2021 wasn't how many of us would have expected it to be. As the Covid-19 pandemic continued, it offered many challenges to all of us. Where some businesses lingered because of it, others thrived. Despite very few events, many of the watch brands did well, not in the least because of the fantastic new models they launched. These are among Haute Time's favorites:

Earlier this year, Vacheron Constantin gave center stage to the complete calendar with a new model in the Traditionnelle collectsion. This classic proposition now gets a more contemporary touch as the brand launches a so-called openface version. To achieve this, Vacheron Constantin reworked the dial and made it from sapphire crystal. As a result, part of the levers and gear train that make the complete calendar function are now visible. This usually is not that interesting to see, as the only moment of motion is around midnight each day. For Vacheron Constantin, motion is not needed to create something spectacular.

No other designer has left such a mark on the industry as Gérald Genta. He was the man that gave us two of the most important stainless steel sports watches in history, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and the Patek Philippe Nautilus. As a true creative force, it didn't stop there, as he also worked for various other brands, designing icon after icon. A decade after his death, we get a rare glimpse into his archive as Sotheby's is auctioning one hundred of his original designs, including those of the Nautilus and the Royal Oak.

Antonio Brown is a respected veteran within the NFL, starting in 2010 at the Pittsburgh Steelers and currently playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also won the Super Bowl for the 2020 season with this team, scoring the third touchdown of the final game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Known for his distinct style and eye for quality, it is no surprise that Brown teamed up with Skeleton Concept, the French Haute Horlogerie atelier. Together, they dreamed up a unique customization launched today as the Antonio Brown Concept and based on the Rolex Submariner 'Hulk' 116610LV.

The Speedmaster is, without a doubt, one of the most important and recognizable watches in the history of Omega. However, when this particular Ref.2915 was made in 1958, its true claim to fame was still in the future. That didn't make the Speedmaster any less innovative when it was launched. It was the very first chronograph that had the tachymeter scale engraved on the bezel rather than printed on the dial. This increased the legibility of all the functions and was one of the reasons many professionals embraced it. This would later even include NASA, where one of the successors of this model would make history as the first watch worn on the moon.

Until March of 2022, Vacheron Constantin is celebrating the artistry, inheritance, and perpetual pulse of the City of New York, past and present, through its new exhibition “Celebrations.”

Last week, Watches of Switzerland Group PLC (’the Group’) revealed its half-year financial results, yielding great success in the US market.

While Patek Philippe is a manufacture rooted in history and tradition, it didn't become one of the most renowned brands by lack of innovation. Instead, the brand offers innovation on its own terms, focusing on advancing traditional watchmaking with better and more stable performance. The new Ref.5750 Advanced Research Minute Repeater is a watch that has exactly those qualities. It was developed by Patek Philippe's Advanced Research department, which was established in 2005 with the aim of finding and applying new materials, concepts, and technologies to further perfect Patek Philippe's offerings.

It is no secret that Hublot loves art. They have always shown this by collaborating with some of the most prominent artists of our time, like Romero Britto, Richard Orlinski, and Takashi Murakamsi. This last artist is especially known for adapting traditional Japanese art and placing it in the context of pop culture. His style is bold and striking, as we have already seen with his previous collaboration with Hublot. Now they continue the partnership with the Classic Fusion Takashi Murakamsi Sapphire Rainbow.

In its universe of hyper horology, Roger Dubuis likes to seek out like-minded individuals to collaborate. One of them is celebrity tattoo artist Dr.Woo. He applied his magic touch to the Monotroubillon, crafted from Eon gold and limited to just 8 pieces. Haute Time sat down with Dr.Woo, to talk with him about this exciting collaboration;

When on the court, Rafael Nadal has a distinct preference to wear one of Richard Mille's RM 027 Tourbillons, but his passion for the brand goes beyond that. With the RM 35-03 Automatic Rafael Nadal, this top-athlete has added its fourth timepiece to the collectsion.

While it has a very straightforward name, the Triple Split from A. Lange & Söhne is an extraordinarily complex watch of which there is no other. When you ask a watchmaker what is among the most challenging movements to create, you would expect to hear a tourbillon or minute repeater. While those are indeed very complex, a split-seconds chronograph also ranks in this category. Two second hands on the chronograph allow comparative times to be measured simultaneously. But what if you do the same with the minutes and hours? A. Lange & Söhne successfully completed this incredible challenge in 2018, when they launched the Triple Split, which remains the only one of its kind.

To celebrate a decade of its love of Art, Hublot hosted an evening like no other at the luxurious Faena Forum Miami Beach during Art Basel this year.

When introduced in 1945, the Datejust was Rolex way to mark its 40th anniversary. It has since grown to become one of their signature collectsions, as well as an icon in its own right. It was the first automatic watch with a date function ever launched, and today it still comes with those features. Over the years, Rolex let the collectsion evolve in a way that the company is so well known for. Like a fine wine, the Datejust collectsion became only better over time, being fine-tuned generation after generation.

In their pursuit of perfection, Grand Seiko developed a style of its own, guided by nine principles. The first watch made accordingly was the iconic 44GS, which was launched in 1967. Today, this instantly recognizable style has fans all around the world and led Grand Seiko to become one of the most renowned names in high-end watchmaking. To mark the 55th anniversary of the "Grand Seiko Style," the brand launched a Hi-Beat GMT model, limited to 1,200 pieces.

In many industries, having passion makes a difference. What is even better is shared passion, such as Hublot and Arturo Fuente cigars have been enjoying since the start of their collaboration in 2012. As Hublot CEO Ricardo Guadalupe puts it; "Arturo Fuente cigars are consistently rated among the best cigars in the world. It was therefore natural that – brought together by our common desire to push the boundaries of excellence, each in our own field – our two companies joined forces and have been partners since 2012. It is in this same spirit that we are taking this opportunity to pay tribute to the patriarch Don Carlos Sr."