8 Essential Watches From Watches & Wonders 2022
Upgrade your watch game.
The 2022 edition of luxury watch trade show and extravaganza Watches and Wonders absolutely didn’t disappoint, and that’s probably an understatement. After last year’s virtual edition, the horological gathering came roaring back to life with a plethora of extraordinary new releases from the world’s best watchmakers.
Even watch experts agreed that well-established brands like Rolex made a major splash, while sporty, yet luxurious companies like Tudor also dropped some seriously covetable new timepieces. There was no shortage of outstanding watches on display, and whether you’re making plans to buy one or simply adding it to your investment-worthy wish list, we’re sure you have your own favorites.
Here, some of the coolest watches we saw from Watches and Wonders 2022:
Rolex GMT-Master II
Out of all the releases most anticipated, watch forums were ablaze with chatter as to what Rolex might do next. What they ended up releasing is as unexpected as anything on the market: A left-handed version of its famed GMT-Master II, with the dual-color bezel adjusted 180 degrees and a never-before-seen color scheme on a Rolex GMT. It’s already a collector’s edition. $11,050
Tudor Black Bay GMT S&G
Tudor’s run of Black Bay watches is nothing short of impressive and truly functional, yet elegantly crafted. The GMT style as a watch silhouette is the epitome of go-anywhere utility and luxury, and when done by Tudor, the ante is upped even further. The real winner here is the blending of a steel and yellow gold bracelet with Tudor’s distinctive GMT design. $5,550
Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 46
Breitling debuted an entirely new 2022 Navitimer Collection to great fanfare, so it’s certainly proven tough to select just one favorite. That being said, the company’s time-honored pilot’s watches are always enviable, but the B01 Chronograph 46 is particularly visually appealing, what with an emerald green dial and a sleeker profile finished off with domed crystal. It’s true 24-hour watch you can rock anywhere on the globe. $9,200
H. Moser Pioneer Cylindrical Tourbillon Skeleton
If you want a precise glimpse into what exactly makes a watch tick, literally, then H. Moser is a watchmaker you simply must know. Precision is the name of the game with the company’s famed, jaw-dropping movements, including what they’ve dubbed a “balletic” tourbillon movement that uses a skeletonized design. Look closely and you’ll see both the large gold oscillating rotor and a hypnotic one-minute flying tourbillon. It’s a wearable work of art, which is exactly what you’d expect from H. Moser. About $85,400
Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygen
Watches that can be trusted in the most extreme conditions on the planet are hard to come by, particularly the Montblanc watch trusted by mountaineering pro Nimsdai Purja. The Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygen, which features a fittingly named chronograph movement that is in fact devoid of oxygen — Purja will put the watch through its paces this coming May, and it’s just the latest in legendary leaps and bounds from Montblanc. Learn More
IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Top Gun Ceranium
IWC goes bold and sporty with its proprietary Ceratanium case and a tactical blend of all-black details and a clean, legible dial. It’s the first time Ceratanium has been used in a 41mm pilot’s chronograph by IWC. Better still is the fact that you can get a look at the in-house, automatic Caliber 69385 movement with a see-through caseback. It’s an impressive watch with all the subtle details you’d expect from IWC. $12,600
Tag Heuer Carrera Plasma Tourbillon Nanograph
Tag Heuer, like plenty of other watch brands we love, takes its history seriously. That’s what’s made the TAG Heuer Carrera line so impressive throughout the years, and they’re not done innovating yet. The stunning new Carrera Plasma Tourbillon Nanograph is packed with bells and whistles, chief among them the use of lab-grown diamonds in a major first for the company and the world of watchmaking. A 2.5-karat diamond even sits at the 3’o-clock marking. Various reports indicate a wide range of potential prices, reportedly well north of half a million. If you want to swing for the fences, go for this newly iconic watch. Learn More
Rolex Air-King
It’s only fitting to end on a high note, right? And what better company to feature twice than The Crown, the world-famous watch brand that continues to blend modern sport and classic luxury in ever-more-stylish ways. The Air-King is but one of our favorite new Rolex releases, with a super-legible dial and double-numeral markings. The effect is simple, sporty and stylish, wearable from day to night — just as Rolex intended. $7,400
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