As a new year begins for the watch industry, it’s only natural for us as enthusiasts to compile a list of dream watch releases (and more practical expectations) for 2024. With certain industry-wide trends expected to continue and an already shifting business landscape for the year ahead, 2024 is shaping up to be a year of surprises in the watch business, but it’s also one that keen-eyed observers might be able to predict. Our aBlogtoWatch team has given its expert analysis and informed expectations here, but we’d love to hear your own watch release predictions for 2024 in the comments. – Sean Lorentzen

Ariel Adams

2024 is another year of vast uncertainty for a luxury industry that likes stability above all else. The watch market faces increasing expectations from its core of loyal enthusiast buyers and, at the same time, waning interest from the mainstream on account of less disposable income being available. This is also set against a backdrop of cultural momentum in which watches are a big part of pop culture, whether it be about status effects or the safety of wearing watches in high-theft areas. Watchmakers are again faced with the need to act but very little guidance on how to act. What does that mean for product development? I expect to see a lot of work being put into improving or reinventing existing designs, models, and themes. Originality will mostly come from the smaller and startup brands, while corporate-owned watchmakers will focus on crowd-pleasing watches (as best they can) and emphasize their core brand values (as opposed to reinventing themselves). With the price of precious metals high, we will probably continue to see watch brands employ effective, albeit not particularly expensive, materials in watches, ranging from steel to titanium, and carbon to ceramic. Consumers may not be presented with loads of novelty in 2024, but there are bound to be plenty of excellent values and sensible-to-wear watches on the near horizon.

Sean Lorentzen

There’s a lot to be excited for in 2024 on the watch release front, but there is a pair of expected releases I’m personally keeping an eye out for. First and foremost is a revised Tudor Heritage Chrono line. Running from 2012 until it was quietly dropped from the brand’s lineup in mid-2023, this collection was a major force in launching the vintage-inspired design trend that continues to this day. With a smaller 39-40mm diameter, an engraved steel tachymeter bezel, and the B01-based movement used by the current Black Bay Chrono family, an updated Heritage Chrono would be a home run for Tudor in 2024, especially as the ’70s Monte Carlo and “Homeplate” chronographs they emulate have become genuine blue-chip performers on the vintage market. As for the second release, it’s important to note that the watch industry is a business of extended lead times. It can take several years for an all-new major brand watch to go from initial concept to dealer display cases, and as such, reactions to trends can seem delayed. With this in mind, it’s been just long enough since the paradigm-shifting release of the Swatch x Omega Moonswatch to allow non-Swatch Group brands to react. Expect to see affordable, hype marketing-inflected takes on classic watches begin to spread to the wider Swiss industry in 2024, although the exact style and material of these watches may vary.

David Bredan

I expect the world of watches in 2024 to give us a great many more collaborations among artists, musicians, and celebrities, as watch brands will rely yet more heavily on people of actual or made-up fame for audience reach and artistic input. 2023 yielded us some epic collaborations (those between Akrivia and LVMH, Spinnaker and Seconde/Seconde, Awake and Alain Silberstein, Zenith and Carl Cox are just a few) and, hopefully, brands will continue to bravely push the boundaries of design, materials, and established product design codes, all in the face of a slowing watch market. In other words, I wish to see an exciting and colorful 2024, and limited-edition collaborations that don’t affect the overall image of a brand as heavily as long-term collections do might be a great way for these to come true.

Ripley Sellers

When it comes to new watches that we might expect to see released in 2024, I can’t help but feel as though we are due for a new version of the Rolex Yacht-Master II. The model itself was originally launched in 2007, and while it has received a few minor updates throughout the years, the collection hasn’t seen any significant changes since the 2013 introduction of the stainless steel model (unless you count the hands and hour markers being slightly updated in 2017 and the white gold version being discontinued in 2022). Given that Rolex developed a dedicated movement for the Yacht-Master II, I don’t foresee it being discontinued entirely just yet, although the model undeniably seems a bit overdue for an update compared to the other watches in Rolex’s current catalog. Beyond that, 2024 might also be the year Tudor releases an additional colorway for the Black Bay Pro (my guess would be white or blue), and I could also easily see IWC introducing a standard-production version of its Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41 with a stainless steel case and without the Mercedes-AMG branding that exists on the inaugural two limited-edition models from this recently announced collection.

Ed Rhee

While the integrated stainless steel sports watch category may be getting a bit long in the tooth, there’s still one watch that would be all but guaranteed to sell out upon announcement: a Vacheron Constantin 222 in stainless steel. Only 500 examples were originally produced in steel, and given the smashing success of the recent all-gold 222 reissue, a new Vacheron Constantin 222 steel edition would have collectors emptying their bank accounts quicker than you can say “Jorg Hysek.”

Mike Razak

I don’t have predictions, per se, but here’s what I’d like to see, and perhaps it could be viewed as the natural continuation of red (or reddish) dials we’ve seen lately. I want a purple-dial watch that isn’t gaudy or flashy or neon or in your face — something almost eggplant, with a subtle luster. Put in a sporty case without a bezel. Since I can’t imagine any big brand doing this, I’ll accept it from a smaller brand like Norqain or Farer, or maybe even Nomos or Fears (I know there was a purple already, but it wasn’t right for me). Failing that, I can’t wait for a Timex Giorgio Galli S3.

Jake Witkin

While there’s no doubt the decrease in watch size will continue, I believe 2024 will bring the expansion of core product lines in multiple sizes. Trends come and go, but a large segment of the watch purchasing market will not follow these. Producing the same model in multiple sizes (and non-gendered) will allow customers to choose what size is right for them without the influence of a trend. Along with multiple sizes, I believe we will see a significant increase in premium “upgrades” with two-tone precious metals and unique materials. Two-Tone steel and yellow gold made a triumphant return to popularity in 2023, and I believe 2024 will bring a range of ‘80s and ‘90s styles, including more fully blacked-out DLC watches to clear and colored plastics, highly polished chrome, and, of course, more rainbow gems (please and thank you).