From classic Cartiers to going-green Guccis, here are 10 watches turning the dial in 2022.
Contrary to their timekeeping function, watches are indeed timeless accessories. Defying the usual trend of obsolescence that so often accompanies new technological innovations (read: smartphones), watches are a mechanical feat that continue to stir the devotion of horologists and our style-conscious members alike.
Our lifestyle managers are connected to the most luxurious watchmakers in the world and can secure access to limited-edition timepieces before they’re available to the public, ensuring that you’re never behind the times. From this year’s Watches & Wonders event in Geneva which showcases leading brands’ newest products and beyond, here are our top 10 must-have watches of 2022.
Ballon Bleu de Cartier, Cartier
£5,100
Gracing the likes of Kate Middleton’s wrist, Cartier’s perennially elegant Ballon Bleu watch is a classic whose popularity resolutely stands the test of time. The Princess of Wales wears a 33mm stainless steel model, which she recently donned at Wimbledon while presenting the winning trophy to Novak Djokovic. With its fluted crown set with a synthetic cabochon-shaped spinel and a silvered guilloché dial, the Ballon Bleu is yet another iconic design by Cartier, a watch brand that truly lives up to its moniker ‘Jeweller to the King’.
Bio-Based Dive Watch, Gucci
£1,340
Gucci’s latest iteration of its Dive Watch is making waves both with its cool design and innovative plant-derived material composition. In line with the brand’s push for environmental sustainability and responsibility, its new collection is made from bio-based rubber and 100% recycled steel. With all the other standard features of a Dive Watch, including water resistance up to 200m and automatic movement, Gucci’s new Bio-Based Dive Watch collection delivers on functionality, aesthetic appeal, and eco-friendliness.
Serpenti Seduttori, Bulgari
£20,000
If ever a timepiece could be described as ‘most seductive’, Bulgari’s Serpenti Seduttori watch would take home the gold. Its ultra-sleek design is punctuated by the iconic drop-shaped watch head and the delicate, hexagon-patterned bracelet that alludes to the scales of a serpent. It is available in a variety of styles and metals, but this 18ct rose gold edition with a white opaline dial has just the right touch of timeless elegance and statement-making allure.
MoonSwatch, Omega x Swatch
£207
Omega and Swatch collaborated on its recent, highly popular Speedmaster watch collection: the Bioceramic MoonSwatch. Each of the 11 timepieces making up the collection is inspired by a different body in the solar system – from Mercury to Mars. It didn’t take long for these collectibles to skyrocket to the top of every watch-fiend’s wish list, and while it is currently unavailable online, a handful can still be found in select Swatch stores. Our lifestyle managers can help you track down a MoonSwatch, so you, too, can rock a watch that’s out of this world.
Constellation, Omega
£8,900
From the moon to the stars, Omega marries time and space with its classic Constellation watch collection. First introduced in 1952 and known for its attention to detail, Omega designed its newest selection with extra consideration – the shape of the indexes is inspired by the New York City skyline, and the teeth of the crown resemble a waning moon, amplifying the star-studded draw of the collection. The fifth generation of this watch also offers a contemporary, sleeker take on the original feminine and chic design.
Monaco x Gulf, TAG Heuer
£5,850
A Special Edition of TAG Heuer’s groundbreaking, square-shaped Monaco Watch design, this latest collaboration features the Gulf brand’s livery in a fierce striped design. Debuted at the renowned Watches & Wonders event in Geneva this past April, the TAG Heuer Monaco x Gulf instantly caught the attention of watch enthusiasts as a classic, collectible timepiece. A product of the partnership between an iconic racing brand and an eminent watchmaker, this latest edition is a striking continuation of a true horological legacy.
Coussin de Cartier, Cartier
£50,500
The new limited edition of Cartier’s Coussin watch takes its title quite literally. Coussin is the French word for ‘cushion’, and this timepiece embodies all the characteristics of that word in true luxurious, trend-setting Cartier fashion. Squeezable and squishy like a pillow, its soft case made of intertwining gold links makes it bendable to the touch. The spongey quality and colour options for the limited-edition Coussin are fun and playful, while still maintaining Cartier’s signature luxury and elegance with exquisitely cut gems and the finest gold and metals.
Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin, Vacheron Constantin
£96,500
This version of Vacheron Constantin’s eminent Les Cabinotiers division combines a Fine Watchmaking complication with a sporty style to achieve the perfect blend of fancy and functional. Its ultra-thin, 8.10mm-thick perpetual calendar enhances the comfort of the watch, while still maintaining all the special flourishes – including accurate timekeeping until 2100, and a moon phase with a star-studded sky and two gold moons adorning the calendar. First making a name for itself as a designer of impressively thin watches in the 1930s, it carries that tradition with this latest generation.
Lady Arpels Heures Florales Cerisier, Van Cleef & Arpels
About £202,800
Inspired by the innate beauty of flora and fauna, Van Cleef & Arpels’ new Heures Florales watch is any nature-lover’s dream timepiece. Rather than displaying time with a standard dial, it shows the passing hours with hand-painted flowers that open and close to reveal a glimmering diamond underneath. An extension of the Maison’s Enchanting Nature dimension, the Heures Florales breathes poetry and elegant eccentricity into telling time. Available in white or rose gold and blue or pink colour schemes, the timepiece is sure to spark joy.
Big Bang Unico Essential Grey, Hublot
£17,300
The satin, monochrome finish on the latest iteration of Hublot’s iconic Big Bang model will turn heads and spark conversation. The eternally elegant grey lustre extends to the bezel, hands, and dial, and all are enveloped in sultry titanium. A limited edition of the Big Bang collection, this Unico Essential Grey model only has 200 pieces. At the time of writing, there are still some available online. Contact us to secure your watch today, and we will ensure that you are one of the 200 to don Hublot’s latest design.
Looking for more style inspiration? Read our interview with jewellery designer Annoushka Ducas.
