The most beautiful watches this year are the ones on gold bracelets. Period.
I wanted to start by making that strong statement, to set the tone for this article and the ones to come. Because my dear friends, this year’s W&W was actually really good, and we intend to highlight the beauty and technical genius behind some of the most notable releases (From both big and smaller brands, more to come in the upcoming hours)
And The Most Beautiful Bracelet Award Goes To…
For those of you who don’t keep up with the watch world drama, a big chunk of the criticism directed towards watch brands and their novelties has been about their bracelets. AKA the most important part since it’s what actually makes them wearable and not pocket watches.
The links, the clasp, the adjustment technology… And the overall aesthetics of the whole thing.
Let me cut to the chase and go through 3 of the watches with (in my humble personal opinion) the most mesmerizing bracelets from this year’s Watches & Wonders.
(In Order)
Reverso Tribute Monoface Small Seconds
Design wise, this sits at the top spot for me.
Jaeger-LeCoultre is back with another stunning take on the Reverso Tribute Monoface Small Seconds, this time in a refined pink gold execution (ref. Q713216J). If you’re familiar with the Tribute lineup, you’ll know JLC has been offering similar models in both steel and pink gold for some time. But this one comes with a fresh twist: a grained-texture pink gold dial that plays beautifully with light, adding an extra layer of sophistication to the already iconic Art Deco design.
The biggest talking point, though? That bracelet. JLC has paired this Reverso with a pink gold Milanese mesh-style bracelet, a rare sight in the collection and one that brings a distinctly vintage charm while maintaining a luxurious presence. It’s flexible, comfortable, and secured with a sliding clasp for a precise fit—perfect for those who want an elegant, dressy Reverso with a bit of extra flair.
Of course, inside the sleek 27.4mm x 45.6mm x 7.56mm case, you’ll find the in-house, hand-wound caliber 822. This ultra-thin movement keeps things traditional with hours, minutes, and a small seconds display, all while delivering a respectable 42-hour power reserve. It’s a nod to the Reverso’s long heritage of manually wound movements—just like the ones that powered the earliest models in the 1930s.
I can’t not come back and say this again but, that pink gold-on-pink gold combo !! God… I can’t wait to visit my Jaeger friends.
The Rolex Perpetual 1908 On The Settimo Bracelet
At Watches & Wonders 2025, Rolex has given a refined glow up to its Perpetual 1908 collection by introducing the Settimo bracelet, a fully polished seven-link design crafted in 18-carat yellow gold. This new bracelet enhances the watch’s dressy appeal, transforming it into a piece that seamlessly blends horological precision with jewelry-like sophistication.
The Settimo bracelet comprises seven small, highly articulated links polished to a mirror finish, offering mainly flexibility. It features a concealed Crownclasp, keeping the watch’s clean and uninterrupted aesthetic. Additionally, Rolex has developed a special attachment system for connecting the bracelet to the middle case, for which a patent has been filed. Notably, the Settimo bracelet is exclusively reserved for the 1908 model, underscoring its unique status within Rolex’s catalogue.
While the bracelet introduces a fresh dimension to the 1908, the watch itself retains its distinguished features. A 39mm diameter, 9.5mm thickness with an in-house calibre 7140. It comes in both black and white dial options, maintaining the distinctive handset that combines a Breguet-style hour hand with a sword-style minute hand.
On our Time-Telling Watch Club Facebook group, one of the members asked “Why would someone buy this €35k Rolex over a Calatrava?”
And I replied:
“Although I have been guilty of comparing the 1908 to the Calatrava multiple times, I don’t think it’s fair to do so.
The 1908 has Cellini roots that nobody is ever allowed to underestimate or undermine. That’s not me being biased, and you guys knooooowwww how much I dislike modern Rolex.
To keep it short and to let you guys enjoy the upcoming article, the answer to the question would be that this watch is Rolex dipping its finger into the design well. Meaning, all we’re seen are generic and predictable pieces that show 0 creative instinct from their design team.
But this one is actually genuinely very pretty. A time only gold dress watch. Everything but a tool watch (Rolexes are typically tool watches).
Notice how the bracelet is NOT integrated on this one while it is in the 2526 Pateks…”
Let me also add, the geezer watch effect is in full action here. What I mean by that is, a Calatrava will not give you the same smooth and spotless effect the Settimo’s hidden clasp will do. The closest Calatrava equivalent as I mentioned before would be the 2526 or even the 2586 and NONE of them will hug your wrist like the Rolex will. They also don’t have an open caseback for their automatic in house movements.
This obviously is very subjective and to be fair, not enough to justify the absurd price tag to your life partners or financial managers.
A. Lange & Söhne ODYSSEUS in 750 HONEY GOLD
They COOKED with this one.
At Watches and Wonders 2025, A. Lange & Söhne introduced the Odysseus Honeygold, a refined iteration of their sport-luxury timepiece. This model showcases the brand’s exclusive Honeygold alloy, a proprietary 18-carat gold known for its warm hue and exceptional hardness, surpassing that of traditional gold alloys. The use of Honeygold not only enhances the watch’s aesthetic appeal but also contributes to its durability. I mean it’s still a sports watch.
The Odysseus Honeygold features a 40.5mm case with a thickness of 11.1mm, maintaining the dimensions of its predecessors. What we’re here for is the integrated Honeygold bracelet, marking the first time this material has been used for the bracelet in the Odysseus line. The bracelet’s five-row design integrates seamlessly into the case, ensuring both aesthetic harmony and supreme comfort. It includes a micro-adjustment mechanism, allowing wearers to fine-tune the fit without removing the watch.
The Odysseus collection, introduced in 2019, marked A. Lange & Söhne’s entry into the luxury sports watch segment. Initially released in stainless steel with an integrated bracelet, the line expanded to include white gold variants paired with rubber or leather straps. The introduction of the Honeygold model with a matching bracelet represents a fusion of the brand’s proprietary material with the sport-luxury design ethos of the Odysseus.
People have been loving this one. And although it’s limited to 100 units, enthusiasts and critics have praised the Odysseus Honeygold for its harmonious blend of luxury and sportiness. The warm tones of the Honeygold alloy, combined with the brown dial, have been highlighted as particularly appealing, offering a distinctive alternative to traditional steel sports watches.
3 watches. 3 beautiful gold bracelets. No Cubitus propaganda, that’s for Hodinkee 😉
Do you agree with this ? Did I miss something ? Tell me in the comments.
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