Elite Traveler Fall 2024

INSPIRE TOP WATCHES

Top Watches of 2024

From the world’s most complicated timepiece ever made to a watch with a moonphase accurate for 45 million years, 2024 witnessed the unveiling of a number of record-breakers. Some of the most complex three dimensional and classic watches made their debuts with new pairings of complications, new methods of regulating resonance and world- fi rsts. Brands teamed with artists and architects for exquisite renderings that would be immediately identi fi able from acros a crowded room, and the brands that excel in high jewelry we over and above the ‘typical’ diamond-setting experience. Inde was a year of experimentation, exploration and innovation — brings us to some new Top Watches criteria. Almost every year since the inception of our monumental Top Watches feature in 2017, we have adhered to the idea of presenting the top 50 watches of the year (except during the pandemic, when we reduced that number to 40 due to the slowed watch production). This year, we eschewed the concept of presenting 50 watches. Why, after all, should there be 50 watches in the lineup if 50 watches don’t fi t thebill? This year, the criteria for selecting our Top Watches of 2024 were more stringent than ever as we sought only the most exhilarating concepts. This means that some beautiful watches, some vintage inspired pieces and some forward-thinking renditions simply didn’t make the cut. We think, though, that this more discerning approach delivers a top-notch experience wherein Elite Traveler readers get a more in-depth look at the epitome of innovation, precision and craftsmanship. It also enables us to showcase the top watches of 2024 without trying to categorize them, as we believe that each ss ent eed, it which

watch stands individually on its own merit. There are some basic criteria, though, that we did employ. For instance, every timepiece retails for a minimum of $20,000 — a number that better re fl ects the decision-making buying power of our readers. As always, there were a few other musts: Watches must have been introduced in 2024, and selected timepieces must be new and di ff erent when it comes to display, indications, functions, technology and aesthetics. A new dial color or a new material for an existing watch just doesn’t cut it. It was no easy feat and took months of studying the intricacies of the watches unveiled between January 1, 2024, and May 31, 2024. We feel, though, that the fewer than 30 watches presented in this edition of Top Watches is the best re fl ection of haute horology and the making of legends.

by Roberta Naas