Elite Traveler Fall 2023

INSPIRE TOP WATCHES

Top Watches of 2023

As the watch-collecting and watch-loving community continues to grow, top brands spread their wings as well, o ff ering creativity, innovation, precision and art to their newest timepieces. For the seventh consecutive year, we tackle the challenge of fi nding the best watches in the world as unveiled that year. For 2023, so many changes are occurring in watchmaking that the quest for the best was no easy task. This year, watches are slimming down in thickness and in diameter, a return to vintage and elegance is quietly taking place, and there is a renewed emphasis on the tiniest of details. Some watch brands continue to o ff er three-dimensional space-like timepieces, while others go to extremes with art, architecture and gem setting. The top watch list was formed, changed, formed again. Finally, we were able to select

50 top watches that meet our criteria and that we hope delight and enchant you, our discerning readers. As always, our criteria this year note that any watch included must have been introduced in 2023 or late 2022 (after our previous year’s Top Watches issue was published). All watches have to retail for no less than $10,000, and watches with just a new dial color or a di ff erent material of an existing watch would not be considered. In the ensuing pages, you will fi nd some of the best watches that represent an array of watchmaking feats. All our selections were made prior to the unveiling of unique watches being auctioned in November with proceeds going to raise funds for research on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy; thus, none of those Only Watch timepieces are in this feature.

by Roberta Naas