Best Releases from Watches & Wonders 2026

We’re now a week on from Watches & Wonders: the frenzy is over, the dust has settled, and I think we can now see who the clear favorites are. Watches & Wonders is to the watch industry what the Super Bowl is to football: by far the year’s biggest and most significant event. This year’s edition has seen a record number of brands exhibiting, which can only mean one thing: a ton of new releases. With a number of significant anniversaries thrown into the mix, you can definitely expect to see a couple of the celebratory releases included in this guide. Let’s dive straight into the Best Releases from Watches & Wonders 2026!

Bvlgari Octo Finissimo 37mm

Kicking off our guide to the best releases of Watches and Wonders is this: the new Bvlgari Octo Finissimo 37mm. I have always been a fan of the Octo Finissimo. Fundamentally, it is one of the most unique designs on the market, which is really saying something because integrated bracelet sports watches inevitably end up looking like a Royal Oak or a Nautilus. I guarantee you that this looks like neither. Whilst the design, the engineering, and the watchmaking behind this watch are cutting edge, there has always been one minor issue that has pestered the Octo Finissimo: the size. In its original 40mm diameter, the square architectural case struggled to fit on a lot of wrists and probably drove a lot of potential owners away. The new 37mm case should solve this problem completely. Even on my wrist, that quite comfortably wears the 40mm, the new model felt like it was meant to be. There have been no compromises on Bvlgari’s end: the movement is just as high-performing, the design has kept its beautiful proportions, and the gorgeous aesthetic is unchanged. This is what people have been asking for for years, and Bvlgari have delivered brilliantly. And for that reason, it occupies the top spot on this list.

Find out more about this watch here. It retails for $16,600 USD.

Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Impact Moonphase

Hublot is a brand known for crazy complications, dazzling gem-set pieces, and out-of-this-world materials. To say that they are diametrically opposed to traditional watchmaking would be a fair assessment. So, the last thing you might expect to see from them is a moonphase, as it is arguably the most traditional of complications. This is only a feature that the brand has included once or twice before in their history, so you could say that bringing it back in this format is pretty significant. Being Hublot, you might expect them to have attempted an alternative interpretation, but they haven’t. The surprise comes in the form of the sapphire case—very on brand for Hublot. Some of you may think that this is over the top for such a complication, but I think it is quite the opposite. Using a classical complication helps rationalize the excess of the case and dial. As you have definitely noticed, the dial with this impact motif is somewhere between gem-set and skeletonized. We usually praise Hublot for their unique materials, but here it is their dial that is the standout feature. With this watch, you’re getting a fabulous combination of materials, traditional complications, and one of the best dials of the show. Kudos to Hublot!

Find out more about this watch here. It retails for $114,500 USD.

Tag Heuer New Monaco Reinvented

To put it simply, the TAG Heuer Monaco is an icon. Launched in 1969, it has been seen on the wrists of racing drivers, celebrities, and thousands of enthusiasts the world over. Little has changed since it was first released, which to a lot of collectors has been the charm. Over the years, TAG has released a number of high-tech iterations, pushing the concept further, but the growth of the original model has been quite limited—until this year. Now, the important part of this release is that the watch looks the same but wears so much better. It would be a tragedy if those were inverted. Contributing to the new wearing experience is a titanium case that is ever so slightly larger than the last version of the Monaco that somehow makes it hug the wrist much more comfortably. In terms of mechanics, there’s been no major change to the caliber—it is still the reliable and high-performing TH 20-11. Visually, I found this watch much more attractive than I have before. Yes, it is still that iconic red, blue, and white layout that we have known for decades, but there was something different about it this year. It takes a lot of bravery to attempt to reinvent an icon, and it takes a whole lot more skill and attention to detail to pull it off brilliantly. And TAG has done just that.

Find out more about this watch here. It retails for $9,350 USD.

Laurent Ferrier Sport Traveller

Laurent Ferrier is perhaps my favorite independent brand, if not my favorite brand full stop. They have an inimitable style and mastery of watchmaking that has got me down bad. If you were to have asked me what my favorite design was from them just a couple of weeks ago, I would have answered in a flash: the Sport Auto. Ask me now, and I will say the Sport Traveller. Somehow they have improved what is, at least in my eyes, a perfect watch. I think that monochrome and tone-matched watches are supremely elegant but this is on a whole other level. The stripped-back calibre design, that allows you to effortlessly read a second time zone, paired with the utterly unique case work together harmoniously to deliver a watch that looks, feels, and wears perfectly. In my humble opinion, this is the best watch released at Watches & Wonders 2026.

Find out more about this watch here.

Gerald Charles Masterlink Perpetual Calendar

Unlike many watchbrands that share a name with their founder, Gerald Charles are missing one major part of their name: Genta. Indeed, were it not for a legal technicality, their full name would be Gerald Charles Genta. This year’s Watches and Wonders saw GC release their most significant update to their collection. Few brands can claim to have such a significant and iconic link to the man who undoubtedly changed the shape of the modern watches. And the Masterlink is what happens when that creative vision gets unleashed. The asymetric case and bracelet carry the heritage and design language that we know from other Genta icons with renewed tenacity. Now, let’s talk about heavy hitting part of this watch: the Perpetual Calendar movement. Gerald Charles do not cut corners. The shape of the movement matches the case, so this means that it has to an in-house calibre. Equipped with a micro-rotor to keep things slim and practical, I would say that this is the sportiest PC on the market. The titanium case only reinforces this claim. After all, this is a watch designed to be worn. In terms of options, the watch either comes with an avant-garde sapphire dial or a more traditional and elegant black fumé one. I would definitely choose the black if I were going to buy this watch for myself, however, the sapphire variant is arguably the coolest of the two. Which would you pick?

Find out more about these watches here.

H. Moser & Cie. X Reebok Streamliner Pump

How could we not talk about the Moser X Reebok collaboration? There are two things I have come to know about Moser in recent years—aside from their gorgeous and exquisite watches, of course. The first is their pursuit of unexpected collaborations. Most watch brands stick to rather boring partnerships with an artist or car brand. Not that there is anything wrong with that; they are just a bit too safe. Who would have thought that Reebok, a popular English sportswear brand, would be featured front and center with a brand that makes watches worth tens, if not hundreds of thousands, let alone in a collaboration that brings back the iconic Pump sneaker? This brings me to my second point: Moser is unapologetic in its collaborations. They go the distance. Where most brands might have just slapped a logo on the dial and called it a day, Moser has re-engineered how watches are wound just for this piece. Yes, that orange pusher on the case winds the movement, just like the pump mechanism on the sneaker. For the children and sneakerheads of the nineties, who now own Pateks and APs, the Moser Streamliner Pump has got to be the coolest watch on the market right now. For everyone else, it is still a stupidly impressive watch, and for that reason it has grabbed a spot on this list.

Find out more about this watch here. Limited to 250 pieces, this watch retails for $38,900 USD.

IWC Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive

The IWC Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive, or as the internet has been calling it, “the Space Watch,” is definitely one of the more peculiar releases of the show. Packed with a ton of technical innovations, this watch is really out of this world—which is ironic because that is exactly what it has been designed for. Let’s start with the concept. Partnering with Vast, a commercial space venture, IWC wanted to make a watch that can be worn and used efficiently in space. It is equipped with a special UTC hand that indicates to astronauts where they are in their time cycle—in space, night and day mean nothing. The next feature is the big one. There is no crown. Instead, the watch uses the bezel, paired with a special selector toggle, to action all of the functionalities of the watch. But why? IWC figured that you might need to be able to use your watch whilst wearing a space or flight suit, which often includes gloves. Now, I don’t know if any of you have tried to set your watch whilst wearing gloves (it is nothing short of impossible) or whilst it is on your wrist (please do not try this at home), but either one is pretty difficult on its own. Doing both is a herculean task that astronauts need to be able to do in just a couple of seconds. Yes, IWC has completely redesigned the way we build and think about watches to solve a problem very few of us will actually encounter, but that’s not really the point. They have pushed the boundaries and made a watch that is still extremely functional, all while delivering something that looks like it could be the timepiece of the future.

Find out more about this watch here. It retails for $28,200 USD.

Tudor Monarch

We couldn’t possibly write this article without including the brand-new Tudor Monarch. This year marks 100 years of the Tudor brand. Whilst their history has not always been linear, in recent years they have been going from strength to strength. The Monarch is not a new watch; the name has been used many times over the brand’s history. However, this iteration of it is definitely a novelty. Let’s start with the obvious: the dial. The bronze-champagne tones, paired with the small seconds and California numerals, are a totally unexpected combination, but a very welcome one. The case and bracelet are gorgeously simple: there are no excessive or obsolete elements on this watch. Powering this tribute is one of Tudor’s excellent Master Chronometer calibers, which you can see through the display caseback. If I were looking for something robust, a bit different, and good-looking, I would certainly be picking one of these up. With a price tag just beneath six thousand dollars, it is a little pricier than most Tudors, but it is most certainly worth it.

Find out more about this watch here. It retails for $5,875 USD.

Nomos Ludwig Solid Gold

Known for their clean and clinical Bauhaus designs, Nomos has been making some of the most understated watches on the market. And my Nomos Ludwig is one of my all-time favorite watches. It is the perfect blend of classical style and modern design, yet I have always felt like there was something missing. Until now, I didn’t quite know what that was. By releasing gold cases for all of their watches, Nomos has given itself that extra ounce of class and refinement that was missing. No model has quite benefited from this uplift like the Ludwig. With the blue hands and crisp white dial taking center stage, the gold case is far from being the main act, and that is what is needed here. It isn’t overbearing, garish, or bling. Quite the opposite: it is refined, discreet, and elegant. For a dress watch, that’s all you can really want. Another point that makes this piece very compelling is the price tag. Very few brands can offer an in-house caliber, an iconic design, and a gold case for fourteen thousand dollars—what you get far exceeds the number on the invoice.

Find out more about this watch here. It retails for $14,000 USD.

Patek Philippe Nautilus 5610/1P-001

In 2026, the illustrious Patek Philippe Nautilus celebrates its 50th birthday. This iconic Gérald Genta design has been a staple luxury watch, equipping high-flying superstars and devoted enthusiasts for five decades. How should you pay tribute to a design that has undoubtedly turned the industry on its head and irreversibly shaped the path of sports watch design for years to come? The answer to that question is: tastefully. Sitting at 38mm, this is a step down from the Nautiluses of recent years, harking back to the golden age of watchmaking, when everything was just a little bit smaller. Speaking of smaller, this piece uses the Caliber 240 micro-rotor movement, engraved with a 50th anniversary design, to keep the total thickness of this watch below 7mm. Very impressive indeed. Now, if that wasn’t enough to seal the deal, Patek has decided to house this watch in a full platinum case. It retains that classic steel Nautilus look with a sprinkle of opulence and elegance. This is exactly how an icon should celebrate a birthday.

Find out more about this watch here. It is limited to 2,000 pieces and retails for 90,000 CHF.

Ulysse Nardin Super Freak

The more I get to go hands-on with Ulysse Nardin, the more I come to love their watches, and this time is no different. In 2026, UN is celebrating two big anniversaries: 180 years of the brand and, more importantly, 25 years of the Freak. For the last 25 years, they have been pushing the boundaries of what is possible in caliber design, and this year they have released a mighty watch. With over 500 individual components, taking more than 60 hours to assemble, and with more than 70% hand-finished components, Ulysse Nardin’s Super Freak is the first automatic double tourbillon watch in their collection. Not only are they beating their own records, but they are setting benchmarks for micro-engineering that stretch far beyond watchmaking: the gear systems used to make the seconds indicator (which I might add is the first time a Freak has been given a seconds indicator) are some of the smallest in the world. Limited to just 50 pieces, you’ll be hard-pressed to come across one of these in the wild.

Find out more about this watch here. Limited to 50 pieces, it retails for $395,000 USD.

Rolex Daytona ‘Grand Feu Enamel Dial’

It would certainly not be right to finish this article without talking about at least one of Rolex’s releases from Watches & Wonders. Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Oyster case is a big deal, and the Crown has certainly delivered on that front with a whole host of Oyster Perpetual and Datejust models. However, I think the real star of the show comes in the form of something quite rare for Rolex to release and show publicly: an off catalogue watch. Yes, we have all seen pictures of certain off-catalogue pieces doing the rounds of social media, but we seldom see Rolex communicate about them. That’s where this Daytona is different. Rolex actually led their W&W campaign with this piece and even showed it to the media. What’s new about this watch? In essence, it is a (very expensive) steel Daytona, that has a number of platinum components and a display caseback, like on the Le Mans edition. The big news is the all new Grand Feu Enamel dial which is completely new for Rolex. Whilst it may look awfully similar to other white dial steel Daytonas, the reality couldn’t be more different. To me, that’s what makes it so compelling. Rolex have created a stealthy and subtle off-catalogue piece that will no doubt become one of the most coveted and highly sought after watches for Daytona fanatics. This is definitely one hell of a grail piece and most certainly deserves its spot on this list- what do you think?