With Watches and Wonders 2021 behind us, we have yet to come down from the rush of discovering the charming new novelties – despite the event having been hosted online. For the ladies’ watches category, we’ve been dazzled by the sparkling editions by the likes of Rolex, Piaget, and Chopard. And what of the men’s watches? Well, we’re looking at innovative use of materials from watchmakers such as Hublot and Panerai, while brands such as Oris, H. Moser & Cie, and Louis Vuitton going all out in terms of arresting aesthetics.

Check out our top 8 favourites:

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer in Yellow Rolesor

Rolex presents the new generation Oyster Perpetual Explorer in the same 36mm as the original 1953 model, but now in a striking yellow Rolesor case – which combines Oystersteel and 18-karat yellow gold. This combination of yellow gold and steel not only creates a memorable presence, but also helps ensure its 100-metre water resistance. On the lacquered black dial, it bears index hour markers and emblematic 3, 6, and 9 numerals. The hour markers and hands – seen as bright white during the day – are infused with the watchmaker’s in-house luminescent Chromalight, which emits a blue glow when in the dark. Finally, it’s equipped with the Calibre 3230, which incorporates Rolex’s patented Chronergy escapement for high energy efficiency and optimal reliability. W rolex.com

Vacheron Constantin Historiques American 1921

To celebrate 100 years of its unique design, Vacheron Constantin updates its Historiques American 1921 line with a a trio of models: two white-gold models measuring 36.5mm and 40mm, as well as a special limited edition platinum 40mm version that will be part of the Collection Excellence Platine. They maintain the iconic cushion-shaped case, with a silver-toned, fine grain-textured dial, sloping black-painted Arabic numerals and a black painted railroad minutes track. All three models are fitted with the brand’s in-house manual-winding Calibre 4400 AS, storing up to 65 hours of power, which can be viewed in the sapphire crystal caseback. W vacheron-constatin.com

Oris Divers Sixty-Five Cotton Candy

Oris reveals a new trio of treats for the man who isn’t afraid of dreamy, pastel hues. The new Divers Sixty-Five Cotton Candy 38mm are completely dressed in bronze – from the bezel and its case, to the bracelet. Their dials come in funky, fresh colours of Sky Blue, Wild Green, and Lipstick Pink, breaking away from the typically dark and mysterious colour schemes. Powering the automatic watches is the Oris Calibre 733, with a power reserve of 38 hours and water resistance of up to 100 metres. W oris.ch

H. Moser & Cie Endeavour Tourbillon Concept Tiger’s Eye

Bold yet minimalistic, the new additions to H. Moser & Cie’s Endeavour collection feature two highly fetching dial variations – a blue dial called “Falcon’s Eye” and the “Ox’s Eye” red dial. The former comes housed in a white gold dial, and the latter in red gold – with both measuring 40mm in diameter. Its minimalist quality comes from its lack of logos and indexes – allowing the wearer to appreciate the beauty and depth of the dial in all its glory. The beating heart of the Tiger’s Eye is the Calibre HMC 804, a self-winding manufacture movement that features a double flat balance spring – used to reduce friction while enhancing accuracy. W h-moser.com

Louis Vuitton Tambour Carpe Diem

This timepiece seizes life by showing time without the use of hands. After two years of technical development at the Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton, this jacquemart (functional automaton) comes to life by activating a push-piece in the shape of a serpent’s head. On the watch face, a lifelike rattlesnake’s tail reveals the minutes, while monogram flowers in the eye of the dial’s skull displays the hour. The jaw also opens to reveal the Horace’s Carpe Diem. The Tambour Carpe Diem also features complications such as a jumping hour, a retrograde minute, a power reserve display and the mechanism of the automata. It’s powered by the LV 525 calibre, assembled in the shape of a skull, which is visible on the back. W louisvuitton.com

Hublot Big Bang Integral Tourbillon Full Sapphire

After years of developing and maturing its craft in sapphire watches, Hublot cements its reputation with the unveiling of a transparent, glass-like timepiece that features an integrated case and bracelet both made from sapphire. Its pure look is achieved by Hublot opting for the new Automatic Tourbillon Calibre with sapphire bridges – the HUB6035, regulated by a flying tourbillon offering up to 72 hours in power reserve. To further enhance its original transparency, the sapphire is also polished with diamond powder repeatedly to create that flawless finish – a painstaking process that easily demands over 100 hours of work. W hublot.com

Panerai Ecologico Luminor Marina eSteel™

In a time where sustainable practises and ethical manufacturing are becoming a big part of the new normal, Panerai makes its own eco-friendly statement with the launch of a new collection of watches made from recycled material – one of them being the Ecologico Luminor Marina eSteel™. This particular collection features 89 grams of recycled material – or about 58% of their weight. Sporting 44mm brushed eSteel cases, the watches’ gradient dials are offered in grey “Grigio Roccia”, green “Verde Smeraldo”, and blue “Blu Profondo”. They also come with matching PET recycled straps to further shoutout their eco-contributions. W panerai.com

Breitling Premier B25 Datora 42

This year, Breitling revives the original Datora chronograph from the 1940s with an eye-catching vintage look that pays homage to its roots and a contemporary build. Measuring a generous 42mm in diameter, it sports an elegant salmon-hued dial to evoke a nostalgic 40’s aesthetic. The dial presents Arabic numerals and bolded hash hour indexes, with a running seconds register at 9 o’clock, an elapsed minutes register at 3 o’clock, and a date and moonphase indicator at 6 o’clock. The hours and minutes hands are filled with SuperLuminova, with the remaining hands coloured blue for a classic touch. The Breitling Manufacture B25 Calibre beats within the watch, which provides up to 48 hours of power reserve. W breitling.com

Photos courtesy of the respective brands.
Featured image: Breitling.