The Top Men’s Watches Trends For 2016

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What you wear on your wrist isn’t as sensitive to seasonal shifts as your clothes. But that’s not to say men’s watches don’t move with the times. Trends in the world of horology – albeit changing at a pace that’s glacial compared to that of fashion – are still a thing. And while we’ll have to sit tight until SIHH in January and Baselworld later in March to scoop the biggest stories in timekeeping, there are clues as to what we’ll be in for when watchmakers finally reveal the cards they’ve been keeping close to their chest. So, we hit up our top sources on timepieces to bring you the trends ticking towards us for 2016.

DIY – Make Your Watch Your Own

Engraving’s old hat. Until now, customising your timepiece might have meant having your name etched onto it, but things are about to get a lot more personal in 2016. “There is an emerging trend for customisation of design and colour of watch straps and dials,” says Paul Sweetenham, co-founder of new British watch label Farer. Farer, whose watches start from £340 and are designed in the UK but assembled in Switzerland, is the latest in a series of brands (that also includes British watchmakers Shore Projects) producing pared-back designs with interchangeable straps – from Milanese mesh in classic black, silver and gold to silicone styles in neon brights.

Farer Watches Feature an Interchangeable Strap that allows you to customise your watch

Farer WatchesFarer Watches

Personalisation is proving popular at the higher end of the market, too. Bamford Watch Department, the Mayfair-based brainchild of George Bamford, will even tinker with your top-tier timepieces – changing the colour of a Rolex Submariner’s watch face or a TAG Heuer Monaco’s chrono markers – so you can ensure your watch is truly your own.

Bamford Customised Rolex Watches - 'Commando' Series

Bamford Customised Rolex Watches - 'Commando' SeriesBamford Customised Rolex Watches – ‘Commando’ Series

It’s Time to Downsize

Remember that trend for watches so big they’d double as your dinner plate? Well, it’s dead. Much like oversized belt buckles, watches that look like they’re on steroids are the cringe-inducing accessory of choice for men desperately trying to make up for shortfalls elsewhere. “Arnie- and Stallone-style watches [like Sly’s juiced up 47mm Panerai Luminor Marina Submersible in 1996 disaster romp Daylight] are not elegant and feel outdated,” says Sweetenham. “It’s best to stay under 42mm.”

Slim Watches Are In For 2016Junghans

Chalk it up to the fallout from the late noughties’ economic collapse (some say Swiss watchmakers slimmed down their wares at the time in order to appeal to the then booming Chinese market, ultimately discovering smaller isn’t necessarily lesser) or pin it on the changing face of 21st century masculinity, but 2015 was the year small watches hit the big time – from Seiko’s anniversary edition 1967 62GS automatic (just 37.6mm in diameter) to Timex for J.Crew’s exceptionally slender vintage army field watch (36mm).

Slim Watches Are In For 2016Kartel

And 2016 will likely see the trend continue: “A classic dial with traditional batons, a slim case and a leather strap is bang on trend for 2016,” says Matthew Rowell, UK Brand Manager at 88 Rue du Rhone. “Small is beautiful,” say Jono Holt and Jasmin Powell, co-founder of, and European Retail Manager at, Shore Projects, respectively. “We’ve seen huge demand for smaller watches and are soon to launch a new collection that meets this. It’s not just women who want them; vintage-inspired smaller timepieces are quickly becoming must-owns for men.”

Slim Watches Are InShore Projects

All (White) Gold Everything

Well, maybe not everything. “2015 [saw] a resurgence in white gold that will only continue for 2016,” says Muhaddisa Fazal, Fine Watch Buyer at The Watch Gallery. Rose gold might’ve enjoyed a few years ruling the men’s wristwear roost but now’s the time to turn to more traditionally masculine metals. Says Fazal: “It’s a lot more polished than P. Diddy these days.” And if 2015’s releases – including H. Moser & Cie’s Endeavour Perpetual Calendar and Patek Philippe’s Calatrava Pilot Travel Time Re. 5524 – are anything to go by, she’s not wrong.

White gold watches are set to be a big trend in 2016

H. Moser & Cie's Endeavour Perpetual Calendar Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot Travel Time 5524

Get Connected

With Google Glass’ release deemed a spectacular #fail earlier this year and initial response to the Apple Watch tepid at best, you’d be forgiven for thinking the future of wearables really wasn’t that bright after all. But TAG Heuer, the 155-year-old Swiss luxury watchmaker known for its pioneering precision, is shining the light with its new Connected smartwatch. Although launched back in November, the Connected, made in collaboration with Intel, won’t drop in stores UK-side until early 2016 and demand for this tech-enhanced timepiece is already eclipsing any of its smartwatch predecessors: “We’ve already sold out on pre-order allocations,” says Fazal.

TAG Heuer Connected Smartwatch

Built on the latest release of Android Wear (and also iOS compatible), the entirely digital-faced Connected offers access to thousands of apps, is equipped with directional wind and weather monitoring, and features a vast array of micro-applications including alarm and stopwatch features. But that’s not all – it looks good too: boasting silver lacquer-engraved lettering, fine-brushed titanium lugs and a black, sandblasted, carbide-coated titanium bezel.

TAG Heuer Connected Smartwatch

“Digital partnerships are the ones to watch,” says Damian Otwinowski, Retail Director for London Flagships of Watches of Switzerland. “In 2016, we’ll hear more about innovation, but I also forecast a lot of reinventions of what is already well established within watchmaking.” Watch this space.

TAG Heuer Connected Smartwatch

Brands To Watch Next Year

Looking to invest in something old-school next year? Or maybe you’re just in the market to switch up your rotation of wristwear? These are the names to know:

The New Collector Brand

“Universal Genève’s outstanding timepieces from the 1960s and 1970s are inspiring many of today’s watch brands,” says Sweetenham.

Universal Geneve Men's Vintage Watches

The Modernist

“Watch design that’s modern, classic and effortless [is trending for 2016], and new Scottish watch brand NOMAD brings watches back to basics with modern flair,” say Holt and Powell.

Nomad Watches

The Statement-Maker

“Detomaso is a brand that isn’t well known across the UK,” says Terry Markham, Senior Buyer at WatchShop.com. “But it has Italian styling at its core. The jewel in the brand’s crown is the Man’s Man collection, featuring some very bold yet wearable pieces.”

Detomaso Watches

The Comeback

“Corum has seen a massive resurgence this year,” says Fazal. “The brand has become better known in overseas markets and is now re-concentrating their efforts on the UK market – they’re ‘statement’ and present a welcome contrast to competitors’ offerings.”

Corum Watches

Final Word

It’s worth bearing in mind that while some trends boom at the lower end of the watch market, some will (understandably) be slower to take hold in the boardrooms of luxury watch’s biggest players. And that’s if they ever do at all – some fine watches, after all, are pretty much trendproof. What do you think 2016 has in store for men’s watches? Share your thoughts below.

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