It’s the most prestigious event in a horologist’s calendar – and for an industry that revolves around timekeeping, you certainly wouldn’t want to miss Watches and Wonders 2024.
Despite only opening in Geneva to industry professionals, journalists and VIPs on Tuesday morning, Watches and Wonders 2024 is already proving to be an exciting event. With 54 of some of the biggest names in the industry presenting, eight of which are heading to the Swiss capital for the first time, Watches and Wonders is set to be the biggest yet.
Running until April 13 for professionals, and an additional three days until April 15 for public viewings, each brand is set to showcase their spectacular watches expected to release within the next year.
We will keep this page updated throughout this week, updating with the latest and most exciting announcements as we hear them from Geneva.
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Rolex
There is a reason why Rolex remains the biggest attraction at Watches and Wonders year after year, and the legendary watchmaker proved just why at this year’s presentation. Among its lineup of novelties, the Maison announced six new timepieces, including a more casual GMT-Master II, dressed-up Daytonas and an all-gold Deepsea.
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Picking just one to feature should be difficult: that is until we spotted the Perpetual 1908. A new addition to the family that was launched only last year, the Perpetual 1908 is decked in 950 platinum and graced with a striking ice blue dial featuring a guilloche rice-grain motif.
Patek Philippe
Blue seems to be having its moment in 2024 and Patek Philippe has also got a good thing going, so no wonder this year’s collection has seen modest adjustments to its timeless classics. Perhaps the most notable change comes in the form of the Patek Philippe Ref. 5980 60G Aquanaut Flyback Chronograph, complete with an ultra-casual denim strap. Don’t expect the strap to wear like the crotch on a pair of cheap jeans, however. The hand-woven denim is attached to premium calfskin, so you won’t be heading back to the workshop anytime soon.
The blue-gray dial is a perfect match for the strap, and the white gold case seals the deal as the ultimate quiet luxury timepiece.
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Hermès
When Hermès launched its H08 watch in 2021, although it looked the part, the brand was aloof to describe it as a sports watch. That’s not the case at Watches and Wonders 2024. Instead, the brand will introduce a new line of sports watches powered by mechanical movements and aimed at women.
With the name ‘Cut’ taken from the polished slices taken from the flanks of its case, the 36-mm model embodies the house’s passion for simplicity and strong design.
The Hermès Cut is available in pure steel or an elegant two-tone mix of steel and rose gold, as well as an option with 56 bezel-set diamonds for added luxury.
Reflecting the versatility that Hermès is known for, owners can personalize their timepieces daily if desired from the choice of the metal bracelet and an alternative rubber option, available in eight Hermès signature colors.
Zenith
To long-awaited fanfare, Zenith has announced the latest iteration in its Defy Skyline collection, which was introduced back in 2021, unveiling the Defy Skyline Chronograph. The new model brings an edgier and more contemporary aesthetic to the original case design, featuring a 41mm stainless steel case in the signature octagonal shape with a multi-sided bezel.
While there is a choice of metallic black, blue or silver color for the dial, of course, the collection’s signature starry sky-patterned dial with a four-pointed star engraving remains. As does the traditional El Primero dial configuration, which sees three oversized and overlapping counters positioned at 9 o’clock, 3 o’clock and 6 o’clock.
The watch is driven by the El Primero caliber 3600 1/10th of a second chronograph movement with a silicon escape wheel and a 60-hour power reserve.
Vacheron Constantin
Vacheron Constantin presents the world’s most complicated watch – a record previously set by the Maison itself. Comprising 63 horological complications and 2,877 components, the Berkley Grand Complication is a pocket watch that – among its other records – includes the world’s first Chinese perpetual calendar.
Because of the complexities of the Chinese perpetual calendar – where both the length of a month and a year varies – the watch took 11 years to develop, including a year to assemble a total of 2,877 hand-finished and hand-assembled parts. Crafted in 18-karat white gold, the finished timepiece has a dial on either side of the case and weighs just over two pounds (0.96 kg).
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Van Cleef & Arpels
Always one to put on a show, Van Cleef & Arpels presents the latest new creations in its Poetic Complications collection. Celebrating the freshness of a summer morning, the Lady Arpels Brise d’Été watch at first seems like a charming scene of summer flowers and fluttering butterflies, housed in its 38mm diameter case Where the grandeur lies is in its storytelling.
The on-demand automatic winding movements also allow you to animate the dial, and with the simple touch of a button, two plique-à-jour enamel butterflies flit around the dial to indicate the time, while background flowers in bluish vallonné enamel sway as if caught in the wind. The use of diamonds, tsavorite garnets, spessartite garnets and white mother-of-pearl, all set in 18-karat white gold, only adds to the show.
Tag Heuer Monaco
Marking the 55th anniversary of the Monaco timepiece, Tag Heuer has released the Tag Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph. The new watch’s signature function is its rattrapante, or split-seconds chronograph, which can time two events that start simultaneously but finish independently – useful, for example, during a car race.
The split-second hand and titanium dial arches pay a vibrant homage to the original 1969 model, meanwhile, the two colors on offer, a sporty red and a classic blue, are inspired by the original colors of the Monaco chronograph.
Parmigiani Fleurier
When announcing the return of the Toric collection, Parmigiani Fleurier’s CEO Guido Terreni said that the collection is not a rebellion but a gentle revolution: “To break free from traditional constraints, creating a watch that embodies a nuanced, serene, and versatile elegance.”
While there are two models in the revived collection, it is the Toric Chronographe Rattrapante 42mm that will be hailed as a true celebration of the brand’s classic. To honor its profound horological heritage, only the finest materials have been used, with the manual winding movements, dials, indexes, and markers all crafted in gold – making it the only high-frequency integrated rattrapante chronograph crafted in 18-carat rose gold.
The one that caught our eye, the Toric Chronograph Rattrapante Rose Gold, is priced at $145,200 and limited to only 30 pieces.
Panerai
Swiss watch-making might be all the range at this year’s Watches and Wonders, however, for its new Luna Rossa collection, luxury watchmaker Panerai has proudly put Italian excellence in the spotlight. To honor and reflect the brand’s longstanding partnership with the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Sailing team, Panerai’s new series blends cutting-edge technologies to embody the performance of the elite and esteemed sport.
Submersible Tourbillon GMT Luna Rossa Experience Edition – PAM01405 is an equivalent horological beast. Equipped with a four-day power reserve, it can go as far down as 980 feet underwater. Priced at $175,800, it is expected to be released in July – and while that might be just in time for the 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona, since they’re limited to only 20 pieces, it’s sure to make waves at any watch event.
Chopard
Chopard has put its artistry on full display with the introduction of the Imperiale in 18-carat white gold. As decadent as it is detailed, the timepiece flaunts a 36mm diameter that is fully diamond-set with a diamond, sapphire and mother-of-pearl dial.
The vibrant, blue-green enamel acts as the perfect deep-hued background, against which is adorned with teal and white enamel flower motifs. And of course, looks aren’t everything, as the Imperiale is driven by a self-winding micro-rotor movement with twin barrels offering a 65-hour power reserve.
Ulysse Nardin
Unconventional yet traditional in many ways, the Freak S Nomad, the latest from Ulysse Nardin, is somewhat of a contradiction. The new 99-piece limited edition watch is defined by its unique movement, which at first glance carries echoes of a fantastical spaceship – yet a quick glance at its technicalities will prove this is a testament to haute horlogerie.
Much like much of the previous Freaks, the S Nomad still has no dial, hands or crown, instead the calibre UN-251 manufacture is exposed in all its three-dimensional glory under a sapphire crystal. The result is a whirlwind marriage of 18th and 21st-century watchmaking, brought together in one freakish machine.
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