The Best Luxury Sports Watches Of 2022

Few trends have seen such a strong surge in popularity as the luxury sports watch over this past year. Or rather, past years, as demand has skyrocketed for several of the usual suspects for much longer than just these 12 months. But with soaring demands, people have slowly begun shifting focus to less obvious choices as there are plenty of alternatives around. And although it’s hard to ignore watches like the Royal Oak (which we simply couldn’t, sorry) or the Nautilus, we wholeheartedly feel there have been a few extremely nice, surprising entries to the market! So with that in mind, here is our selection of the best Luxury Sports Watches presented in 2022.

Note: please share your favourite luxury sports watches of 2022 in the comment section at the end of this article.

Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Automatic 36mm

The elegant Tonda PF range by Parmigiani Fleurier was a really pleasant surprise when it was launched last year. And through an impressive number of well-balanced, refined models, the collection has significantly grown over this past year. One of the best new offerings by the brand is the Tonda PF Automatic 36, which sizes down the style to a very comfortable 36mm. Every aspect that makes the Tonda PF such a strong design has been retained. From the sleek shape of the case, the integrated tear-drop lugs, the knurled bezel, the fine guilloché decoration and so on. It’s just, well, smaller! Available in two variations until now, prices range from CHF 18,500 to CHF 24,900 (with diamond hour markers).

For more information, please visit Parmigiani.com.

Quick Facts – 36mm stainless steel case with platinum knurled bezel – silver sand or warm grey dial – grain d’orge guilloché pattern – calibre PF770, in-house – automatic movement – 179 parts – 28,800vph – 29 jewels – 60h power reserve – 22k rose gold rotor – integrated stainless steel bracelet – CHF 18,500 (Silver Sand) or CHF 24,900 (Warm Grey)

Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222

It’s no secret we think the Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222 is one of the best new watches of the year, period. It also happens to be one of the absolute best luxury sports watch designs ever conceived, so it should come as no surprise it made this list. Originally launched in 1977 on the occasion of VC’s 222nd anniversary, the 222 made a grand return this year. The tonneau-shaped sports watch has been faithfully recreated in yellow gold, with a yellow gold dial and yellow gold bracelet. Side by side with a historic model, it becomes quite tricky to pinpoint which is which. The biggest update, however, comes from the movement, which is a modern automatic with a quick-set date function. As a non-limited boutique exclusive, the Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222 retails for EUR 78,000.

For more information, please visit Vacheron-Constantin.com.

Quick Facts – 37mm yellow gold barrel-shaped case with fluted bezel – gold-toned matte dial with gold markers and hands – automatic calibre 2455/2, in-house – yellow gold integrated bracelet – reference 4200H/222J-B935 – boutique exclusive, non-limited – EUR 78,000

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin 16202st

The Royal Oak, the genesis, the precursor, the forebear of the luxury sports watch segment, turned 50 this year and for that reason alone, it deserves to be on this list. It still is one of the strongest designs in watchmaking history, penned by the late Gérald Genta in 1972. We all wondered what would happen after AP announced the discontinuation of the 15202. Well, not much really, since the new Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin 16202ST proved to be quite faithful to its origins. The biggest change is the introduction of a new movement (with a special rotor for its anniversary year only). The cosmetic changes are extremely subtle, with refined tweaks here and there. But best of all, it’s still very much the Royal Oak it should be. Priced at EUR 32,400, it’s not exactly cheap; it’s also rather difficult to get a hold of.

For more information, please visit Audemars-Piguet.com.

Quick Facts – 39mm stainless steel case with octagonal bezel – petite tapisserie dial in “Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50” – white gold applied markers and hands – AP calibre 7121, self-winding – special 50-year rotor available in 2022 only – integrated stainless steel bracelet with folding clasp – reference 16202ST.OO.1240ST.01 – EUR 32,400

Citizen Tsuyosa automatic

On the complete opposite end of the spectrum of the AP and VC sits the Citizen Tsuyosa Automatic. This humble sports watch comes with a typical 1970s design and some very appealing attributes. Overall it looks very good, and it’s impossible to ignore its price point. Sure, you’re not getting Haute Horlogerie levels of watchmaking, but that’s perfectly fine. The Tsuyosa offers something else altogether, and that’s simple, accessible mechanical watchmaking. At 40mm in diameter, it will likely be at home on most people’s wrists, and Citizen offers it in a quartet of colours. Classical black always works, but there’s also yellow, green or blue. And best of all, at EUR 299, the Tsuyosa Automatic is a genuine steal!

For more information, please visit Citizen-Global.com.

Quick Facts – 40mm stainless steel case, brushed and polished – sapphire crystal with magnifier over the date – black, blue, green or yellow dial with applied markers and hands – calibre 8210, in-house automatic – undecorated with gold-coloured finish – integrated stainless steel bracelet with deployant clasp with micro-adjustments – reference NJ0150-81E – EUR 299

Atelier Wen Perception

Another surprising new entry to the luxury sports watch segment was the Atelier Wen Perception. This niche brand brings Chinese craftsmanship to the forefront again and challenges people to rethink the stereotypical perception of “Made in China”. Deeply inspired by Chinese culture and traditional craftsmanship, the Atelier Wen Perception has a very personal identity and can’t really be compared to anything else. The guilloché dial is handmade and set in a thin, shaped 904L stainless steel case. The caseback shows a traditional Chinese motif and partially reveals the Dandong Peacock automatic movement. Combining good looks with artisanal skill and passion, the Perception shows that a Chinese watch can be a very cool thing! Production is limited to roughly 500 pieces per year and the watch is priced at USD 2,588.

For more information, please visit AtelierWen.com.

Quick Facts – 40mm 904L stainless steel case – sapphire crystal – caseback with traditional Chinese motif and sapphire window – grey, salmon or ice blue handmade guilloché dial by Master Cheng – Super-LumiNova hands and printed huiwen pattern on minute ring – customised Dandong Peacock movement, automatic – integrated 904L steel bracelet with interchangeability system – secondary rubber strap – limited in production to ~500 pieces per year – USD 2,588

Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto

The last watch that made the list is the Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto. It’s not often a small-scale independent watchmaker releases a sports watch with an integrated bracelet, but this is a very cool one indeed! Made in grade 5 titanium, it’s surprisingly light on the wrist and is finished with the attention to detail typical of Laurent Ferrier. The opaline blue dial has applied markers and hands, and although there’s some debate over the style of the date window, we think it looks cool. Around the back, you’re treated to the exquisitely finished movement with a platinum micro-rotor. The miniature positive relief lettering on the rotor pays tribute to Laurent Ferrier’s background in motorsports. It retails for CHF 46,000 before taxes and is part of the permanent collection.

For more information, please visit LaurentFerrier.ch.

Quick Facts – 41.5mm grade 5 titanium case, polished and satin-finished (vertical & circular) – opaline blue dial with gradient effect – powder grey transfers and tracks – white gold markers and Assegai hands – calibre LF270.01, proprietary automatic with micro-rotor – 72h power reserve – integrated 3-link grade 5 titanium bracelet – titanium triple folding clasp – reference LCF040.T1.C1GC5 – CHF 46,000