The 14 Coolest New Watches That Dropped in July

Samurais, space travel, and an Aston Martin D5: the inspiration behind the latest watches released is varied, to say the least. Switzerland’s top maisons have clearly been thinking outside the box, as the timepieces they unveiled in July pay homage to a surprisingly wide range of things. 

Roger Dubuis saluted 17th-century Japan with a métiers d’art watch, Omega and Swatch marked the anniversary of the first moon landing with another MoonSwatch, Breitling celebrated that aforementioned grand tourer with a new chronograph, and TAG Heuer tipped a hat—or helmet, perhaps—to Japanese motorsport in a piece created with Team Ikuzawa. 

Summer itself also proved to be another major source of inspiration, with IWC, Zenith, Glashütte, and Hublot dropping watches in cool, blue hues perfectly in keeping with the bolder color palettes favored by most in the warmer months. 

Below are the best watch releases of the month.

Vacheron Constantin Overseas Self-Winding

Honey, Vacheron shrunk the Overseas. The Swiss watchmaker unveiled two new iterations of the sports watch in July with 34.5 mm cases instead of the typical 41 mm. “Introducing more compact proportions is less about revisiting the past than about broadening the ways in which the watch can be worn and experienced today,” Christia Selmoni, Vacheron Constantin’s legacy and style director, said in a statement. Housed within that streamlined case is a lacquered dial showcasing multiple finishes. The pink-gold edition (Ref. 4600V/200R-H128) has a complementary pink sunburst dial and matching gold accents, while the stainless-steel version (Ref. 4600V/200A-H127) has a contrasting deep red dial and white-gold markers. Beneath lies an in-house self-winding movement (caliber 1088/1) that measures just 3.83 mm thick but still offers a 40-hour power reserve. Each watch comes with a Maltese Cross-inspired bracelet, a textured rubber strap, and an alligator leather strap, making them both incredibly versatile. The steel reference costs $26,600, while the rose-gold one retails for $59,500.

Panerai x Luna Rossa Luminor

Panerai made a splash in June, unveiling two watches with Luna Rossa ahead of the 38th America’s Cup. The Swiss watchmaker, which began sponsoring the Prada Group’s sailing team in 2019, has released a few cool Luna Rossa references over the years. The new 44 mm Luminor Luna Rossa Chrono (PAM01768) and 40 mm Luminor Luna Rossa GMT (PAM0179) again combine advanced watchmaking tech with elegant, minimalist aesthetics, but both claim a first for the line. The chrono (limited to 500 pieces, priced at $11,500 each) is the first to feature a Velcro strap, while the GMT ($11,400) is the first to be fitted with an integrated metal bracelet. Both are quite similar in design, with steel cases, silver sunburst dials, and red accents that evoke the sail of the team’s boat.

Roger Dubuis Excalibur Kabuto Legacy

Roger Dubuis wants to transport you all the way back to 17th-century Japan. The Swiss watchmaker has unveiled a new Excalibur adorned with cultural symbols of that time: Edo Castle sits at the center, surrounded by 12 samurai commanders. The maison’s meticulous craftsmanship is, of course, on full display, with métiers d’art elevating the piece. The kabuto (helmet) atop each samurai’s head, for example, was carefully sculpted and engraved by hand, taking two to three days of work to complete. Surrounding that is a blue enamel ring and a 45 mm pink-gold case, while inside lies the RD821 automatic caliber. Roger Dubuis is producing just 28 pieces of the Excalibur Kabuto Legacy, with price available on request. 

Jaeger-LeCoultre Rendez-Vous

Jaeger-LeCoultre wanted you to have more than one Rendez-Vous in July. The Swiss watchmaker added two new watches to the women’s collection this month, demonstrating even more métiers rares in the process. The first Rendez-Vous, limited to just 10 pieces with price upon request, features a multi-layered guilloché dial with a hand-painted Asian Paradise Flycatcher and Korean Dogwood blossom sitting alongside the maison’s famous night-and-day complication. Surrounding that is a 34 mmm platinum case set with 48 baguette-cut diamonds.

At the other, more minimalist end of the spectrum, the second Rendez-Vous measures just 7.47mm thick, making it one of the slimmest watches in the collection. It is available in steel ($7,550) or 18-karat pink gold ($12,800) with a newly designed, highly flexible bracelet.

Gerald Charles Masterlink

Gerald Charles dropped three stone-cold stunners this month. The new limited-edition Masterlinks each feature 38 mm steel cases, gorgeous stone dials, white-gold bezels set with 60 matching colored gems, and steel bracelets.

The first (pictured top) pairs blue spectrolite with blue sapphires, the second black iron eye with red sapphires, and the third green aventurine with green tsavorites. Creating each dial was extremely challenging, as the rigid stone had to be carefully cut to fit the asymmetrical dial rather than a more forgiving circle.

“Gérald was never afraid of a material that couldn’t be controlled-stone excited him precisely because every piece had a mind of its own,” says Federico Ziviani, CEO of Gerald Charles. “With the Masterlink Gem Set Stone Dial, we’ve brought that same spirit into a case he never had the chance to design for.”

Because of the nature of the stone, no two dials are alike. Each reference is offered as a limited edition of 10 pieces, with price upon request.

IWC Ingenieur Automatic 35

IWC dropped a fittingly cool Ingenieur for summer. The newcomer features the same steel architecture as Gérald Genta’s 1970s original but a smaller 35 mm case and a splashy new Pool-colored dial. IWC first unveiled the compact 35 mm iteration in 2025, but it has never before been dressed in such a punchy turquoise hue. The signature grid pattern runs across the face, with the straight lines contrasting against the curves of the sculpted case, integrated bracelet, and screw-secured bezel. The in-house automatic caliber 47110 within offers a 42-hour power reserve. The piece retails for $11,200. Adding to the coolness factor is the fact that we’ve already spotted it on actors Andrew Garfield and Theo James.

Hublot Big Bang Sapphire Sky Blue

Hublot’s newest Big Bang brings the beauty of summer’s clear, blue skies to your wrist. The 44 mm newcomer showcases the transparent architecture that Hublot first debuted in 2016, with a sapphire crystal case, bezel, and caseback. That allows the sky-blue skeletonized dial and the matching blue-hued movement to take the focus. The Meca-10 caliber is worth highlighting, too, given it provides a bonkers 10-day power reserve. Rounding out the design is a sky-blue strap. The watch is limited to 100 pieces and costs $84,300. 

H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Minute Repeater Cylindrical Tourbillon Skeleton

Moser took the Endeavour Minute Repeater Cylindrical Tourbillon to stratospheric heights this month, unveiling a new skeletonized version of the triple-complication timepiece with a “Cosmic Rain” subdial. The domed aventurine is adorned with mother-of-pearl inlays that evoke the shooting stars of a meteor shower. Adding further pizzaz to the face is the chiming mechanism, with the hammers and gongs that typically sit beneath the movement instead occupying pride of place between 9 and 11 o’clock. To top it off, a flying tourbillon with cylindrical hairspring sits at 6 o’clock. All of that is housed within a 40 mm titanium case. The watch is limited to 20 and priced at $440,000. 

Omega x Swatch MoonSwatch Mission to the Moon 1969

Omega and Swatch are at it again. The duo dropped yet another MoonSwatch on July 21 to mark 57 years since the first moon landing in 1969. The limited edition features a dial, hands, crown, and pushers crafted from Omega’s signature Moonshine gold and a case made of black bioceramic. The gold, which actually came from melting down old Omega parts made in the ‘60s, collectively weighs 11 grams as a nod to the Apollo 11 mission. The newcomer is reminiscent of the original Speedy from ‘69, with a similar gold dial and other period-correct details. The piece is limited to, you guessed it, 1,969 numbered examples, with a retail price of 500 francs reflecting the price of gold at that time. 

Glashütte Original SeaQ Northern Tide

Glashütte really went north in July, releasing two North American exclusives inspired by the North Atlantic. The dive watches, both part of the SeaQ family, feature steel cases, black ceramic bezels, and novel dégradé dials that fade from vibrant turquoise to dark black as a nod to the ocean. The 39.5 mm SeaQ is equipped with Glashütte’s automatic Calibre 39-11, while SeaQ Panorama Date is powered by the in-house self-winding Calibre 36-13. Both show hours, minutes, seconds, and the date, with the latter fitted with the watchmaker’s signature Panorama Date at 4 o’clock instead of a regular date window at 3 o’clock. Both are limited to 100 pieces and available only in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Price upon request.

Breitling Top Time B01 Chronograph 41 Tribute to Aston Martin DB5

Breitling celebrated two legendary machines in July: The Aston Martin DB5 and the Top Time. Released in 1963 and ‘64, respectively, the grand tourer and chronograph (Ref. 2002) starred alongside Sean Connery in Thunderball, cementing them both in pop-culture history. To mark that moment, the Swiss watchmaker has released a new 41 mm timepiece that combines the timeless elegance of the DB5 with the retro codes of the Top Time. The wood-inlayed details, hand-colored leather strap, and refined dial evoke the car interiors, while the cushion-shaped case, grooved corners, and mushroom pushers recall the original chrono. The watch comes in variations: steel with a silver dial (1,022 pieces, priced at $11,400 each), steel and platinum with a black lacquered dial (315 pieces, $18,600), and red gold with an onyx dial (250 pieces, $41,500). 

Zenith Defy Extreme

Zenith wants you to wear the purple… and blue. The Swiss watchmaker has dropped two new interpretations of the Defy Extreme dressed in those bold hues. Both are housed in 45 mm cases and are powered by the El Primero 9004, which can measure 1/100th of a second for exceptionally close timing and offers a 50-hour power reserve.

The Defy Extreme Ultraviolet ($20,100) pairs a titanium case with a violet-tinted sapphire dial and matching violet strap. The Defy Extreme Lapis Lazuli II (50 pieces, priced at $37,100) features a bright blue lapis lazuli dial like the first edition released in 2025, but combines a forged carbon case with titanium components, rather than pairing stainless steel and yellow gold. Take your pick. 

TAG Heuer x Team Ikuzawa Carrera Chronograph

On the heels—or wheels, perhaps—of their 2023 collab, TAG Heuer and Team Ikuzawa have dropped a new timepiece inspired by Japanese motorsport. The Carrera Chronograph, which was brought to life with the help of Bamford Watch Department, features a 39 mm steel case, a classic “Glassbox,” and a textured dial decorated with the Clou de Paris motif. Both red and white run across the face in a nod to Team Ikuzawa’s colors. The team’s name is also emblazoned above 6 o’clock. The chrono takes design cues from the original Heuer Roadmaster stopwatch, with printed indexes rather than applied markers and other vintage touches. It is limited to 150 individually numbered pieces and priced at $10,500.

Ulysse Nardin Blast Moonstruck

Ulysse Nardin gave us a blast from watchmaking’s past this month, unveiling another iteration of the Blast Moonstruck. The original Moonstruck, released in 2009, paid homage to the Trilogy of Time watches Ludwig Oechslin created for former Ulysse Nardin CEO Rolf Schnyder throughout the ‘80s, with an astronomical display showing the relative positions of the sun and moon as seen from Earth. In 2022, UN put all those Moonstruck mechanics into the Blast case. Four years on, it has unveiled a new Blast Moonstruck decked out in 18-karat rose gold and black DLC-treated titanium. The newcomer features five astronomical indications, including a 40.3-year moonphase, worldtimer, and tidal coefficients, which all sit atop an aventurine base reminiscent of a star-filled sky. Talk about otherworldly. It is limited to 20 pieces and retails for $116,000.

This article originally appeared in Robb Report US.