Time flies, and the year 2022 is finally coming to an end. The pandemic has changed the way of life for all mankind, compelling people to pause for a while and start pursuing their innermost desires and explore the nature of things.
This trend is also reflected in the watch market, where major brands are returning to the classics and striving for excellence, drawing from each brand’s storied history and responding to consumer needs by launching optimized products.
In recent years, the diameter of watch cases has returned to a more accessible size. The use of bold colors has also injected refreshing vitality into the market environment. For watch enthusiasts, it is the perfect time to buy a beautiful and affordable wristwatch.
Here are 7 exciting new watches of 2022.
Santos de Cartier
The Santos collection, first conceived in 1904, marked a major milestone in the transition from pocket watches to wristwatches, and remains one of the most popular and sought-after square watches in the history of horology.
The bezel is adorned with four screws and extends to a double row of screws on the strap, adding a touch of mechanical flair to the elegant and delicate case. The Roman numerals and the “Railway-Track” dividers on the center of the dial are the most iconic elements of Cartier’s design.
The new 2022 Santos de Cartier is presented with a large case diameter of 47.5 mm × 39.8 mm. Most impressively, the new model features a horizontal stripe on the dial and bezel to enhance the visual dimensionality, and a blue PVD-treated surface creates a distinct two-tone color palette in contrast to the stainless steel case. The combination of steel and blue sky is reminiscent of the world’s first aviation watch created by Louis Cartier for the aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont in 1904.
The watch comes with a stainless steel bracelet with the “SmartLink” quick release bracelet adjustment system and a blue rubber strap with a folding clasp, both equipped with the “QuickSwitch” quick release bracelet system, offering two looks for greater versatility.
Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Moonshine Gold
The OMEGA Speedmaster, which landed on the moon with astronaut Buzz Aldrin in 1969, has earned eternal fame with the “moonwatch” title thanks to its precision.
In 2019, OMEGA celebrated the 50th anniversary of the moon landing with the release of 1,014 limited-edition Speedmaster Moonwatches, and used the occasion to launch a new model in Moonshine Gold, a more sophisticated and elegant shade than traditional 18-carat gold, while also being more resistant to color fading over time.
The all-new Speedmaster Moonwatch 2022 is once again available in two Moonshine Gold versions. One of them, the “Golden Panda”, features a Moonshine Gold case, a Moonshine Gold dial, black sub-dials, a black ceramic bezel and a black leather strap, endowing a luxurious touch to the classic and sporty Speedmaster Moonwatch.
The “PVD Green” version, on the other hand, features a green dial and green ceramic bezel, with a Moonshine Gold case and bracelet, making it the most trending combination for 2022.
Both models come with the new 3861 Manual-winding chronograph movement, which continues the authentic DNA of the 1969 Speedmaster Caliber 861 and is fully optimized. The movement is Master Chronometer-certified, offering the best tribute to the history of the moon landing with cutting-edge technology.
Chopard Alpine Eagle XL Chrono
Amidst the fierce competition in the luxury sports watches market, the Chopard Alpine Eagle collection stands distinct for its exquisite craftsmanship and exceptional brand recognition. The design is inspired by the Swiss Alps and reminds one of a majestic alpine eagle spreading its wings.
The sporty integrated design of the case and the bracelet, the distinctive lugs, and the central jutting links of the bracelet resemble the Alpine ridgelines. The radiating three-dimensional engraving on the dial is as deep and sharp as an eagle’s eye. The eight screws on the bezel are inspired from the classic design of Chopard’s St. Moritz collection from the 1980s.
The all-new Alpine Eagle XL Chrono 2022 features the world’s most popular three-subdial chronograph function. With a case diameter of 44 mm, it is both more functional and larger than the basic three-hand model. The case is a combination of 18-carat conflict-free pink gold and lightweight, high-strength Ceratanium, emanating luxury and strength of character.
The Chopard 03.05-C flyback chronograph movement can be reset to zero at any time by pressing the chronograph activation button, with COSC chronometer-certified precision. The Alpine Eagle XL Chrono fittingly serves as a new benchmark for elegant sports watches in terms of function and design.
IWC Portugieser IW371620 & IW500715
The Portugieser Collection, one of IWC’s six main collections, was so named because the first watch was commissioned by two Portuguese distributors in the 1930s. The series is acclaimed for simple, clean, and classic styles, and has remained popular even after nearly a century. The design remains a timeless classic, and can be said to be even more refined and intriguing with time.
In 2022,two Blue Panda versions were launched, with a pleasantly surprising two-subdial combination either in horizontal or vertical layout, which is particularly surprising.
The IW371620 Automatic Chronograph has two subdials positioned vertically and presented on the white dial, with a 30-minute counter at the 12 o’clock position and a small seconds hand at the 6 o’clock position.
The silver small hands and the blue leaf hand indicating the main time form a clear contrast, a harmonious symmetrical pattern similar to the classical design of a regulator watch. The blue rubber strap complements the look by adding a sporty flair.
The IW500715 is the classic seven-day automatic watch from the IWC Portugieser collection, with a small seconds hand at the 9 o’clock position, a 7-day power reserve indicator at the 3 o’clock position, and a railroad minute track.
The stunning blue-and-white contrast Panda-style dial will ensure your watch is the center of attention in any setting. The blue crocodile leather strap adds a touch of vintage elegance to the watch.
Panerai Luminor Due Luna
The Panerai Luminor series originated from the military watches created for the Italian Navy in the 1950s. The large cushion-shaped case and the highly recognizable crown guard have always left a distinct masculine impression associated with the brand.
Surprisingly, this year, the Luminor Due Luna Collection, with a diameter of 38mm and a moon phase function, has been launched in four models at once.
Although not specifically marketed as a women’s watch, the relatively modest size, together with the elegant and romantic moon phase function are not only suitable for men in general, but also offer a great style choice for women.
Due to Panerai starting out as a military watch, it has never launched a watch with a single moon phase function before. This time, the 3 o’clock position on the main dial is reserved for the moon phase function, which brings a lot of surprises to Panerai enthusiasts in terms of functional legibility and aesthetic design.
Panerai’s signature sandwich dial is skeletonized with hour markers, ensuring the luminous effect is more prominent. The moon phase dial is made of 24K gold with a realistic moon surface, which is more difficult to craft than the usual flat moon phase and has a better overall aesthetic.
The crown can be pulled out for quick adjustment of the moon phase, which is also a very practical and convenient design.
Zenith Chronomaster Sport
Most renowned for its high-frequency chronograph movements, Zenith’s most recent attention-grabbing timepiece is the Chronomaster Sport Chronograph, which was launched in 2021 and has not only attracted the attention of watch enthusiasts around the world, but also won the Chronograph Prize Award at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève in 2021.
The silver, blue, and grey subdial of the classic 1969 Chronograph A386 and the El Primero 3600 automatic movement are all classic elements of Zenith’s iconic timepieces.
The most noteworthy feature of this chronograph is the extremely fast movement of the large central seconds hand, which makes one revolution every 10 seconds – six times faster than a typical chronograph – giving it a sense of the roaring speed of motor sports. Paired with precise markers on the bezel, the timekeeping is accurate to 1/10th of a second.
In 2022, the Chronomaster Sport collection is further improved with two versions in 18-carat rose gold cases and a two-tone gold version in stainless steel and rose gold.
The design is a continuation of the basic pattern of the Chronomaster Sport from last year, including the silver, blue, and grey small subdials, the central 1/10th of a second large seconds hand, while the original ceramic bezel has been changed to 18K rose gold, adding to the elegance and luxury that evokes big gold watches popular in the 1970s.
Franck Muller Grand Central Tourbillon
Franck Muller is the widely-recognized master of tourbillons and has set many records, such as creating the world’s largest, smallest, and fastest tourbillon. With the launch of the Revolution 3-axis tourbillon watch, he initiated the battle for multi-axis tourbillons in the luxury watch industry.
In 2021, Franck Muller challenged the creation of a central tourbillon, extremely rare in the industry, by launching the tonneau-shaped Cintrée Curvex CX central tourbillon watch.
The most difficult part of this function is the design of the movement and the time display, but for Franck Muller, this is but a modest display of his true capabilities.
In 2022, the Round Grand Central Tourbillon, a 46 mm diameter watch with a round case, was launched with a dial decorated with a Guilloché pattern, a Clous de Paris engraving technique, and with the brand’s classic Art Deco Arabic numerals for a simpler, more balanced, and consistently pure aesthetic.
That leaves us with the central question, how to tell the time? There are two small hands on the double ring around the tourbillon, indicating the hours and minutes respectively. Of course, it is not as easy to read the time as a large hand, but the eye can focus more on the beauty of the rhythm of the central tourbillon, which is the ultimate pursuit of horology for any watchmaker.
Discover more exquisite watches online, or locate the nearest boutique for a visit.
