Best Watches From Watches and Wonders 2026 (So Far)

We’ve wrapped up our final day at Watches and Wonders 2026 in Geneva, and it’s been a year to remember. While Rolex usually dominates the conversation, 2026’s been a year where the “indies” and the heavy hitters like Audemars Piguet, Cartier, and Vacheron Constantin are putting up a strong fight for their share of the spotlight. So far, we’ve worn everything from blue ceramic perpetual calendars to reimagined racing icons, and the level of technical artistry on display is truly exceptional.

While some brands continue to just do what they do best (and you have to love them for it), others are leaning into advanced materials and high-complication movements. Whether we’re talking Tudor’s continued push for METAS dominance, TAG Heuer’s elevation of the Monaco to a place beyond racing, or Ressence’s minimalist approach to “organic” watchmaking with the introduction of their first in-house movement, there’s plenty to get excited about.

Here are our picks for the best watches revealed at Watches and Wonders 2026 so far.

Highlights from Watches and Wonders 2026

These are our favourite releases of the show (so far):

• Best overall release: Audemars Piguet Neo Frame Jumping Hour
• Most innovative release: Ressence Type 11 Pine
• Most surprising release: Tudor Black Bay Ceramic
• Biggest baller release: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in Blue Ceramic

Now we’ve had a look at the key highlights, let’s check out the best so far.

Cartier Santos-Dumont in Yellow Gold

Cartier has absolutely nailed the “modern dandy” aesthetic with this update. While I’ve always loved the Santos-Dumont on a strap, the new 15-link gold bracelet changes the value proposition entirely. It’s inspired by the flexible mesh straps Cartier made in the 1920s and consists of 394 individual links. The drape on the wrist is incredibly fluid, and the best way to describe it is “silky”.

• Case Size: 43.5 mm x 31.4 mm (LM Size)
• Thickness: 7.4 mm
• Dial: Black Obsidian (Yellow Gold) or Satin Sunray
• Material: 18k Yellow Gold or Platinum
• Movement: Calibre 430 MC (Hand-winding)
• Bracelet: 15-link metal bracelet in matching gold or platinum

Platinum Cartier Tank

Price: €20,700

Like any civilised person, my watch collection could never be complete without a Tank of some description, and Cartier’s latest incarnation of its iconic design is perhaps the most perfect I’ve ever seen. With platinum construction (as indicated by the ruby cabochon crown), “large” sizing that’s actually right in the sweet spot, and an automatic 1899 MC movement, there are few watches more elegant, timeless, or iconic. The addition of the burgundy alligator strap gives it a contemporary edge that I love, and on the wrist, it’s just an absolute joy.

• Case: Platinum
• Crown: Ruby
• Water resistance: Up to 30 metres
• Dimensions: 38.1 mm x 27.8 mm
• Thickness: 8.18 mm
• Movement: Automatic 1899 MC
• Strap: Burgundy alligator leather

Vacheron Constantin Overseas Self-Winding Ultra-Thin

Price: AUD$181,000

This is a strong candidate for my top pick of Watches and Wonders 2026. We all know and probably unthinkingly accept the esteem in which Vacheron is held at times, but this watch is a clear demonstration of just how valid the maison’s pedestal is.

The watch isn’t overengineered with complications, nor does it draw undue attention to itself. Instead, it offers a subtle yet timeless design, executed to perfection with that glorious salmon-coloured dial and exquisite case. Yes, it’s made of platinum, but not in a gaudy way. Where this watch does show off, however, is via its case thickness of 7.35 mm (thanks to a movement thickness of just 2.4 mm). It feels incredible on the wrist, and its elegant simplicity is about as close to perfect as these things get if you ask me.

• Reference number: 2500V/220P-H028
• Diameter: 39.5 mm
• Thickness: 7.35 mm
• Dial: Salmon sunburst satin finish
• Case: Platinum
• Movement: Calibre 2550
• Bracelet: Platinum, Rubber, Alligator leather (Beige), Triple folding clasp

Hublot Big Bang Reloaded Usain Bolt

Price: AUD$44,400

Hublot impressed me this year, and while the brand had a host of releases that were very much out there (in terms of design, use of precious materials, and pricing), I was most struck by the new Usain Bolt collaboration. There’s something about this release that I really enjoy. I think it’s that it feels like a watch with heart. It’s crafted in black ceramic and carbon, features a lightning bolt motif on the back that features authentic soil from Bolt’s childhood training ground in Jamaica, and (my favourite detail), deploys the star runner’s 9.58-second world record into the numerals on the dail by designating the 6 an upside-down 9, swapping out the 7 for a 5 and leaving the 8 as is, giving you 9-5-8. Very clever indeed.

• Reference: 421.CQ.1140.NR.USB26
• Case: Satin-finished and polished black ceramic
• Diameter: 44 mm
• Bezel: Polished 18K Yellow Gold
• Water resistance: Up to 100 metres
• Dial: Satin-finished and matte black-plated
• Movement: HUB1280 UNICO
• Power reserve: 72 hours
• Strap: Gold-coloured fabric with velcro fastener strap, and black, yellow and green camouflage rubber strap

IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Ceralume

Man, oh man, IWC has completely rewritten the rulebook on ceramic with this release. The “Ceralume” technology is genuinely groundbreaking (even better in person), as they’ve created a fully luminous white ceramic case by mixing zirconium oxide with Super-LumiNova pigments. Seeing it transform in the dark is wild – and we had a chance to jump into a completely dark space to see this one with our own eyes at the touch and try session. Here, the entire watch, from the case to the rubber strap, emits a vivid blue glow that lasts for more than 24 hours. It’s a massive technical flex for their XPL engineering division and is limited to just 250 pieces.

• Reference Number: IW505801
• Case Size: 46.5 mm
• Material: Ceralume white luminous ceramic
• Dial: Fully luminous white dial
• Movement: IWC-manufactured calibre 52616
• Power Reserve: 7 days (168 hours)
• Notable Detail: The entire case and bracelet glow in the dark

Rolex Cosmograph Daytona in Rolesium

Price: USD$57,800

I have to continue my list of favourites with the one everyone is literally talking about. Rolex’s standout for me this year is the Daytona in Rolesium. It’s the first time I’ve seen the brand pair Oystersteel and platinum in this specific configuration, and in person, the contrast is subtle but unmistakable. The white enamelled dial is incredibly deep and glossy, framed by that anthracite Cerachrom bezel. I love that they kept the sapphire crystal case back here – seeing the Calibre 4131 through the back of a “steel” Daytona feels like a turning point for the collection. It’s the kind of watch that I could wear every day for the rest of my life and be happy.

• Reference Number: 126502
• Case Size: 40 mm
• Dial: White enamelled
• Bezel: Anthracite Cerachrom in ceramic enriched with tungsten carbide
• Bracelet: Rolesium (Oystersteel and platinum)
• Movement: Calibre 4131 self-winding
• Power Reserve: Approximately 72 hours

Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Hybris Inventiva Gyrotourbillon À Stratosphère

If there is a prize for the sheer engineering “flex” of 2026, JLC has already won it. The Gyrotourbillon À Stratosphère marks the debut of their new Hybris Inventiva line – a collection focused on single, “impossible” complications. With a triple-axis construction, it took 22 years of development to perfect. I sat with one of their watchmakers during a session, and the numbers are hard to wrap your head around. It achieves 98% positional coverage (the 2004 version hit 70%). To make that happen, the assembly features three titanium cages that rotate on the X, Y, and Z axes at different speeds (20s, 60s, and 90s). Despite having 189 components, the entire tourbillon weighs just 0.78 grams. Housed in platinum with a stunning blue sunray guilloché enamel dial, it is the definition of “High Watchmaking” at Watches and Wonders 2026.

• Reference Number: Q5306480
• Case Size: 42 mm x 16.15 mm
• Dial: Blue sunray guilloché with translucent blue enamel
• Material: 950 Platinum
• Movement: Calibre 178 (Manual-winding)
• Notable Detail: Triple-axis tourbillon with 98% positional coverage; limited to 20 pieces.

Hublot Big Bang Impact One Million

Price: CHF$1,000,000

I walked out of the Hublot touch-and-try with a renewed appreciation for the brand. More than any other brand experience at Watches and Wonders 2026, Hublot is focused on storytelling more than ever before, and it shows in the pieces that they released. However, at the end of the day, they’re a master of precious metals, and the $1 million CHF Hublot Big Bang Impact One Million reminds me of that in an instant. It’s the ultimate “baller” release of 2026, fusing the brand’s “Art of Fusion” with high jewellery, but it’s also a technical piece of innovation.

It features a 45 mm white gold case set with hundreds of diamonds – 323 on the case and case-back alone – arranged in a dynamic, radiating vortex pattern. Meanwhile, the heart of this technical whirlwind is a central flying tourbillon, skeletonised and supported from only one side with no upper bridge to intensify the visual effect. It’s powered by the hand-wound Calibre HUB9015, which boasts an impressive 5-day power reserve. It’s a bold, three-dimensional statement piece that pushes the boundaries of gem-setting, and I’m here for it. Better yet, the Big Bang Impact One Million is available at selected Hublot points of sale and benefits from Hublot’s 5+5 warranty, extending international coverage to 10 years.

• Case Size: 45 mm
• Material: Polished 18K white gold set with diamonds
• Movement: Manual-wound Calibre HUB9015
• Power Reserve: 120 hours (5 days)
• Water Resistance: 30 m
• Notable Design Detail: 470 total diamonds (~44.6 cts) arranged in an “Impact” vortex motif

Bulgari Octo Finissimo 37mm

Price: AUD$26,900

Bulgari is doing something rare this year because they aren’t chasing a record but perfection instead. I’ve always found the 40mm Octo Finissimo a bit broad for some wrists (even large ones), so this new 37mm version (ref. 104089) is a massive win for enthusiasts. It’s a complete re-engineering, with the new Calibre BVF 100 micro-rotor movement, 20% smaller than the previous version, yet it delivers 72 hours of power reserve. On the wrist, the sandblasted titanium still feels like a second skin. It’s compact, unisex in every sense of the word, and maintains every bit of that architectural DNA.

• Reference Number: 104089
• Case Size: 37 mm (6.45 mm thick)
• Dial: Opaline titanium with black hands and indices
• Material: Sandblasted Grade 5 Titanium
• Movement: Calibre BVF 100 Manufacture (Automatic micro-rotor)
• Power Reserve: 72 hours

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in Blue Ceramic

It’s funny, I didn’t think AP could top their previous ceramic work, but seeing the full Blue Ceramic in the flesh completely changed my mind. Yes, it’s a near-$1-million watch back home in Australia, but here in Geneva, on my wrist, I don’t care. It’s the type of watch that you could wear to McDonald’s to order a frozen Coke on a balmy Saturday night, and no one would think the wiser. However, wear it amongst a group of people who even half know what they’re looking at, and you’re taken very, very seriously. Here, the entire case and every single link of the integrated bracelet are crafted from blue zirconium oxide.

To me, the “Grande Tapisserie” dial, which matches the case exactly, creates a seamless, monochromatic vibe that makes the perpetual calendar complications pop. It’s ultra-thin, ultra-blue, and easily my favourite Royal Oak of the show.

• Reference Number: 26579CS.OO.1225CS.01
• Case Size: 41 mm
• Dial: Blue “Grande Tapisserie”
• Bezel: Blue Ceramic
• Bracelet: Blue Ceramic with AP folding clasp
• Movement: Calibre 5134 self-winding
• Power Reserve: Approximately 40 hours
• Notable Design Detail: Fully monochromatic blue aesthetic in brushed and polished ceramic

Grand Seiko Masterpiece Collection ref. SBGZ011J

Price: USD$84,000

Grand Seiko has brought a level of hand-craftsmanship to the show that is honestly hard to fathom in person. The SBGZ011 is a Masterpiece Collection release where every single point of the 950 platinum case is hand-engraved with fluid lines inspired by a mystic waterfall. The silver dial is equally stunning (classic Grand Seiko), hand-finished to reflect the clarity of spring water emerging from the earth. Power comes from a manual-winding Spring Drive Calibre 9R02 from the Micro Artist Studio, which manages to stay just 4 mm thick while delivering an 84-hour power reserve. The tiny star mark at 6 o’clock signifies that the hands and diamond-cut indices are made of solid 14k white gold.

• Reference Number: SBGZ011
• Case Size: 40.0 mm x 9.6 mm thick
• Material: Hand-engraved Platinum 950
• Movement: Manual-winding Spring Drive Calibre 9R02
• Power Reserve: 84 hours
• Notable Design Detail: Every surface of the case is hand-engraved, with solid gold indices
• Strap: Crocodile leather with an additional Kyoto Leather option

Ressence Type 11 Pine

Price: CHF 23,000

Ressence has always had a singular outlook in the watch industry. One of optimism, pragmatism, and a willingness to ask why. It’s an attitude we need now more than ever, so it’s encouraging to see the boutique brand’s latest development with the introduction of its first in-house movement: the Werk RW-01. Ressence has launched this project via the new Type 11 range, which keeps the brand’s signature ROCS (Ressence Orbital Convex System) centre stage, while offering a smaller, more subtle take on its unmistakable design. Of the shades on display at the booth, I have to go with the Pine option if only because it happened to match my jacket (as valid a reason as any to love a luxury watch).

• Model: Type 11 Pine
• Case Size: 41 mm (grade 5 titanium)
• Dial: Pine green matte convex dial
• Movement: Patented ROCS 11.1 module driven by in-house Werk RW-01
• Power Reserve: Approximately 60 hours

Tudor Black Bay Ceramic

Price: CHF 6,300

If you asked me which watch I’d actually walk out and buy today, it’s this one. Tudor is officially playing in the big leagues with the new Black Bay Ceramic (Ref. M7941A1ACNU-0001). I’ve been waiting for them to bring this clean, black aesthetic to the 41mm Master Chronometer platform, but I didn’t expect them to do it at such a sharp price point. The other big news here is the METAS certification, making it a “Master Chronometer” that’s anti-magnetic to 15,000 gauss and accurate to 0/+5 seconds. I’m particularly obsessed with how it wears on the all-ceramic bracelet. Combined with the “T-fit” rapid adjustment clasp, it’s easily the most comfortable and technically superior diver in its price bracket.

• Reference Number: M7941A1ACNU-0001
• Case Size: 41 mm
• Dial: Black, sunray satin-finished
• Bezel: Unidirectional rotatable in black-PVD steel with ceramic insert
• Bracelet: Full matte black ceramic three-link bracelet
• Movement: Manufacture Calibre MT5602-U (METAS certified)
• Power Reserve: 70 hours

Audemars Piguet Neo Frame Jumping Hour

Price: CHF 56,300

This one caught me completely off guard. I clocked it when it was officially unveiled back in February (yes, it’s technically not a brand new piece to Watches and Wonders, but it’s pretty close), and there’s a sense of elegance and the old-school to this piece that compels me to talk about it. Getting it on my wrist affected me more than I thought it would, and I was sorry to give it back. With its gloss black surfaces and the 18k pink gold case, it calls to mind an immaculately preserved old grand piano, while the jumping hour aperture at 12 o’clock and minute disc, powered by the Calibre 7122, provide an elegantly simple time-telling mechanism (on the surface at least). It’s a bold vision from AP, and the kind I’d like to see more of in the coming years.

• Reference Number: 15245OR.OO.A206VE.01
• Case Size: 31 mm x 42 mm
• Dial: Sapphire dial with pink gold apertures
• Bezel: 18-carat pink gold
• Bracelet: Grey calfskin leather with pink gold pin buckle
• Movement: Calibre 7122 self-winding
• Power Reserve: Approximately 52 hours

TAG Heuer Monaco Evergraph

Price: AUD$42,000

This is the “technical beast” I mentioned earlier. The TAG Heuer Monaco Evergraph is a total reimagining of the chronograph mechanism, where the brand has spent five years developing the Calibre TH80-00 to replace traditional levers and springs with flexible “bistable” components. Seeing these components in action through the open-worked dial is unreal. It also features the TH-Carbonspring oscillator, which beats at 5 Hz with 1/10-second precision. With its signature blue-accented titanium case, it’s the right amount of radical and a step forward for the silhouette to catch my eye this year.

• Reference Number: CEW5181.FT8123
• Case Size: 40 mm
• Dial: Open-worked with blue accents and visible gear train
• Bezel: Fixed Grade 5 Titanium
• Bracelet: Embossed blue rubber strap
• Movement: Calibre TH80-00 (Bistable compliant mechanism)
• Power Reserve: 70 hours

TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph with Green Sunray Dial

Price: AUD$14,050

We’re very impressed with TAG Heuer’s new Moanco range, but for those who feel Ben’s Evergraph selection (above) is too aggressively priced or lavish in its execution, this understated take on a historically bold design strikes a perfect balance for me. The stunning sunray-brushed dial’s hue recalls British Racing Green, which couldn’t be more fitting given the legacy of the Monaco line, and it provides a more subtle contrast to the black opaline counters, which I welcome. While the dial will surely get most of the attention, the unsung hero of this watch is surely its grade 5 titanium case, which has been redesigned to be slightly slimmer (hallelujah!) with better ergonomics and a more svelte look. It’s a perfect example of how a heritage model can be reimagined for the next generation without sacrificing any of what made it special in the first place.

• Reference Number: CDW2180.FC8360
• Case Size: 39 mm (Grade 5 Titanium)
• Dial: Green sunray-brushed with black counters
• Bracelet: Black perforated calfskin leather
• Movement: Calibre TH20-11 Manufacture (80-hour reserve)
• Power Reserve: 80 hours

Baume et Mercier Clifton Baumatic Perpetual Calendar

Price: TBC

I’ve long been an appreciator of Baume et Mercier’s quite particular approach to watchmaking. It can be boiled down to a simple philosophy: start with developing terrific watches and then let the work speak for itself without relying upon overblown hype or inauthentic celebrity associations. Today, I saw a watch that left me feeling vindicated for having such faith in the brand.

The new Clifton Baumatic Perpetual Calendar won’t be out until later this year, but I got my hands on it for a few precious minutes today. I don’t want to give too much away, but I can say that its light blue, textured, and highly reflective dial is one of the best I’ve seen since long before Watches and Wonders 2026. And it’s perfectly paired with a navy alligator leather strap. Some of the details remain under wraps, but keep an eye out for this one later this year.

• Key specs: TBC

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Jubilee Dial

Price: AUD$11,200

To be completely transparent, this wouldn’t be my first choice of Rolex if I were going to actually head out and buy one, but it’s a watch I nonetheless thoroughly enjoyed today. I’ll leave it to you to decide if my reasoning is ridiculous or not, but my affection stems from the fact that the dial has reminded me of something ever since I first saw it. I’ve been wracking my brains over it until, in the middle of a Rolex briefing today, it dawned on me: it’s highly reminiscent of the Happy Mondays ‘ Wrote For Luck’ album cover. It’s hardly a one-for-one comparison, but I appreciate that Rolex retains the kind of playfulness that would enable someone like me to even make the association, whether it was intentional or not (it wasn’t).

• Reference Number: 126000
• Movement: 3230
• Case Size: 36 mm
• Dial: Multicoloured jubilee motif
• Bracelet: Oystersteel, three-piece solid links, folding Oysterclasp with Easylink 5 mm comfort extension link
• Water resistant: 100 metres
• Power reserve: 70 hours

Van Cleef & Arpels Midnight Heure d’ici & Heure d’ailleurs

Price: POA

This one caught me completely off guard. I did not expect to fall in love with a Van Cleef & Arpels release on day two at Watches and Wonders 2026, and yet here we are. This 38 mm beauty boasts an 18k rose-gold case, and a translucent-looking dial that transforms its colour depending on the light, ranging from almost black to a mesmerising shade of coffee or dark red wine. Its guilloché aesthetic expands out from a piqué motif (a Van Cleef & Arpels hallmark), while the jumping mechanism that sits at the heart of this watch is both mesmerising and sophisticated, accommodating two time zones should you so wish. Sadly, we’ll have to wait until October to see it in boutiques, but it will be worth the wait when it finally arrives.

• Reference Number: VCARPEVI00
• Movement: Self-winding mechanical movement
• Case Size: 38 mm
• Dial: Enamel
• Bracelet: Black leather alligator strap
• Power reserve: 65 hours

Man of Many’s ‘On-Wrist’ Gallery for Watches & Wonders 2026