From tactical to commemorative timepieces, the top May 2023 watch trends offer a look at how designers are paying tribute to the past and supporting a brighter future with sustainable designs.
With its latest designs, the watch industry is supporting the resurgence of militaristic styles. Military-inspired watches have long been a staple of the industry, but the newest versions feature a range of practical and aesthetic updates. The demand for these watches reflects a growing interest in adventure sports, as well as a renewed appreciation for military heritage.
Some brands are creating limited-edition watches that feature subtle nods to important events in the company's history, while others are releasing watches that reference the location of the brand's flagship store or other notable landmarks.
Top 40 Watches Trends in May
From Smartwatch Projection Bands to Luxury Jewelry Cuff Watches:
Laura McQuarrie — May 26, 2023 — Fashion
40
Heart-Monitoring Smartwatches
Casio Unveils the 'DW-D5600' G-SHOCK Polar-Powered Smartwatch
39
Luxury Automotive-Branded Smartwatches
The Bugatti Ceramique Titane Edition Smartwatch is Sleek
38
Sleek Military-Inspired Timepieces
The UNIMATIC Modello Quattro UT4-B is Limited to 300 Examples
37
Sci-Fi-Inspired Limited Timepieces
Fossil Launches its New Star Wars Collection with Six Pieces
36
Outdoor-Ready Colorful Watch Series
Orient Unveils a New M Force and Star Basic Date Watch
35
Technical Titanium Timepiece Designs
The CODE41 T360 Tourbillon Has an Angular, Artistic Design
34
Chic Skeletonized Movement Timepieces
The Louis Vuitton Voyager Skeleton Has a Cryptic Form
33
Luxury Carbon Fiber Timepieces
Hublot Unveils Big Bang Integrated Tourbillon Full Carbon Timepiece
32
Tactical Military-Inspired Timepieces
The Timex Command Encounter Has a 45mm Resin Case
31
Solar-Powered Smartwatches
This Smartwatch Doesn't Require Battery Charging With Adequate Sunlight
30
Stealthy Tactical Smartwatches
This Watch Offers a Night Vision Screen & Ballistics Calculation
29
Miniaturized Gradient Dial Timepieces
The ZIIIRO XS Watch Has a Compact 31mm Case
28
Revived Iconic Luxe Timepieces
Chanel Presents its Elevated Premiére Timepiece Once Again
27
Automotive Heritage Watches
The Hodinkee x Autodromo Group B Rallysport Chronograph is Elegant
26
Reinterpreted Retro Diver Timepieces
The Seiko Prospex Mechanical GMT Watches Come in Three Models
25
Low-Cost Collaboration Timepieces
The Huckberry x Timex IRONMAN Flix Reissue is Rugged
24
Sleek Skeletal Timepieces
The Rado Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton is Technical
23
Sleek Fitness Smartwatches
Garmin Unveils the New Forerunner Smartwatches with a 23-Day Battery
22
Monochromatic Camera Brand Timepieces
The Leica ZM 1 and ZM 2 Watches Come in a Monochrom Edition
21
Nontraditional Racer Timepiece Models
The 2023 TAG Heuer Carrera Date Comes in Four Colors
20
Navy SEAL-Targeted Timepieces
The Luminox Master Carbon SEAL Automatic is Adventure-Ready
19
Smartwatch Protection Bands
Moving Bodies Forward Launched an Impact Protection Band for Watches
18
Road Trip-Ready Timepieces
The Q Timex Three Time Zone Chronograph is Ideal for Avid Travelers
17
Exclusive Full Titanium Timepieces
URWERK Unveils Exclusive Metallic Gray Hue to UR-100V Model
16
Flagship-Celebrating Timepieces
Tiffany & Co. Debuts a Series of Watches Inspired by its Flagship
15
Luxury Jewelry Cuff Watches
Piaget Unveils Its Limelight High Jewelry Cuff Watches in Three Colors
14
Watch-Like Tabletop Alarm Clocks
The New Seiko Mai Alarm Clock Reflects its Dive Watch
13
College Sports-Themed Watches
Breitling Launched New Athleisure Watches of Four Universities
12
Limited Edition Progressive Timepieces
AVI-8 Drops the AV-4103 Flyboy Tuskegee Airmen Meca-Quartz
11
Sporty Solar Watch Designs
Diesel Recently Launched Its First Solar Watch Line
10
Luxury Fairy-Themed Watches
Van Cleef & Arpels Unveils New Lady Féerie Watch Shades of Pink
9
Square Case Watches
Rado Releases Its Latest True Square Automatic Skeleton Watches
8
Three-Dimensional-Designed Timepiece Collections
Hublot Launches New Big Bang Sang Bleu Collection
7
Luxury Celebration-Themed Timepieces
Rolex Launches New Oyster Perpetual with 'Celebration' Dial
6
Upcycled Watch Collections
Armitron and Tide Ocean SA Unveil a Collaborative Watch Collection
5
Hawaiian Watersports-Inspired Timepieces
Czapek Unveil Its Antarctique P.04 'Lanikai' Timepiece
4
Monarch-Honoring Sleek Timepieces
Bremont Updates the Martin-Bake MB to Celebrate King Charles III
3
Jewelry Covered Luxury Watches
Piaget Unveils Its Latest Limelight Aura High Jewelry Watch
2
Luxury Flower-Themed Timepieces
Chopard Releases The Chopard Imperiale with Lotus Flower Theme
1
Self-Winding Chronograph Timepieces
A. Lange & Sӧhne Reveals Its First Self-Winding Chronograph
Related Ideas
Industrial Design Smartwatches
The 176 CS-500 Smartwatch by Carl Hauser Has a Rugged Form
Luxury Watchmaker Smartphones
The Realme 12 Pro+ Rolex Edition Plays Homage to Classic Timepieces
Stylish Expedition Timepiece Models
The Timex Expedition GMT Titanium Has a Lightweight Form
Retro-Futurism Smartwatch Designs
The Conceptual 'JUSTWATCH' by Jacek Janiczak is Feature-Rich
Accessible Space Age Timepieces
The Timex Marlin Jet Has a Midcentury Modern Design at a Low Cost
Elegant High-Performance Watches
The Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 Marries Style With Function
Recycled Resin Timepieces
The G-SHOCK G5600BG-1 Has Tough Solar Technology and More
Ghostly Purple Watches
Timex and Ghostly International Partnered Together to Launch a New Watch
Nostalgic Gaming Timepieces
The Retro Gaming Watch Brings Gameplay to the Wrist
Patriotic Americana Timepieces
The G-SHOCK DW5600US23-7 Commemorates the Fourth of July
NASA-Inspired Watch Designs
Casio Designs the G-SHOCK DW6900NASA237, Inspired by Nasa
All-Metal Elevated Timepieces
Casio Presents a New G-Shock Shock-Resistant Watch Capsule
Satellite-Enabled Gold Watches
Huawei Releases the 'Ultimate Gold Edition' Timepiece
Cocktail-Inspired Watch Series
Seiko Presents the Exclusive Cocktail Time European & U.S. Range
Sophisticated Timepiece Designs
Casio America Updates Its G-SHOCK Black and White Collection
Adventurous Collaboration Watches
The Huckberry x Timex Titanium Field Watch is Lightweight
Brand-Honoring Digital Timepieces
Hodinkee's G-SHOCK Ref. 5600 by Ben Clymer Rounds Out the Series
Opulent Anniversary Smartwatch Concepts
This Apple Watch X Concept by Lukas Gehrer is Industrial
Pearlescent Neutral-Toned Watches
Casio America Launches Two Eco-Conscious Watch Models for Women
Glowing Nighttime-Inspired Timepieces
The Seiko Prospex Black Series Has Three New Models
Minimal Collaborative Dive Watches
Swarch and Blancpain Present the Scuba Fifty Fathoms
Pristine Titanium Watches
UNIMATIC and MAAP Collaborate on a New Titanium Timepiece
Solar-Powered Military-Grade Timepieces
The Momentum UDT Eclipse Synch Solar is Black Ion-Plated
Vintage-Style Timepiece Collections
The Casio Vintage A100 Series Watches Come in Four Finishes
Swiss-Made Timepiece Designs
Braun Clocks Presents its First Range of Wristwatches
Luxury Smartwatch Models
The Latest TAG Heuer Connected Wearables Come in Two Options
Classic Special Timepiece Variations
Christopher Ward Unveils a Special C1 Bel Canto 9324
Watch Collection Extensions
Tissot's New PRX Collection Offers Fresh Tones and Unique Materials
Ultra-Slim Cubic Timepieces
The Patek Philippe Cubitus Collection is the Brand's First in 25 Years
Bold Holiday Watch Collections
The Swatch 2024 Holiday Collection Highlights Festive Looks
Retrofuturism Metallic Timepieces
The Girard-Perregaux Casquette 2.0 Comes in a New Model Option
Japan-Inspired Wearable Watch Rings
Casio and Stasto Stand Stones Present Timepiece Rings
Retro Space Age Timepieces
The New Hamilton PSR 74 Watches Reimagine the Pulsar Cushion Model
Retro-Style Anniversary Watches
The Casio 50th Anniversary Sky and Sea Series Watches are Geeky
Sophisticated Mechanical Watches
Orient Star Elevates the Mechanial Moon Phase Classic Capsule
70s-Style Motorsports Timepieces
These Seiko Prospex Speedtimers Come in Three Styles
Self-Referential Watch Models
The Timex Urban Pop Features the Brand's Slogan on the Dial
Flagship Space Flight Smartwatches
The Huawei Watch 4 Pro Space Edition Has a Dual-Color Bezel
Lunar Festivities-Inspired Timepieces
Swatch Celebrates the Year of the Dragon with New Watches
Brand Heritage Watch Collections
GUESS Celebrates with the Launch of Four Iconic Watches
Vintage-Like Western-Style Watches
The Ralph Lauren The Western Black Dial Cushion Watch is Ornate
Sophisticated Women's Watches
Richard Mille's Watches Arrive in Three Unique Designs
Sophisticated Military-Inspired Watches
Hamilton Introduces Two New Khaki Field Watches
Luxe Leather-Free Smartwatch Straps
These New Apple Watch Hermès Bands Come in Four Styles
Matte Black Ceramic Wristwatches
Bell & Ross Designs the BR 03 Cyber Ceramic Timepiece
Stealthy Wilderness-Inspired Watches
G-SHOCK Presents the New Flagship GWGB1000 MUDMASTER
Laser Tag-Inspired Watch Designs
Zodiac and Worn & Wound Release a Highly Unique Timepiece
Elevated Sporty Men's Watches
Fossil Introduces Its Latest Men's Watch Capsule—the Sport Tourer
Reimagined Case Timepiece Series
Orient Presents a Smaller Case Iteration of the Mako 40
Next-Gen Pocket Watches
The Arsham Droplet Reimagines the Classic Pocket Watch
Vibrant Y2K-Inspired Timepieces
The G-SHOCK DW-6900 Crazy Colors Series is Here for Spring
Vintage-Inspired Timepiece Collections
The Bulova Jet Star Watch Collection Has Three Styles
Rugged Fashion-Forward Watches
The New G-SHOCK G-STEEL GBM-2100 Series Has Three Models
Healthy Habit-Promoting Wearables
The Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Has a Rotating Bezel
Space Force-Inspired Timepieces
MICROMILSPEC Launches a New Watch Inspired by the U.S. Space Force
Durable Luxury Watches
The New Full Metal G-Shock Models are Rugged but Elegant
Summery Y2K Era Timepieces
The Casio BABY-G BGD-565 Summer Jelly Comes in Three Colors
Minimal Stealthy Digital Wristwatches
Casio Introduces the New DW-5000R Watch Honoring a Classic
Stylish Special Operations Timepieces
The Panerai 2023 Navy SEALs Collection Includes Five Styles
Haute Titanium Pilot Timepieces
The Longines Pilot Majetek Pioneer Edition Elevates a Classic
Ultra-Rugged Next-Gen Timepieces
The G-SHOCK Mudmaster GWG-B1000 Has a Tactical Construction
Street-Informed Collaborative Timepieces
BEAMS Joins NEEDLES and Timex on a Classic Digital
Daylight-Savings Intricately Made Watches
Bovet Introduces the Récital 28 Prowess 1 Timepiece
Posh Celebratory Pocket Watches
The Citizen 100th Anniversary Special Edition Pocket Watch is Chic
World-Inspired Watch Cases
Y24's Apple Watch Case Collection Contributes to Affordable Luxury
Heat-Resistant Watch Designs
Casio’s Watch Design is Sauna-Ready
Haute Fashion Digital Watches
The Timex x MM6 Maison Margiela Collection Has Watch and Ring Styles
Space-Inspired Digital Watches
Casio and NASA Join Forces on the GW6900NASA24-1 Timepiece
Slender Metallic Smartwatches
The Apple Watch Series 10 Comes in Titanium and Aluminum
Pocketwatch-Inspired Wristwatches
Seiko Presents the Limited Seiko Presage Craftsmanship Series
Active Lifestyle-Focused Smartwatches
The Aurafit G12 Smartwatch Debuted at CES 2025
Postmodern Diver Timepieces
The Nodus Sector Dive Watch Merges Classic and Contemporary Styles
Minimalist Militant Timepieces
The Timex Expedition North Field Chrono is Rugged Yet Refined
Time-Telling Cufflinks
The Creamy Patina 2023 Collection Takes After Iconic Vintage Watches
Sleek Modern Timepiece Homage
Casio Releases the Limited-Edition TRN-50 Timepiece
Affordable Luxurious Patterned Watches
BAPE is Inspired by a Premium Design with the TYPE 10
Sporty Cubic Smartwatch Models
The Redmi Watch 5 Active Offers 18 Days of Battery Life
Futuristic Watch NFTs
Casio's VIRTUAL G-SHOCK NFTs Speak to Gen Z Collectors
Mechanical Hybrid Smartwatch Concepts
Priyanshu Jaiswal Designs the Lunar Eclipse Hybrid Watch
Earthy Tennis-Inspired Timepieces
Maurice de Mauriac and Racquet Launch the Rallymaster III Watch
Nostalgic Digital Watch Models
The Casio G-SHOCK DW-5000R Recreates the Brand's Original Model
Sporty Luxe Returning Timepieces
Tag Heuer Reintroduces the Signature Skipper
Modernized Vintage Wristwatches
Elif Bulut Designs the Vintage Alarm Clock & Wristwatch
AI Wellness Companions
NOWATCH Insights Delivers Personalized Well-Being Insights in a Custom Way
Global Timezone Timepieces
Nik Bentel Studio and TTT Watches Creates the Time Traveler
Futuristic Space-Themed Timepieces
AMIDA Unveils the New Retro-Futuristic Digitrend Watch
Elegant Collaborative Wristwatches
NOAH NY and Timex Join Forces on the Moon Phase Watch
Earth-Inspired Wristwatches
Swatch and OMEGA Present the Moonswatch Mission to Earth
Whimsical Timeless Watches
Longines Expands Its Flagship Heritage Line with Emphasis on Elegance
Sporty Titanium-Accented Timepieces
Farer Chronograph Sport Titanium Watches Come in Two Models
Sports-Focused Stealthy Smartwatches
Mobvoi Launches the Endura Version of the TicWatch Pro 5
Chic Retro-Inspired Watch Designs
Zodiac Revives Its Iconic 1953 Sea Wolf
Stylish Sensor-Packed Smartwatches
The Huawei Watch GT4 Comes in Two Size Options
Motion-Sensing Wristwatches
The Casio Digital Basic GDB500 Series Shares Simple Step Trackers
Collaboration EDC Timepieces
The James Brand x Timex Automatic GMT Watch is Titanium-Made
Ultra-Durable Timepiece Collections
The Unimatic Toolwatch Series Includes Four Models in All
Ultra-Light Tennis-Inspired Watches
Big Bang Unico Novak Djokovic Watch Embodies Tennis Legacy
Luxe Swiss Timepiece Ranges
The Golden Concepts Automatic Swiss-Made Watch Will Arrive in 2024
Sustainable Luxury Wristwatches
ID Genève Designs the Circular 1 Grenat Dial Watch
Summer Tone-Inspired Artful Watches
Richard Mille Presents the RM 07-01 Coloured Ceramics Capsule
Co-Branded Maximalist Timepieces
The Marni x G-SHOCK GMD-S5610MA-7ER is Eye-Catching
Squared Collectible Timepiece Designs
Swatch Offers a New Structural Bioceramic What If? Watch
AR Watch Try-Ons
Perfect Corp. and TIMEZ Created a Digital Experience for Luxury Watch Shopping
Militant Titanium Timepieces
The Porsche Design Chronograph 1 Utility is Limited-Edition
Smaller Scale Luxurious Watches
Audemars Piguet Revives the Royal Oak Mini Timepiece
Wilderness-Ready Smartwatch Models
The Garmin tactix 7 AMOLED Edition Has an Adaptive Display
Moon Mission-Inspired Timepieces
OMEGA and Swatch Join Forces on the MoonSwatch Timepiece
Stylish Leather Smartwatch Bands
WITHit's New Range of Smartwatch Bands are Chic and Durable
Iconic Artwork Watch Collaborations
These Artful Watches Feature Masterpieces from the MET
Anniversary-Honoring Luxe Timepieces
Disney and UNIMATIC Present the 100th Anniversary Capsule
Refined Sleek Smartwatch Updates
Samsung Adds New Upgrades to the Galaxy Watch6 Series
Practical Comfort-Focused Watch Straps
WITHit Has Launched the Tactical Strap Apple Watch Band
Playfully Tactical Timepieces
The ADPT Series 1 Dual Time Watch Has a Titanium Case
Ultra-Chic Timepiece Designs
Arnold & Son Has Launched the Time Pyramid 42.5 Watches
Gold-Plated Leather Watches
Heaven Mayhem Introduces the Icon Watch with Four Unique Strap Designs
Premium Smartwatch Bands
Solace Bands Places Emphasis on Style, Comfort, and Functionality
Family Heirloom-Inspired Watch Designs
Jacob & Co. Releases the Exquisite Dual Time Time Zone
Multiple Dice-Inspired Digital Watches
Timestop Introduces a Look at Its D-20 Digital Watch
Mars Colonization Timepieces
The Fortis Novonaut AMADEE-24 is Suited for Space Travel
Sleek Affordable Digital Timepieces
Tissot Presents the PRX Digital Watches to its PRX Line
Collaborative Fashion-Centric Patterned Watches
Marni Remixes the G-Shock GMD-S5610MA-7ER Watch
Made-To-Order Watch Rebrands
Piaget Celebrates 150th Anniversary with Andy Warhol Watch Tribute
Automotive Race-Inspired Timepieces
The 2023 Bremont Jaguar C-Type Watch Pays Homage to Le Mans
Haute Modernized Timepieces
The Tissot PRX 35mm Powermatic 80 Has Been Updated in New Colors
Planet-Resembling Watch Faces
Samsung Presents its Galaxy Time Series of Timepieces
Lux Vietnamese Lacquerwork Watches
The AWAKE Son Mai Collection Includes Four Colors
Nature-Inspired Watch Collections
IWC Pilot's Watch Colors of TOP GUN Collection is Earth-Toned
60s-Style Sail Racing Timepieces
The TAG Heuer 2023 Skipper is a Non-Limited Version of a Classic
Peaceful Ceramic Timepieces
Tranquil Living and Japanese Art Inspired Talidara's Heiwa Watch
Multicolor Bezel-Equipped Watches
Samsung Stocks the Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic in New Colorways
Bold-Colored Watches
Swatch Unveils its Transparent COLORS OF JOY Collection
Minimalist Bauhaus-Inspired Timepieces
Botta Watches Come in Seven Models to Choose From
Durable Low-Cost Smartwatches
The Samsung Galaxy Watch FE Has a Sapphire Glass Crystal
Artwork-Inspired Vibrant Watches
Swatch and Tate Join Forces on the Gallery Collection
Japanese Pop Culture-Themed Watches
Tissot Celebrates the Japanese UFO Robot Grendizer Show
Retro-Inspired Sporty Timepieces
Orient Unveils a Neo Classic Sport Technical Watch
Magnetic Band Upgraded Smartwatches
The Upcoming Apple Watch X Will Have Thinner Cases
Stylish Smartwatch Designs
The Amazfit Active 2 Smartwatch Enhances Fitness & Everyday Convenience
Earth Month-Honoring Luxe Watches
Cartier's Tank Louis Watch Gets a Green Makeover for Earth Month
Artist-Collaborative Colorful Watches
HUBLOT and Takashi Murakami Present the Limited MP-15