Watch Trends 2022: Outlook on Hypes, Rumours and New Models

One of the big trends of recent years will still be part of watch trends 2022: Sporty luxury watches, especially those made of stainless steel, continue to be in high demand and are meeting an ever-increasing demand. The market prices of design icons such as the Patek Philippe Nautilus, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, and the Vacheron Constantin Overseas are likely to continue to rise. As for the hype models, demand for gold and platinum references is also expected to increase - not only because these variants are more readily available but also because the price difference between stainless steel and precious metal models is narrowing.

In addition, it has become apparent in recent years that we will subsequently see new integral watches in the Gerald Genta style. Brands such as Tissot with the PRX, Frederique Constant with the Highlife and Czapek with the Antarctique have gone down this path. You can also expect to see some watch manufacturers sporting their classic models and offering them with metal straps. While Nomos has already been offering steel straps since 2019, IWC presented the Portugieser with a matching stainless steel bracelet for the first time at Watches & Wonders 2020. Even Patek Philippe and Hublot now sell some models previously offered exclusively with leather or rubber straps, with metal bracelets.

The ongoing optimisation of the manufacture calibres of numerous manufacturers will also be part of watch trends 2022 for men's and women's watches. Although mechanical movements have long since reached maturity and can hardly be improved in their basic function, the various luxury manufacturers are continuously working on fine-tuning them. For one thing, it has been observed in recent years that the power reserve of many mechanical timepieces has increased from 40 hours to 55, 60 or even 70 hours. Not only Omega and Rolex but also Richemont brands such as IWC and Panerai have taken this step. Patek Philippe has also followed suit and introduced the new calibre 30-255 PS with 65 hours of power reserve with the Calatrava Ref. 6119.

On the other hand, watch brands are increasingly working on resistance to magnetic fields. This can be achieved by using anti-magnetic movement components such as balance springs made of silicon.

In terms of the watch novelties awaiting us in 2022, a big birthday hints at something big: The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak was first launched in 1972 and will be a full 50 years old in 2022. It is more than likely that this special anniversary will serve as the occasion for a new model. However, it is not yet known whether Audemars Piguet will present a successor to the Jumbo Ref. 15202, which has been in production since 2000, or whether the 50th birthday of the successful model from Le Brassus will be celebrated with an exclusive special model.

As far as new watches 2022 from Rolex are concerned, the Geneva-based manufacturer will probably continue the model evolution: While the Explorer and Explorer II have recently been slightly revised, the only thing missing after the model updates of the last few years is actually an update for the Milgauss. If this rumour turns out to be true, it is to be expected that a new Milgauss - which could be presented as Ref. 126400 - will receive a new movement and a slimmer case. It is also likely that Rolex will present new dials for the Oyster Perpetual, Datejust or Day-Date. Moreover, the past has shown that the manufacturer is always good for a surprise.

The days when ladies' watches were scaled-down men's models with quartz movements are long gone: for years now, more and more luxury brands have been presenting attractive ladies' watches with harmonious proportions and sophisticated complications. For the year 2022, we can increasingly expect to see unisex models that are not explicitly sold as either ladies' or men's watches. On the one hand, this is because ladies' watches are getting bigger and men's models are getting smaller again. As a result, the intersection of gender-typical diameters is becoming larger and larger. Ladies are also increasingly wearing tool watches like the Rolex Submariner or Daytona. On the other hand, more and more watch brands are starting to produce unisex watches in different diameters. For example, in 32, 36 and 42 millimetres.

However, the new unisex trend does not change the continued existence of ladies' models in general: Many manufacturers are still focusing on ladies' watches as a part of watch trends 2022. The fusion of sophisticated watchmaking and aesthetic design elements, such as mother-of-pearl dials or gemstones, is appealing to more and more manufacturers. Not least because of the resulting increase in the number of buyers. As recently as December 2021, Omega presented the Constellation as a feminine 36-millimetre version with indices and bezels made of brilliant-cut diamonds.