When the new year is coming closer people tend to look back at what the current year has brought them. During the course of the year, the tide turned, and many brands enjoyed, once more, increased sales. This was in part due to some incredible new models that were introduced, which worked up an appetite with watch collectors and connoisseurs. At Haute Time we also look back, with our favorite watches of 2017!

Christmas is around the corner, and while many of you are probably hoping to find a new watch under the tree, that is up to Santa. Of course, you can wear any watch on the holiday, but some seem to be just that more appropriate, like these five amazing watches!

The high expectations were met today as Paul Newman's Daytona was auctioned during a relatively short but sweet bidding war, being sold for 15.5 million dollars. That makes it instantly the most expensive Rolex ever to be sold at auction, as it scatters the record even quite recently set by the "Bao Dai", the full calendar Rolex that belonged to the last emperor of Vietnam.

When it comes to Rolex and chronographs, there is always a focus on the famed Daytona, while the brand has made other chronographs that are equally interesting. An example of this is this reference 3525.

When it comes to Rolex, the dial can make all the difference. Think of the Stella dials on the Day-Date or the Paul Newman dials on the Daytona, while with the Rolex Submariner the difference is all in the details. With the Datejust however, there is not one particular dial that made a prominent name for itself, but there are some out there that should, like this Lapis Lazuli dial.

Many watch manufacturers use their watches to do good. They create special, often limited, editions dedicated to a variety of worthy causes to which they donate the proceeds. These watches often stand out, due to unique designs or special engravings, as the three watches below show. Oh, and the fourth one? That is a special case that we simply had to include in this line-up!

If there is one thing, we can't deny it is the fact that Eric Clapton has exquisite taste. This also extends to his watch collection with this stunning Rolex Daytona as a prime example!

This 10-year-old Miyagikyo whisky is one of the younger expressions available by the distillery, yet it still has tonnes of suave notes and depth, making it a perfect match for the Rolex Datejust 41.

We spend a lot of time discussing highly complicated watches, or beautiful vintage pieces, which we all love, but the fact of the matter is that the majority has one or two watches that get worn the most. They might not be the most complicated, but many of them are fine watches that offer the perfect balance between being robust and good looking, making them go along just fine with whatever you wear and whatever you do! While it indeed differs from person to person what that watch is, these are some of the front runners!

Like any financial advice, also this one should come with a disclaimer, as there are no certainties as it remains very hard to predict which watches will actually increase in value. There is however common sense, which can give you a general direction on what to look for, and what to buy.

The Monterey Car Week is the highlight of the year on the calendar of any car enthusiast. It consists out of several events that have one thing in common: showing the rarest, most exquisite, and because of this, the most valuable cars on the planet. The prominent sponsor of all these prestigious events is Rolex.

When it comes to watches there is no way around it: the vast majority of them are made from steel. While other materials such as ceramic, and even bronze, gain some market share, it is still steel that rules supreme, even among high-end watches. These are some of our favorite steel watches!

Despite their often small size vintage chronographs are among the most desirable watches. That is also what makes this Rolex ref.3330 chronograph so special, as it has a diameter of 37mm.

It’s official; summer time is upon us. And on a hot summer’s day, you’re likely to give the metal bracelets and exotic leather straps a miss and opt for a more comfortable and practical option.

When it comes to vintage Rolex some of the most coveted pieces are their famed cloisonné enamel dials, such as fitted on this ref. 6085, nicknamed "The Dragon."

We take a look at four tough and durable luxury watches that have so much more than good looks going for them.