Fresh from LVMH Watch Week and early-year unveilings across the industry, these are the watches that set the tone for 2026
How is January already coming to a close? It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating the new year. Whatever the case, the start of a new year always brings with it an array of fresh resolutions, renewed perspectives, and, of course, new timepieces to enjoy.
Fresh from LVMH Watch Week and early-year unveilings across the industry, here is our list of the best watches from January 2026.
Bvlgari Maglia Milanese Monete Secret Watch
Among Bvlgari’s January introductions, the Maglia Milanese Monete emerges as the collection’s most distinctive piece. Conceived as a secret watch, it conceals its function entirely when closed, presenting itself instead as a jewel rooted in history. Set into the hinged cover is an ancient Roman coin depicting Emperor Caracalla, a nod to the Monete tradition of incorporating coins into modern jewellery.
For the first time, the Monete secret watch is paired with a Milanese mesh bracelet crafted in rose gold. Derived from a goldsmithing technique that originated in Renaissance-era Milan, the finely interwoven mesh wraps fluidly around the wrist, lending softness and movement to an otherwise architectural form.
The 33 mm case opens to reveal a discreet mother-of-pearl dial, while beneath it beats Bvlgari’s Piccolissimo manual-winding calibre, one of the smallest round mechanical movements in contemporary watchmaking.
TAG Heuer Carrera Seafarer
Collectors looking beyond TAG Heuer’s most familiar archive references will find the new Carrera Seafarer especially compelling. Drawing inspiration from the Heuer Seafarer and Solunar tide watches developed in the late 1940s for Abercrombie & Fitch, the model revives a lesser-known chapter of the brand’s history..
This heritage is reinterpreted within the contemporary Carrera Glassbox architecture. The 42 mm stainless-steel case features the line’s domed sapphire crystal and curved dial flange, while a champagne opaline dial provides a warm backdrop for teal and yellow accents inspired by vintage regatta timers.
At 9 o’clock, a rotating tide indicator disc tracks high and low tides across the lunar cycle, driven by the automatic TH20-04 calibre and adjusted via a discreet case-side pusher. Balanced chronograph registers and applied gold-toned details maintain visual harmony, while a seven-row steel bracelet and additional textile strap underscore the Seafarer’s blend of contemporary functionality and vintage styling.
Zenith Defy Skyline Tourbillon Skeleton
The Defy Skyline Tourbillon Skeleton represents a striking expression of Zenith’s contemporary Defy line. Limited to just 50 pieces, the watch is rendered entirely in rose gold, a choice that immediately distinguishes it from the steel and ceramic executions that define the broader Skyline collection. The result is a timepiece that pairs architectural modernity with unmistakable heft and presence on the wrist.
Housed in a 41 mm case with an integrated bracelet, the fully openworked dial reveals a structured lattice finished in deep blue tones, providing contrast against the warmth of the gold. At 6 o’clock, a one-minute tourbillon anchors the composition, showcasing Zenith’s high-frequency balance wheel oscillating at 36,000 vibrations per hour.
Powered by the El Primero 3630 SK calibre, the watch maintains automatic winding and a 50-hour power reserve, balancing visual drama with technical pedigree.
Hublot Big Bang Unico SR_A
The Big Bang Unico SR_A marks the fourth collaboration between Hublot and British designer Samuel Ross, and represents a notable shift in emphasis within the partnership. Where earlier editions explored tourbillon architecture, this latest iteration pivots toward a more utilitarian expression, anchoring Ross’s sculptural language around Hublot’s in-house Unico chronograph movement.
Housed in a 42 mm black ceramic case, the watch retains the modular, multi-layered construction that defines the Big Bang line, while adopting a deliberately restrained monochromatic palette. A skeletonised matte-black dial exposes key chronograph components, including the column wheel and horizontal clutch, reinforcing the watch’s mechanical intent. Protruding side lugs, angular geometry, and Ross’s signature honeycomb motifs — echoed on a newly developed structured rubber strap — lend the piece its unmistakable visual identity.
Limited to 200 pieces, the Big Bang Unico SR_A is the most accessible chapter in the collaboration to date, balancing industrial design, contemporary wearability, and Hublot’s unmistakably bold presence.
Jacob & Co. God of Time
With the God of Time, Jacob & Co. delivers one of January’s most technically audacious statements, centred on a tourbillon unlike any previously produced. At its core is a regulator that completes a full rotation every four seconds (five times faster than a traditional one-minute tourbillon) establishing a new benchmark for rotational speed. Despite this, the movement, developed specifically for this watch, still manages an impressive 60-hour power reserve.
To achieve this, the tourbillon carriage is constructed primarily from titanium and weighs just fractions of a gram, while a constant-force mechanism regulates energy delivery to protect the escapement at such high speed.
Housed in a 44.25 mm rose-gold case inspired by classical architecture, the dial depicts a hand-engraved miniature sculpture of Chronos, rendered in rose gold and positioned above the tourbillon.
Bell & Ross BR-X3 Tourbillon Micro-Rotor
The BR-X3 Tourbillon Micro-Rotor marks a decisive step for Bell & Ross beyond its traditional tool-watch vocabulary and into the realm of haute horlogerie. While the brand’s signature square case remains central to the design, it is reinterpreted here as a three-part architectural structure: a steel middle case framed by a sapphire crystal on the dial side and a sapphire caseback, all secured by four exposed screws.
The skeletonised calibre is arranged along a disciplined grid of horizontal and vertical lines, reinforcing the square-within-a-square geometry that has long defined the brand’s design language. Skeletonised bridges and carefully placed rubies add depth without disrupting the watch’s visual balance.
At its core is the manufacture calibre BR-CAL.389, measuring just 9 mm thick and combining a flying tourbillon with a micro-rotor integrated directly into the plane of the movement. This architecture preserves the watch’s slim profile while delivering automatic winding and a 58-hour power reserve.
