Welcome to T3's live blog recap for Watches and Wonders 2024!
From 9th - 15th April 2024, the annual Watches and Wonders event took place in Geneva, Switzerland. Throughout the event, 54 exhibiting Maisons showcased their latest launches and novelties, including the likes of Tudor, Rolex, TAG Heuer, Zenith, Vacheron Constantin, and many more.
With an extra six Maisons compared to last year, 2024's Watches and Wonders was the largest watchmaking gathering to ever take place in Geneva! Lucky for you (and us!), T3 reported live from Watches and Wonders this week, bringing you the latest news, releases and behind the scenes exclusives from the event.
But enough chatter from us, here were the very best new watches at Watches and Wonders 2024, and make sure to check out T3's Best of Watches and Wonders 2024 Awards.
P.S. For more watch news, T3 is running Luxury Watches Month for April, and you can also check out our guide to the best watches.
TAG HEUER unveils dazzling chronographs and feminine Carreras
In true TAG Heuer style, the brand has kicked off Watches and Wonders 2024 with not one, not two, but four new novelties.
Amongst the new novelties is a TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph that pays homage to the original Chronograph. With a 39mm that houses a silver sunray dial and black flange, it's certainly going to draw all the attention from this year's Watches and Wonders.
As the old saying goes, good things come in threes, and TAG Heuer has released a trio of 36mm Carrera Date models, designed with sophisticated femininity. The first of the three models comes in steel with a mother of pearl dial and diamond flange, and the second and third showcase two tone designs. Here, you can find combinations of steel and rose gold with a copper dial, and the other sticks to the mother of pearl and diamond design but with the two tone bracelet.
TAG Heuer has also debuted a new TAG Heuer Carrera Skipper and TAG Heuer Monaco novelties, all of which you can find out about in our TAG Heuer Watches and Wonders round-up.
Tudor launches first entirely solid gold dive watch
Much like TAG Heuer, Tudor has also unveiled four new novelties at Watches and Wonders, the most exciting of which is an entirely solid gold dive watch. The first of its kind, the Black Bay 58 18K comes in full yellow gold, and features a three-link yellow gold bracelet which is a major milestone for a Tudor diving watch.
You can never get enough gold, which is why the Black Bay 58 18K has solid yellow gold hands and hour markers, alongside the bracelet. The watch also weighs 193 grams, making it the heaviest Tudor watch in the collection.
Alongside the new Black Bay gold dive watch, Tudor has also unveiled a new Black Bay in monochrome and a Master Chronometer certified Black Bay 58 GMT. The latter has a glossy bidirectional bezel, manufacture calibre and a 39mm case with rubber strap.
The fourth novelty from Tudor is a reimagining of the Clair De Rose with a new 'Tudor Blue' dial. A nod to the signature look from Tudor in the 1960s, the watch comes in three case sizes and shoppers can choose between a Roman numeral or eight diamond dial variation.
Arnold & Son Longitude Titanium explores uncharted territories
Known for its overly elaborate and intricate dials, Arnold & Son has released the Longitude Titanium, a marked difference from its trademark designs. Inspired by John Arnold, the brand's namesake, the Longitude Titanium is a COSC-certified chronometer watch with sports-chic and marine accents.
The new Longitude Titanium is (unsurprisingly) made from titanium and has an integrated bracelet, another new feature from Arnold & Son. The 42.5mm watch is inspired by sailing and boats which you can see included in the design. The watch uses a A&S6302 self-winding calibre movement, and comes in three different dial colours.
It's all about Rolex's Perpetuals
Everyone awaits eagerly for Rolex's new novelties and this year, Rolex has really outdone itself. From the watchmaker, we have six new timepieces that feature new dials, bracelets, and mark the first time Rolex has made a deep-sea divers watch in yellow gold (we're seeing a pattern here!).
First, we have two Oyster-steel versions of the Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II, one with an Oyster bracelet and the other with a Jubilee bracelet. Both have a 24-hour graduated two-colour Cerachrom bezel with grey and black ceramic.
Secondly, Rolex has also introduced new versions of the Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 40 and the Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 36. The dials have been reimagine and finely worked, including white mother of pearl detailing.
An exciting new launch from Rolex is the Oyster Perpetual Rolex Deepsea, Rolex's first deep-sea divers’ watch in 18ct yellow gold. It features an 'as-yet-unseen' combination of materials, a 60-minute graduated Cerachrom bezel insert and a stunning blue lacquer dial.
Other new novelties from Rolex include a Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona, Perpetual 1908 and Oyster Perpetual Sky‑Dweller. Rolex is really treating us this year!
Vacheron Constantin updates its Overseas collection
Vacheron Constantin has unveiled the latest iteration of the Overseas watch, with a serious upgrade to the stunning design.
The Vacheron Constantin Overseas has a new bold green dial and pink gold case, and comes in four different sizes and models, including a 41mm case with standard date, 35mm diamond-encrusted model, dual-time and chronograph.
Depending on your preferences, you can treat yourself to stunning diamonds or keep it technical with the Overseas Chronograph. The latter has a 5200 movement with 52 hours of power reserve, three subdials, and a date window and counters.
Montblanc Iced Sea plunges to new depths
Montblanc has released multiple novelties at Watches and Wonders, including the new Iced Sea 0 Oxygen Deep 4810. The dive watch has been engineered to withstand extreme depths, and is able to go underwater down to 4,810 metres, the same height as the Mont Blanc mountain.
The Montblanc Iced Sea 0 Oxygen Deep 4810 is powered by the Manufacture Calibre MB 29.29, and has zero oxygen inside the case to eliminate fogging and oxidisation during extreme temperatures. With a 43mm titanium case, the watch has a shield that protects the crown, a bold blue coloured dial, 3D engraved caseback and an interchangeable strap.
Other Montblanc novelties to watch out for are Iced Sea models in red and bronze, as well as the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen CARBO2 and Montblanc 1858 The Unveiled Minerva Monopusher Chronograph.
Bell & Ross expands BR 05 range
For Watches and Wonders, Bell & Ross is expanding its BR 05 range with the introduction of black ceramic. A robust material, the use of ceramic in the new Bell & Ross BR 05 makes it resistant to scratches and corrosion, and makes it harder yet lighter than steel.
The Bell & Ross BR 05 Black Ceramic is the first BR 05 auto self-winding model with a 41-mm case. It's powered by the calibre BR-CAL.321-1 and has a 54-hour power reserve. The black sunray dial showcases skeletonised hour and minute hands filled with white Super-LumiNova and a rhodium-plated seconds hand completes the look.
New Panerai Submersibles
Panerai has expanded its popular Submersible collection in partnership with the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli sailing race.
The most exciting new watch from Panerai is the Submersible Tourbillon GMT Luna Rossa Experience Edition PAM01405. This watch marks the first 45mm Submersible to feature a tourbillon complication and to combine a tourbillon with Carbotech.
Another dazzling addition is the Submersible QuarantaQuattro Luna Rossa Ti-Ceramitech PAM01466. Powered by the P.900 calibre, the new Submerisble has a bidirectional rotation and balance wheel, and is made from Ti-Ceramitech material that took seven years to research and develop. The Ti-Ceramitech material can withstand high pressure and temperatures, is water resistant up to 50 bar and is available in a blue dial or white dial variation.
Ulysse Nardin unveils Freak [S Nomad]
Ulysse Nardin has debuted its latest version of the Freak, the Freak [S Nomad]. Keeping to true Freak style, the Freak [S Nomad] still has no dial, hands and crown, so it's trickier than normal to tell the time, although we're going to tell you how here.
With the Calibre UN-251 Manufacture movement, the Freak [S Nomad] has a spaceship-looking design, including inclined and oscillating silicon balance wheels which look like a rocket's launch pads. The movement also boasts a flying carousel that rotates around its axis, giving the entire movement and watch a three-dimensional look.
Within its 45mm case, the Freak [S Nomad] indicates the time through rotation, with two bridges that rotate around the centre for the minutes and hours. The movement makes a complete turn on itself in an hour.
For even more drama, the Freak [S Nomad] is made from titanium and DiamondSIL, a synthetic material that looks like artificial diamond and optimises the watch's performance. It might be my favourite Freak yet!
Bulgari’s record breaking Octo Finissimo Ultra
For years, Bulgari held the title of world’s thinnest watch before Richard Mille came out with its collaboration with Ferrari, beating them by just 0.05mm. But now, Bulgari has taken back the crown with its new Octo Finissimo Ultra, with a thickness f just 1.7mm.
The Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra is the world’s thinnest watch to date, and the world’s thinnest chronometer-certified watch. With a blend of sandblasted and polished titanium and brass, the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra is powered by the BVL 180 manufacture manual winding mechanical ultra-thin movement and is complete with winding and time setting wheels.
The caseback is truly beautiful with Bulgari engravings and a geometric decoration. It's lightweight (as expected) but still packs a punch with its design. It's limited to 20 pieces so if you want to get your hands on it, you'll have to be quick (although pricing has not yet been announced).
Zenith introduces the long-awaited DEFY Skyline Chronograph
Completing its popular DEFY collection, Zenith has presented the DEFY Skyline Chronograph, a modern take on the DEFY octagonal case with multisided bezel. Available in three colourways, the DEFY Skyline Chronograph is architectural and geometric with its fun shape both on the case and within the dial.
With a 42mm steel case, the DEFY Skyline Chronograph has an octagonal case, a circular bezel and octagonal dial, for a sharp design that draws the eye. Powered by the El Primero 3600 automatic high-frequency movement, it has a 1/10th of a second chronograph function, stop-second precision, three subdials and white and silver markers and hands.
Available in blue, silver or metallic black, the blue variant is my personal favourite as you can really see the intricacy of the design and shape.
Bremont Terra Nova for the modern explorers
Bremont has debuted two new novelties, the Terra Nova and the Supermarine. Designed for adventures, the Bremont Terra Nova is built to withstand the elements with its 904L satin and polished stainless steel materials.
The Bremont Terra Nova has a 40.5mm case with rotating bezel and compass markers. It's powered by an automatic movement with offers 38 hours of power reserve and 100 metres water resistance. The dial is protected by an anti-reflective sapphire crystal and the hands and markers are made with Super-LumiNova for better visibility in low-light conditions.
The dial is complete with small seconds, date and power reserve indicators, and comes with a choice of stainless steel bracelet, leather or woven fabric strap. Bremont has also unveiled a Terra Nova 42.5 Chronograph, 40.5 Date and 38 variants, and a Supermarine 300m for water-based activities.
Is this the most precise Grand Seiko yet?
Known for its manually wound watches, Grand Seiko is back with another called the Evolution 9 Collection Manual-winding Mechanical Hi-Beat 36000 80 Hours SLGW003. The manually wound dress watch marks the first time in more than 50 years that Grand Seiko has debuted a new high-beat movement, called the Caliber 9SA4.
The Caliber 9SA4 is the third movement to join the latest generation of the mechanical Caliber 9S platform. The new movement and timepiece offers 36,000 vph, high-beat precision and 80 hours of power reserve. The design has been revisited with new slimmer grooved indexes, narrower multifaceted lugs, and a titanium case and clasp.
The dial is a combination of different hues of silver, and if you look closely, it looks like it's been etched or scratched for more detailing. The Grand Seiko logo sits towards the top and the watch is complete with a crocodile leather strap.
Frederique Constant indulges in the green dial trend
The Frederique Constant Classic Moonphase Date Manufacture in Dark Green has a new in-house movement and fully indulges in the green dial trend. Green dials are one of the key watch trends for this year, and the Classic Moonphase Date Manufacture Dark Green is joining the party with its dark dial and strap colouring.
The Classic Moonphase Date Manufacture Dark Green is powered by the new FC-716 movement that's been developed in house and boasts a 72-hour power reserve. The watch comes in a 40mm steel case, and while the green is T3's personal favourite, the Classic Moonphase Date Manufacture also comes in a blue or green dial, depending on your style preferences.
Hublot takes a leaf out of Ulysse Nardin's book
Hublot takes watchmaking to the next level with the new MP-10 Tourbillon Weight Energy System. Similar to Ulysse Nardin's Freak, the Hublot MP-10 Tourbillon Weight Energy System doesn't have a dial, hands or oscillating weight.
In place of these timekeeping essentials, the MP-10 Tourbillon Weight Energy System has a roller display and an inclined tourbillon automatic winding via two linear weights. In its signature square design, the new Hublot looks extremely intricate with its 'lock' style display that indicates the hour and minutes. It also has a circular power reserve at the bottom of the watch which points towards the numbers.
Jaeger Le-Coultre celebrates the Duometre
Back in 2007, Jaeger Le-Coultre worked extensively on its first application of the Duometre to make a chronograph watch as accurate as a chronometer. Now, it looks like they've done it with the Duometre Chronograph Moon.
The Duometre Chronograph Moon has the high precision of a chronograph and is powered by the new Calibre 391 movement. Lightning fast yet incredibly smooth, the Duometre Chronograph Moon has a beautiful design with three chronographs on the dial, with one featuring a celestial moon and stars decoration. It has a night and day display, blue hands and also secretly shows off the movement between the five, six and seven o'clock position.
I know it's only day one of Watches and Wonders, but the Jaeger Le-Coultre Duometre Chronograph Moon might be my favourite watch from the event (although I may change my mind throughout the week!).
Patek Philippe offers world time on one watch
Ever wanted to know the time in the London? Okay, that's a bit of an easy one, but have you ever wanted to see the time in Paris, Moscow, Sydney, New York and Cairo in just one glance? Well, with the new Patek Philippe World Time With Date, you can!
The World Time With Date from Patek Philippe marks the launch of the new 5330G-001, and a patented world first: a self-winding 240 HU C caliber. The watch uses a differential system to manage local times and dates, which is made up of 70 components. Around the dial, you can find several country names, 24-hour markers and a sun/moon image. A red dot sits between Auckland and Midway to mark the International Date Line.
Aside from the clever timekeeping, the Patek Philippe has a beautiful opaline blue-grey dial and a denim-like strap.
Roger Dubuis Orbis in Machina
The Roger Dubuis Orbis in Machia sounds straight out of a sci-fi movie, and it looks like it too. Another technical-looking watch, the Roger Dubuis Orbis uses a new Central Monotourbillon to show off its modern engineering and architecture.
Both sides of the Roger Dubuis Orbis shows off technical watchmaking. In black and pink gold colouring on the case, crown, bezel and caseback, the watch has a tourbillon mechanism at the seven o'clock position and uses a manual winding movement with central flying tourbillon. It has an inertia balance wheel with 72 hours of power reserve
The Roger Dubuis Orbis has hour and minute indications on the dial, as it's yet another watch that doesn't have hands!
And that's a wrap on Day 1 of Watches and Wonders! Tune in tomorrow where we'll be looking at even more watches from the top watch manufacturers. Our News Editor and watch expert, Sam Cross will also be at the event where he'll be giving us an exclusive look at the latest novelties so stay tuned!
DAY 2 OF WATCHES AND WONDERS 2024
Welcome back to Watches and Wonders Day 2! Yesterday, the event was kicked off in style with exciting presentations on the latest novelties, time talks from big watch manufacturers, and celebrities like Gisele Bundchen visiting the stalls.
Today, we're continuing to showcase our new favourite watches from the event. To keep things more interesting for you, we'll be sticking to a theme for each day. For Day 2, we'll be showing you the best chronographs and complications from brands like TAG Heuer, Laurent Ferrier, Louis Moinet, IWC Schaffhausen, and many more. Stay tuned!
TAG HEUER MONACO SPLIT-SECONDS CHRONOGRAPH
I spoke a little yesterday about the new TAG Heuer novelties (and we also fully covered them in a TAG Heuer Watches and Wonders round-up) but I think we need more time to marvel at the new chronographs.
TAG Heuer has unveiled a few chronographs this year, including a Carrera Chronograph and a Carrera Chronograph Skipper. But the watch that's drawn my eye the most is the TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph. A tribute to the original 1969 model, the striking watch has a square titanium and sapphire crystal case that shows off the intricate chronographs on its dial.
The TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph features a rattrapante chronograph complication which offers simultaneous time interval measurement. It also has a split-seconds chronograph, both of which sit at the centre of the dial. With a mixture of black, blue, white and red colouring, the dial looks mechanical with two bolts at the top corners.
Looking at the design, it looks both sporty and technical at the same time. The TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph also uses the TH81-00 calibre automatic movement with a 65 hour power reserve and is completed with a blue calf leather strap. It certainly packs a punch!
A. Lange & Söhne shows off two new Datographs
Celebrating 25 years since the launch of the Datograph, A. Lange & Söhne are back with a pair of Datograph watches: the Lumen and the Up/Down.
The first watch is the Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold 'Lumen' (the watch on the left). The timepiece features many complications, including a flyback chronograph with jumping minute counter, a perpetual calendar, a moon phase and tourbillon. As the name suggests, it features a Honeygold case back coated sapphire dial and a dark brown alligator leather strap to top it off.
The second watch is the Datograph Up/Down. It's still chronograph heavy but it's slightly more toned down than the Lumen. The flying chronograph is present, and the split date window sits at the 12 o'clock position. It looks a little more sporty than the Lumen with its blue dial and white gold case.
Limited to 50 pieces for the Lumen and 125 pieces for the Up/Down, these incredibly limited edition timepieces will be hard to get your hands on, but it's well worth trying!
IWC Schaffhausen Portugieser Eternal Calendar
The Portugieser Eternal Calendar marks the first time IWC Schaffhausen has engineered a secular perpetual calendar. With this timepiece, it's all about precision, rules and irregularities, making it a truly wonderful watch to look at.
The IWC Schaffhausen Portugieser Eternal Calendar precisely reproduces and automatically takes into account the Gregorian calendar's leap year rules by skipping three leap years over 400 years. Aside from the Gregorian calendar, the watch has three other chronograph counters, including days and months, and a year window.
A moon phase sits in the top calendar, and the hour markers run in between the counters, letting the chronographs be the star of the show. It's striking yet subtle with its use of black, silver and blue colouring.
What is a chronograph?
Now that I've covered a few of the new watches with chronographs from Watches and Wonders, it might be a good idea to actually explain what one is!
A chronograph is a type of watch that's fitted with an extra complication on its display, which can be used as a stopwatch. A basic chronograph looks like a small subdial which typically sits at the bottom or six o'clock position of the dial, but as you can see with TAG Heuer and other brands, they can also sit further up the watch face.
Normally, a chronograph features an independent set of hands, and it can be started and stopped when needed. As chronographs have developed, more of them can be seen on watches, and many timepieces have one, two or three at a time.
Laurent Ferrier Classic Moon Blue
Laurent Ferrier puts a twist on the traditional chronograph with its Classic Moon timepiece, complete with a moon phase complication. This marks a first for Laurent Ferrier to introduce a moon phase to a watch, and it's one that's truly beautiful to look at.
The Classic Moon Blue features a moon phase with an annual calendar towards the top of the watch and a dramatic blue monochrome dial. Roman numerals mark the hours, and numbers from 1 - 31 loop around the outside of the dial. Aside from the moon phase, the watch is relatively refined yet it shows off the intricacy and attention to detail that Laurent Ferrier is known for.
Hysek IO Chronograph
Part of the popular IO collection, the Hysek IO Chronograph is a blend of contemporary style, expressive lines and soft curves. The new timepiece is revisited version of Hysek's chronograph, and it's been given a new in-house movement.
The dial is available in royal blue, white and black, which really brings out the three chronographs on the face. Clustered towards the bottom of the dial, the chronographs offer multiple stop/start time precision and have their own curved line decorations separate to the main lines on the dial.
The Hysek IO Chronograph is complete with silver hour markers and robotic-looking minute, hour and seconds hands. The crown is flanked by two stoppers and the watch is complete with a leather strap that matches the colour of the dial.
Grönefeld 1941 Grönograaf Stainless Steel
Grönefeld made its first chronograph in 2022, meaning its chronograph watches are still in their infancy. But for Watches and Wonders 2024, Grönefeld has debuted the 1941 Grönograaf Stainless Steel, the distillation of three generations of watchmaking.
The Grönefeld 1941 Grönograaf Stainless Steel is a highly mechanical looking watch. The dial is busy yet not too cluttered and is a celebration of all things horology. The dial is off-centre, a detail that's a staple in many Grönefeld watches, and shows the hours and minutes at the top right with blue hands and trapezoidal indexes.
A 30-minute chronograph counter sits at the base of the dial while the seconds counter is located around the nine o'clock position. The chronographs each have a Breguet-style hand and above the seconds display is a power reserve indicator. There's a centrifugal governor that sits at the four 'clock position so when you press 'reset to zero', it springs to life for practicality and performance.
Grönefeld is set to release 188 pieces of the 1941 Grönograaf in stainless steel so you'll have to be quick to get your hands on this one.
Eberhard & Co. is inspired by vintage
For those who can't get enough of vintage, the Eberhard & Co. Chronographe 1887 Édition Limitée will definitely excite you. Eberhard & Co. was founded in 1887, and so to honour this time, the Maison has launched the Chronographe 1887 Édition Limitée which is limited to just 250 pieces.
There are two versions of the Chronographe 1887 Édition Limitée, the 1887 and the 1887 Automatic, which looks similar to the former, except it has numerals instead of Roman indexes. Inspired by vintage chronographs, the new Chronographe 1887 Édition Limitée has a hand-wound mechanical chronograph that features a column wheel and flyback complication.
Powered by the EB 280 calibre movement, the Chronographe 1887 Édition Limitée looks technical and sophisticated. Available in a white or black dial, the opposing hands, numbers and markers stand out brilliantly, and have a blue sketched chronograph detailing which the real working chronographs overlap.
This U-BOAT Chimera should be on the high seas
The new U-BOAT Italo Fontana 9589 Chimera 46mm Chrono SS Blue (wow, that's a moutjhful!) looks like it could help you navigate the high seas... and no, not just because the name of the brand is called U-BOAT!
The new Chimera 46mm Chrono SS Blue from U-BOAT is a wonderful chronograph, with three tone-on-tone counters in three different shades. A 24-hour counter is also added into the mix, so the dial looks a little like a compass. The oversized crown and pushers on the left side of the case just pushes this point even further.
With a bold blue-striped dial, the Chimera 46mm Chrono SS Blue is made of AISI 316 L steel, and has a sapphire crystal, tungsten bezel and case back. It's complete with five special external pulling screws around the case, which makes it look more mechanical, is powered by the Sellita SW500 movement and it's water resistant to 100 metres.
The 9589 Chimera 46mm Chrono SS Blue from U-BOAT Italo Fontana is finished with an aged black leather strap and is limited to 300 pieces.
Vacheron Constantin revives the pocket watch
This novelty from Vacheron Constantin might be the world's most complicated watch... which you can probably tell just by looking at it!
The Les Cabinotiers The Berkley Grand Complication has 63 horological complications and 2,877 components, but that's not it! Not only has the new watch surpassed Vacheron Constantin's own record of most complications, but it's a world-first timepiece to feature a geniune Chinese perpetual calendar, complete with Chinese characters and ying and yangs. The dial also has a sky and moon chart which is also elaborately decorative.
The Les Cabinotiers The Berkley Grand Complication is powered by the in-house Calibre 3752, which helps power the complex design of the watch. It has a triple-axis tourbillon regulator for even more design accents. It's a truly wonderful watch to look at, and for more fun, it can be used as a pocket watch.
Nomos lets you pick a colour with new Tangente 38 Date
If you want a watch full of colour, then you need to take a look at the new Tangente 38 Date from Nomos Glashütte. In celebration of 175 years of watchmaking in Glashütte, Nomos has unveiled a slightly larger version of its original Tangente 38 Date in 31 colours.
That's right, you can get a Nomos Tangente 38 Date in 31 different colours, aka one watch for every day of the month. The colours vary from bright to pastel, and they all come with a fun and unique name too, like Sportbunt, Flamingopink, Super Sardine and Rambazamba, to name a few.
The overall design of the Tangente 38 Date stays the same, with a chronograph counter underneath the hands and a date window above the six o'clock position. The hands are still brilliantly white and the hours are marked with both numbers and indexes. Simply put, the Nomos Tangente 38 Date is a bit of fun and while they're limited to 175 pieces each, they'd definitely make a stunning collection.
Ressence brings back pop art
I can't get enough colour, and the Ressence TYPE 1 ROUND M is providing all the colour I need. The new novelty features three polychromatic hour, minute, second and weekday discs that are shown in green, yellow and red colours.
Inspired by colour screen painting, the Ressence TYPE 1 ROUND M has a very cartoon pop art vibe. The light grey dial shows off the main counter circles, and the bezel around the edge is a deep blue. The numbers and indexed look muted next to these bright pops of colour in white and grey, and filled with Super-LumiNova.
Powered by the minute axle of a customised 2892 base calibre, the Ressence TYPE 1 ROUND M is a playful watch that's both simple and bold at the same time.
BEHIND THE SCENES WITH JAEGER-LECOULTRE
News Writer for T3 (and watch expert and aficionado), Sam Cross is on the ground at Watches and Wonders, getting up close and personal with the latest novelties.
As you can see above, he's been able to get his hands on the new Jaeger-LeCoultre, and wow, it looks pretty beautiful. I've already covered the new Chronograph Moon a bit further down this blog (go on, have a scroll), but the one pictured is a slightly different watch, although it still shows off three stunning chronographs.
In a rich blue colour, this Jaeger-LeCoultre timepiece has hints of gold and is powered by the 381 calibre, rather than the 391 which drives the Chronograph Moon.
BEHIND THE SCENES WITH A. LANGE & SÖHNE
Just look at that crisp blue on the A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Up/Down! Another watch already covered today (take a look below), the Datograph Up/Down looks seriously impressive in this picture captured by our News Writer, Sam Cross.
In the photo, you can clearly see the bold detailing on the chronographs and the contrast between the gold, blue and white. The leather strap has a lighter blue than I'd originally suspected, which makes the watch look much more maritime and rugged.
The numerals on the Datograph Up/Down are different to the new Lumen with clear index markers, and the date window at the top of the watch has much curlier numbers which I'm a big fan of. The A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Up/Down might be one of my favourite chronographs of the day!
BEHIND THE SCENES WITH IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN
Finally, we've got an exclusive behind the scenes look at the IWC Schaffhausen IW371626 Portugieser Chronograph at Watches and Wonders.
The IW371626 Portugieser Chronograph has the IWC-typical vertical arrangement of the subdials, with the minutes dial directly at the 12 o'clock position and the small seconds counter at the six o'clock spot.
The version Sam got to see at the event is in black and gold, and is this picture, it looks relatively simple and laidback. But once you get up close, the IW371626 Portugieser Chronograph is much more intricate than what initial meets the eye.
And that's a wrap on Watches and Wonders Day 2! Today, we've focused on all things chronographs, moon phases and complications. Tomorrow for Day 3, we'll be looking at wearable art timepieces, and women's watches. We'll also have more behind the scenes action from the event, so come back tomorrow for more Watches and Wonders news.
DAY 3 OF WATCHES AND WONDERS 2024
We're back with Day 3 of Watches and Wonders 2024! The past couple days, I've been highlighting the best new novelties from the likes of Rolex, Tudor, TAG Heuer, Bulgari, A. Lange & SÖhne, Hublot, IWC Schaffhausen, and many more.
To keep things interesting, I've been giving each day a theme, so you can get a full overview of the watches and jewellery that's been revealed at the event. For Day 3, it's all the bling, as I'll be showcasing wearable pieces of art, jewellery-watch hybrids and women's watches.
Stay tuned for all the latest news and behind the scenes exclusives of Watches and Wonders 2024.
Say it with mother-of-pearl and diamonds... and Rolex!
Starting off tame, one of the many Rolex novelties from Watches and Wonders include two new editions of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona. Both watches feature stunning mother-of-pearl dials (which seems to be a key watch trend of 2024) and complete with eight diamonds around the dial, and an additional 36 diamonds set around the bezel.
With a 40mm case, the new Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona is a pretty chunky watch for smaller wrists, but it packs a lot into its design, so it's somewhat to be expected. Both watches are made from 18ct white gold and use the calibre 4131 movement. Buyers get a choice between black mother-of-pearl dial with white pearl subdials or the inverse option.
The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona pictured is more subtle than some of the other watches I'll be showcasing today, but the simple luxury is truly mesmerising.
Cartier brings the bling with its Animal Jewellery Watch
It wouldn't be a round-up of jewellery-watch hybrids without Cartier! For Watches and Wonders 2024, Cartier has debuted the Animal Jewellery Watch in three different variations.
Cartier has always been inspired by animals within its jewellery, with its most famous being its Panthere watch, bracelet and necklace collections. Now, the Cartier Animal Jewellery Watch is here and it's a quirky blend of zebra and crocodile patterns. The fully-paved watch is surrounded by sparkly and colourful gemstones, which are defined in lacquer by hand to make the crocodile scales on the dial, and zebra stipes on the case.
The Cartier Animal Jewellery Watch has a lozenge-shaped case which makes it look fully curved and three-dimensional. The dial itself is simple with just the hour and minute hands, letting the pattern and gems shine. The watch is available with three different coloured stones: the first has black, silver and green, the second has black, rose gold and pink, and the third has black and gold.
Cartier has also debuted new versions of the Cartier Prive, Reflections De Cartier and a Santos De Cartier, so if the Animal Jewellery Watch is a bit too bold for you, you can find other new stunning timepieces that feature luxurious gems and expert timekeeping features.
This Vacheron Constantin watch can make you smell better!
Yes, you read that right. The Vacheron Constantin Egerie has been designed in collaboration with Yiqing Ying to release fragrances as you move.
How it works is the Vacheron Constantin Egerie comes with a trio of straps that are infused with nano-particles of perfume crafted by master perfumer, Dominque Ropion. As you move, the nano-particles rupture and release a burst of fragrance, keeping you looking stylish and smelling great all day!
Aside from the perfume feature, the Vacheron Constantin Egerie has a 37mm pink gold case, 58 diamonds around the bezel, a moonphase dial with an additional 34 diamonds surrounding it, and a crown at the two o'clock position.
The sad news is that because the Vacheron Constantin Egerie is a concept, you won't be able to buy it but if you're in Geneva for Watches and Wonders, you will be able to take a look at it. As you can see from the picture above, our News Writer, Sam Cross, did manage to see (and smell) it in all its glory!
Beauregard launches first men's watch, Ulysse
Who said men's watches can't look like a wearable piece of art?! Beauregard is proving this with its new Ulysse watch, the brand's first ever men's watch.
Known for its floral and gemstone-laden designs, the Beauregard Ulysse is slightly more subdued but still packs a punch. The dial looks like a maze or a stained-glass window, with its use of gold lines and curves. The glass is 68 components of hand polished Aqua Marines which is beautiful and captivating.
In partnership with master watchmaker Vianney Halter, the Beauregard Ulysse is limited to just 10 pieces, so you'll be lucky to get your hands on one.
Ice Ice Baby with Chopard
If you love diamonds, then you're going to love the Chopard Alpine Eagle 41 XP Frozen Summit.
The stunning watch-jewellery hybrid is made entirely of diamond-set ethical gold, a perfect blend of luxury and sporty-chic. The Chopard Alpine Eagle 41 XP Frozen Summit has been honoured by the Poinçon de Genève hallmark and is powered by the L.U.C Calibre96.41-L movement, which has an automatic winding micro-rotor and 65 hours power reserve.
It's hard not to love the Chopard Alpine Eagle 41 XP Frozen Summit with its 18-carat white gold and stunning set diamonds, which make up the dial, bezel, crown and bracelet of the 41mm watch. I'm absolutely obsessed and for smaller wrists, there's also a 33mm version.
Tudor adds 'Tudor Blue' to Clair De Rose
Like Rolex, Tudor has debuted many new novelties at Watches and Wonders, including a Black Bay GMT. But for women's watches, Tudor has unveiled the Clair De Rose with a new 'Tudor Blue' dial.
Perfect for smaller wrists, the new Clair De Rose comes in multiple sizes from 26 - 34mm in diameter. The 'Tudor Blue' dial has been a Tudor signature since the 1960s, and it gives the classic watch a fun pop of colour. The dial also has lined patterns in the centre to attract more attention, and give a spiral effect.
Around the 'Tudor Blue' dial of the Clair De Rose pictured above are silver Roman numeral markers and hands. But for more glitz and glam, the new Clair De Rose is available in two design variations, one with Roman numerals or eight diamonds as the markers.
Van Cleef & Arpels takes us on a journey with the sun and moon
Van Cleef & Arpels is one of my favourite jewellery and watch brands, mainly because it's unapologetically over-the-top and luxurious with its designs. Now, Van Cleef & Arpels has added to its Poetic Complications collection with a reinvention of the Lady Arpels Jour Nuit.
A wearable piece of storytelling, the Van Cleef & Arpels Lady Arpels Jour Nuit is 'a journey on the sun and moon'. A diamond-paved moon takes up most of the dark blue dial, and a cluster of stars sit at the right side of the watch. In the top left, a snow-set yellow sapphire sun sits pride of place, or you can alternatively choose a guilloché yellow gold sun instead. The Murano aventurine glass sits over the top to add depth to the design.
Aside from the bold decorations, the dial has a 24-hour rotating disc, and simple silver minute and hour hands. A blue bracelet completes the watch and a Van Cleef & Arpels logo sits at the six 'clock position within the moon.
Behind the scenes with Hermès
Wow, do we have a treat for you. Sam Cross, News Writer at T3 and watch fanatic is on the ground at Watches and Wonders, and has been able to get hands-on with lots of exciting novelties, including these seriously whacky Hermès timepieces.
The picture above is the most tame of the Hermès watches on show at Watches and Wonders, and the manufacturer is mainly showing off its new Cut collection. But Sam has been lucky enough to have a look at some more intricate designs which you can see below.
Featuring imaginary and mythical creatures dressed up in elaborate outfits, Hermès is showcasing its rare Slim d’Hermès Le Sacre des Saisons watches. Inspired by the seasons. Hermès has taken the designs of its silk scarves and added it to the watch dials of the Slim d’Hermès dress watch.
In the gallery above, the watches are the Autumn, Summer and Winter themed timepieces, and they're truly beautiful yet completely crazy. I'll have one of each please.
Chanel pays tribute to Gabrielle Chanel
Inspired and in tribute to Gabrielle Chanel and her couture workshop on Rue Cambon, Chanel has debuted the J12 AUTOMATON CALIBRE 6. The watch is made up of 355 components, including the new Calibre 6 movement, which can be seen in all its intricate detail through the case back.
The dial is a black and white masterpiece, showcasing the Mademoiselle in her workshop holding a pair of scissors and designing an outfit. When you push a button on the side, the Mademoiselle comes to life in a playful and thoughtful tribute. For more luxury, the J12 AUTOMATON CALIBRE 6 has diamonds set around the bezel.
Charriol Caliber Skeleton
The first Charriol Skeleton was released 30 years ago and now, it's time to give it a new interpretation. The result is the Charriol Caliber Skeleton, stunning timepiece that pays homage to its predecessor and puts a twist on the original design.
Available in two colour/stone variations, the Charriol Caliber Skeleton uses a Sellita automatic movement with bridges and oscillating weight. The inner ring is set with 12 diamonds that act as the hour markers. A choice of yellow gold or silver is available here, and the watch still looks skeletal in its nature but with a more flowing design.
This watch has a skeleton riding a horse?!
Who doesn't want a skeleton riding a horse on a watch?! I do, and that's what the Hermès ARCEAU Chorus Stellarum does.
Hermès is launching quite a few novelties, but the most eye-catching one is the Hermès ARCEAU Chorus Stellarum. The dial is super elaborate and features a yellow gold horse with a skeleton riding on his back. Available with a blue or turquoise dial base, the Hermès ARCEAU Chorus Stellarum is also an interactive timepiece as you can push the button on the side and the horse moves!
The Hermès ARCEAU Chorus Stellarum is limited to six pieces so it'll be near impossible to get, but if you love it, good luck to you!
Go around the world in 8 days with Louis Moinet
The easiest way to go around the world in eight days is not by hopping on a very expensive plane, but with the new novelties from Louis Moinet.
The Around the World in 8 Days collection features eight horological timepieces that look like real works of art. The dials are inspired by different cities and its popular landmark, and are made of stunning materials, like rock crystal and aventurine. Complete with a leather strap, the dial of the timepieces feature gold hour and minute hands, and a chronograph complication at the six o'clock position.
The dial options from Louis Moinet include Paris' Eiffel Tower, temples in Abu Dhabi, Bangkok rice fields, the tallest building in the world in Kuala Lumpur, buildings and gardens in Singapore, the Tokyo mountain, the San Francisco bridge and the New York skyline, complete with the Statue of Liberty.
Behind the scenes with Czapek & Cie
Here, Sam has given us an exciting behind the scenes look at the new Czapek & Cie Goutte D’eau. The other images of this timepiece really don't do it justice, unlike this shot from Sam which perfectly shows off the enchanting blue swirls that culminate in the bottom left of the dial where a small seconds dial sits at 4:30.
Aside from the small dial, the Czapek & Cie Goutte D’eau is slim, chic and a fun way to use asymmetry. The name 'Goutte D’eau' translates to drop of water, and this is exactly what the dial looks like. The sapphire blue swirls looks like a raindrop has fallen on the surface of a pond and rippled out towards the main hour and minutes hand.
The Czapek & Cie Goutte D’eau is powered by the in-house calibre SXH5 and is complete with a dark blue strap. Sam's photo makes it look a lot lighter and it really brings out the optical illusion on the dial.
And that's us signing off for Watches and Wonders Day 3! Today has been all about glitz, glam and female watches, with a sprinkling of male timepieces in there, too.
Tomorrow for Day 4, we'll be covering smaller watch manufacturers that you might not have heard of but are worthy of your attention. We'll have more behind the scenes photos and exclusives from the event, so we'll see you tomorrow for another Watches and Wonders-filled day!
DAY 4 OF WATCHES AND WONDERS 2024
We're back with Day 4 of Watches and Wonders 2024! Today will be the final day of our live coverage of the event, as The Salon will open to the public tomorrow. Over the past few days, we've been giving T3 readers an exclusive look and the latest news on the novelties launching at Watches and Wonders.
For today, I'll be focusing on smaller or lesser known watch brands that deserve the spotlight. Stay tuned for more!
Sneak peek at the Watches and Wonders showroom
The Watches and Wonders Salon opens to the public tomorrow. For those with tickets to the event in Geneva, you'll get to see all the novelties that have been featured in this live blog and other watches from your favourite brands.
But whether you're headed to Watches and Wonders over the weekend or you just want to see what the Salon looks like, here are a few pictures from our reporter on the ground, Sam Cross.
Hautlence HLXX
In celebration of its 20th anniversary of the its first HL watch, Hautlence has unveiled the HLXX at Watches and Wonders. Limited to just 20 pieces, this timepiece is a truly interesting-looking watch with unusual shapes and a dramatic dial.
The Hautlence HLXX has a rectangular 'TV-shaped' case with a crown on the side and rubber strap. The skeletonised and rhodium-plated dial has a jumping hours disk, a retrograde minutes hand and a mix of black, white, silver and blue colouring.
The Hautlence HLXX uses the original HL movement that debuted back in 2004, but this redesign is a perfect combination of Hautlence's past, present, and future of watchmaking.
Peek-a-boo with Raymond Weil
I'm completely drawn to this new Raymond Weil watch, mainly because of the peek-a-boo moon through the window at the bottom of the dial.
The Millesime Automatic Moon Phase Midnight Blue is a revisitatin of the 2023 GPHG-winning piece from Raymond Weil. This new novelty has a subdued yet quirky dial, with a poetic horological complication. Its moon phase sits at the six o'clock position and shows a smiling moon peaking through, surrounded by a cluster of stars.
The watch is complete with Raymond Weil's signature W-shaped oscillating weight which is visible through the case back. The midnight blue colour balances perfectly with the gold case, minute, hours and seconds hand, and the markers standout and loop nicely around the face.
What's that coming over the hill? A Chronoswiss green monster!
If you love over-the-top dials that are both colourful and technical, then you need to check out the Chronoswiss ReSec Green Monster Manufacture. Paying homage to the 1960s Bonneville speed legends, the Chronoswiss ReSec Green Monster Manufacture is a combination of bold colours, intricate patterns and technical complications.
Powered by the new Caliber C.6005, the Chronoswiss ReSec Green Monster Manufacture has a guilloché dial with three-dimension white lines and swirls that makes the green base look like it's moving. The 3D dial also looks like it's shifting from green to blue as it sits on your wrist.
The dial shows off a blue bezel with white hour markers, a blue face towards the top of the watch and orange accents that hold the hands in place. The titanium case has an oversized crown on the side and is complete with a green strap. Exclusive and exciting, the Chronoswiss ReSec Green Monster Manufacture is limited to 100 pieces.
Pequignet gives an optical illusion with its Royale Tourbillon
Pequinet has presented its first ever flying tourbillon at Watches and Wonders 2024. Limited to just 24 pieces, the Pequignet Royale Tourbillon features an in-house designed tourbillon with a titanium cage mounted without an upper bridge.
When I look at the Pequignet Royale Tourbillon, I almost feel like I'm being hypnotised with its swirly optical illusion dial! Within the gold case, the tourbillon sits at the six o'clock position and the blue dial has a combination of circles that narrow down to the tourbillon. The circles give a swirly optical illusion, and makes the dial look like it's moving.
Aside from the tourbillon, the Pequignet Royale Tourbillon is a wonderful combination of blue and gold, and simple hour markers and hands.
Hey I heard you were a Wild ONE (Skeleton)
For athletes and sport activities, the Wild ONE Skeleton is a super lightweight and brightly coloured novelty from NORQAIN. From the independent, family-owned Swiss watch company, the Wild ONE Skeleton is available with a 42mm case, in turquoise, coral red, gecko green and a limited edition black case and strap options.
The NORQAIN Wild ONE Skeleton is a high performance sports watch with an open-worked dial and rubber shock absorber between a top and bottom cage. It's made from a carbon fibre composite which is ultra-light and robust, so it's an ideal watch to wear during sports training, events and hobbies.
Aside from the new novelty, NORQAIN has also announced tennis legend and multiple Grand Slam Champion, Stan Wawrinka as the new NORQAIN ambassador of the Wild ONE Skeleton Coral and Wild ONE Skeleton Gecko watches.
Trilobe has a secret...
At Watches and Wonders, Trilobe has unveiled its Heure Exquise Blue Edition and a Secret Edition that can be personalised to you.
The Trilobe Heure Exquise Blue Edition features a delicate moon phase at the bottom of the dial, which moves overtime to show the different stages of the moon, complete with a starry night sky. The blue dial also has clusters of stars and constellations, and it has a celestial door that opens at the heart of the dial.
When this door opens, the Heure Exquise Blue Edition reveals stars dancing on a sapphire crystal to the rhythm of the seconds. Limited to 100 pieces, there are three variations of the watch in blue, dune and secret.
Speaking of secret, the Secret Edition of the Trilobe Heure Exquise can be personalised to you or to someone special in your life. To the watch, you can add a message, location, date and time of a happy memory, and other intimate details to the dial.
Want more behind the scenes?
If you're loving our Watches and Wonders content, then head over to the T3 Instagram as our reporter on the ground, Sam Cross is taking over stories to show you the best watches from the event.
Getting hands on with Roger Dubuis
News Writer, Sam Cross has gotten hands on with the Roger Dubuis Excaliber Monotourbillon Titanium. The new novelty from Roger Dubuis has a 42mm titanium case and matching bracelet, and showcases a beautiful tourbillon, a trademark from the watchmaker.
The skeletonised dial is incredibly intricate and the different bars and lines within it looks like a star is sitting behind the hands. You might not think it, but the Roger Dubuis Excaliber Monotourbillon Titanium has a "sports watch vibe", and has a weightless feel, thanks to its titanium construction.
For more details, read Sam's full experience with the Roger Dubuis Excaliber Monotourbillon Titanium.
Parmigiani Fleurier Toric Petite Seconde
Parmigiani Fleurier has unveiled the Toric Petite Seconde, a stunning timepiece that might look simple but it has some clever features beneath the dial.
Available in gold or platinum, the Toric Petite Seconde features a new in-house manufacture movement, geometric bridges, visible barrels and regulating organ. While that might sound very elaborate, the Toric Petite Seconde has a modern and simple dial design, hand-finished with grené and chevé dials.
The teal dial works perfectly with the silver hour circles and hands, and a logo sits at 12 o'clock while a counter sits at six. There's also a gold dial option, and both watches are finished wiht-stitched nubuck alligator straps.
Behind the scenes with Vacheron Constantin
I'm loving these Vacheron Constantin timepieces that Sam shot at Watches and Wonders 2024.
A bit further down this blog, I covered the new Vacheron Constantin watches, including a unique pocket watch with a genuine Chinese perpetual calendar complication.
But the watchmaker has also brought other stunning novelties with them at the Salon, so if you're there over the weekend, these are the watches you can expect to see at Vacheron Constantin.
And that's a wrap on Watches and Wonders 2024! The Salon is opening to the public tomorrow and will be available to visit (with a ticket, of course!) from 13th - 15th April.
Watches and Wonders has been jam-packed with watches from Tudor, Rolex, TAG Heuer, Vacheron Constantin, Hublot, Gerald Charles, Roger Dubuis, and many more. There are a lot of exciting watches and trends coming this year, including green dials, flying tourbillons, moving pieces and integrated bracelets, which we can't wait to see debut in 2024.
In this live blog, I've covered all the latest news, behind the scenes and novelty details so you could be the first to see everything at the event, so I hope you've enjoyed this year's coverage. We still have hands-on articles from Watches and Wonders coming so head to T3 to see those, and if you can't get enough of watches, T3 is running Luxury Watches Month throughout April.
Until next year, happy Watches and Wonders!
