The Top 5 Watches Released In July 2026

Another Friday, another list! This week, we’ll return to our series of articles focusing on the best releases of every month. Summer is in full swing, and most of you are enjoying or about to enjoy a much-deserved break, as are many watch brands. But although it has been a quieter month, new watches have still come out nearly every day. That’s why we created a list of our five favorite new watches from July 2026.

Before we jump into it, I should admit that we were a little biased, with the summer break just around the corner. As you will see, two of our picks make for perfect summer watches. Another one celebrates our Dutch roots in style, while the fourth is the perfect watch for a nice drink. For our last pick, there was just one option left. Without a doubt, these releases gained the most traction in this rather quiet month. You might have guessed some of these already, but let’s find out what our five favorite picks for July 2026 are.

Omega × Swatch Speedmaster MoonSwatch Mission To The Moon 1969

Our first pick was a no-brainer. The most talked-about watch of this past month was, hands down, the Omega × Swatch Speedmaster MoonSwatch Mission to the Moon 1969. By now, most people should know whether they were among the lucky 1,969 who filled out the ESTA form without making any mistakes. Those who are will have the chance to buy one of our five favorite MoonSwatches to date. If you want to read the full story of the watch, I suggest you check out Robert-Jan’s intro article, which covers all the details.

In short, Omega created this MoonSwatch to celebrate the Apollo 11 mission and consequent Moon landing. The watch was announced at the same time (09:32 AM EDT / 15:32 CEST) that the Saturn V rocket lifted off in 1969. It marked the beginning of the Apollo 11 mission, which took place from July 16th to 24th, 1969, and led to Neil Armstrong setting foot on the Moon. This iconic story inspired the creation of one of the best-looking MoonSwatches so far.

Are you one of the lucky ones?

For each example of this black and gold MoonSwatch, Swatch used 11 grams of actual Moonshine Gold created from Omega spare parts melted down at the brand’s foundry. In a fun twist, the retail price was calculated according to what 11 grams of gold cost back in 1969 — CHF 48, or about US$11 at the time — rather than today’s rate. This gives the lucky applicants the chance to buy the watch for €600. Given that a single gram of gold now runs around €75, that’s a serious bargain. Still, most of us can keep that money in our bank accounts. With 1.2 million applications for just 1,969 pieces and a mandatory 32-question quiz just to be considered, the odds were never in anyone’s favor.

Despite all that, the result is a MoonSwatch we adore. The black Bioceramic case is beautifully contrasted by the Moonshine Gold dial, hands, crown, and pushers, while gold-colored details on the bezel and strap round out the look. This is easily one of the most talked-about watches of the year and an easy first pick for this month’s highlights.

Lebois & Co Heritage Atelier Small Seconds Stroopwafel

Our next pick is special to us because it celebrates our Dutch heritage. As Robert-Jan explained, the special Stroopwafel version of the Lebois & Co Heritage Atelier Small Seconds draws inspiration from the famous Dutch treat, stroopwafels. A stroopwafel is made of two thin, crispy waffle cookies baked with sweet dough and sandwiched together with a gooey, sticky caramel-like syrup (or stroop) made from sugar, butter, and cinnamon. As a Dutchie myself, I have never met someone who doesn’t like stroopwafels. With that in mind, it only makes sense that Lebois & Co brings homage to this delicious cookie. The watch was unveiled alongside a similar model with a Clous de Paris dial. I’m sure you can guess our favorite of the two.

The distinctive waffle pattern is super recognizable, and seeing it next to a Clous de Paris dial is fun. But it also shows that the pattern works very well as a dial structure. The dial was created by famous Swiss dial specialist GT Cadrans, which produces dials for high-end brands, including Czapek & Cie.

The Stroopwafel dial has a laser-engraved pattern, and the signature color is achieved through a galvanic treatment with a 24K gold solution. Contrasting the dial are the silver-colored minute track and applied Breguet numerals. Additionally, the silver sub-dial with its concentric graining complements the main dial pattern nicely. Lastly, hovering above all that are leaf-shaped hands that indicate the hours and minutes.

A seriously fun dress watch

The canvas for this wonderful dial is the Heritage Atelier Small Seconds, which features a 37.8mm steel case with a 10.5mm thickness and a 45.5mm lug-to-lug. The size and proportions are perfect for people with a variety of wrist sizes, including larger ones. As Robert-Jan said in his review, the watch wears very nicely on his 18cm wrist. I had the same feeling when I put the watch on mine, which is half a centimeter larger. It sits really nicely on the wrist, and the flexible gray leather strap is super comfortable. That said, I would consider trying a different strap because the watch easily lends itself to strap changes.

Inside the case, you will find the Sellita SW300-1-based LC-350 caliber. This automatic movement is a COSC-certified chronometer that operates at 28,800 vph, has 31 jewels, and offers a 56-hour power reserve. It is visible through the sapphire display in the case back. While that adds to the romance of this €5,500 Lebois & Co Heritage Atelier Small Seconds model, the real story is the beautiful stroopwafel-patterned dial. It makes it an easy second pick for this list.

Christopher Ward Twelve Xander

Our next pick is the colorful Christopher Ward Twelve Xander. This 150-piece limited edition was created in collaboration with Chris Alexander, better known as The Dial Artist. He had the freedom to create a vibrant, truly unique version of the Twelve X. As I explained in my hands-on review, Christopher Ward sent him the eight parts from all 150 calibers so he could hand-paint them in his studio in Perth, Scotland. It’s pretty incredible to realize that Alexander had to work on more than 1,300 components individually. The result is so much better than simply a skeletonized version of the Twelve with some added color. With the customized chapter ring, movement bridges, and oscillating weight, the watch gets a lot of colorful depth.

The Twelve Xander is based on the Twelve X (Ti), the brand’s skeletonized flagship watch powered by the in-house caliber CW-001. The watch has an angular 41 × 44.5 × 12.3mm case. For the mid-case, Christoper Ward used Grade 2 titanium, while the bezel and case back were crafted from Grade 5.

Thanks to a mix of finishes, the case has a lot of detail. But the true star of the show is, of course, the openworked in-house caliber CW-001. This 26-jewel automatic movement operates at 28,800 vph and offers a 120-hour power reserve thanks to its two barrels. Additionally, this caliber is a certified chronometer with an accuracy of -4/+6 seconds per day.

I’m usually not a fan of skeletonized watches…

Finishing the look is a white rubber strap that makes the watch super easy to wear. On top of that, it fits the overall aesthetic nicely. But I can easily see this watch on a rubber strap in any of the vibrant colors that Alexander used for his graffiti-style artwork. Admittedly, I am usually not the biggest fan of skeletonized watches, but the Christopher Ward Twelve Xander is a really nice exception.

When wearing the watch, I was super impressed by the multilayered experience. My eyes were constantly drawn to the brilliantly colorful, summery openworked dial. Funnily enough, reading the time felt less important when wearing the watch. But I must say it was actually very easy despite the colorful backdrop. Overall, this €5,625 Christopher Ward Twelve Xander was nothing short of impressive. It’s easy to see why all 150 pieces sold out in no time and why it made this list.

IWC Ingenieur Automatic 35 “Pool”

Our next pick simply features a new dial color, but the new “Pool” hue gives the 35mm IWC Ingenieur a fresh look that we really like. Until now, the 35mm Ingenieur was only available with black, navy, or white dials. This new color is nice and vibrant, making for a great take on the smaller Ingenieur. Just as a reminder, the watch has a 35.1mm case with a 9.4mm profile and a 40.9mm lug-to-lug. But as most of you will know, the integrated bracelet puts that last number in a different perspective. The 35mm Ingenieur is actually a very nice fit for a wide variety of wrist sizes. While I like the 40mm Ingenieur quite a bit, this smaller 35mm version seriously impressed me when I had the chance to try it on.

The case is paired with a pool-colored dial that is neither green nor blue. It’s a light in-between color with a great vibrancy compared to the other dial options. The dial features rhodium-plated indexes and hands and a date window at 3 o’clock. What makes the dial for me, however, is the graph-paper-inspired pattern. Back in 2022, I wrote a long article on Genta’s Ingenieur and why the pattern has always reminded me of my dad and his work as a mechanical engineer. He used to bring home huge rolls of graph paper with drawings of the heavy machinery he would design for the oil industry. It evokes a sentiment that’s hard to beat for me, and that’s why I love the Ingenieur.

The IWC 47110 caliber

Inside the case, you will find the ValFleurier-based IWC 47110 movement. The automatic caliber is visible through the case back’s sapphire display and ticks at 28,800 vph while offering a 42-hour power reserve. It is finished neatly with perlage, circular Geneva stripes, and a gold-plated rotor for some extra visual pizzazz. But the big story, of course, is the colorful dial, which completely changes the Ingenieur’s presence. It transforms the industrially inspired sports watch into a more exotic timepiece for the more adventurous engineer. I’m kidding, of course, but we like this new 35mm Ingenieur because it looks handsome and demonstrates the versatility of this modern version of Genta’s 1977 design.

Seiko Presage Cocktail Time HCB001

Our last pick for this month’s favorites is part of a trio of Seiko Presage Cocktail Time releases. As Thomas explained in his hands-on review, the three watches feature smaller cases, new dials, and a cleaner date display. The standout for us was the blue-dial HCB001 that comes fitted with a five-row bracelet.

It has a very nice retro vibe reminiscent of classic Seiko watches from the 1950s and ’60s. However, the lively blue dial definitely gives the watch a more contemporary look. The watch features a new 38.5mm stainless steel case with a 11.8mm total thickness and a 45.4mm lug-to-lug. It is a very nicely proportioned case, and its slightly smaller size enhances the watch’s overall vintage feel.

The blue gradient dial features a scratched texture contrasted by faceted, polished, and applied silver spearhead indexes. At the 4:30 position, you will find the date window neatly tucked away. I like it for this watch because the integration works well. The date stands out when you focus on it, but otherwise, it blends in nicely.

Powering the HCB001 is Seiko’s in-house 4R35 caliber. This automatic movement runs at 21,600 vph and provides a 41-hour power reserve. It is a trusty powertrain for this affordable series of funky dress watches. With a retail price of €490, the new Seiko Presage Cocktail Time HCB001 is one of the brand’s highlights of 2026 so far.

Final thoughts on the top five watches released in July 2026

There you have it — our five favorite new watches from July 2026. It was a significantly quieter month with fewer releases. That said, more options could have been on this list. That’s why I want to turn the question over to you. What are some of your highlights from July 2026? Let us know in the comments section, and we will see you again next week for another list!