Elite Traveler Fall 2021

INSPIRE TOP WATCHES

TopWatches Our insatiable desire to track, and even harness, time leads to an even greater craving for timepieces that distinctively and precisely do the job. This year marks the fifth anniversary of our Top Watches feature: the journey to track time, or timepieces, on an annual basis. Little could we have known that we would become the leader of this domain in print lifestyle magazines. Over the years, our feature has grown and morphed so that, today, we bring our discerning readers a carefully curated look at some of the finest watches of the year. While many are limited editions, some — unfortunately for watch lovers globally — are one-of-a-kind timepieces that will never be replicated in the exact format seen on our pages. The top watches this year are from the foremost brands whose collective creativity knows no limits. We have judiciously set forth new criteria when selecting this year’s watches to ensure the finest timepieces are showcased. We set a new minimum price of $20,000 in response to readers’ requests for a selective collection. We allowed watches that were unveiled only since September 2020, the date of our last Top Watches publication. Additionally, no watch brand appears more than once — even if one or two might deserve it — in an effort to be as inclusive as possible in this showcase of the most exclusive horological power statements for the wrist. Some of the finest watches in the world are revealed in the ensuing pages, watches that utilize centuries-old crafts and visionary technology and innovation. Bravo to the brands whose watchmakers and craftspeople work tirelessly to bring new meaning to time.

by Roberta Naas