With the blink of an eye, it appears that we are coming to the end of yet another incredible year.
In the horological scene, 2024 has been quite an interesting year. We have seen some exciting novelties, as well as developments within the industry. For collectors, we are sure that there have been quite a number of NWAs (new watch alerts, for the uninitiated) to celebrate as well.
So, to cap off the wonderful year, we are suggesting six cool watches for collectors to consider as the final purchase of 2024 (or simply to use up the remaining watch budget allocated for 2024). We are also hoping to recommend across different price points, to cover a wider scope.
So, what have we selected? Let us find out!
Citizen Series 8 880 GMT
We begin the article with an excellent timepiece from the land of the rising sun. Cue the utilitarian Citizen Series 8 880 GMT.
The Series 8 880 GMT is an extension of the incredible Series 8 collection, which is Citizen’s interpretation of a sports watch with an integrated bracelet. The execution is excellent, with a great design and finishing to match. The addition of the GMT complication certainly adds extra value to the watch, especially in terms of functionality.
Priced at S$2,322, the 41mm timepiece certainly offers a lot of value for what it is offering. We personally think that this is perhaps one of the best modestly priced novelties in the recent couple of years, and it is a timepiece that definitely does not look out of place with other watches that has a five-figure price tag.
Christopher Ward C1 Bel Canto
On the subject of impressive watches, there are probably very few timepieces that have caught the attention of enthusiasts as much as the Christopher Ward C1 Bel Canto.
Introduced at the end of 2022, the C1 Bel Canto is a timepiece that most collectors did not expect from a brand such as Christopher Ward. Do not get us wrong, Christopher Ward is known to produce brilliant watches at a modest price point, but we were certainly not expecting such a great looking timepiece with chiming complication – albeit not on request unlike a minute repeater (the Bel Canto chimes once every hour). The execution is also brilliant, to say the least.
The best part of the watch is its price point. The 41mm C1 Bel Canto retails at S$5,195, which is relatively reasonable in today’s market. This is certainly refreshing, and it proves that manufacturers are still able to offer such interesting and innovative timepieces without having to break the bank.
Le Régulateur Louis Erard x Vianney Halter II
Louis Erard is a brand that had impressed us tremendously in the last few years, with their wonderful creations with various collaborators. The new Le Régulateur (picture above courtesy of Louis Erard), with the legendary Vianney Halter, is one of such timepieces.
This is the second collaboration between Louis Erard and Vianney Halter, and this variant certainly did not disappoint. The watch features many of Vianney’s signature steampunk touches, which brings a rather quirky and refreshing look to the watch. We especially like the little details throughout the piece, such as the riveted crown and bezel, blued steel hands, as well as the deconstructed dial layout.
The timepiece is priced at CHF 4,444 (approximately S$6,787), with two different variants that are limited to just 178 pieces each. This is definitely a good chance for fans of Vianney Halter to finally own a timepiece with inputs from the esteemed watchmaker himself.
Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra GMT Worldtimer
Omega may be often known for its Speedmaster collection, but they do produce some other incredibly compelling watches as well. Cue the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra GMT Worldtimer.
Launched in 2017, the Aqua Terra GMT Worldtimer offers collectors an interesting option in the world of worldtimers. The timepiece attempts to produce a clean and legible layout, to allow for greater legibility. This is achieved through the use of the outer ring for the city labels, and an inner ring that features a 24 hours display. On top of that, the designers had also brilliantly leveraged on the indices to act as an indicator for the time of certain cities.
The main highlight for the watch, however, lies in the middle. The watch is fitted with a titanium cartouche which has been laser-ablated to create a blue ocean (and also leaving a relief of the continents as a result). The end result is a crisp and detailed showpiece which is pretty out of this world. The price of this 43mm timepiece begins at S$14,100 for the stainless-steel model, and we do think that this particular Omega is a stunning piece that matches both form and functionality together.
H. Moser & Cie. Pioneer Retrograde Seconds
H. Moser & Cie is a brand that often break norms, resulting in some extraordinary watches over the years. The new Pioneer Retrograde Seconds, introduced in 2024, showcases this trait beautifully.
The new Pioneer, as its namesake suggests, features a highly animated complication – in the form of a highly uncommon retrograde seconds hand. While the retrograde complication is admittedly not a novelty, the fact that it is used for a seconds indicator is indeed rather special as this allows the user to enjoy the entertaining complication once every 30 seconds (an added bonus, as one expects the hand to reset every 60 seconds).
Aside from the complications, the 42.8mm stainless steel timepiece is an excellent timepiece through and through. The dial, movement, and case are immaculately finished, as per what one expects from this manufacturer. The Pioneer Retrograde Seconds is priced at CHF 19,900 (approximately S$30,390), and this is definitely a cool option for a collector who might have some spare change lying around.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Chronograph
We round up the article with the stunning Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Chronograph.
There is just something about Reversos with exposed movements. This particular variation, which took reference from the 1996 iteration, features a chronograph on the reverse side with an open-work dial that showcases the intricacies and beauty of the in-house Calibre 860. The fact that this model features the time indication on the reverse side (which is not available on the original 1996 iteration) makes the Reverso Tribute Chronograph an even more usable timepiece.
Priced at S$35,800, this is undoubtedly a timepiece that is worth a slight fortune. However, there is just something magical about this timepiece, and it is certainly one that easily blows many other Reversos out of the water. After all, many do agree that a chronograph is certainly one of the most complicated complications to create – and showcasing the business end in its full glory is surely the best way to pay tribute to this wonderful complication.
Concluding Thought
We believe today’s selection cover quite a variety of options across different price point – and each with a rather unique proposition.
One of our favourite watches is actually the Christopher Ward Bel Canto, as it offers an excellent complication at a rather reasonable price point (relatively speaking). The Louis Erard x Vianney Halter collaboration piece is also another compelling option too, especially since Vianney Halter’s creations are typically priced on the higher end of the spectrum.
Finally, we hope that you have enjoyed our article this week. Please let us know your thoughts on our selection today, as well as some of your final NWAs for the year!
