My Most Worn Watch Of 2024: The Cartier Santos Galbée XL

Honestly, I’m not sure which watch I wore the most last year. I usually choose a different watch to wear daily, so keeping track is hard. My Instagram feed is a good indicator, though. My Cartier Santos Galbée XL is probably the most featured watch on there. That’s partially because it gives me the most endorphin highs with all the likes and messages it generates. But it’s mainly because I love how it wears and looks. Therefore, I’m calling my Cartier Santos Galbée XL my most worn watch of last year, and it probably will be in the years to come.

However, there are certainly also other watches that make a popular appearance on my wrist. Below, I’ll give you an idea of which watches I wore the most last year and why I always keep coming back to them. I’ll start with “the rest of the bunch,” and then I’ll finish it off with the Santos.

The good ol’ Oris Art Blakey

I’m surprised at how often I still grab my trusty Oris Art Blakey for a day on the wrist. This was my first “proper” luxury watch after I looked for a more formal replacement for my Seiko SKX007. At that time, it was going to be my only watch for the rest of my life. However, since then, I’ve fallen down the watch rabbit hole, and I have added “a few” other watches. I’m thankful those watches haven’t made me forget about the clean and original Oris Art Blakey, though.

Especially on the Bonklip bracelet by Joseph Bonnie, which is easy to adjust on the fly, it is a joy to wear and goes great with any outfit. I also still get many compliments whenever I’m out wearing this watch. This all shows me that I made the right choice when I decided to buy this model. But, as you all know, sometimes one option just isn’t enough, especially when talking about watches.

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Classic Medium Duoface

Another watch I wore a lot last year was my Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Classic Medium Duoface on the leather and textile strap by Casa Fagliano. I adore how light and comfortable this combo feels during the warmer summer months. Besides, in Amsterdam, you don’t want to draw too much attention to your short-sleeved arm with an Omega, a Rolex, or the like. The Reverso is, of course, a great watch, but I feel it’s not the kind of watch most thieves are looking for.

So yes, the Reverso is great for the summer, but then again, it’s probably not the best watch to take swimming. That’s why I brought two other watches with me on my summer trip to Spain.

The Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional ref. 310.30.42.50.01.001

During the summer of 2023, I solely wore my Rolex Explorer ref. 114270, and it was the perfect companion. However, when the folks at Omega invite you to spend some time with them at the Olympic Games in Paris, you’d better be wearing an Omega watch. So that’s why I also brought my Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional with me last summer. At first, I thought I was only going to wear this watch during the events in Paris, but I’m surprised at how well the current Speedmaster works as an all-around summer watch.

The fact that my Speedmaster is certified by METAS means its 50m water resistance is thoroughly tested. So I put the watch on a rubber Tropic-style strap, once again by Joseph Bonnie, and decided to wear it while swimming with the kids in my sister-in-law’s pool and the lake close by. The watch handled the water just fine, and it was nice having the Speedmaster on my wrist. This experience showed me a side of the Speedmaster I wasn’t very familiar with, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The Rolex Explorer ref. 114270

My second most worn watch last year was my Rolex Explorer ref. 114270. Just like the Santos, it’s an incredible grab-and-go option. It works with any of my outfits and just always feels good on the wrist. It’s a little more boring than the Santos, but “boring” is what Rolex does best. I just never get tired of looking at it, let alone wearing it. Another similarity with the Santos is that I never take the Explorer off of its perfect bracelet. I did try some other options just after I got the watch, but nothing looks as good or wears as well as the classic Oyster.

Sometimes I think, “Which other Rolex watch would I like to add to the collection?” I honestly struggle to answer that question, especially when considering the relatively affordable options. I often dream about the new Rolex Day-Date in yellow gold with a white dial and Roman stick numerals. However, that watch costs nearly €40K, so I’ll probably never own it. But then I think about my beloved Explorer, and I once again feel quite content with what I have.

The Cartier Santos Galbée XL ref. 2823

Finally, we get to my real go-to option, probably for the foreseeable future. When I bought the Cartier Santos Galbée XL ref. 2823 from another enthusiast, I had never seen it in person before. That’s why I’m still so happy that it clicked right away when I opened the box. Of course, I had seen many pictures and videos, and I’d read the scarce reviews online. But you never know how you’re going to feel about a watch until you have it in your hand and on your wrist.

Well, with the Santos Galbée XL, it was love at first sight, and that love hasn’t faded one bit. Its bracelet is indeed a bit tight during the summer months, but that gives me a great reason to also wear my other watches. However, whenever the temperature is around 20º Celsius or below, the Santos is my go-to option. The square silver dial with its black lacquered Roman numerals looks so good in combination with the watch’s curvy and sexy stainless steel case. Initially, I thought the bezel’s misaligned screws would annoy me. But I now feel they add a little jazz/improvisation to this otherwise perfectly designed watch.

What was your most worn watch of 2024?

So, there you have it — an overview of my most worn watches of last year. I’m very curious to hear what your most worn watch of 2024 was. Let me know in the comments below.