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
Samurai Armor-Inspired Timepieces
These New G-SHOCK MR-G Watches Come in Two Options
Vibrant Racing Dial Watches
Aston Martin x Timex TKS Watch Uses Automotive-Inspired Dial Design
Phosphorescent LCD Digital Watches
The Casio Pro Trek Watches Come in Two Models
Refined Retro Watches
The King Seiko Vanac Tokyo Horizon Introduces Two New Limited Variants
Distorted Dial Watch Collection
Nixon Unveiled The 4th Dimension Series of Watches
Revived Quartz Watches
The Q Timex 1972 Time Machine Reissue Captures Accessibility for a New Era
Structural Metal-Made Timepieces
The Casio G-STEEL Modern Industrial Series Has Four Models
Affordable Android Smartwatches
OnePlus is Rolling Out the Watch 3 Alongside its New Flagships
Adventurous Collaboration Watches
The Huckberry x Timex Titanium Field Watch is Lightweight
90s-Era Sport Timepieces
The Timex 1995 Intrepid Reissue Revives a Classic in a New Way
Architect-Approved Watch Ranges
The Tadao Ando x Cauny Watches Have an Apple-Like Aesthetic
Chic Celestial Ombre Timepieces
The Seiko Prospex LX GMT U.S. Special Edition Has a Titanium Case
Minimalist Mars Exploration Timepieces
The Nova NASA Watch Concept Celebrates Space Travel
Military Jacket-Adorned Timepieces
This New Slim d'Hermès Watch Has the Neo Brandebourgs Design
Global Navigation Smartwatch Models
The Huawei Band 11 Series Tracks Over 100 Sport Modes
Rugged Sea-Hued Timepieces
The G-SHOCK Oasis Series Looks to the Ocean for Inspiration
Vintage Retro Futurism Timepieces
The Casio AQ-240E-3A Has an Analog-Digital Design
Eco-Friendly Ruggest Digital Watches
G-SHOCK's G5600BG-5 Timepiece has a Sustainable Build
Stretchable Watch Band Designs
Casio America Delivers a New Take on the G-SHOCK 5600 Series
Stealthy Collaboration Timepieces
The Undefeated x G-SHOCK DWE5600 Comes with Three Bands
Digital Ring Watches
Adidas Originals Digital Two Ring Condenses Retro Timekeeping into a Ring
24-Day Battery Digital Watches
Garmin Introduces the New Addition of the Instinct 3
Retro Calculator Watches
The Casio CA-500WEBF Watch Honors Back to the Future’s 40th Anniversary
Professional Race Fan Smartwatches
The TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E5 x Formula 1 Edition is Chic
Bold Holiday Watch Collections
The Swatch 2024 Holiday Collection Highlights Festive Looks
Automotive Twin Timepieces
Porsche Designs Watches That Mirror Its 911 GT3 Models
Premium Sapphire Watch Collections
Richard Mille Introduces Three RM 75-01 Flying Tourbillon
Retro Sci-Fi Series Timepieces
Casio and Stranger Things Partnered for New Timepieces
Anniversary-Honoring Smartwatches
The Huawei Watch 5 10th Anniversary Edition Celebrates a Decade
Timeless Metallic Watches
G-SHOCK’s Fine Metallic Series is Built for the Future
Minimalist Multi-Display Smartwatches
The Minimal Watch Concept by Ibrahem Hassan is Futuristic
Design-Driven Smartwatch Models
The Pebble Round 2 Will Be at CES 2026
Travel-Ready Sleek Watches
NOMOS Club Sport Neomatik Worldtimer Drops Two Limited-Edition Models
Moon Landing-Themed Watch Designs
CIGA Design's Moon Walker Pays Homage to the Lunar Landing
Collaboration Budget-Friendly Smartwatches
The New moto watch is Powered by Polar
Dazzling Jeweler Timepiece Ranges
The Latest Tiffany & Co. Watch Range Features Four Styles
Animated Luxury Watch Collections
Louis Vuitton Unveiled Its Tambour Taiko Arty Automata Timepiece
Retro Space Age Timepieces
The New Hamilton PSR 74 Watches Reimagine the Pulsar Cushion Model
Reimagined Retro Viscount Models
Timex and Bespoke Post Design the Field Watch for Lifestyle Wear
Intricate Anniversary-Celebrating Watch Campaigns
Vacheron Constantin Debuts The Quest
Chic Sporty Aluminum Smartwatches
The Motorola Moto Watch Fit Offers 16-Days of Use Per Charge
Everyday Diver Timepieces
The Seiko Prospex 1968 Heritage Diver’s GMT SPB51 Arrives This Spring
Spring-Forward Floral Design Watches
Swatch Unveiled its 'BLOSSOM TIME Collection'
Modernized 70s-Era Timepieces
The Timex Q Timex 1975 Enigma Comes in Two New Dial Options
Elevated Diver Timepieces
Seiko Introduces New Designs to the Prospex and Presage Series
Reinterpreted Luxury Watches
The Louis Vuitton Monterey Revives an Iconic 1980s Timepiece
Honorary Automotive Timepieces
The Marathon x Jeep Watch Pays Homage to the Iconic Vehicle
Striking Indigo-Dyed Timepieces
The Citizen 30th Anniversary Eco-Drive AQ4106-26L is Celebratory
Slick Retro-Inspired Watch Designs
Piaget Has Expanded Its Celebrated Polo 79 Collection
Style-Minded Travel Watches
The Todd Snyder x Unimatic Modello Quattro U4 GMT Comes in Two Colors
Studded Digital Watches
Dime x Timex T80 Reworks a Classic Digital Model with Metal Detailing
Custom Luxe Watch Collections
The Patcharavipa 2025–2026 Watch Collection Highlights Vintage Bases
Luxe Chronograph Watches
Porsche Anniversary Chronograph Celebrates with 911 GT3-Inspired Design
Bold Astronomical Timepiece
The Ming 56.00 Starfield is a Celestial-Inspired Watch Design for 2026
Tactical Green-Hued Timepieces
The G-SHOCK Black & Electro Green Collection is Arriving in Japan
Retro-Futuristic Collector Watches
Marvel and G-Shock Join Forces to Honor Fantastic Four
Elegant Sea Watches
Breitling Debuts a Refreshed 'Superocean Heritage Collection'
Golden Luxe Digital Watches
The MM6 Maison Margiela X Timex T80 Collab Drops New Gold Edition
Minimal Stealthy Digital Wristwatches
Casio Introduces the New DW-5000R Watch Honoring a Classic
Advanced GPS Watches
Seiko Astron GPS Solar 2026 Editions Expand the Brand’s Satellite Lineup
Luxury Smartwatch Collection
Hermès Apple Watch Series 11 Capsule Introduces New Bands and Faces
Versatile Affordable Refined Timepieces
Armitron Has a Wide Selection of Watches for All Occasions
Turquoise Timepiece Collections
Piaget Has Unveiled a Collection of Jewelry and Watches
90s-Era Computer Smartwatches
The Apple Watch G3 Concept by Saffy Creatives is Nostalgic
Fanciful Futuristic Timepieces
The Hublot MP-10 Tourbillon Comes in Two Case Options
Modern Layered Watches
The Christopher Ward C1 Jump Hour Mk V Merges Precision with Refined Design
Heritage Enamel Watches
The Breguet Classique Souscription 2025 Celebrates a Major Award Win
Ultra-Slim Warmly Hued Watches
These Jaeger-LeCoultre Ultra-Thin Watches Embrace Neutrals
Active Lifestyle-Focused Smartwatches
The Aurafit G12 Smartwatch Debuted at CES 2025
Sporty Elegance Sleek Timepieces
H. Moser & Cie. Designed the Pioneer Tourbillon Burgundy
Heat-Resistant Watch Designs
Casio’s Watch Design is Sauna-Ready
Gold-Tonal Ring Timepieces
The Casio CRW-001G-9JR Redefines Wearable Form in a Golden Hue
Rad Retro-Style Smartwatches
The Conceptual Retro‑Future Wrist Tech by Jacek Janiczak is Stylish
Cinematic Superhero Watches
The Citizen x Fantastic 4: First Steps Watch Celebrates the Movie
Futuristic Otherworldly Timepieces
The SpaceOne WorldTimer is Made of Grade 5 Titanium
Chic Cushion-Shaped Smartwatches
The Latest Samsung Galaxy Watch Range Features Two New Models
Feminine Lavender-Hued Watches
This Casio G-SHOCK GMA-P2125W-6A Marks International Women's Day
Heritage Style Watches
The Seiko 5 Sports x J.Press SBSA317 Adopts a Refined Ivy-Inspired Design
Outback-Inspired Timepieces
The TAG Heuer x Time+Tide Aquaracer Solargraph Sundowner is Ultra-Chic
Pro-Grade Fitness Smartwatches
The Huawei Watch Fit 4 Pro is a First From the Tech Brand
Nostalgic Digital Watch Models
The Casio G-SHOCK DW-5000R Recreates the Brand's Original Model
Samurai-Inspired Intricate Timepieces
Louis Vuitton Introduces the Tambour Bushido Automata
Rope-Inspired Timepiece Designs
Tiffany & Co. Debuts Its Rope Solar-Powered Watches
Vibrant Limited-Edition Watches
The Grow Your Dreams Series Infuses Art into Mechanical Movement
Refined Watch Debuts
Temporal Works Series a Presents a Minimalist Timepiece with Vintage Cues
Modernized Vintage Wristwatches
Elif Bulut Designs the Vintage Alarm Clock & Wristwatch
Whimsical Moonphase-Inspired Watches
Christopher Ward and Mr Jones Launch the Calibre JJ04
Modular Chronograph Watches
The Bamford Mayfair 2.0 Fuse Playful Customization & Swiss Precision
Wearable Monitoring Technology
Talitrix Designs the T-Band to Push Boundaries in Monitoring
Sculptural Statement Watches
Versace FW25 Watches Has Large Case Timepieces with Brand Details
Racing-Inspired Chronographic Watches
Breitling Expands its 'Top Time' Collection
Y3K Aesthetic Timepieces
The G-SHOCK GA-V01 is Arriving Exclusively in China
Cushion-Cased Wristwatches
Gérald Genta Geneva Time Only Expands the Brand’s Lineup
Military Tool Watch Designs
Laventure Designs the Marine Type 3 with Grade 23 Titanium
Rock-Textured Field Watches
The Kiwame Tokyo Iwao Sumi Modernizes a Classic Design
Military Heritage Timepieces
The Benrus DTU-2A/P is Inspired by a 1964 Classic
Timeless Watch Collections
Lady Premier Reimagines Archival Breitling Designs with Modern Elegance
Alien-Like Watch Designs
G-SHOCK Unveils the Launch of Its GA-V01 Series in America
Visually Striking Watch Designs
The HONOR Watch 5 Ultra Was Unveiled at MWC 2025
Collaborative Bright Tonal Watches
Hey Studio Joins Forces Trio of Time for Time for Fun
Monochromatic Watch Collections
The Zenith 160th Anniversary Collection Includes Three Models
Ultra-Light Tennis-Inspired Watches
Big Bang Unico Novak Djokovic Watch Embodies Tennis Legacy
Nostalgic Collaborative Watch Designs
Casio's G-SHOCK Brand Partners with Designer Jae Tips
Expedition Tool Watches
Nigel Cabourn x The Armoury x UNIMATIC Modello Cinque UT5-TANC launches
Modern Mechanical Timepieces
The Zeitwerk Date Design Debuts in Warm Grey and Pink Gold
Luxe Time Nautilus Series
Patek Philippe Watches and Wonders 2026 Marks 50 Years of the Nautilus
High-End Metallic Timepiece Models
The Tissot PRX Now Comes in Three New Options
Luxury Sports Timepieces
Breitling Unveils the Super Chronomat B01 44 NFL Teams Capsule Collection
Co-Branded Maximalist Timepieces
The Marni x G-SHOCK GMD-S5610MA-7ER is Eye-Catching
Mexican Tradition-Inspired Timepieces
The Timex Day of the Dead Weekender is Vibrant
Shirt Cuff-Integrated Timepieces
The Shirt Cuff Watch by Swatch Creates a Functional Solution
High-Fashion Timepiece Models
These New Louis Vuitton Tambour Collections Were at LVMH Watch Week
Timepiece-Focused Event Series
Watch Week Aspen 2025 Represents a Significant Evolution
High-Jewelry Watches
Overseas Self-Winding High Jewelry is Introduced by Vacheron Constantin
Stylish Leather Smartwatch Bands
WITHit's New Range of Smartwatch Bands are Chic and Durable
Summer-Ready Bright Timepieces
H. Moser & Cie Launch the Pioneer Spiced Aqua Collection
LGBTQ+-Celebrating Luxe Watch Designs
GUESS Watches Introduced Its 2025 Worn with Pride Capsule
Gaming Wearable Devices
Tetris Watch Combines Classic Gameplay with Smartwatch Features
Hypertension-Detecting 5G Smartwatches
The Apple Watch Series 11 Offers 24-Hours of Battery Life
Premium Smartwatch Bands
Solace Bands Places Emphasis on Style, Comfort, and Functionality
Anniversary Sport Watches
The Girard-Perregaux Laureato FIFTY Honors 50 Years with a New Calibre
Multiple Dice-Inspired Digital Watches
Timestop Introduces a Look at Its D-20 Digital Watch
Collaborative Fashion-Centric Patterned Watches
Marni Remixes the G-Shock GMD-S5610MA-7ER Watch
Artful Horological Showcases
BVLGARI Debuts Standout Novelties at Geneva Watch Days 2025
Neutral Leather Joint Timepieces
Hender Scheme and G-SHOCK Join on the DW-5900 Watch
Balanced Aesthetic Americana Timepieces
The Vaer D5 Tropic Watch is Rugged Yet Refined
Playful Watch Ranges
The Swatch ESSENTIALS Collection Highlighrs Bold and Vibrant Designs
Made-To-Order Watch Rebrands
Piaget Celebrates 150th Anniversary with Andy Warhol Watch Tribute
Updated 80s Timepieces
Rado Reimagines its Iconic 'LaCoupole' Watch
Rugged Satellite Connectivity Smartwatches
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 Has Emergency SOS and More
Descriptive Wearable Concepts
Pebble Time 2 Revitalizes E-Paper Design with Refined Modernity
Significant Horology Events
Watchtime New York is Running in October 2025
Horological Chronicle Books
Audemars Piguet's the Watch Stories & Savoir-Faire Charts Its Legacy
Sophisticated Pastel Dial Timepieces
TAG Heuer's 'Aquaracer Professional 300' is Sleek and Stylish
Prideful Modernist Tech Collections
The Apple 2025 Pride Collection Marks Pride Month in Style
Stylish Smartwatch Designs
The Amazfit Active 2 Smartwatch Enhances Fitness & Everyday Convenience
Square Case Timepieces
BR-X3 Watches Introduce Bold Finishes and Modern Materials
Stealthy Durable Elegant Watches
Casio Presents the G-SHOCK GMC-B2100Z Timepiece
Gem-Set Timepieces Lineups
Tiffany & Co at LVMH Watch Week 2026 Introduces Three New Watches
Historic-Inspired Thin Timepieces
MING Presents the Project 21 Timepiece with Vintage Looks