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Glamorous New Year: Watches for New Year’s Eve

By René Herold
31 December 2019 | Updated on: 31 Dec 2024
4 minutes
Rolex-Datejust-2-1
The Best Watches to Wear on New Year's Eve

The year has flown by and New Year’s Eve is upon us! It’s time to decide what to wear to ring in the new year, including what watch. Of course, the decision hangs on how you’ll be spending the evening. We’ve dreamed up five New Year’s Eve scenarios and picked out a watch to match the occasion.  

The Traveler: New Year’s Eve in the Sun

Many people like to spend New Year’s Eve in warmer climates to escape the cold winter months and soak up some vitamin D. When you’re in relaxed vacation mode, things can be a bit more casual. That’s why we’re recommending the GMT-Master II for men. This timepiece allows you to keep an eye on the time at home so you know when to wish your friends and family a happy New Year. For the ladies, we’d go with a Rolex Oyster Perpetual. This watch is both elegant and sporty and, with a water resistance of 100 m (328 ft, 10 bar), it’s the ideal companion for vacations.

Rolex GMT-Master II ref. 126711CHNR Root Beer
Rolex GMT-Master II ref. 126711CHNR Root Beer

The Casual One: Party With Friends

New Year’s Eve is often accompanied by a reunion with friends. You want to look smart without laying it on too thick. It’s therefore important to find the perfect balance between restraint and status. You can easily master this balancing act with a watch from Cartier. For men, for example, there is the Santos with a rectangular steel case. Ladies are best served by a Cartier Tank. You really can’t go wrong with these icons of the watch world.

Cartier Tank Must ref. 2415
Cartier Tank Must ref. 2415

The Classic One: Family Reunion

If you find yourself at a family gathering on New Year’s Eve, it’s perfectly acceptable to wear your latest pay rise on your arm and show off what you’ve achieved. Gold is an appropriate choice here, within reason. You don’t want to attract envious looks, just impressed ones. For ladies, for example, a Rolex Lady-Datejust with a two-tone Jubilee bracelet, yellow gold bezel, and sunburst dial would do the trick. Men could wear a two-tone Rolex Daytona in stainless steel and yellow gold under a shirt cuff.

Elegant and eye-catching: the two-tone Daytona ref. 116523 with a black dial
Elegant and eye-catching: the two-tone Daytona ref. 116523 with a black dial

The Elegant One: New Year’s Eve Dinner

So, you’ve reserved a coveted table in one of the best restaurants in your city for December 31. Of course, you’ll want to dress appropriately and not make any fashion faux pas. Diamonds are definitely welcome, but too much of a good thing can quickly become ostentatious. For men, for example, the Longines Master Collection Moonphase, with its diamond indices and moon phase display, offers a glamorous effect without being too over the top. A Chopard Happy Diamonds, with glittering gemstones dancing playfully across the dial, is the perfect accessory for New Year’s Eve dinner with the ladies.

Perfect for him and her: The Longines Master Collection Moonphase L2.503.0.83.2
Perfect for him and her: The Longines Master Collection Moonphase L2.503.0.83.2

The Undecided

Plan A, B, or C?

Are you the spontaneous type and don’t know how you want to spend your New Year’s Eve yet? Not to worry, with these classic watches, you can fit in anywhere. To ensure you’re neither over– nor underdressed at an event, it’s best to opt for an all-rounder: a classic dress watch with a discreet case in stainless steel, rose gold, or yellow gold. Here are our top three suggestions for men and women.  

Stylish in Stainless Steel

The Glashütte Original Senator Excellence Panorama Date men’s watch proves that fine watchmaking can also be Made in Germany. This watch shines with a high-quality stainless steel or rose gold case and simple dial design. The highlight is certainly the outsized date at 4:30. With this watch, you will look fabulous at both elegant and more relaxed events. The same applies to the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Moon ladies’ watch, which also impresses with its simplicity, elegance, and slim design. The highlight of this watch is the combined date and moon phase display at 6 o’clock.

Glashütte Original Senator Excellence Panorama Date
Glashütte Original Senator Excellence Panorama Date

Dressed to Impress

For those who prefer gold, the Little Lange 1 from A. Lange & Söhne is an ideal option. This Saxon watch manufacturer has long since established itself as a heavyweight in the industry and produces watches of the highest quality. The Little Lange 1 is a good example of the watchmaker’s quality and stands out with its excellent workmanship and simple elegance. With a case measuring just under 37 mm in yellow, rose, or white gold, this model is even suitable as a unisex watch. The Piaget Altiplano Origin offers another discreet model for women with a 24-mm rose gold case and brown satin strap. This versatile timepiece can be combined with nearly any outfit and is suitable for any style party.

Piaget Altiplano G0A39105
Piaget Altiplano G0A39105

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About the Author

René Herold

René Herold

My name is René Herold, and I first discovered Chrono24 in a job listing. Admittedly, I didn't really care about watches before coming to Chrono24. However, after a few …

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