Closing out 2023, Audemars Piguet launches the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Openworked Cactus Jack 26585CM, a limited-edition 41mm timepiece created in collaboration with rapper Travis Scott and his label Cactus Jack. 

It features white gold screws and a sapphire, openworked dial revealing the Calibre 5135 in rhodium and pink gold. Unique touches include Travis Scott’s typography on the calendar, a brand-logo-inspired day subdial hand, and Cactus Jack’s smiley on the moon phase that glows blue in the dark, with other features glowing green. The watch introduces a textured calfskin strap with a pink gold clasp bearing both Audemars Piguet's and Travis Scott's signatures. 

Limited to 200 pieces, each is priced at $201,000.

In September 2023, Audemars Piguet unveiled new Royal Oak models, including the striking Audemars Piguet Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin 16202XT. 

This modernized timepiece combines a red gradient dial with a case and bracelet made of titanium and bulk metallic glass. While it’s a fresh addition to the collection, it retains the classic Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin design, featuring a 39mm by 8.1mm case, sapphire crystals on the bezel and caseback, the iconic integrated bracelet, and 50 meters water resistance.

Retail price: $96,400.

Audemars Piguet is making fancy character watches. After their 2021 Black Panther watch, which big stars like LeBron James and The Weeknd wore, they released a Royal Oak Tourbillon Spiderman watch in June 2023.

Combining ancestral expertise with futuristic technology, this 42 mm titanium and black ceramic timepiece is a feat of openwork and highlights the Manufacture’s boundless creativity in complications. 

Limited to 250 pieces, 

Retail price: $215,000.

In September 2023, Swatch and Blancpain unveiled the Swatch x Blancpain Scuba Fifty Fathoms collection, featuring five models inspired by the world's major oceans: ANTARCTIC, ARCTIC, ATLANTIC, INDIAN, and PACIFIC. 

Each model showcases key Fifty Fathoms features like exceptional water resistance, clear readability, mechanical movement, a secure rotating bezel, and anti-magnetic protection. The designs honor the vibrant sea life, specifically nudibranchs, found in these oceans.

And my favorite one is the Arctic Ocean.

Retail price: $400.

For the Mustang enthusiast who is also a watch lover, Breitling's latest release is a dream come true, and it's not just for special occasions. Fans of Shelby Cobras or Chevrolet Corvettes will also be captivated. Breitling has added three new models to their popular Top Time collection, each featuring an impressive tourbillon. 

The 43-mm Top Time B21 Ford Mustang features a bronze case with a titanium rear and a green dial, reflecting the hues of the initial Ford Mustang models made from 1964 to 1974. This car epitomized the uninhibited essence of the 1960s.

Retail price: $47,000.

The Bvlgari Octo Finissimo CarbonGold Automatic, an exceptional blend of Italian design flair and Swiss precision in watchmaking. It features a sleek, ultra-thin in-house movement, encapsulated within a modern design.

The watch’s case, strap, and dial boast a lightweight, matte anthracite-colored carbon, offering a strikingly modern look. Complementing this advanced material is the radiant rose gold used in the crown and display elements, providing a touch of luxury against the watch’s high-tech aesthetic.

Retail price: €29,000.

The beautiful watch features a “Monte Rose Pink” dial that is almost salmon or bronze. In addition, the watch features a new ultra-thin slim profile due to the 3.3mm thick L.U.C 96.40-L automatic movement that powers the watch.  

The Alpine Eagle collection by Chopard is a modern take on the St Moritz, the brand's first Swiss watch from 1980, designed by Co-President Karl-Friedrich Scheufele. Inspired by his love for the Alps and the majestic eagle, this luxury watch is made from Lucent Steel A223, a unique, durable, and reflective material. It features a chronometer-certified movement and is tailored for ambitious, visionary men who are proactive about environmental challenges and tomorrow's opportunities.

Retail price: $22,500.

The Hublot MP-15 is a unique limited edition watch with only 50 pieces available. It features a central flying tourbillon, which is a first for Hublot. This model is distinctive for its use of sapphire to create stunning visual effects. Unlike traditional watches, the MP-15 Takashi Murakami doesn't have a conventional dial. Instead, the case, movement, and dial are innovatively integrated. 

The tourbillon occupies the center of the watch, surrounded by Takashi Murakami's famous flower motif, made entirely of sapphire. The watch design emphasizes transparency, with a sapphire case, back, crown, and translucent strap, allowing light to pass through and highlight its design.

Retail price: $316,000.

The breathtaking $20 million Jacob and Co.  Billionaire Timeless Treasure.

True beauty takes time, and the Jacob & Co Billionaire Timeless Treasure is a testament to that. Sourcing 880 carats of rough yellow diamonds, and cutting them down to reach the final 216.89 carats in the demanding Asscher cut took 3.5 years of dedication and skill.

The result is breathtaking: 425 Asscher-cut, fancy yellow and fancy intense yellow diamonds covering the entire timepiece. With only one yellow diamond found for every 10,000 white diamonds, this $20 million masterpiece is truly one of a kind.

The HM11 Architect watch, inspired by 1960s postmodern architecture, features a central tourbillon surrounded by 4 rotatable "rooms" each serving a different function: time display, thermometer, power reserve indicator, and the crown. Winding the watch involves rotating the entire case, which also allows positioning any room at the forefront. Ten full rotations provide a 96-hour power reserve. The MB&F HM11 Architect comes in two color options: one with a blue dial plate and another with a rose gold dial plate.

Limited to 25 pieces each.

Retail price: $230,000.

The OMEGA Seamaster Aqua Terra Worldtimer collection, known for its exceptional dial designs, precise technology, and renowned attention to detail, has rapidly gained a worldwide following. Its Worldtimer display, designed to spark the spirit of travel, features a dial that showcases a ring of global destinations in bold capital letters, including Bienne in Switzerland, OMEGA's hometown. Among the various models in the collection, this particular one stands out as a favorite.

Retail price: $9,900.

Oris teams up with Disney's The Muppets for a playful edition of the ProPilot X Calibre 400, featuring Kermit the Frog. 

Appearing on the first of each month, dubbed 'Kermit Day', this special watch with its green dial reminds us to enjoy life's simple pleasures. Whether it's a moment of quiet, a coffee break, a phone call, a relaxing bath, or a short walk, it encourages finding joy in everyday moments.

Retail price: $5,200.

The Panerai Radiomir Tre Giorni 45mm Men's Watch showcases Panerai's rich history and skill. Its classic look, accurate timekeeping, and excellent build make it ideal for those who love old-fashioned style with modern features. 

This watch has a large 45mm stainless steel case, giving it a strong, manly look. The cushion-shaped case, drawing from Panerai's classic designs, brings a bit of old-time charm. The beige faded dial with glowing hour markers and hands makes it easy to read in all light conditions.

Retail price> é7,200.

In October 2022, Patek Philippe introduced its first automatic women's chronograph in the Aquanaut Luce collection, the Aquanaut Luce Rainbow 7968/300R-001. 

Crafted in rose gold for today's dynamic women, this 40 mm watch features a rainbow array of baguette diamonds and vibrant sapphires. It comes with red, beige, and white composite straps and a white mother-of-pearl dial with colorful sapphire hour markers. 

The bezel is adorned with 40 sapphires  and 40 diamonds, plus additional sapphires and diamonds on the hour markers and fold-over clasp. Overall, it contains 52 sapphires and 50 diamonds. 

Retail price: $212,000.

The Reverso Hybris Artistica Calibre 179, presented by Jaeger-LeCoultre in 2023, exemplifies the blend of technical innovation and artistic craftsmanship. This watch, designed using the Golden Ratio, showcases the fourth evolution of the multi-axis tourbillon, tailored specifically for the Reverso's rectangular shape. It's a remarkable feat of engineering, with the movement fitting comfortably within the case's contours. The Calibre 179 is also a Duoface movement, displaying different time zones on each side, along with a 24-hour indicator for the second time zone on the reverse dial.

Limited to 10 pieces.

At the Watches and Wonders trade show, Rolex unveiled several new models, including the standout Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 36 with a puzzle dial.

Available in white (128239), rose (128235), or yellow gold (128238), these watches feature a jigsaw puzzle enamel face and two unique complications. Instead of the usual day display, they show inspirational words like 'Happy' and 'Love', while the date window rotates through 31 different emojis. 

Each watch has hour markers made of 10 baguette-cut sapphires in six colors. Rolex aims to add spontaneity to daily life by reflecting the wearer's mood through these watches.

In June, Rolex launched a new model of its popular watch in 18-karat white gold to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans race. 

This 40mm watch, model number 126529LN, features a black Cerachrom bezel marked with a red “100” on its tachymeter, a reverse panda dial with a black background and white subdials (similar to the Paul Newman Daytona style), and is fitted with a white-gold Oyster bracelet. It also includes the caliber 4132 movement, enabling the stopwatch feature to measure up to 24 hours, unlike the usual 12 hours.

Market price (Jan 2024): ~$200,000.

At Watches and Wonders 2023 in Geneva, Rolex showcased their latest luxury timepiece, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual ‘Celebration’, featuring a vibrant turquoise dial inspired by the popular Patek Philippe Nautilus Tiffany. 

This eye-catching watch stands out with its multi-colored bubbles in shades of candy pink, turquoise blue, yellow, coral red, and green, serving as both a unique design element and functional hour markers. The playful bubble design adds depth and a modern flair to the watch.

This model is available in three case sizes: 31mm, 36mm, and 41mm, allowing you to choose the perfect fit for your wrist.

The retail price for the 41mm reference 124300 is $6,400, but its market price has surged to $28,500, reflecting its high demand and desirability among collectors.

The 31mm reference 277200 retails for $5,650, but trades for around $17,500 on the grey market. 

The TAG Heuer Carrera "Skipper" is inspired by the connection between sailing and motorsports, celebrating precision and speed. This watch pays homage to sailing with its unique color scheme of teal, orange, green, and blue, echoing the Heuer Skipper's dual-counter dial. It combines sporty elegance with a durable blue textile strap designed for comfort. The Skipper's distinctive look is a nod to Jack Heuer's partnership with the historic America’s Cup yacht race in the 60s, specifically as the official timer for the 'Intrepid' boat.

Retail price: $7,600.

The Tudor Black Bay GMT is a durable and adaptable watch, blending a retro style with contemporary elements. 

It features a striking red and blue 'Pepsi' bezel that enhances the traditional white dial, complemented by a 24-hour hand and a date feature. Encased in stainless steel with a water resistance of up to 200 meters, it is powered by the dependable MT5652 caliber movement.

Retail price: $4,820.