Wristwatch Weekly

What have been the standout watch releases of 2026?

Rio the Watcher returns to Wristwatch Weekly for a special episode as we each bring five of our favourite watches to the table, covering everything from affordable Casio G-Shocks to some of the finest names in luxury watchmaking.

There's no ranking and no overall price limit. These are simply ten watches that have caught our attention this year.

We kick things off with What's On The Wrist before getting into the Rolex Datejust 41 Green Ombré, the much-hyped CasioNaut G-Shock, Tudor North Flag GMT and Rolex Perpetual Padellone.

We also have a proper debate about Omega's latest James Bond and Spectre Seamaster collection before moving into some serious watchmaking from Bulgari, Vacheron Constantin, Christopher Ward, Patek Philippe and Parmigiani Fleurier.

There's plenty to disagree about, particularly when it comes to Rolex's more adventurous designs, Tudor's direction, Omega's continued Bond connection and Christopher Ward's ambitions in the luxury watch market.

After discussing our ten choices, we look at the watches that narrowly missed out, including the stunning Zenith G.F.J. Bloodstone, and talk about which releases could still be important ten years from now.

We finish by catching up with Rio on everything he's been doing, including his new Pinmark luxury watch business, upcoming watch events, Vannin Watches and what's next for Rio the Watcher.

EPISODE CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction – Welcome Back Rio
00:28 What's On The Wrist
01:53 Rolex Datejust 41 Green Ombré
04:08 Casio G-Shock CasioNaut
07:55 Tudor North Flag GMT
10:25 Rolex Perpetual Padellone
15:56 Omega Bond & Spectre Seamaster
23:22 Bulgari Octo Finissimo 37mm
26:36 Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual Calendar
30:28 Christopher Ward C1 Loco Classic
36:03 Patek Philippe Nautilus 5810/1G
40:18 Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Chronographe Mystérieux
42:39 Our Favourite Watches
45:52 The Watches That Didn't Make Our List
48:00 Vannin Watches
50:06 Rio's New Watch Business
52:02 Catching Up & Future Plans
54:24 Final Thoughts

Which watch would make your own list of the best releases of 2026? Let us know what we've missed.

Thanks for listening to Wristwatch Weekly. Follow the podcast for weekly watch news, new releases, independent brands and conversations from the watch collecting community.

In Episode 17 of Wristwatch Weekly, Peter is joined once again by GatorCris for a packed episode covering some of the biggest and most interesting watch releases of the week.

We kick off with What’s On The Wrist before getting straight into the controversial new Omega Seamaster Diver 300M James Bond and Spectre collection. Peter is seriously tempted by the new black Spectre version, while Cris shares his thoughts on the Bond connection, aluminium bezels, Milanese bracelets and the hugely expensive platinum editions.

From there, we cover the new Casio G-Shock Sushi collection, the latest TRASKA Commuter colours, the stunning Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin 30th Anniversary, the $80,000 sapphire G-Shock MR-G, new Longines Spirit Pilot models, the Erebus Ascent HAQ Pistachio, Seiko’s strange but surprisingly popular Real Panda watches, the Hanhart Steve McQueen Limited Edition and the new Formex AirField.

There’s also a proper debate about quartz watches after Cris admits he’s becoming increasingly anti-quartz, while Peter argues there is still absolutely a place for a good quartz watch.

Later in the episode, we look ahead to Windup Watch Fair New York. Cris shares what the event is really like, how busy it gets, the brands he wants to see and some useful advice for anyone attending for the first time.

We also give Cris a challenge: with a $1,400 budget for Windup, what should he actually buy?

Finally, Peter gives an update on Vannin Watches, including progress on the first production watches, upcoming samples, planned pre-orders and what’s coming next for the brand.

Which release was your favourite this week, and what would you buy with $1,400 at Windup New York?

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome & GatorCris returns
00:27 What’s On The Wrist
01:25 New Omega Bond & Spectre Seamasters
11:05 Casio G-Shock Sushi Collection
13:19 TRASKA Commuter Seafoam & Florida Coral
17:18 Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual Calendar
21:48 The $80,000 Sapphire G-Shock
24:30 Longines Spirit Pilot Blue Dials
27:15 Erebus Ascent HAQ Pistachio & the Quartz Debate
31:41 Seiko Real Panda Watches
34:26 Hanhart Steve McQueen Limited Edition
37:48 Formex AirField
43:06 Windup Watch Fair New York
53:06 What Should Cris Buy With $1,400?
56:50 Favourite Watch Of The Week
58:41 Vannin Watches Update
01:01:31 Outro

Follow Wristwatch Weekly for new releases, watch news, collecting talk, microbrands and everything else happening in the watch world.

Wristwatch Weekly Episode 15, Peter and Chris are joined by Mike Pearson, Senior Vice President of Christopher Ward for North America and Global Retail, for a deep dive into the past, present and future of one of the most talked-about independent watch brands in the world.

We start with What’s On The Wrist, before going right back to Mike’s beginnings in watches, including the £20 X-Files watch that started it all, the pieces with the most sentimental value, and the moment he found himself talking watches with the legendary Gerald Genta.

Mike then takes us through his career in the watch industry, including his time with Zodiac, why he turned down opportunities with major Swiss brands, and what eventually convinced him to join Christopher Ward.

From there, we get properly into the brand.

We discuss the evolution of Christopher Ward from its early online days, why the Bel Canto changed everything, how The Twelve became one of the company’s most important watches, the development of the Twin Flags logo, and why the original SH21 movement didn’t have the same impact when it first launched.

Mike also gives his view on:

• The line between inspiration, homage and derivative design
• Why comparisons to Royal Oak, Nautilus and other integrated-bracelet watches don’t bother him
• Whether Christopher Ward is still a microbrand
• Whether being known as a “value brand” is becoming a limitation
• Customer service, quality control and growing pains
• Whether Christopher Ward could ever sell a £10,000 watch
• Why in-house movements aren’t always the answer
• The new C63 Sealander Chronograph
• The upcoming C1 Loco Classic
• What makes a watch recognisably Christopher Ward
• Whether the collection needs a stronger women’s offering
• And where the brand goes next

Mike also gives Peter and Chris some invaluable advice as they begin their own watch-brand journey: build the watch you believe in, know exactly why you made it, and don’t let every opinion pull the design in a different direction. EP15 TXT

We finish with some quick-fire questions, favourite watches, affordable picks, brands Mike thinks are doing great things, and a little Aston Villa chat.

What is the most important Christopher Ward watch ever made?

And could you ever see yourself spending £10,000 on a Christopher Ward?

00:00 Introduction – Mike Pearson joins Wristwatch Weekly
00:27 What’s On The Wrist
02:43 Mike’s first watch and sentimental collecting
05:25 Meeting Gerald Genta
08:02 Falling out of love with the watch industry
10:50 Zodiac and finding the passion again
14:00 Why Christopher Ward over a major Swiss brand?
15:52 How Christopher Ward has changed since 2005
22:05 The three watches that define Christopher Ward
24:01 How Peter became a Christopher Ward fan
27:08 The Christopher Ward name and identity
29:28 The Twin Flags logo debate
32:00 SH21 and why it didn’t transform the brand
34:33 How Bel Canto changed everything
37:02 The Twelve and integrated-bracelet comparisons
39:03 Inspiration vs derivative watch design
42:59 Christopher Ward’s biggest misses
45:58 Customer service, QC and growing pains
51:12 Is Christopher Ward still a microbrand?
53:06 Is “good value” becoming a backhanded compliment?
55:27 Could Christopher Ward sell a £10,000 watch?
58:34 C12 Loco and Christopher Ward movements
01:00:41 Do in-house movements actually matter?
01:02:30 C63 Sealander Chronograph and Sellita
01:05:55 C1 Loco Classic and GPHG
01:10:02 What makes a watch recognisably Christopher Ward?
01:13:10 Can Christopher Ward stay distinctly British?
01:14:26 What’s missing from the Christopher Ward collection?
01:15:56 Advice for Peter and Chris starting a watch brand
01:18:32 Mike Pearson Has To Choose
01:21:06 Best watch under £1,000
01:21:51 Watch brands smashing it right now
01:22:58 Least attractive Christopher Ward ever made
01:24:19 Aston Villa and scoring at Villa Park
01:26:12 Mike’s five-year ambition for Christopher Ward
01:28:33 Outro

Wristwatch Weekly Episode 14 is here, and Budget Watch Man Chris is back for another week of new watch releases, strong opinions and the occasional disagreement.

We start with What’s On The Wrist, with Chris showing off a newly acquired old-stock Casio G-Shock and Peter wearing the Elliot Brown Bloxworth Heritage Diver, before getting straight into some of the biggest releases of the week.

First up is Rolex and the unexpected new Rolex Perpetual Padellone, bringing an annual calendar, moonphase and a completely different side of Rolex to the modern collection. Is it one of the most interesting Rolex releases in years, or are complications like this completely unnecessary on a Rolex?

Then we get into the new Christopher Ward C63 Sealander Chronograph, which inevitably brings us back to the design and homage debate from last week. Christopher Ward openly references classic chronographs in the design, but does that make it derivative, or are they simply making the type of watch customers actually want?

We also discuss:

• Tissot PRX Quartz Chronograph
• IWC Ingenieur Automatic 50th Anniversary
• Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical x Call of Duty
• Timex Deepwater Meridian 200 HEV Automatic
• Hublot x Jeff Koons Classic Fusion Balloon Dog

And because Chris is back, we couldn't finish without some G-Shock talk.

We take a closer look at the leaked new Casio G-Shock GAC-2500 / GMC-2500 models, already nicknamed the “CasioNaut”, and discuss whether these could become some of the most popular G-Shocks Casio has ever released.

At the end of the show we pick the watches we would actually spend our own money on, talk about the biggest surprises of the week, and Chris reveals that he may have something very interesting coming up involving Nico Leonard.

If you enjoy the podcast, please Like the video, subscribe to Wristwatch Weekly, and let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Which of this week's releases would you actually buy?

And be honest: is the Hublot Balloon Dog brilliant, or one of the ugliest watches ever made?

00:00 Welcome to Wristwatch Weekly Episode 14
00:22 What’s On The Wrist
02:04 Rolex Perpetual Padellone
05:21 Christopher Ward C63 Sealander Chronograph
10:54 Tissot PRX Quartz Chronograph
15:20 IWC Ingenieur 50th Anniversary
20:42 Hamilton Khaki Field x Call of Duty
25:34 Timex Deepwater Meridian 200 HEV Automatic
28:59 Hublot x Jeff Koons Balloon Dog
34:06 New G-Shock “CasioNaut” leak
38:26 Which new watch would we actually buy?
39:21 Budget Watch Man, Nico Leonard & what’s coming next
40:43 Outro

#WristwatchWeekly #WatchNews #Rolex #ChristopherWard #GShock

In Wristwatch Weekly Episode 13, I’m joined once again by fellow watch collector and TikTok creator GatorCris for a packed episode covering eight of the biggest recent watch releases, leaks and announcements.

We start, as always, with What’s On The Wrist, with GatorCris wearing his Radcliffe × The Mad Watch Collector collaboration and me wearing the classic Rolex Submariner No Date.

Then we get into the watches.

We discuss the return of the Tudor Northflag, the leaked Casio G-Shock that the internet has already nicknamed the “CasioNaut”, TAG Heuer’s new Carrera Chronograph Sport, the insane Oris ProPilot X Gonzo Edition, Breitling’s Miles Davis Navitimer, the return of Gallet, Zenith’s new Chronomaster Solo Sport and the fan-selected Seiko Prospex 1965 Heritage Diver.

And then things get interesting.

We finish the episode with a proper discussion about Nico Leonard calling out Christopher Ward, accusing the brand of borrowing too heavily from other watches and describing it as a “copy machine with a logo on it.”

Is Nico right?

Where does inspiration end and homage begin?

Should Christopher Ward be held to a different standard from Casio, Tudor, Rolex, Omega, Glashütte Original and countless other brands that have used familiar watch design language?

And when almost every watch can be compared to something that came before it, is genuine originality even possible anymore?

GatorCris and I give our thoughts on the whole situation, Christopher Ward’s designs, homage watches, Nico’s own collaborations and whether the controversy is actually helping Christopher Ward more than hurting them. The discussion runs through examples from across the industry rather than treating Christopher Ward in isolation.

Let us know what you think in the comments:

Is Christopher Ward guilty of copying other brands, or is Nico Leonard being unfair?

And which of this week’s new releases would you actually buy?

Make sure to follow GatorCris on TikTok and check out his watch content.

If you enjoy the podcast, please hit the Like button, subscribe to Wristwatch Weekly, and join us for the next episode.

00:00 Welcome to Wristwatch Weekly with GatorCris
00:24 What’s On The Wrist
01:29 Nico Leonard vs Christopher Ward teaser
01:49 The latest watch releases
02:03 Tudor Northflag returns
05:23 The leaked Casio G-Shock “CasioNaut”
11:41 TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Sport
15:50 Oris ProPilot X Gonzo Edition
20:10 Breitling Navitimer B09 Miles Davis
23:38 Gallet returns under Breitling
30:46 Zenith Chronomaster Solo Sport
33:02 Seiko Prospex 1965 Heritage Diver
39:17 Which new watch would we actually buy?
40:55 Nico Leonard vs Christopher Ward
41:19 “Copy machine with a logo on it”
43:10 Is Nico actually right?
45:18 The problem with the homage argument
46:07 When big brands copy smaller brands
47:01 Nico’s own watch collaborations
48:14 Can any modern watch be completely original?
49:12 The Christopher Ward Twelve debate
50:58 Does Nico have too much influence?
52:18 Is the controversy actually helping Christopher Ward?
53:03 Why we became Christopher Ward fans
54:28 What watch collectors are saying online
55:34 Nico continues the Christopher Ward debate
57:08 Where does the controversy go next?
57:55 GatorCris outro
58:15 End

Chapters

Wristwatch Weekly is back for Episode 12, and after a few weeks away, Chris and I have plenty of new watches to catch up on.

We start with what’s on the wrist, including the Christopher Ward C60 Sapphire Edge and my new Omega Seamaster Ultra Deep, before getting into some of the biggest and most interesting recent releases.

This week we discuss:

• Seiko 5 Sports × Honda Motocompo Limited Edition
• TAG Heuer Formula 1 Solargraph Zandvoort
• IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar ProSet × Mercedes-Benz
• Fears Brunswick 40.5 Jump Hour Ultimus
• Christopher Ward Trident 30×30 Blue Marine Foundation
• Panerai Luminor Marina Carbotech
• TAG Heuer Carrera × Team Ikuzawa × Bamford
• Unimatic Pro Diver
• Timex Marlin GMT
• Casio’s affordable transparent-dial release

There’s plenty of debate around watch pricing, whether some limited editions are actually worth the money, Christopher Ward’s value proposition, TAG Heuer being underrated, Panerai’s unmistakable design and whether quartz watches deserve more respect.

We also head into Budget Corner, talk about what’s currently on our wish lists, and discuss the latest update on the La Touraine Maritimer Summer Edition.

If you enjoy the show, please hit the Like button, subscribe to Wristwatch Weekly and let us know in the comments which of these new releases you would actually buy.

00:00 Wristwatch Weekly is back
00:30 What’s On The Wrist
01:38 Seiko 5 Sports × Honda Motocompo
04:23 TAG Heuer Formula 1 Solargraph Zandvoort
08:25 IWC × Mercedes-Benz Perpetual Calendar ProSet
12:34 Fears Brunswick Jump Hour Ultimus
13:20 The Christopher Ward Jump Hour debate
19:02 Christopher Ward Trident 30×30
21:44 Christopher Ward vs Longines HydroConquest
24:26 Panerai Luminor Marina Carbotech
28:39 TAG Heuer Carrera × Team Ikuzawa × Bamford
31:14 Is TAG Heuer underrated?
33:59 Unimatic Pro Diver
36:44 What’s next on the wish list?
39:09 Budget Corner
39:16 Timex Marlin GMT
41:14 Affordable Casio transparent dial
42:35 La Touraine Maritimer Summer Edition update
44:13 The podcast is properly back
45:40 Wristwatch Weekly giveaway
46:01 Outro

The episode opens with the return of the regular show, your wrist checks and a catch-up on the recent releases before moving through the main watch discussions and Budget Corner

Chapters

In this episode of Wristwatch Weekly, I sit down with fellow TikTok watch creator and avid collector Cris, better known as @GatorChris.

Cris wears a different watch almost every day, owns a collection of around 40 watches and regularly travels to watch shops and events around the world. We discuss how he got into collecting, his love of microbrands, why he believes more collectors should consider homage watches and what it was really like attending Windup Watch Fair Chicago.

We also share our thoughts on three major new releases:

• Omega × Swatch Mission to the Moon 1969
• Citizen Promaster Dive 40.6mm
• Tissot Seastar 2000 Professional 44mm

Chris also reveals the watches that impressed him most at Windup Chicago, his favourite watch-shopping destination, his current dream watch and the advice he would give anyone beginning their watch-collecting journey.

Make sure to follow Cris on TikTok:

@GatorCris

Please hit the Like button, subscribe to the channel and let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Which of the three new releases would you choose, and what is the best watch event you have attended?

#WatchCollecting #MicrobrandWatches #WindupWatchFair #WatchPodcast #GatorCris

🎙 Welcome back to Wristwatch Weekly!

In Episode 10 we're joined by one of TikTok's fastest-growing watch creators, Rio the Watcher.

We discuss how Rio first got into watch collecting, the watch that started everything, why he still loves Casio G-Shock, his thoughts on Rolex, Omega, luxury watches, content creation and the biggest mistakes new collectors make.

If you're just starting your watch collecting journey, or you're already deep into the hobby, there's plenty here to enjoy.

In this episode we discuss:

⌚ Casio G-Shock

⌚ Omega Seamaster

⌚ Rolex

⌚ Bulova Marine Star

⌚ First luxury watches

⌚ How to start a watch collection

⌚ Luxury watch collecting

⌚ Watch collecting mistakes

⌚ TikTok watch creators

⌚ Grail watches

⌚ Favourite watch brands

If you enjoyed the episode, please like, subscribe and leave a comment letting us know your favourite watch discussed in today's podcast.

Follow Rio the Watcher:

(Insert Rio's links)

Follow Mystery Watch Guy:

TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@mysterywatchguy

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/mysterywatchguy

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@MysteryWatchGuy

#Rolex #Omega #Casio #WatchCollecting #LuxuryWatches

This week on Wristwatch Weekly we're joined by one of the biggest personalities in the watch community, Russ from The Mad Watch Collector.

We discuss how Russ got started on YouTube, the watches that shaped his collection, why he changed his mind about titanium watches, the rise of microbrands, watch collecting mistakes, content creation, and some seriously controversial watch opinions.

We also dive into:

• Why Russ isn't a fan of the Omega Seamaster
• His thoughts on the Tissot PRX
• The most underrated watch brands today
• Whether microbrands are closing the gap on Swiss brands
• The best watches under £500 and £1,000
• His dream watch
• Advice for new collectors entering the hobby

Plus our usual What's On The Wrist segment featuring Seiko, Omega and Vario.

A huge thank you to Russ for joining us.

Subscribe for weekly watch discussions, watch news, reviews and collector conversations.

#WristwatchWeekly #TheMadWatchCollector #WatchPodcast

Description:
Welcome back to Wristwatch Weekly.

In Episode 7, Peter and Chris dive into some of the most interesting watch releases of the week, including the incredible new IWC Pilot's Watch Performance Chronograph Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month "Vertical Drive", the stunning TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph, the Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Lou Gehrig Limited Edition, and Audemars Piguet's colourful new Royal Oak Offshore Summer Collection.

We discuss whether IWC's latest release is an engineering masterpiece or completely over the top, if TAG Heuer has quietly entered the world of haute horology, and whether colourful luxury sports watches are becoming the new normal.

This week's episode also includes:

• What's On The Wrist
• Watch News
• Hands On Horology
• Budget Corner
• Viewer Questions

Featured Watches:

• IWC Vertical Drive
• TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph
• Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Lou Gehrig Limited Edition
• Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Summer Collection

If you enjoy watch collecting, luxury watches, affordable watches, microbrands and honest watch discussion, make sure to subscribe and join us every week.

#WatchPodcast #IWC #TAGHeuer #AudemarsPiguet #Oris #WatchCollector #LuxuryWatches #WatchNews #WristwatchWeekly #WatchTok