The world of watches is constantly ticking forward, with every year bringing fresh innovations, revivals, and trends that surprise even the most seasoned collectors.
As 2025 winds down, that tune is getting pretty clear. I saw it at launches, in brand briefings, and at Dubai Watch Week, where the industry tends to loosen its tie and show its hand a little early.
So here it is. My watch trend predictions for 2026, based not on hype, but on what brands are already quietly betting on.
Stone dials are only getting started
Stone dials aren’t new. We’ve seen plenty of them in 2025. But what’s different now is how confidently brands are leaning into them – and how broad the appeal has become.
Toward the end of 2025, stone dials were everywhere. Tiger’s eye. Meteorite. Onyx. Lapis lazuli. Not as one-off curiosities, but as proper production pieces from Zenith, Norqain, Louis Vuitton, Biver, even Baltic. Dubai Watch Week was particularly telling. Brands weren’t asking if stone dials would sell, but which stones felt right for their identity.
That matters. Stone dials used to feel special but slightly precious, like something you only wore on a special occasion. Today, manufacturing has caught up. Cuts are cleaner. Colours are bolder. Fail rates are lower. And watch fans are more relaxed about wearing something that isn’t matte black or sunburst blue.
There’s also a wider cultural shift at play. People want texture again. They want something that doesn’t look like it could’ve been rendered in CAD five minutes ago. Stone gives you variation. No two dials are the same, which is a big deal in a world of limited editions.
In 2026, expect more stone and more brands making it part of their core range rather than a special experiment.
The 60s and 70s are back
The industry never really leaves the past alone, and in 2026, I feel the 60s and 70s will be making their comeback. The references are getting more specific. Less vague “vintage-inspired”, more this exact decade, this exact mood.
Designs drawing from the 60s and 70s are gaining traction again, and not just at the high end. Think softer geometry. Slim profiles. Integrated bracelets that feel elegant rather than aggressive. Watches like the Piaget Andy Warhol aren’t just nostalgic – they’re suddenly relevant.
That era nailed something we lost for a while. Confidence without bulk and a striking, bold style.
You can see why this is resonating now. After years of oversized sports watches, people are rediscovering the pleasure of something that slips under a cuff and doesn’t dominate your wrist. The 60s and 70s got that balance right, and brands know it.
In 2026, expect more cushion cases, more gold tones, more brushed finishes, and fewer design elements that exist purely to look tough.
Weird case shapes will still be popular
Round watches will never go away. They’re safe. But safe doesn’t spark conversation, and the industry knows it needs a bit more edge right now.
Unusual case shapes have been massively popular in 2025, and I think 2026 will push this further. Square. Rectangular. Elliptical. Asymmetrical. Any case shape that makes you look twice.
This isn’t about novelty for novelty’s sake. It’s about differentiation. When everyone’s using the same movements and materials, shape becomes one of the few remaining ways to stand out.
Collaborations are becoming the main event
If 2025 proved anything, it’s that collaborations are no longer a side project or a marketing exercise. They’re where some of the most interesting watches are coming from.
We’ve seen genuinely great results when two brands, or a brand and a creative, get it right. Fears x Studio Underd0g was playful and felt true to both brands. Hublot x Daniel Arsham showed how far a watch design can be pushed. And the Girard-Perregaux Deep Diver x Bamford made a proper, retro summer statement.
What stands out to me is that these aren’t quick logo swaps. The best collaborations feel considered, designed from the ground up, and often tell a clear story.
I think this will only accelerate in 2026. As brands look for ways to stand out without bloating their core collections, collaborations make sense. They let companies experiment, reach new audiences, and take design risks without long-term commitment.
These collaborations are a win for watch fans as well. The best watch collabs feel special without being inaccessible, and they give a sense of personality and superiority over ‘standard’ watches.
Dress watches are ready for their comeback
This one feels inevitable to me. For the last decade, sports watches and dive watches have ruled everything. It’s all been steel, water resistance, rotating bezels, and metal bracelets. But tastes are slowly shifting…
As people dress up a bit more again, the appeal of a proper dress watch, with slim cases, precious metals, and simple dials, is returning.
The renewed interest in stone dials, vintage aesthetics and unusual shapes all feed into this. Dress watches can absorb these ideas more naturally than tool watches ever could.
I’m not saying sports watches are done. Far from it. But in 2026, dress watches won’t be an afterthought. And honestly? It’s about time.
Liked this? The Seiko 5 Sports x The Pink Panther is so fun I didn’t want to take it off
