8 Novelties from WatchTime New York 2024 (with Hands-on Photos)

All images by Zen Love

This weekend in New York was a doozy for watch fans. WatchTime and the surrounding events are an annual landmark in the watch-loving public's calendar and they seem to just keep growing in size, attendance and buzz-worthiness. Watch brands recognize it as a moment to capitalize on the excitement and attention with releases at the show as well as the opportunity to show recent novelties for the first time. It was almost hard to see all the horological delights that were on display in Gotham Hall from no fewer than 36 incredible brands, but below are eight brand-new watches you wouldn't want to miss.

Czapek Faubourg de Cracovie Crossroads

The Faubourg de Cracovie is Czapek's nominally racing-themed chronograph collection. It's as easy on the eyes as its name is tough on the English-speaking tongue, and until now every example from the collection has been a limited edition. With two new models added this year, the brand introduced one of them as its first permanent collection model, and that would be the version in blue. The other has a more monochromatic colorway with a silver dial, and both feature a very cool, deep guilloché pattern. Also, different for these models is the addition of a tachymeter scale, which necessitated tweaking the dial's design proportions slightly.

Read all about the Czapek Faubourg de Cracovie Crossroads, here.

Cyrus Klepcys GMT Royal Purple

Someone was trying to tell me that 2023 was the year of the purple watch, but 2024 is keeping the mini-trend(?) going. If Cyrus's Klepcys watch wasn't already sufficiently eye-catching, bright Joker-purple should do the trick. It might come across as funky, but stopping by the WatchTime New York Cyrus booth, we found that this is one of those watches that's surprisingly ergonomic on the wrist. Read all about how its dual time functionality works and more in our coverage of the Cyrus Klepcys GMT Royal Purple, here.

Bremont Terra Nova Chronograph Jimmy Chin

Bremont is continuing to build out the Terra Nova line that it introduced just this year. The collection included several models, some of which had multiple variants, but the chronograph only came in one, monochromatic version. Now the brand is offering a swankier take on it with a two-tone model and one in full 18k rose gold. Both are limited editions made as part of Bremont's partnership with mountaineer, photographer, filmmaker and all-around badass Renaissance man Jimmy Chin. Read all about the Bremont Terra Nova Chronograph Jimmy Chin, here, and you might also want to check out the brand's new ceramic Supermarine dive watches.

Ulysse Nardin Freak One Navy Blue

The Ulysse Nardin Freak aimed to question traditional watch engineering conventions when it was introduced in 2001, and it's been doing it ever since. It's come in many variants over the years, and the Freak One introduced last year incorporated elements and innovations from various models from its history. While the newest model keeps the same dimensions and technical features of the Freak One, it introduces an entirely different aesthetic for it. Now with a forged carbonium bezel and navy blue dial (with a matching rubber strap), it offers a more casual vibe than that conveyed by its predecessor's polished gold bezel. Read all about the Ulysse Nardin Freak One Navy Blue, here.

Casio G-Shock Full Metal GMCB2100

Though launched just prior to event, WatchTime New York was many people's first opportunity to see the latest addition to G-Shock's evolving 2100 series collection. Though only introduced in 2019, the hyped collection quickly joined the brand's most iconic designs. It's since been offered in various versions, including steel and even a high-end MRG treatment, but this is one of the biggest updates with the addition of a chronograph. Read all about the G-Shock Full Metal GMCB2100, here. 

Zeitwinkel Model 240°

This year Zeitwinkel introduced what is probably its sportiest model yet. In five different colorways, each features Arabic numeral hour markers as well as minute markers on a fixed bezel. Four of the five models come in PVD cases of black or gray, and all are rated to a sport-ready 100m of water resistance. The monochromatic black model is sleek (and perhaps our favorite), but if you want as sporty as possible go for red or bright orange. Each also comes on a rubber strap to match its dial color. Read more about the Zeitwinkel Model 240°, here.

H. Moser & Cie. x Massena Lab Endeavour Chronograph Compax

Technically announced just ahead of the show, the collab master Massena Lab teamed up with H. Moser & Cie to produce a watch looks like nothing else from the brand. Unless you go back to the 1940s, that is, when Moser produced watches with a similar dial design style. It takes that familiar vintage look found on early chronograph dials from a number of brands and executes it in an unexpectedly modern way: with Moser's "Funky Blue" dial as the backdrop to crisp green lume all in the comparatively sporty Endeavour case. Read all about the H. Moser & Cie. x Massena Lab Endeavour Chronograph Compax, here.

Bell & Ross BRX5 Full Lum

Bell & Ross love lume. They've been among a number of brands that have leaned into newer technology that's allowing more flexibility for all kinds of components to glow in the dark. Last year, they introduced a version of the BRX5 which featured a case which itself glowed green, and this year they've followed up with the same concept executed in cool blue. Read all about the Bell & Ross BRX5 Full Lum, here.