The Best New Watches of 2024, Tested by Men’s Health’s Fashion Director


THE WATCH WORLD is always innovating. Sure, there are aesthetic adjustments and wild designs being made to watches all the time, but there’s also plenty of exciting details “under-the-hood” that deserve just as much attention. Our editors and style experts took both points into account when putting together the best new watches of 2024.

We’ve broken down our top picks in four categories: smartwatches, GMTs, titanium bezels and cases, and chronographs. The goal? To showcase all the new and exciting watches that are pushing the envelope of modern watchmaking. Let’s get to the list.

The Leaner Smartwatch

TAG Heuer is elevating its smartwatches to become just as style-forward as their analog counterparts. The Connected Calibre E4 pushes the limits of its software capabilities, offering an array of insightful tools: there’s an agenda app for keeping you on task, a translation app to help when traveling, and a hands-free payment capability for everyday errands. Our favorite feature, however, is the E4’s golf app, loaded with a library that spans thousands of courses so can get readings on distance to pin, plus club recommendations for each shot.

TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4

TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4

The Travel Companions

Watches with a Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) function have been helping individuals keep track of two different time zones for decades now, but due to the growing connectedness of our world today, the GMT is trending bigger than ever. These stunning GMTs below will give you the ability to read your time back home when traveling (for work or for pleasure), plus the chance to have easy access to your client’s time zone when preparing for a big video meeting.

Oceanographer

Bulova Oceanographer

Now 20% Off

Offering pro-level dive resistance up to 200 meters and outfitted with retro flair, this Bulova GMT watch has you covered above and below sea level. The white background of the face is fully luminescent for extra visibility even in the greatest depths. Two additional complications make this watch more than meets the eye: one being a day/date window and the other being an independent hour hand that allows you to set your local time.

5 Sports SKX

Seiko 5 Sports SKX

One of Seiko’s most popular watch styles now comes prepped with a stylish bi-color 24-hour GMT bezel. The sub-$500 also features a “cyclops” magnified date window and luminous hands and markers for easy reading. It’s the perfect blend of function, style, and value, all wrapped into one.

Neverest

Norquain Neverest

This watch understands a true adventurer knows no bounds. The GMT’s ironclad, water-resistant construction, paired with a power reserve and a “jumping hand” feature that allows for quick time zone changes by a twist of the crown, makes the Neverest ideal for far-away trips. It’s also sentimental in the fact you can always carry your home time zone with you.

Series 8

Citizen Series 8

This sporty watch has a stainless steel, angular case that begs to be cycled into office wear. The GMT function will allow you to enjoy your remote workdays on the West Coast, while still being punctual to your afternoon meetings at the East Coast office.

Lighter and Stronger Materials

It’s true the watch world traditionally hasn’t been big on titanium watches, but oh how the times are a changing. The reason? These materials are lighter, more durable, and more resistant to rust—thus leading to some exceptional new timepieces that are destined to last. These four standouts showcase the variety of directions brands are taking with titanium.

Pelagos FXD

Tudor Pelagos FXD

This prize fighter packs an incredible level of water resistance inside its titanium case. Under the hood is a self-winding mechanical movement and a massive 70-hour power reserve (watches with this feature typically reach up to just 40-hours of reserve) show how the Pelagos punches as hard for utility as it does for looks.

Spirit Flyback

Longines Spirit Flyback

In ode to what pilots used in the early days of aviation, this aviator watch has a “Flyback” function that automatically resets and restarts its stopwatch with a single press of a button. As if that complication weren’t enough, Longlines also added a chronometer with a 60 seconds hand and a 30 minute counter. That’s a lot of gear to protect. A titanium case with a rock-solid ceramic bezel is up for the challenge.

Dive Pro

Victorinox Dive Pro

Thanks to an immense focus in consolidated strength, this rugged explorer takes grit to a whole new level. The Dive Pro’s titanium case and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal display provide one of the highest levels of impact protection a watch can have (ISO 1413 rating). Even the strap goes above and beyond for crying out loud (you can choose between extensible rubber or a paracord bracelet). An emphasis on ensuring water and dirt resistance encourages you to take it places far and wide.

Yacht-Master 42

Rolex Yacht-Master 42

Just when you thought a watch couldn’t get any better, Rolex took one of its iconic designs and outfitted it with titanium. Thanks to the new material’s properties, the upgraded Yacht-Master 42 is lighter on the wrist and more corrosion resistant—titanium has a natural oxide barrier that wards off rust. This Yacht-Master is likely to pass through more generations of kin than ever thought possible.

Masters of Time Measurement

Chronographs typically have at least one complication, an added stopwatch subdial, but they can offer up to three complications when a minutes and an hours subdial is added. Chronographs first gained prominence in racing, but the timekeeping dials can really be used for a handful of tasks. These updated chronos preserve the mastery of craft needed to build such a complex ticker, all while offering new case materials and boosted specs.

B01 Chronograph 44 Night Mission

Breitling B01 Chronograph 44 Night Mission

Designed for jet pilots, the Avenger wraps three chronograph complications with some of the most functional materials we’ve ever seen in a watch of this type. We’re talking lightweight, rust-resistant materials like titanium, a 300-meter water resistance rating, a huge 70-hour power reserve, and a strategic addition of luminated dials and numbers. You’d be hard pressed to find a chronograph more resilient than this bad boy.

Tissot PR516 Mechanical Chronograph

Tissot PR516 Mechanical Chronograph

This updated chronograph has historical ties. Its original version was worn by James Bond himself in 1973’s Live and Let Die. New age additions like an impressive 68-hour power reserve (for the times when you forget to wind it) and an illuminated dial make this watch more functional than the original.

Captain Cook Automatic Chronograph

Rado Captain Cook Automatic Chronograph

If you’re looking for a watch with sea legs, this chrono not only embodies nautical spirit but it begs for a life on the water. An anti-reflective, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal case help with reading even when the sun is directly beaming down midday. An illuminated dial then provides sight on the darkest of nights. As for material, Rado incorporates titanium and bronze (yes, bronze) to create a level of corrosion resistance that stops salt water in its tracks.

Heritage Series Calendoplan S

Movado Heritage Series Calendoplan S

Dress watches are far from being the most function-forward, but this Movado kicks the status-quo with three chronograph complications packed into its polished stainless steel case; the top right subdial serves as a seconds counter, the bottom dubdial an hour counter with a date window, and the top left subdial a minute counter. This is a suitable companion for those who say, “I want sporty, but make it dressy.”

Discover More Great Watches

Best Outdoor Watches | Best Fitness Watches | Best Digital Watches | Best Amazon Watches for Men | Best Automatic Watches | Best Watches Under $200 | Best Affordable Watches

Author: Health Watch Minute

Health Watch Minute Provides the latest health information, from around the globe.