This year’s edition of the Watches and Wonders salon in Geneva gathered 54 brands to reveal the best in time. Vogue Arabia highlights the fair’s showstoppers.
Patek Philippe
Photo: Courtesy Patek Philippe
Patek Philippe reinterprets its iconic Golden Ellipse wristwatch with a new bracelet. From its launch and through the early 1980s, the Golden Ellipse collection was proposed not only on leather straps but on several types of chain bracelets. This year, Patek Philippe is revisiting this great era of horological design by presenting the watch with an elegant chain-style bracelet in rose gold that follows the contours of the wrist, which is uncommon in watchmaking.
Rolex
Photo: Courtesy Rolex
Rolex is presenting a new version of the Perpetual 1908. Inspired by one of its first watches fitted with the Perpetual rotor, the 1908 was named in homage to the year Hans Wilsdorf devised the name Rolex to sign his creations and registered the brand in Switzerland. Decked in 950 platinum, the timepiece is graced with an ice blue dial featuring a guilloche rice-grain motif where light bounces off the raised pattern, producing a variety of reflections with every movement of the wrist.
Cartier
Photo: Courtesy Cartier
Cartier played the mystery card in the new reflection de Cartier. A trompe l’ceil in this open cuff where the maison’s watchmakers and jewellers have created an odyssey of magic. The white gold time piece explores material through its paving combinations while the snow setting and inverted setting create tactile and visual appeal.
Bulgari
Photo: Courtesy Bulgari
An icon of Bulgari style since the 1940s, Serpenti Tubogas is a jewel-reptile capable of metamorphosis. This year, Serpenti Tubogas is reborn from the collaboration of the maison with Japanese architect Tadao Ando. The result is four timepieces and four faces – green aventurine, tiger’s eye, and white or pink mother-of-pearl – expressing the changing hues of a forest across the seasons.
Vacheron Constantin
Photo: Courtesy Vacheron Constantin
Vacheron Constantin unites with its One of Not Many talent and haute couture designer, Yiqing Yin, to create the Égérie Pleats of Time concept watch. A diamond-set pink gold case, lilac mother-of-pearl dial adorned with a pleats pattern, and an original haute couture strap woven with exquisite embroidery and mother- of-pearl shards are all combined in this unique piece. The maison and Yin also called on French master perfumer Dominique Ropion to craft a fragrance that is encapsulated in the watch strap.
Hublot
Photo: Courtesy Hublot
Hublot has reached a new frontier in the art of sapphire, with the 42mm big bang unico pink sapphire. honoring unico, its in-house chronograph movement celebrating 14 years of success this year, Hublot went full on color with a translucent pink face and matching rubber strap. bold and beautiful.
Piaget
Photo: Courtesy Piaget
Photo: Courtesy Piaget
Piaget celebrates 150 years and revives its most iconic high jewelry watches signatures. With the Swinging Sautoir, the maison goes back to the glamorous Sixties. This jewel that tells time is created by hand with twisted gold chains, with the meticulously crafted single strands of gold and fluid links falling harmoniously and anchored by the timepiece.
Tag Heuer
Photo: Courtesy Tag Heuer
Photo: Courtesy Tag Heuer
Tag Heuer Carreras might be seen as sport watches, but they are paving the way to a more sophisticated approach. The DNA is still here, with an added touch of elegance. The new introduction features a precious mother-of-pearl dial with a gradient track in light tones housed in a steel and 18ct 5N rose gold case. The signature diamond flange is embellished with 76 diamonds of 0.288ct. Powered by the latest Caliber 7 automatic movement, the new watch is a testament to TAG Heuer’s pursuit of excellence.
Van Cleef & Arpels
Photo: Courtesy Van Cleef & Arpels
Van Cleef & Arpels pushes the boundaries and goes beyond reading time, launching the wearer into an enchanted world. An ode to nature, the Lady Arpels Brise d’Été celebrates the freshness of a summer morning. A garden in bloom sets the tone for a dial displaying a poetic scene that illustrates precious greenery, where the hours tick by in harmony with the cycle of nature.
Hermès
Photo: Courtesy Hermès
Photo: Courtesy Hermès
Chopard
festiPhoto: Courtesy ChopardChopard went big and bright with the new alpine eagle 41 xp frozen summit. the name says it all: this 41mm sparkler is set with diamonds evoking the celestial beauty of stars reflected on glaciers. it has an ultra-thin l.u.c 96.41-l movement, with automatic winding via micro-rotor ensuring a 65-hour power reserve.
Chanel
Photo: Courtesy Chanel
Photo: Courtesy Chanel
Chanel finds its muse in the rue Cambon ateliers and its tools for this Couture O’Clock collection, a tribute to heritage where couture is transposed into the field of watchmaking. The Bobbin Cuff Couture is inspired by a spool of thread. This unique piece reveals a dial set with diamonds hidden underneath an emerald-cut yellow sapphire. The 18ct yellow gold cuff is embellished with interlocking lines interspersed with diamonds.
Originally published in the May 2024 issue of Vogue Arabia
