Hello 2017! Yes, it's a NEW YEAR!

The aftermath of December has already started. Yes, the month we all went crazy with our money.

Unfortunately we must start the year imagining what we're going to purchase this year. 

So, let me spark some ideas.

2016 was a great year for watches - Apple released the Apple Watch 2, Bulova released their

Bulova CURV collection, G-Shock collaborated with Maharishi to make a limited edition

Mudmaster Watch and Citizen released their new Proximity Bluetooth watch.

Yes, a busy year. But don't worry, 2017 will be better. There will be more watches, more designs, more

features and more deals (hmm maybe). 

So, let's start the year with a few of watch trends to look out for in 2017.

SmartWatches

Smartwatches have been a around for a longtime. Casio introduced the first watch that allowed you to have the time, alarm, calculator and voice note record. So, they're not new. When smartwatches crept their way back onto the market, they seemed a little useless and unwarranted. A watch with notifications, music, calls, messages and navigation. Wait a minute! I have something that does all these things… Ahh yes, my smartphone.

That’s the initial thought that comes to mind when you think of a smartwatch. But once you use it, you can see how both a smartphone and smartwatch can work perfectly together. Once connected, both devices work flawlessly together like Jordan and Pippin, Chandler and Joey, Batman and Robin.

This past year, the smartwatch market has been swamped with fantastic watches: Apple Watch 2, Samsung Gear S2, Sony SmartWatch 3, Asus ZenWatch 2 and LG Watch Urbane. Despite numerous releases, the smartwatch market still took some losses; market intelligence firm IDC reported that smartwatch shipments have decreased in the last quarter of 2016 by 51.6%. Apple also saw shipments of its Apple Watches drop by 71.6%. Source: IDC

Nonetheless, 2017 will be a great year for smartwatches; there will be countless amounts of great watches that’ll sway the unbelievers. Google's Android Wear will be collaborating with many brands that’ll bring you a variety of affordable, quality and stylish watches.

Watch out for the following watches in 2017:

Google Watches

Swarovski Android Wear

Apple Watch 3

 HTC One Smartwatch

Bluetooth Watches

In 2016, the 'Bluetooth' feature has been highlighted a lot when you think about it. Bluetooth Headphones, Bluetooth Speakers, Bluetooth Keyboards, Bluetooth Printers (unfortunately no Bluetooth Chargers) and Bluetooth Watches.

Casio is one company that provides a wide range of watches that operate with the Bluetooth feature - this allows you to connect your watch to your phone and have the time set automatically depending on your location. Watches like the Casio Edifice EQB-510D and EQB-500D are solar powered, have time-sync and a phone finder.

The Citizen Proximity has been a recent release from Citizen. The two new watches (Citizen Proximity BZ1000-54E & BZ1005-51E) are the amongst the first Bluetooth watches. The watch adapts a smart and clean look while being packed with numerous features. No need for battery charging as this watch is solar powered. Also, alarm feature as well as perpetual calendar, dual time, light level power indicator and 100-meters water resistant.

The 'CITIZEN Bluetooth Watch (PROXIMITY)' app will allow you to connect your watch to your phone, activating the automatic time and date synchronisation feature. Also, the Bluetooth Connection Link Loss will allow you to find your phone if lost, the alert feature lets you know when you have a notification, email, SMS or call.

Price range from £359 to £385. Available here.

This year, Bluetooth Watches have been amongst our  best selling watches - both the Casio Edifice and G-Shock. Furthermore, these watches maintain the aura of your traditional watches, while keeping up with the times. If you're a person that likes your watch to be simple and easy and at the same time a little technologically advance, Bluetooth Watches are for you.

Divers Watches

Diver's watches have been around since the 1950s, and still have manged to maintain relevance amongst many other watch styles. These watches are often distinct, bold and bulky, they are made this way as they have to withstand extreme conditions as well as functioning well under water. Diver's watches are easy to identify, most of them have a: rotating bezel, big hands and markers and luminous numbers.

Casio will be releasing the Casio Sports MDV106-1AV watch that will be under £100 with quartz-powered,rotating bezel and 200-meter water resistance.

Citizen will release the Citizen Blue Promaster Diver for under £150 with quartz movements and solar power. 

Also, Seiko will launch the Seiko SRP601 which will be under £150, the watch will be powered by an automatic movement, it'll have a luminous hands and markers as well as well as a chunky bezel.

Diver's watches have made a rise in 2016 - our most popular diver's watches have been from brands like G-Shock, Citizen and Seiko.  The Citizen Promaster has your standard diver's dial with the thermoplastic polyurethane strap (TPU), G-Shock Mudmasters resin strap with dual display dials and Seiko Prospex stainless steel bracelet and skeleton hands with standard diver's dial. All these are diver's watches but they vary in style, performance and features.

Classic Watches

Hmm.. What do you mean by classic watches?

When I hear classic watches, I think of leather straps, white/champagne dial, Arabic numbers, silver or gold case and ticking. Throughout the year, we've seen watches that displayed characteristics of classic watches. The Skagen SKW6082 and Mondaine Evo Giant with the leather straps and white dial.

The Daniel Wellington Sheffield demonstrates the formula of a classic watch to the T, with the exception of Arabic numbers. All these watches, are apart of our bestsellers collection; this shows that people are gravitating towards watches with a more classic look. This year, you'll see a lot of brands embracing the classic look. Even if the watch adapts modern functions, the essence of watch will emit a classic style.

Well, that's it..

If you think there are other watch trends that could explode (not literally) in 2017, leave a comment.