2023 has been a really great year for watches, but let’s be honest, the sheer volume of releases has been insane! It feels like there’s more watch brands than ever, and so many continue to surprise and excite us with truly great designs. So, as you can imagine, choosing just ten of the best watches from 2023 has not been easy.
That said, I’ve tried by best to hand-pick ten designs I believe cover all bases. We’ve got dress watches, sports watches, chronographs and dive watches available in varying styles and prices for every type of watch collector. So without further ado, here are my favourite watch releases from 2023…
Christopher Ward The Twelve
Christopher Ward The Twelve (36) - Credit WatchGecko
British watchmaker Christopher Ward has had a number of great releases this year but their inaugural integrated sports watch, suitably named The Twelve, has taken the top spot. Named after its dodecagonal bezel, this design ticks all the boxes of the Genta-inspired design including a barrel-shaped case, integrated metal bracelet and a textured dial. In the case of the Christopher Ward The Twelve watch, the dial is CW’s cross logo on repeat. You can find options in steel or titanium measuring to 36mm or 40mm.
TAG Heuer Carrera 'Glassbox' Chronograph
TAG Heuer Carrera 'Glassbox' Chronograph - Credit TAG Heuer
One of my favourite releases from Watches & Wonders 2023 was from TAG Heuer. This past year, the Swiss manufacturer celebrated the 60th anniversary of their Carrera watch and in doing so, they launched several fabulous editions of the sports watch including the Carrera ‘Glassbox’ Chronograph. This particular model took inspiration from the domed hesalite crystals featured on early Carrera references by utilising sapphire crystal glass and no bezel to create an almost overflowing glass look. The result is seriously cool and with the panda dial looks wonderfully retro.
TUDOR Black Bay 54
Tudor Black Bay 58 on WatchGecko Ridge British Military Watch Strap - NTTD Bond
Another huge hit from Watches & Wonders 2023 was the TUDOR Black Bay 54. This model delivered the brand’s iconic dive watch in a smaller case size of 37mm, honouring the same dimensions of TUDOR’s first-ever dive watch from 1954, the reference 7922. The stainless steel case is perfectly sized for most wrists and comes topped by a 60-click unidirectional rotating bezel. To match, the dial is also done in black and leaves out the date window for a clean, easy-to-read look. The TUDOR Black Bay 54 has a 200 metre water resistant rating and is powered by the COSC-certified Manufacture Calibre MT5400 movement.
Grand Seiko Tentagraph SLGC001
Grand Seiko Tentagraph SLGC001 - Credit Grand Seiko
The Evolution 9 collection has always been Grand Seiko’s top-tier line so when they announced a new chronograph into the family, we knew it was going to be good. Lo and behold, the Grand Seiko Tentagraph SLGC001 is more than good. It features an entirely new movement from the Japanese watchmaker called the Calibre 9SC5. “Tentagraph” is named after the movement’s ten-beat frequency which arrives alongside a promised 3-day power reserve even with the chronograph running. As for the design, it boasts a 43.2mm titanium case, box-shaped sapphire crystal, 100 metre water resistance and a textured sapphire blue dial.
Bell & Ross BR-X5 Full Lum
Bell & Ross BR-X5 Full Lum - Credit Bell & Ross
I’ve always liked Bell & Ross’ ‘LUM’ series and 2023 saw them create one of their most luminous designs yet: the BR-X5 Full Lum. Rather than just using Superluminova across the dial, the Swiss watchmaker has created a case engineered from micro-blasted grade 2 titanium and luminescent fibreglass composite. During the day, the case appears to have a sporty off-grey finish but during the night, it glows bright green alongside the matching Superluminova inserts placed on the dial. The case sits at 41mm wide and houses the calibre BR-CAL.323, a manufacture automatic winding movement made by Kenissi with a 3-day power reserve.
Geckota Ocean Scout Frost
Geckota Ocean-Scout Frost - Credit WatchGecko
A proud release from the our sister company, Geckota, is the new Ocean Scout Frost Edition watch. This launched just a few months ago during the winter of 2023 and marks the first ice-blue textured dial within the collection and the first with a steel insert bezel. It’s a stunning combination of design features and really gives the outdoor adventurer’s watch more of a dressy feel. The light blue dial is punctuated by black outlined numerals and Superluminova hands powered by the Miyota 9039 automatic movement. The 316L steel case is compactly sized at 38.5mm wide and offers a 200 metre water resistance.
Seiko Prospex 1695 Diver’s Re-Creation SJE093J1
Seiko Prospex 1695 Diver’s Re-Creation SJE093J1 - Credit Seiko
There’s been plenty of vintage re-creations making their appearance these past twelve months and truthfully, there’s probably only a handful I think deserve to be classed as such. One of them is the Seiko Prospex 1695 Diver’s Re-Creation SJE093J1 watch. This is the Japanese watchmaker’s most faithful recreation of their first ever dive watch, the legendary reference 62MAS. It has the exact same dimensions, dial layout and bezel measuring to 38mm wide and 12.5mm tall with a screw in crown and case back and dark grey sunray-brushed dial. The only real difference is the modern-day Calibre 6L37 automatic movement which offers a 45-hour power reserve.
Tissot PRX Powermatic 80
Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 - Credit WatchGecko
I think most people will agree that one of the most talked about watches of 2023 was the Tissot PRX. The industry is saturated with Genta-inspired integrated sports watches right now and of them all, the Tissot PRX has become one of the best and most affordable. It offers barrel-shaped cases in 35mm and 40mm, three-dimensional dials and integrated bracelets from as little as £320. The automatic offerings deserve the most praise, standing out with waffle-like textured dials powered by the Powermatic 80 movement with an 80-hour power reserve.
IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40mm
IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40mm - Credit IWC
Another integrated sports watch that deserves a mention is the IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40mm. This was a surprise release from the Schaffhausen-based manufacturer at Watches & Wonders 2023 as they revised their Genta-designed model originally launched during the 1970’s. All of the staple elements are there: the barrel case, grid dial and flowing metal bracelet. The watchmaker reintroduced the collection as three steel models and one in titanium.
Oris ProPilot X Kermit
Oris ProPilot Kermit - Credit WatchGecko
My all-time favourite watch release from 2023 is the Oris ProPilot X Kermit Edition, and its probably fairly obvious as to why. This was another unexpected launch at Watches & Wonders 2023, and one delivering plenty of fun and flair. Oris has always been a brand determined to put joy back into the serious world of watchmaking and by including Kermit’s face on the date window on a Kermit-inspired lime green dial, they’ve done just that. The watch also benefits from a lightweight titanium 39mm case and their in-house Calibre 400 movement with a 5-day power reserve.
So there you have it, my top ten best watch releases from 2023. Do you think I chose correctly? Or is there a model I’ve missed out? Let me know in the comments below!
