Last year we here at Oracle Time took a pretty big step; we launched the Oracle Time Watch Awards. The point wasn’t to slap our industry friends on the back or push advertisers, but to give you, our readers and community, the chance to have your say in what you considered the best watches of 2022. Now, the Oracle Time Watch Awards are back for 2023 and this year we’re going even bigger with even more emphasis on community and the watches you love as well as more giveaways for you to win thanks to our partnership with Finnies.
Last time, over 5,000 of you voted for your favourite watches across ten different categories. The competition was fierce in every one – you can find the full results here – eventually crowning the Grand Seiko Kodo the Reader’s Choice 2022, a worthy winner as it’s one hell of a watch (check out our December 2022 issue where it graced the cover).
The format will be slightly different this year. Previously we curated a shortlist of watches in each category and left an option for you to disregard our choices and enter a completely open vote instead. This time we want you to be involved right from the start by helping us to create the initial shortlist. From August 15th – September 15th, we’ll be asking for your three favourite watches across each of the categories. An important note is that entries must be a wristwatch launched within the last 12 months. If you’re not sure when a watch was released, check this very website. From there we will collate the eight most popular watches per category into the official Reader Shortlist.
Once the Reader Shortlist is complete, it’s time to vote. The winners of each award will eventually be announced, once again, in our December issue and then online a week later for our digital readers. While the methodology is a little different this year, the end result is ultimately the same: a completely open, community driven watch awards. There will just be a little more focus when it comes to the final voting process and shortlist thanks to your help.
Last year’s Readers Choice winner: Grand Seiko Kodo Constant Force Tourbillon SLGT003
The categories themselves are remaining largely the same with a few tweaks here and there, representing the length and breadth of the watch world. Those categories are: Dive Watch, Dress Watch, Chronograph, Travel Watch, Field/Pilot Watch, Microbrand, Accessible, High Complication, Sports Luxe and the big one, Reader’s Choice aka the Best Watch of 2023.
I mentioned that there are also going to be more giveaways this year thanks to our partner for the awards, Finnies. While voting for your favourite watches should be its own reward, we completely understand that you deserve something a bit more. Participating in the awards will enter you into a lottery to win one of five watches: the Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight 39mm, Bell & Ross BR 03-92 42mm, Doxa Sub 200 Professional Chronograph 45mm, Longines Conquest 35mm and Herbelin Newport Slim 42mm. You must complete the final voting in order to be eligible to win, although completing the shortlisting will also net you an entry, giving you double the chances of winning.
To recap the dates: we’ll be opening the shortlisting stage on 15th August, which will be live for a month, closing 15th September. Voting will then take place during the entire month of October and the results will be announced in our last issue of the year, out 1st December. If you don’t want to remember all of that, that’s not a problem, just sign up to our newsletter where we’ll be keeping everything up to date.
And there you have it, the second, improved edition of the industry’s only entirely community focused awards. Start having a think about the watches you want to enter into the shortlist and feel free to let us know what you’ll be voting for in the comments below or on social media. And don’t forget to share once voting opens to make sure your favourites win.
About Finnies
Founded in Aberdeen in 1954, Finnies have been the city’s premier watch and jewellery boutique for nearly 70 years, built on a combination of passion and an international luxury mindset. Alongside Our magnificent flagship store on Aberdeen’s George Street, Finnies offers a comprehensive online offering of brands ranging from Chopard to Tudor, from Longines to Bell & Ross. A flawlessly curated collection of brands and pieces with an emphasis on design and craftsmanship, Finnie’s is your first stop for the finest in watches and jewellery.
Looking forward to voting – though the Ingenieur won’t be my choice, there’s been some great independent releases this year.