Blog

Sep 04, 2023

The best new watches in 2023 from Omega to Rolex, as selected by the GQ editors

By Zak Maoui and Mike Christensen Every week, we present the best new watch

By Zak Maoui and Mike Christensen

Every week, we present the best new watch releases on the planet from the likes of Tudor, Audemars Piguet and Cartier. This week there's a banging new Rado, a Carl F Bucherer for the rainbow lovers and Panerai drops a new tourbillon

If you're buying a new watch, be it your first or your fifteenth, it'd be good to know what the best new watches on offer are, right? Because the sheer volume of choice is insane. With that in mind, we've done the hard work for you, compiling the hottest watch releases as they happen in one wristy place.

You’ll find everything from classic dress watches and divers, to everyday-field watches and sporty chronographs; those that cost a small fortune and those that are perfectly affordable. Whatever your taste, style or budget, we're hopeful you'll find a watch that you really rate.

Go get amongst – these are the best new watches we recommend adding to your collection (or at least stick on the wishlist).

Objectively speaking surely the greatest garden of the world is (aside from the biblical garden of Eden) your own? Make of it what you will, plant this plant that, trial and error etc etc. Except when it comes to Rado's new line of True Thinline watches, there is no error. Just deadset wins. The dials are a nod to the look and textures of endangered plants, with our clear fave the two-layer dial on the Yemeni Dragon Blood Tree-inspired piece. Backlit by a rose gold-hued plate. No matter how much of a horticulturalist you are, this will be a lovely talking point. £2500. At rado.com

When you know The Rock has a thing for Panerai watches, without having set eyes on one in the wild yourself, you can already get a sense of how they wear. They don't shy away from being bold, macho and weighty. But as this new tourbillon bronzo (Italian for guess what metal) shows that Panerai isn't just brutish good looks and brawn. In a big but not overpowering 45mm, this is the brand's first ever tourbillon movement housed in a bronze case. The leather staple is giving vintage vibes and you just know that bronze is going to age fabulously as you never grow old of peering into all the craftsmanship on show. POA. At panerai.com

Unless you are a tortoise, Fortunately, deciding how you are going to celebrate your 135th birthday is not something you need to concern yourself with. But as a longstanding, well-respected Swiss watchmaker these decisions are very much part of today's agenda. Shoutout to Carl F Bucherer who has brought home the big 135 with a trio of its iconic, should be better-known Manero Minute Repeater. Intentional or not, this rainbow version was released on the first day of Pride Month, so we're calling this our go-to one. If you're in the market for sheer haute horology with mad cool functions, how's a minute repeater with two gongs, floating tourbillon, hour, minute, small seconds on tourbillon cage, and stop-second for ya? POA. At carl-f-bucherer.com

The Breitling Super Avi B04 Chrongraph GMT 46mm Mosquito Night Fighter draws inspiration from the Night Fighter 2 plane, an all-black two-seater aircraft designed to slip stealthily through the night sky. It comes with a black ceramic case, black military leather strap, and black dial with anthracite subdials. It comes with a sturdy 46mm case, and it also features a 24-hour scale on the inner bezel and a grey-tupped GMT hand with the Breitling Manufacture Caliber B04 movement providing approximately 70 hours of power. breitling.com

Tissot's sports watch now comes in a nifty 40mm case. The new piece takes its name from the water resistance certification of 1000m, while the straps can be interchanged. It is powered by a high-quality quartz movement that delivers unrivalled accuracy. One for divers. One for every day. tissotwatches.com

The hugely popular watch made to track every time zone on the planet continues on its path to becoming the Grail of the century. At the centre of the dial of the new Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Worldtimer, there is a vision of Earth, viewed from above the North Pole, by laser-ablating continents and colours on a grade 5 titanium surface. Circling the topographic map is a 24-hour indication under hesalite glass, divided into night and day sections. omega.com

Bulgari's robust Alumnimum Capri Edition is a limited series watch of just 1000 that celebrates the beauty and allure of the fabled Italian island, with a gradient dial in a rich, Mediterranean shade of blue evoking Capri's glittering waters and sky. An artsy case back is engraved with the Faraglioni of Capri, the three towering rock formations on the island. Water resistant to 100 metres, it is perfect for a deep-sea diving jaunt. Or just lounging by a pool. bulgari.com

By Hannah-Rose Yee

By Murray Clark

By Adam Cheung

Rowing Blazers has announced the launch of its third instalment with the Japanese watch brand Seiko. The collection consists of four face colour variations of the Sports Diver style and each watch comes with an interchangeable collegiate strap that nods to Blazers' Ivy League prep aesthetic. £500. rowingblazers.com

In 2019, the collaboration between Vacheron Constantin and the prestigious Louvre began. Today the partnership between the two expands with a Les Cabinotiers offer titled "A Masterpiece on theWrist". It will enable clients to choose from among the museum's works of art the one that will be reproduced in enamel on the dial of their watch. vacheron-constantin.com

Maurice Lacroix's Aikon Master Grand Date Technicolour delivers more of the brand's proven blend of watchmaking know-how in eye-popping shades. Inspired by the brand's renowned model from the 1990s, the Calypso, the punchy Aikon has a cult following. Limited to just 50 pieces, grab one of these while you can. mauricelacroix.com

By Hannah-Rose Yee

By Murray Clark

By Adam Cheung

Inspired by and named after the first high-speed trains of the 1920s and 1930s, while reinterpreting their rounded curves, the Streamliner Centre Seconds features a 40.0 mm cushion-shaped steel case, which is water resistant to 12 ATM. The Streamliner Centre Seconds Smoked Salmon is an ultra-chic take on the timepiece, and it focuses on the essentials, combining classic elegance with a vintage feel. This special edition will be available for one year only. h-moser.com

The Piaget Polo Date Blue ECOM exclusive is a unisex design in 36mm that does the job. Adding to the brand's Polo collection, this vibrant deep blue timepiece, best known for its shape-in-shape design, is a timeless piece that embodies all that is good about Piaget. £9,300. piaget.com

When it comes to legit contenders for a best first watch purchase, few tick more boxes than a Seiko 5 Sports. And now that the Japanese giants have reintroduced these mid-sized beauts – code for a 38mm case – in lit new colours, we're clutching at straws as to why you shouldn't drop some hard-earned bread and honey on one of these ‘Midi’ numbers right now. Sporty, slim and already in our basket. £300. At seikoboutique.co.uk

By Hannah-Rose Yee

By Murray Clark

By Adam Cheung

LV makes some really banging watches. If you weren't aware, let this minimalist, mechanical beast be the piece that aids your realisation the big-game luxury fashion house is also a major power house in the watchmaking industry. Because there's nothing like a skeletonised dial (I spy an ‘L’ and a ‘V’) enclosed inside 41mm of titanium case to show off your horological chops. louisvuitton.com

End of Days was Arnie S at his peak so it's fair to say it was somewhat fortuitous that he should fancy wearing the relatively untapped AP RO Offshore Chronograph in the film. Men wanted to be built like him (they still do) so it's only reasonable to assume the less testosterone-obsessed were probably looking for other ways to be more like Arnie. Like his taste in watches. Cue an increased interest in the Royal Oak Offshore. Now one of the most iconic of iconic chronographs, this year marks 30 years since its been around (24 since Arnie flexed one) so unsurprisingly AP has released a fitting 43mm one to commemorate the OG. We'll say this – the yellow and black colourway of this hunky action hero sure has us purring. In for a shout as one of the best new watches of 2023? Certaiinly. audemarspiguet.com

Omega is typically Swiss in that it trades in reliable, cold hard facts. So try this one – roses are red but they are nowhere as sexy as the sun-brushed terracotta dial on this new Aqua Terra. Part of a collection of 38mm bay boys on a stainless steel bracelets boasting complete legibility, this is many people's idea of a perfectly-proportioned, really fit watch. It also has Eddie Redmayne's seal of approval, which is plenty enough for us to be super interested. omegawatches.com

By Hannah-Rose Yee

By Murray Clark

By Adam Cheung

The 2023 F1 season is off to an explosive start as Fernando Alonso rolls back the years to land himself podium finish after podium finish. But in order to get his hands on the latest watch collab between Aston Martin and Girard-Perregaux (the fourth and by far our favourite one), he's going to have to start winning some races. Ahead of the F1 season opener, GP has dropped this absolute beauty on us – a green ceramic version of its iconic Laureato. And even better news, it comes in 42mm and 38mm, so will suit all wrist types. The case, the bracelet and even the crown are all ceramic, making it super light on the wrist, but what's equally impressive is how the dial has been perfectly colour matched to Aston Martin's British racing green, too. The third-hand design is also clever as so often (too often) car and watch collabs equal a chronograph. Instead, this is sleek and allows us to marvel at the killer cross-hatched diamond pattern, which is an ode to AM's 1920s logo. Limited offering so get in quick before Alonso earns himself one. 38mm version has 188 pieces; 42mm has 388 pieces. From £21,200. At girard-perregaux.com

Adding to its already extensive Armed Forces collection, Bremont has just dropped some ‘Dirty Dozen’ inspired pieces thanks in no small part to the brand's ties with the MoD. If vintage-looking watches with major amounts of lume (trademarked P51 Super-LumiNova to be precise) are your bag, you’ll like these rugged lil’ 40mm explorers. While the leather strap option is perfectly nice, the stone and grey NATO strap really makes the Recon pop. It houses a chronometer rated BE-95-2AV movement, which will keep you ticking over nicely. Limited to only 200 pieces. £3195. At bremont.com

Round 2 of this new Aquaracer after a successful debut last year, what sets this Solargraph piece apart is it's powered entirely by solar movement – in other words any light, be it natural or turned on my a switch. Made of titanium, this 40mm piece is incredibly light on your wrist and like all Aquaracers is perfect for the adventurous type. Water resistant to 200m, the Super-LumiNova is so strong you could probably still spot it at the bottom of the ocean. £2550, tagheuer.com

By Hannah-Rose Yee

By Murray Clark

By Adam Cheung

The Jazzmaster Performer line conjures up watches that are sporty but still er on the side of chic. Powered by the H-31 automatic chronograph movement with 60 hours power reserve, this Jazzmaster Performer Automatic Chronograph features a 42mm stainless steel case accented by a sleek black dial and a matching racing-style perforated black leather strap. A neat timepiece worthy of any guy's wrist. hamiltonwatch.com

The British luxury shirtmaker Thomas Pink is launching a special timepiece to complement its beautifully crafted shirts, which has been created in partnership with London watchmaker George Bamford. The automatic titanium GMT timepiece has an internal rotating bezel, a mechanical movement with self-winding mechanism and a central hand to indicate a second-time zone and is available in two different dial colours: white and black. Good news for guys who wear shirts. Bad news is only 30 pieces are available per colourway. thomaspink.com

Eye-catchingly brilliant, the mint dial on Tissot's PRX Quartz is a keeper. £295. tissotwatches.com

By Hannah-Rose Yee

By Murray Clark

By Adam Cheung

The Longines Pilot Majetek is back. First introduced April 1935, the reedition combines a spirit of adventure and historical dimension. A bi-directional fluted bezel is mounted on a cushion-shaped steel case, which asserts the timepiece's original character and evokes the 1935 model that inspired it. longines.com

The Cartier Tank Française has a certain je ne sais quoi. From the Tank it takes its timeless elegance, and launched in 1996, the Tank Française debuted a metal bracelet. That monobloc metal bracelet is now available in steel and yellow gold, with or without diamonds. Très chic. cartier.com

Hublot doesn't do many watches on bracelets – its rubber straps have revolutionised the industry – so when it does drop one on a bracelet, you can guarantee it'll be fancy. Case in point, this piece has 768 gemstones on the bracelet and a further 174 on the dial. Cut from not any old gold but King Gold, it also tells the time in fantastically bonkers way equipped by the Unico Manufacture self-winding movement, which has enough juice to last three days. And at 42mm, it's not too imposing either – gemstones aside. It'll cost you, though. £146,000, hublot.com

By Hannah-Rose Yee

By Murray Clark

By Adam Cheung

This new Seiko Prospex is extra special for two reasons – one it's a nod to Japan's first one-piece divers (who doesn't love a divers watch these days), and two it's in celebration of 110 years since the first wristwatch was made in Japan, and both were Seiko creations. There's a lot of love for Japanese watches at the moment, with good reason and we’re particularly taken with one because of its mechanical GMT functionality. Three-day power reserve, tick; water resistant to 200m, yep; icy dial, bingo. All for £1600. There is some bad news though – only 4000 pieces have been made. At seikoboutique.co.uk

Tissot's new Supersport Chrono Quartz is a futuristic sports chronograph that brings together quality Swiss watchmaking and design with high-energy dynamics inspired by Tissot's long association with global basketball culture and its modern, urban style. £410. tissotwatches.com

Structured with alternating components in rose gold and blue PVD titanium, and featuring both polished and satin-finished surfaces, consider this one of the most handsome tickers out there right now. ulysse-nardin.com

By Hannah-Rose Yee

By Murray Clark

By Adam Cheung

Historically worn by the likes of Roger Moore, Andy Warhol and Bjorn Borg, consider Piaget's ultra-handsome Polo Perpetual Calendar a must-have. The in-house 12P movement launched in 1960 was the thinnest in the world because it drew on the idea of using a micro-rotor to ensure its ultra-thinness. Fifty years later, this calibre in turn gave rise to the new generation of 1200P calibre. £53,000. piaget.com

A rich cherry red colourway gives some bite to the Farer 36mm Three Hand Discovery, which is one of the brand's newest launches. Small but mighty, each watch is powered by the La Joux-Perret calibre, while the case is made from marine-grade stainless steel. £895. farer.com

This military-inspired timepiece, which is painted an stealth green, shares a range of key features introduced by its predecessors, whilst entering a league of its own through the use of new materials and a completely reimagined signature design. Limited to just 200 pieces, the Submersible S Brabus Verde Militare Edition, with its skeletonized structure, is water-resistant to 30 bar and features two straps, a black bi-material version and a second in military green rubber. panerai.com

By Hannah-Rose Yee

By Murray Clark

By Adam Cheung

Zenith's new DEFY Skyline collection was one of the biggest surprise hits of 2022 so it makes total sense for Julien Tornare and his team to build on that success. At 41mm, this Skeleton version is a killer sporty number which was unveiled in Singapore at LVHM Watch Week and comes in black and blue and is powered by the legendary El Primero movement. And the quick strap-change mechanism makes it feel like you get two watches for one, such is the difference between rubber strap and steel bracelet. £9,700, zenith-watches.com

This ultra-chic enamel timepiece commemorates the anniversary and reinvents Japan's very first wristwatch, created by the brand in 1913. An icon for the brand, the Laurel timepieces is said to have been very complex to produce as the tools of the time were not yet sophisticated enough to work on a mechanism smaller than a pocket watch, and so barely any were made. In its reinvention the updated Laurel now comes with an enamel dial that has been recreated by hand by the Japanese craftsman, Mr Yokosawa, who used only traditional heritage enamelling techniques. The strap also pays tribute to the original design and is made of deep leather, while a modern Automatic in-house 6R27 calibre movement, with a power reserve of over 45 hours, keeps things ticking. £1,600. seikoboutique.co.uk

Girard-Perregaux has unveiled the 47 year-old Laureato in a new copper colourway, although the face will look different depending on the light source. Ageless baton-type hands and index enunciate the hours and minutes, while Girard-Perragaux's mechanical self-winding calibre powers the nifty timepiece. £11,500. girard-perregaux.com

By Hannah-Rose Yee

By Murray Clark

By Adam Cheung

Leica's distinctive design language paired with unconventional solutions to classic timekeeping functions sets apart the watches from others. Each "Made In Germany" watch has an exterior that was conceptualised by Professor Achim Heine, who has designed numerous Leica products in the past, and the watch is powered by Leica's own, newly-designed mechanical movement with manual winding, which is visible through the transparent back made of resilient sapphire crystal. leica-camera.com

Made in three different materials and available in five variants – steel with grey or blue dial, rose gold with ivory or grey dial and yellow gold with black dial – combined with leather straps and presented in special packaging, the "Giorgio Armani 11" has landed. The brand-new wristwatch comes with a moon phase, automatic movement, and a square-shaped dial that is softly rounded at the corners, ideal for both men and women. The details nod to the unmistakable tailoring of Mr Armani's typical brand, which blends the masculine and feminine: the stitching motifs, the logo attwelve o'clock that recalls the Giorgio Armani label found inside jackets, and the hands tapered and elegant like needles and scissors. armani.com

Sadly Latin isn't spoken as much as it used to be 2000 years ago – shame shame – but a quick Google translate of Orbis Terrarum throws up ‘all over the world’. Given Montblanc's new stainless steel/rose gold 43mm show stopper has 24 time zones on its dial, this all begins to make total sense; doubly so when you consider the vibe shift its watch division has been going through lately under Laurent Lecamp. Plus a worldtime complication for under £6k? Now that is luxury travel at its most accessible, without having to even fly anywhere. £5,800, Montblanc.com

By Hannah-Rose Yee

By Murray Clark

By Adam Cheung

This vintage-racing-inspired, all-purpose sports watch is water-resistant to 5ATM and comes complete with a sunray dial, stainless steel frame and rugged mesh bracelet. Subtle Tommy Hilfiger branding stands out against the stainless steel chain bracelet and navy face, making this a grown-up watch for a man that loves his fashion brands. hsamuel.co.uk

George Bamford, founder of Bamford London, and French creative Romaric André, founder of seconde/seconde/, teamed up in 2020 for the first time, creating a unique timepiece. Now they're back at it and this 316L grade stainless steel Automatic GMT watch features British racing green, white and red colourways, an "up yours" hand sign artwork from seconde/seconde/ on the dial and Bamford's logo, which has been repositioned and modified to say "Bad Form." Romaric André says, "I made kind of my trademark to play and distort watch brand logos and names. When I saw the ‘Bad Form’ in ‘Bamford’, it just tilted." The distorted wrist gear, which is limited to just 50 pieces, comes with a self-winding mechanism with ball bearing and has a 56-hour power reserve. Neat. £1,300. bamfordlondon.com

Omega's Speedmaster is an icon of the brand, and this iteration of the watch is cast in stainless steel in the same way that the 1957 version was, which this year celebrates its 65th anniversary. Having been a part of all six lunar missions, the timepiece represents the label's pioneering spirit and comes complete with, along with signature rhodium-plated Broad Arrow hands, a date window at 6 o'clock, a small seconds subdial at 9 o'clock, and 12-hour and 60-minute chronograph recorders on the subdial at 3 o'clock. omegawatches.com

By Hannah-Rose Yee

By Murray Clark

By Adam Cheung

As Longines turns 190 years old, the historic watch brand has dropped its Master Collection, at the centre of which sits this handsome timepiece. The devilishly attractive wrist gear has Breguet-style numerals that are machine-engraved into the no-date dial with a matte finish, while the 40mm 18-carat gold case is smoothly polished for a characteristic finish. The bad news? Only 190 models have been produced. longines.com

This punchy timepiece has been designed to tackle water ingress and shocks, while still upholding the elevated standards of horology and traditional craftsmanship synonymous with Grönefeld. £43,244. gronefeld.com

Timex's Pan Am 42mm stainless-steel case construction of the classic Waterbury is ready to take flight. Inspired by the precision, ergonomics and unencumbered legibility required by early aviators, the watch nods to Pan Am, the first airline to fly worldwide, with its unmistakable "globe" accent plates. £180-£220. timex.co.uk

By Mike Christensen

By Cam Wolf

By Finlay Renwick

By Cam Wolf

By Finlay Renwick

By Mike Christensen

By Cam Wolf