A $337,585 platinum Patek. A Freak carved from Canadian stone. A gold Hublot back from 1980. These are the best new watches of October 2026.
Nine releases, from an $8,600 Hermès to watches only 15 people on Earth will own. Prices, specs and limited numbers, all in one place.
By A Rashwan · Cairo Times 24 · October 25, 2026 · 7 min read
October is usually quiet for watches. Not this year. Patek Philippe used a big exhibition in Milan to launch a world-first platinum chronograph. Ulysse Nardin celebrated 25 years of its wild Freak with a dial made from real stone. Hublot dug into its own history and brought back the watch that started it all. And independent makers like URWERK, MB&F and Ressence dropped some of the most creative pieces of the year.
Here are the nine releases every watch lover is talking about, from the most expensive to the most wearable.
The 9 best new watches of October 2026
Patek Philippe 5978P-010 "Milano 2026"
This is the big one. Patek showed it at its seventh "Watch Art" Grand Exhibition in Milan, which opened on October 2 with seven limited editions. It is the first Patek ever to combine a hand-wound chronograph with an instantaneous perpetual calendar, where all the date displays jump at the same moment at midnight. To do it, Patek built a brand-new movement, the CH 29-535 PS QI, with about 500 parts. Only 120 will be made.
Ulysse Nardin Freak [S Howlite]
The Freak turns 25, and Ulysse Nardin celebrated with something truly one of a kind. The hour disc is cut from Canadian howlite, a white stone with grey veins, so no two of the 15 watches look the same. Inside is the dual-oscillator Freak S movement. It was released on October 15 and is sold only in North America.
URWERK UR-300 Time Quantum
URWERK never makes a normal watch. The UR-300 uses two hour modules set in a T-shaped frame, and the hour jumps at the top of every hour. It looks like a gadget from a sci-fi film, and only 50 will exist across its two editions.
MB&F LM1 EVO
MB&F's Legacy Machine 1 is one of the most loved independent designs of the century, and the EVO gives it a new life. It shows two time zones at once, and the rose gold version is limited to 33 pieces.
Parmigiani Fleurier TORIC Petite Seconde Platinum "Morning Blue"
No logos shouting at you, just perfect craft. A platinum case, a hand-grained "Morning Blue" gold dial and a rose gold PF780 movement. This is the watch for people who know.
Ressence TYPE 10 DN "Dark Night"
Ressence watches have no hands. Instead, the dial turns and the displays sit in oil, so they look printed onto the glass. The Dark Night weighs only 82 grams and uses the RW-04 calibre. Deliveries start in November 2026.
Hublot Classic Fusion Tributo
Before Big Bangs and football sponsorships, Hublot began with one idea in 1980: a gold watch on a rubber strap. Founder Carlo Crocco launched it under the name MDM Genève. The Tributo brings that design back in a slim 38mm gold case. It was unveiled in Milan on October 15.
IWC Pilot's Watch Performance Chronograph 41 "Year of the Goat"
IWC gets ready for the Chinese Year of the Goat with a sporty pilot's chronograph: a titanium case, a black ceramic bezel and a gold-coloured dial. Limited to 500 pieces.
Hermès H08 Blanc & H08 Bleu de Malte
The cheapest watch on our list is still a true luxury piece. The H08's case is made from braided fiberglass, light and tough, powered by Hermès' own H1837 movement. The white version with its ceramic bezel is the one we would wear every day.
Price ranking at a glance
- Patek Philippe 5978P-010: $337,585
- Ulysse Nardin Freak [S Howlite]: $190,700 (excl. tax)
- URWERK UR-300: CHF 168,000 (before tax)
- MB&F LM1 EVO: from CHF 82,000 (before VAT)
- Parmigiani TORIC Morning Blue: CHF 56,500
- Ressence TYPE 10 DN: CHF 45,000 (excl. tax)
- Hublot Classic Fusion Tributo: $30,900
- IWC Year of the Goat: $13,100
- Hermès H08: $8,600
If money were no object: the Patek 5978P, because a world-first complication in platinum will only get more important with time. If we were buying with our own money: the Hublot Tributo. It is slim, gold, full of history, and it costs a fraction of the big names on this list.
Which one would you buy?
Tell us on X or Threads which watch you would pick, and why. And if you love watches, read our story on the latest Rolex news next.
FAQ
What is the most expensive new watch of October 2026?
The Patek Philippe 5978P-010, a platinum chronograph with an instantaneous perpetual calendar, priced at $337,585 and limited to 120 pieces.
What makes the Patek 5978P special?
It is the first Patek Philippe to combine a manually wound chronograph with an instantaneous perpetual calendar, using the new CH 29-535 PS QI movement with about 500 parts.
How many Ulysse Nardin Freak [S Howlite] watches are there?
Only 15, sold in North America, each with a unique dial made from Canadian howlite stone.
What is the cheapest watch on this list?
The Hermès H08 Blanc and H08 Bleu de Malte, at $8,600 each.
What is the Hublot Classic Fusion Tributo?
A 38mm gold watch that revives Hublot's original 1980 gold-on-rubber design, priced at $30,900.
