Best of 2023: presenting our favourite luxury watches and styles of the year

2023 saw huge innovation in the world of horology and luxury watchmaking, as well as the rise of many style trends like quiet luxury and the domination of synthetic perfumes. Below is our selection of some of our favourite such watches and luxury beauty and grooming brands of 2023.

STYLE

Ostens Impression Cashmeran Velvet eau de parfumOstens’ Impression Cashmeran Velvet perfume uses synthetic scents to provide a unique experience. Like a soft cashmere jumper on your skin, this scent wraps you up with its warming accords of cashmeran velvet, sandalwood, and creamy vanilla bean extract CO2 LMR. 

Synthetics are the new future of luxury perfume, with leading fashion and beauty tastemakers now increasingly promoting the ideology that the most significant symbol of luxury is not limitless excess but making better choices for yourself and the planet. And Ostens’ eau de parfum is one such step in that direction.

See more of our recommendations in luxury perfumes right here.

TateossianIf you’re in the market for statement men’s jewellery, Tateossian should be on your radar. Whether you’re looking for subtle studs, brilliant brooches or other whimsical wonders, Tateossian has been the go-to brand for stylish gentlemen since 1990.

Founder Robert Tateossian, known as the King of Cufflinks, wanted to offer men and women ways to showcase their personality and style. If you’re after every day cool, go for the brand’s stacking bracelets; if you’re looking to pull a black-tie look together, look no further than the studs, chains and brooch styles on offer. Or if you’re not ready to reveal your personality in that manner, test the waters with a unique pair of cufflinks that reflect your hobbies. There is something for everyone at Tateossian.

Lock & CoAccording to Tempus style columnist and menswear expert Rikesh Chauhan, when it comes to hats, there’s no better place to start than Lock & Co. Established in 1676, they are the oldest hat shop in London, as well as one of the oldest family-owned businesses still in existence today, so it was a no brainer to include them in this list.

Lock & Co’s collection for this year’s Royal Ascot featured some antique and iconic styles like the luxurious silk top hats and the exquisite ladies’ pillbox — all of which are appropriate wear for the Royal Enclosure. If you’re after formal wear, look no further than Lock & Co.

And if you need more hat recommendations for men and women, you can read all about Rikesh’s best picks right here.

The ‘Quiet Luxury’ of Brioni, Ferragamo, Purdley and more2023 was the year we saw the rise of ‘quiet luxury’, which is a reflection of the desire for a more subtle and sophisticated style that flies under the radar while still exuding elegance. Quiet luxury or ‘stealth wealth’ is more than just fashion — it is a lifestyle movement from those who wish to say less about their wealth through their clothes and instead speak for themselves.

Some brands that we think exude the model of quiet luxury to perfection include Brioni, Ferragamo, Purdley and Brunello Cucinelli. From elegant coats to stylish shoes and cardigans, these brands are the perfect starting point if you want to foray into the world of quiet luxury. You can find the full list of brands in our autumn issue.

Floris’s home fragrance collectionOne of the UK’s most exciting perfumers since 1730, Floris is best known for its bespoke fragrance services — perfect for those seeking a nice luxury fragrance or a thoughtful gift. But the real star of the show is the brand’s home fragrance collection, which dates back to the 1800s.

Floris’s range of reed diffusers, room fragrances and scented candles are all beautifully presented and come together in a range of scents that celebrate British horticulture. From Grapefruit & Rosemary, Cinnamon & Tangerine and Hyacinth & Bluebell to classic scents like Sandalwood & Patchouli and their bestselling Oud & Cashmere, this is a collection that should be a must-have for anyone looking to liven up their homes.

WATCHES

Tag Heuer CarreraAs Tag Heuer celebrates 60 years of its iconic Carrera in 2023, we had to include the watch in our list. Named after the Carrera Panamerica rally — the most dangerous racing event in the world — the Tag Heuer Carrera was first launched in 1963 and became an instant hit among motoring enthusiasts and collectors alike. And to celebrate this milestone, the luxury watch company has released a brand new 2023 Carrera Chronograph that is a perfect tribute to the legacy of this watch.

In the words of TAG Heuer ambassador — and Tempus cover star — Ryan Gosling, who starred in The Chase for Carrera campaign, “The watches are very elegant — I genuinely love the product. I think it matches my aesthetic and style. It’s a great collaboration; I always feel that [Tag Heuer] allow me to contribute creatively.”

Van Cleef & Arpels Ludo Secret Watch“We don’t make watches,” says Van Cleef & Arpels’ Rainer Bernard. “We fashion high jewellery that tells the time.” That is exactly what the haute jewellery brand’s Ludo Secret watch represents. A reimagining of the original 1949 Ludo Secret Watch design, this new iteration is based on founder Louis Arpels’ original bracelet idea. 

“The 1949 watch is a masterpiece – it took us 73 years to learn how to remake it and then decide how we should go about modernising it, without breaking the aesthetic power of the piece,” says Rainer. Presented in yellow gold with a choice of sparkling diamonds or pink sapphires, this is a watch that is a perfect blend of high jewellery and haute watchmaking.

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 2 – Tech GombessaAs Blancpain celebrates the 70th anniversary of the iconic Fifty Fathoms diving watch, we were mesmerised by the Act 2 – Tech Gombessa watch that was launched to celebrate this milestone. Featuring innovations co-created by brand president Marc A Hayek and biologist Laurent Ballesta (founder of the Gombessa marine project), this watch allows for accuracy during more extreme dives of up to 300m.

With a 47mm dial finished in “absolute black” and surrounded by a unidirectional bezel with three hour scale, this is a diving watch with endless depth.

Panerai Luminor Due Luna TuttOroPanerai’s inaugural moon phase model is a masterclass in elegant dress watch design. At 38mm, the mother-of-pearl dial encases a poetic moon phase complication at 3 o’clock. White Super-Luminova illuminates numerals and indexes to ensure readability, while a transparent cashback reveals the beauty of the automatic movement.

The watch is finished with a Goldtech bracelet, which is Panerai’s unique gold alloy with platinum and copper, with alternating polished and brushed links to bring out the metal’s attractive red-gold hue. This is one quiet luxury item worth shouting about.

Ulysses Nardin Freak OneUlysses Nardin has always pushed the boundaries, and this year’s launch of Freak One continues that trend in triumph. Powered by the brand’s automatic calibre UN-240 Manufacture, the 44mm case is black DLC coated titanium with a satin finish and rose gold 5N bezel, finished with a rubber strap made of 30% recycled material.

Inside the case, though, owners will find no dial, hands or crown. Insead, the flying carousel rotates around its own axis, and it is the complication itself that provides the time. A symbol of innovation and uniqueness, the Ulysses Nardin Freak One is a watch we’re completely taken by.