s Lange 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar give it a sharp presence, but the real success is how naturally the complications sit within the Lange 1 architecture. The peripheral month ring, retrograde day display, moon phase with integrated day-night indication and stop-seconds tourbillon all fit without disturbing the balance that made the Lange 1 so interesting in the first place.

Piaget Andy Warhol Blue Quartz

Piaget’s ‘Andy Warhol’ model was once strictly a dress watch, but the brand has been experimenting with new variants. The best of which is this one with a rose gold case and blue quartz dial. The case measures 45mm and features thin, polished steps. It’s driven by the in-house automatic 40-hour 501P1 movement. The Andy Warhol has been reinvented as a dress watch with flair.

Grand Seiko ‘Sakura-Wakaba’ 62GS Hi-Beat

Grand Seiko presents a slightly different take on the traditional dress watch. The Sakura-Wakaba 62GS Hi-Beat pairs an 18-carat yellow-gold case with a brown, crocodile leather strap. The textured, off-white dial is inspired by the young leaves of a cherry blossom tree and seems to have more depth the more you look at it. A real showstopper.

Hermès H08 Squelette

The H08 has always been defined by its ambiguous geometry. A squared circle, softened edges and compact proportions made this an instant hit upon release. In this new Squelette iteration, that familiar shape remains, but the dial has been reworked to reveal the structure beneath. The openworked construction introduces a sense of depth and movement that shifts as the watch is worn.

There’s also a new engine, an Hermès H1978 S movement. Developed as a skeletonised evolution of the existing calibre, it retains a relatively slim profile while allowing for a more considered presentation of its components. Colour is used sparingly but effectively, particularly in the blue execution where Super-LumiNova hour markers reinforce the graphic nature of the design.

Zenith G.F.J. Calibre 135 in Bloodstone

Zenith’s new G.F.J. marks the return of the legendary Calibre 135, the most awarded movement during the golden age of observatory chronometer competitions. Its slender 39mm yellow gold round case features a stepped bezel and curved stepped lugs. Its dial combines signature brick guilloché on the outer ring with a bloodstone jasper centre and a mother-of pearl small-seconds counter. The new reference comes with three options for straps, but our personal pick is the green alligator strap. That green on green action is very easy on the eyes.