The Best Watches of 2026 (So Far)
I’ve been calling this steel Speedmaster the “Audi of Moonwatches.” It’s not on the high end, like one of Colman Domingo’s diamond-set gold versions, but it’s also several steps above your typical base model. This is the sensible luxury Speedy with a slightly upgraded dial. Rather than a single plane with contrasting sub-registers, this iteration’s dial uses two plates—black on top and white beneath it—to add depth. The effect really works for me, especially since it creates a “panda”-style dial, which wasn’t available on a modern Speedmaster before this model debuted in January.
The Two for the Price of One Award: Dennison Dual Time “Shades”
COREY CRAWFORD
Dennison has made a name for itself on the strength and versatility of this Dual Time model. In 2025, the brand used it to fuse two different stones onto a single dial. Now, they’re opting for something much chiller. The new “Shades” collection leverages the two-faced dial with tonal hues of green, brown, and blue. The result is a trinity of really handsome and unique watches. Dennison has done something that’s critical for all good watches: found a function that inspires great form. Like Rolex’s bi-color bezel on the GMT-Master, these aesthetic flourishes aren’t there just for fun. On Dennison, they divide the two separate timekeeping sections. The tall, lean numerals—a new addition to the “Shades” collection—are a little cutesy for me, but not overwhelming enough to put me off this watch. Especially when Dennison is offering one of the best values in the biz: the new collection starts at $740.
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