Going for Gold at Watches and Wonders
Our picks for the best-in-gold class.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Monoface Small Seconds
The allure of gold timepieces continues its uptick. Gold’s revival—part of a wider, nostalgic fashion for all things 1980s and ’90s—is reflected in reimagining the gold watch as a form of wearable insurance in unstable times. There are a host of reasons yellow gold has been gaining popularity—aesthetic appeal, timelessness, cultural significance—none of which involve the price of the metal itself (traditionally seen as a safe haven, gold continues to soar in price to all-time highs). At one time, the gold watch represented ostentatious display. Today, the gold timepiece commands attention as a hushed presence—modern day stealth wealth.
These are the gold watches you should have on your radar for 2025.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Monoface Small Seconds
The Reverso story began in 1931, and over the decades many variations of the timepiece have been created. The distinctive design accounts for much of the Reverso’s enduring appeal, but this is the first time the art deco watch has been set on a Milanese bracelet. The fabric-like weave is made from intertwined gold threads, creating interlocking links—the bracelet would stretch to 16 metres if it were laid out link by link. The case, housing the Jaeger-LeCoultre calibre 822 movement, can remain black on the reverse side or be personalized with an engraving or lacquered decoration. This is vintage glamour for the modern wearer.
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The IWC Schaffausen Ingenieur is a watch that can withstand almost anything. The famous watch designed by Gérald Genta in 1976 staged a comeback in 2023. Two years later, the collection has been slated for growth, welcoming new sizes, materials, and complications. The new 35-millimetre Ingenieur is crafted from 18-karat 5N gold featuring a gold dial and is a move to conquer more wrist sizes in the ever-expanding unisex sector. This smaller Ingenieur descendent upholds the Genta heritage in style.
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Piaget is one of the few exhibitors at this year’s Watches and Wonders that presented a brand new watch. Featuring an unconventional silhouette, Sixtie is a trapezoid bracelet watch inspired by one of Piaget’s designs from the 1960s. This was the era when cultural icons like Andy Warhol wore a Piaget—a watch that serves as inspiration for this new release. The Sixtie measures 29 millimetres by 25.3 millimetres and houses a quartz movement. While the Sixtie is decidedly a woman’s watch both in scale and styling, the case geometry—with or without diamonds—makes for a watch with character that’s appealing to all. And so anything goes.
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A. Langhe & Söhne Odysseus Honeygold
The German watchmaker A. Langhe & Söhne values quality over quantity and ranks high among watch connoisseurs. While the brand may not be as easily recognizable as Patek Philippe or Audemars Piguet, many will sometimes wait years for A. Langhe & Söhne’s coveted timepieces. The new Honeygold Odysseus is a limited-edition release of only 100 pieces, and if the success of the steel Odysseus released in 2019 is any indication, the Honeygold Odysseus too will be a hot-ticket item. Measuring 40.5 millimetres by 11.1 millimetres with a chocolate-brown dial and housing the manufacture calibre L155.1 Datomatic, this is one handsome wristwatch.
