buffy acacia
I wrote a list like this Top 5 bad looking watches and 5 Affordable Watches for GothsI like to think of myself as Time+Tide’s resident ghost expert. Even though Australians don’t often celebrate by trick-or-treating, Halloween is by far my favorite festive season of the year. It may not be the kind of holiday traditionally celebrated with gifts, but watch fans rarely need much of an excuse to pick up something new. So here are seven watches to consider as your Halloween 2024 treat.
swatch i kalumbu
If you’ve experienced just as much laughter and screams as seen in an episode of Treehouse of Horror, Swatch’s Simpsons collection Ai Karumbu is guaranteed to put a smile on your face every time you check the time. Featuring the skeleton and outline of Bart Simpson during electrocution, you can keep America’s most suffering 10-year-old boy on your wrist all year round. The diameter is 47mm, but the lug-to-lug length is 44.8mm, so the combination of plastic case and silicone bracelet is surprisingly comfortable despite its size. Price: $140
mr jones nighthowl
Mr. Jones’ annual Halloween release is one of my most anticipated releases each year, and Night Howl is my favorite so far. Designed by French author and illustrator Xavier Brochu, this watch depicts completely immersive and unforgettable scenes. Outside the cozy cabin, a figure with a torch explores the snowy wasteland outside the door. As the minute hand, represented by a flashlight, rotates, various objects that collide with the night appear in bright light. The hour hand is a ghost, and it intersects with the beam once every hour when the protagonist discovers a terrifying ghost. The translucent blue disc that brings everything outside the torchlight into the night palette is pure genius. Price: $275
Spinnaker Fruce 40 Automatic sec/sec/2024
Spinnaker and Seconds/Seconds/ Last year on Halloween, we collaborated on “Fifty Phantoms”that’s for sure One of the best clock puns It’s been a while since I saw it. It’s been re-released this year in a purple and orange colorway, but what’s even more fun is that a playful alternate edition was released at the same time. The “No Apparitions” logo above the 6 o’clock position pays homage to the “No Rads” version of the highly collectible Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, banishing all those cute ghosts and allowing them to live on the bezel as minute markers. I’m putting it on. Both models have plenty of hidden luminous Easter eggs, and the packaging includes a UV torch and luminous cap. Each reference is limited to 888. Price: $445
Bold Venture Staghorn
An evolution of our favorite affordable field watch, the Boldr Venture Staghorn is a titanium diver’s watch with solid specs. Named and themed after the endangered staghorn coral, the pale orange of the dial and bezel is juxtaposed with the dark gray of the 38mm titanium case, creating a slightly dreamy effect. The various matte textures also lend a somewhat otherworldly feel, leaning into the pumpkin vibe of Halloween night. At less than $500, it’s also a great value diver’s watch that’s lightweight, robust, and easy to service thanks to the Seiko NH35 movement. This model is available from the Time+Tide shop. Price: $449
Peren Nera Rogue BW
Peren focuses on the fusion of Transylvanian tradition and modern watchmaking, and is a very prolific brand considering how niche its USP is. Early releases featured the region’s association with vampires quite strongly, but more recently they’ve taken more inspiration from actual historical cultures. Released late last year, Peren Nera Rogue BW still has the vampire fang logo The dial and crown feature a blacked-out bezel that lends a dark, brooding aesthetic. If your ideal Halloween watch is a spooky yet functional diver, then the Peren Nera Rogue BW is the perfect choice. Price: 689 Swiss Francs (~795 USD)
Doxa SUB 300 Carbon Professional
Doxa’s iconic orange dial may be more closely associated with summer recreation and Jacques Cousteau than anything else, but the SUB 300 Carbon’s marble black and gray case reveals those orange highlights. The lights definitely lean into jack-o-lantern territory. Even old, yellowed luminescent paint can evoke the feeling of a candle flame behind a carved hole. It may not give anyone goosebumps at first sight, but it’s close enough to give anyone a sense of spooky festivity while maintaining ultimate diving practicality. Available with black or orange rubber strap. Available from the Time+Tide shop. Price: $3,990
Strom memento mori, carpe diem
Originally on my list of evil watches, Strom Memento Mori’s Carpe Diem has lived in a corner of my heart ever since. Strictly speaking, the Memento Mori tradition, which acknowledges the inevitability of death, has nothing to do with evil, ghouls, and goblins, but it embraces Gothic truths and gruesome aesthetics, so it’s a must-see for lovers of darkness. A perfect choice. It makes a lot of sense when you see the list of brand ambassadors is rich with rock and metal music royalty. The brand itself is the brainchild of Daniel Strom, the son of Armin Strom and legendary for overseeing some iconic designs as Omega’s product manager. Price: 16,000 Swiss Francs (~18,460 USD)
