Best Luxury Watches to Wear on New Year’s Eve

Just like the rest of 2020, this New Year’s Eve is likely going to be a bit different than previous years. Rather than congregating at various bars and clubs to celebrate with family, friends, and strangers, some of us may find ourselves enjoying a glass of champagne from the comfort of our own home and ringing in the new year with our loved ones via Zoom video chat.

However, regardless of whether you plan on going out, staying in, or engaging in some responsible and socially-distant mix between the two, you are still going to want to have on the right luxury watch for the occasion. Below are a few of our top picks for New Year’s Eve 2020 that will have all your bases covered, whether you will be ordering bottle service at the club or simply want to look your best while spending the evening on the couch in your comfiest pajamas.

Rolex Day-Date President

Day-Date 18038 Key Features:

Case Size: 36mm

Materials: 18k Yellow Gold

Functions: Time w/ Running Seconds, Date Display, Day Feature

Dial: Multiple Options Available

Bezel: Fixed, 18k Yellow Gold, Fluted Style

Crystal: Sapphire w/ Cyclops Magnification Lens

Movement: Caliber 3055

Water Resistance: 100 Meters / 330 Feet

Strap/Bracelet: President Bracelet

For many people, the Rolex Day-Date President is the quintessential gold luxury watch, and the model’s timeless design has been a staple of the industry ever since it first made an appearance in 1956. Inherently refined and luxurious, yet also offering a remarkable ability to be dressed down so that it can be paired with more casual attire, there really is no wrong time to wear a classic yellow gold Rolex President.

Whether you want to add the perfect finishing touch to your evening outfit or simply want to make a statement without having to change out of your sweatpants, a 36mm Rolex Day-Date in yellow gold is the perfect timepiece for New Year’s Eve. Nearly any Rolex President watch will give you this iconic look, but our pick for the evening is the older reference 18038, which was the first model to introduce a sapphire crystal and quickset date movement to the collection.

Paired with a matching 18k gold President bracelet, the Rolex Day-Date 18038 offers the same instantly-recognizable aesthetic as more modern models, yet it is often one of the least expensive Rolex President watches available. Additionally, the older dial design and case finishing provides the ref. 18038 with a slightly retro charm that reminds us of a time back when restaurants and bars were open, and the biggest question facing us on New Year’s Eve was where we wanted to go out and celebrate, not what was open for business.

Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon

Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon Key Features:

Case Size: 44.25mm

Materials: Black Ceramic

Functions: Time w/ Running Seconds, Date Display, 12-Hour Chronograph

Dial: Black w/ Luminous Hour Markers

Bezel: Fixed, Black Ceramic w/ Tachymeter Scale

Crystal: Sapphire

Movement: Co-Axial Caliber 9300

Water Resistance: 50 Meters / 167 Feet

Strap/Bracelet: Nylon Fabric Strap w/ Ceramic Clasp

Fashion experts often say that black goes with everything, and it has become the go-to color for chic New Year’s Eve outfits all around the world. Whether you plan on wearing your all-black ensemble for an elevated evening out on the town or simply so that you can be the best-dressed during your family’s New Year’s Eve Zoom call, you are certainly going to want a black watch that matches and the Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon is our top pick.

The original Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch is an absolute industry icon and could easily be the watch that you pair with your New Year’s Eve outfit, but the Dark Side of the Moon model takes things up a notch with a black ceramic case and Co-Axial movement. While it is still instantly recognizable as an Omega Speedmaster, the Dark Side of the Moon offers a more refined and formal appearance compared to the utilitarian, tool-like design of the classic Moonwatch.

With a black dial, black ceramic case, black fabric strap, and black ceramic tachymeter bezel, the Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon is guaranteed to match your all-black New Year’s Eve ensemble, and its in-house Co-Axial Cal. 9300 movement will make sure that you are right on time for the countdown to the new year. Plus, unlike the regular Moonwatch, the Dark Side of the Moon models feature a date display at the 6 o’clock location, so that you can watch the date change over to the 1st at midnight.

Rolex Yacht-Master II

Yacht-Master II 116680 Key Features:

Case Size: 44mm

Materials: Stainless Steel

Functions: Time w/ Running Seconds, Programmable Countdown Timer

Dial: White w/ Luminou Hour Markers

Bezel: Ring Command, Blue Ceramic Insert w/ 10-Minute Scale

Crystal: Sapphire

Movement: Caliber 4161

Water Resistance: 100 Meters / 330 Feet

Strap/Bracelet: Oyster Bracelet

The Rolex Yacht-Master II is a purpose-built sports watch that was designed specifically to help its users count down to the start of a regatta. Featuring both flyback and fly-forward functionality, the programmable timer on the Yacht-Master II is arguably the most capable mechanical countdown timer currently available. While it was created for boat racing, the advanced functionality of the Rolex Yacht-Master II also makes it the ideal watch to help you count down to the new year.

Within the watch world, countdown timers are actually rather uncommon. There are countless timepieces that are capable of measuring elapsed time, but these chronograph watches count upwards rather than down. The Caliber 4161 movement inside the Rolex Yacht-Master II allows its users to set a countdown duration between one and ten minutes, and then instantly synchronize the timer – forwards or backwards – to the nearest minute with a single press of a button. While this is a complex and rather specialized complication, it also happens to be one that is perfectly suited for the countdown on New Year’s Eve.

For example, let’s say there is about ten minutes left until the new year. Simply set the regatta timer on your Rolex Yacht-Master II to ten minutes and let the countdown begin. Now, let’s say that as you approach the one-minute mark, people start counting down and you notice your watch is a few seconds off from the official countdown. All you need to do is press the top button when they call out one minute, and your countdown timer will automatically synchronize to one minute. All Rolex Yacht-Master II watches will offer this same functionality, but our pick for New Year’s Eve 2020 is the stainless steel ref. 116680 with the bright blue Cerachrom bezel since it represents the most cost-effective way to get your hands on Rolex’s high-tech countdown timer.

Rolex Sky-Dweller

Sky-Dweller 326139 Key Features:

Case Size: 42mm

Materials: 18k White Gold

Functions: Time w/ Running Seconds, Annual Calendar, GMT Functionality

Dial: Multiple Options Available

Bezel: Ring Command, 18k White Gold, Fluted Style

Crystal: Sapphire w/ Cyclops Magnification Lens

Movement: Caliber 9001

Water Resistance: 100 Meters / 330 Feet

Strap/Bracelet: Leather Strap w/ White Gold Clasp

Holding claim to the title of being the most complex watch currently in Rolex’s catalog, the Sky-Dweller is a modern marvel that packs a surprising amount of functionality into a deceptively clean and simple package. In addition to offering chronometer-certified precision, an annual calendar complication, and GMT functionality, the solid 18k white gold Rolex Sky-Dweller ref. 326139 also makes the perfect watch to wear on New Year’s Eve.

Today, all Rolex Sky-Dweller watches are either fitted with Oyster or Oysterflex bracelets; however Rolex previously offered solid gold models that were fitted with leather straps. Inherently more dressy and refined than a metal or rubber bracelet, the leather straps fitted to these now-discontinued Sky-Dweller models instantly transform them into something entirely more formal that pairs perfectly with a suit or tuxedo. The solid 18k white gold case paired with a black strap and matching black dial make the reference 326139 the most dressy Sky-Dweller model Rolex has produced, and an easy choice as our top pick for New Year’s Eve.

In addition to being superbly handsome and capable of effortlessly pairing with virtually any attire, the advanced functionality of the Rolex Sky-Dweller 326139 also makes it perfectly suited for your New Year’s Eve celebrations. Not only does its annual calendar complication only require adjustment once per year (on March first), but its GMT functionality also allows you to track a second time zone should you be celebrating the new year via Zoom with a friend or family member in a different location.

Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight

Black Bay Fifty-Eight Key Features:

Case Size: 39mm

Materials: Stainless Steel

Functions: Time w/ Running Seconds

Dial: Blue w/ Luminou Hour Markers

Bezel: Unidirectional, Blue Aluminum Insert w/ 60-Minute Scale

Crystal: Sapphire

Movement: Caliber MT5402

Water Resistance: 200 Meters / 660 Feet

Strap/Bracelet: Steel Bracelet; Leather Strap; Canvas Strap

Without a doubt, the biggest news to come from Tudor in 2020 was the release of the Black Bay Fifty-Eight in navy blue. While the Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight itself is not a new watch, the addition of a blue version of the fan-favorite 39mm case size instantly made the model the biggest news from Tudor this year and easily one of the most talked about new watch releases of 2020.

Vintage-inspired and inherently sporty in its overall design, the highly versatile 39mm case size of the Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight makes it far easier to wear with more formal attire than most other professional dive watches. Additionally, with a deep blue dial and bezel insert, the Black Bay Fifty-Eight Navy Blue perfectly walks the like between a casual watch and a tool watch, making it an easy watch to dress up or down to suit you New Year’s Eve plans.

Drawing inspiration from the legendary dive watches from Tudor’s history, the Black Bay Fifty-Eight offers much of the same styling and proportions as the celebrated vintage models, but with modern materials one one of Tudor’s own in-house movements. As one of the hottest new releases of the year, what better way to say goodbye to 2020 than with the Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight in navy blue on your wrist.