In this episode of Luxe Insider with Anita Khatri, Anita makes her observations about the new or renewed trends set at this years edition. She also gets a first hand feel of the novelties released in Geneva. Tune in, as she shares her insights from the stand-out pieces, the impressive complications and some of the most elegantly crafted marvels. These are the watches you need to know about!
[00:00:00] Hello and welcome back to a new episode on our time to head back Watches and Wonders
[00:00:10] 2024 series here on Luxe Insider with me your host Anita Khatri.
[00:00:17] In this episode, I break down the trends we witnessed at Watches and Wonders 2024, the
[00:00:23] world's largest watch exhibition.
[00:00:27] Why do I say largest?
[00:00:30] This edition saw 54 brands exhibit their timepieces and give a glimpse on what to expect for the
[00:00:37] latter half of the year.
[00:00:39] Here trends for the industry are broken and set and sometimes reset.
[00:00:45] It's not an easy feat to have more than half of the watch lovers, industry bigwigs
[00:00:54] and bigger brands all come together under one roof.
[00:00:58] More than 200 timepieces were launched at the exhibition collectively.
[00:01:04] And if you would want to cover the entire exhibition, you definitely would have to
[00:01:09] go over 3000 steps.
[00:01:12] Amongst the new timepieces and new brands joining the exhibition, another welcome change
[00:01:18] was initiated by the organizers of this edition.
[00:01:21] The digitized entry for the press was a novelty, although I did miss the traditional
[00:01:27] way of entering the exhibition, the same old lanyard swinging around my neck as
[00:01:34] I navigated the salon.
[00:01:37] Other things that added to the success of this year's edition was continuing
[00:01:41] to balance both inclusivity and exclusivity around an industry by opening its doors
[00:01:48] to the general public for three days, thereby welcoming all generations.
[00:01:55] And I think it was a great strategic move.
[00:01:58] Moreover, the entire city of Geneva transformed to become a watchmaking heaven for enthusiasts
[00:02:07] and collectors as there were big brand names and independent brands exhibiting outside
[00:02:14] the Watches and Wonders Salon.
[00:02:17] It was, in its truest sense, a collaboration to make the city of Geneva the capital of
[00:02:25] watchmaking.
[00:02:26] And well, you haven't stuck with me here to only hear me go ga ga over the exhibition
[00:02:35] and its organization, but also probably to hear about the standouts from the very
[00:02:40] timepieces launched from 54WatchMaisons.
[00:02:44] So let's dive straight into it.
[00:02:48] This year, watches and wonders had some underlying trends.
[00:02:53] In a way, I believe these trends aren't new.
[00:02:57] It's just that more and more brands have adopted these trends, for instance, smaller
[00:03:03] dial timepieces.
[00:03:06] The notion of gender watches has been blurred and adopted by many brands coupled with
[00:03:12] the wide breadth of social media content that has led to a voracious appetite amongst
[00:03:20] collectors for smaller design-led watches.
[00:03:25] The Katia Mini LC measures 24mm x 16.5mm, is fitted with a quartz movement and is
[00:03:35] water resistant up to 30m.
[00:03:38] Priced at US$7000, it is launching globally in September 2024.
[00:03:45] This downsizing reflects confidence in market trends, responding directly to a clear demand
[00:03:51] rather than experimenting.
[00:03:55] Other brands also brought in small dial timepieces into their collection.
[00:04:00] For instance, Hublot added 20 references to its classic Fusion collection.
[00:04:07] All the newly released models in the series now appear in 29mm case size, crafted in
[00:04:14] satin finished and polished titanium or 18k yellow gold or 18k king gold with a dial
[00:04:21] featuring a date window at 3 o'clock.
[00:04:24] Aorus released 36.5mm dial size variants in its Aquis collection.
[00:04:31] There's one example I cannot forget.
[00:04:36] It is the Van Cleef & Apples Lady Apple Journouille watch, which literally means day-night
[00:04:43] watch, with two new models 33 and 38mm in diameter that require 3 years to develop.
[00:04:52] The diamond pave, moon and stars perpetually pursue the sun, embellished with snowset
[00:05:00] yellow sapphires or alternatively, guilloché yellow gold.
[00:05:05] Thanks to the depth effect of the Murano Aventurine glass, these pieces portray the
[00:05:13] immensity of the cosmos and the magic of a starry night.
[00:05:19] Head to my YouTube channel to see these beauties.
[00:05:23] On YouTube you'll discover it again as Luxe Inside Up with Anita Khatri.
[00:05:29] Another observation at this year's edition was that the complications got even more complicated.
[00:05:37] It's like the brands left no stone unturned to showcase some spectacular timepieces.
[00:05:45] If you're wondering what I mean by complications in a watch, simply put, it's the functions
[00:05:51] of a watch that come together to continue to tell time as accurately as possible for
[00:05:58] the longest time.
[00:06:00] It could be to measure a time-lap or a split second during racing, understanding directions,
[00:06:08] hassle-free time switching when you have to move from one time zone to the other
[00:06:12] or even simply put a date aperture on the dial that can continue to tell you the
[00:06:18] date until the year 2200.
[00:06:23] Are you getting the drift?
[00:06:25] Vacheron Constantin beat its own record by launching a pocket watch on the request
[00:06:32] of a watch collector based in USA.
[00:06:36] This pocket watch has the highest number of complications in one timepiece alone.
[00:06:43] I am talking about the Vacheron Constantin's Berkeley Grand Complication that has 63 complications
[00:06:51] with 2877 components.
[00:06:55] That took a total of 11 years to be manufactured.
[00:07:00] One year alone to assemble the pocket watch.
[00:07:05] Truly an horological marvel.
[00:07:09] You can head to my Instagram profile where I have tried to explain why this timepiece
[00:07:14] is the world's most complicated timepiece in 90 seconds.
[00:07:21] The next one that I couldn't get out of my head is the novelty from Alange and Zonne.
[00:07:28] A glow-in-the-dark Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon in Honeygold.
[00:07:34] Datograph was launched 25 years ago with three complications.
[00:07:38] Perpetual Calendar, a Tourbillon and a Chronograph in one timepiece.
[00:07:44] Cut to 2024, these mechanisms have been refined to new watchmaking heights with
[00:07:50] a new caliber L952.4.
[00:07:56] A semi-transparent and a luminescent dial exhibits technical finesse all put together
[00:08:02] in a 41.5mm case in Honeygold.
[00:08:07] The brand's patented gold material whose warm tone sits somewhere between rose
[00:08:13] gold and yola gold.
[00:08:15] Again, you can check this out on my Instagram.
[00:08:20] Some other complication pieces that I'd like to mention are Ulysse Nardin Freak S
[00:08:25] Nomad, Jajala Kutra's Theometer Helio Tourbillon Perpetual, IWC, Schaffer-Hasen's Portuguese
[00:08:34] Eternal Calendar, Piaget's Altiplano Ultimate Concert Tourbillon.
[00:08:41] Most of these you can check out on my Instagram.
[00:08:46] Moving on from complications, the 2024 edition of Watchers-in-Wonders also saw reinvention
[00:08:54] of their classics.
[00:08:56] Take for instance the Toric Collection by Parmigiani Fleur.
[00:09:01] Two words to describe this collection, minimalistic and sophisticated.
[00:09:08] Parmigiani Fleur redefined the dress watch with the Toric Petite Seconds model, blending
[00:09:15] classic and modern sophistication.
[00:09:19] Crafted from precious platinum or rose gold, it features a signature knurled bezel and
[00:09:25] a hand-grain dial in sandy gold or almond green, exuding luxury from every angle.
[00:09:36] Mobla launched new coloured variations to his Icy collections, while Zenith released
[00:09:43] an evolved version of its Defy revival which was originally released in 1969.
[00:09:50] Of course, I also got to see the wildly acclaimed Piaget Polo 79 at this edition
[00:09:57] standing out at the booth.
[00:10:00] Although released a few months ago, I was waiting to see this piece in person.
[00:10:05] Totally worth the hype.
[00:10:09] Tag Heuer paid homage to its rich history this year with the Tag Heuer Carrera Chronograph,
[00:10:16] the Tag Heuer Carrera Chronograph Skipper in rose gold and the Tag Heuer Monaco Split
[00:10:23] Seconds Chronograph.
[00:10:26] Joining these brands were Rolex with its perpetual day date, Chopard with its
[00:10:30] LUC collection, Hublot with its Big Bang collection, Parmigiani Fleur with Tonda PF
[00:10:37] collection and many more.
[00:10:41] Moving to jewellery and watchmaking, so many pieces were strikingly beautiful.
[00:10:49] Van Cleef and Apple's Brise De Ate translating to summer breeze, paying tribute to nature
[00:10:57] and celebrating the freshness of the summer morning.
[00:11:01] It comes in a white gold, crafted 38mm case set with diamonds.
[00:11:07] The mother of dial of the creation features miniature painting, white and gold butterflies
[00:11:14] in Plyck Azure enamel, flowers leave in Champlain and flowers and Corollas in Valonie
[00:11:23] enamel and Mother of Pearl.
[00:11:27] The dial further displays retrograde hours and minutes.
[00:11:32] An automatic movement with an automata module and an on-demar animation drives the watch
[00:11:38] and a green alligator leather strap flanks it.
[00:11:43] You have to check this out on the YouTube channel.
[00:11:49] Cartier launched the Reflection the Cartier collection, a masterpiece in linking technique
[00:11:55] and design.
[00:11:56] The Reflection the Cartier watch starts with the open bracelet's unprecedented generous
[00:12:03] architecture, with blends openwork and polished reflective gold with elongated lines and defined
[00:12:12] edges.
[00:12:14] Tension culminates as a delicate dial meets its reflection where time appears to
[00:12:19] move backwards.
[00:12:22] Available in four variants, ladies, you need to check this out for sure.
[00:12:29] We have all seen Taylor Swift and Rehana wear watches on their ankle or sport it as
[00:12:36] a choker making it a versatile accessory.
[00:12:40] This year's edition saw a number of brands releasing pendant or sautere timepieces.
[00:12:47] Vacheron Constantin's Grandlady Carla, a stunning 4-in-1 watch that can be worn as
[00:12:54] a long chain timepiece.
[00:12:56] Piaget's reimagined swinging sautere.
[00:13:01] The reimagined swinging sautere embraces an iconic 1970s colour palette and Chanel's
[00:13:09] Mademoiselle Prévig pincushion, long necklace couture or the bust long necklace couture.
[00:13:17] Intricately, craftsmanship combined with precision of the movements define these timepieces.
[00:13:24] There's another brand that deserves a special mention and that is Hermes.
[00:13:32] A new Hermes cut watch intervenes geometric terminology with its circular design, incorporating
[00:13:39] sharp angles and precise lines to establish its distinctiveness.
[00:13:45] Its well proportioned construction, combining satin brushed and polished surfaces with
[00:13:50] defined edges, amplifies its individuality.
[00:13:56] All in all, I did know how time passed.
[00:14:00] I looked forward to a new day while I was in Geneva, excited to see what the
[00:14:06] brands had to offer.
[00:14:08] By the evening, exhausted from running around, it felt like a new mission was accomplished
[00:14:14] each day ensuring every appointment set was met.
[00:14:20] The cherry on the cake were new timepieces.
[00:14:23] For me, this was my Disneyland and I cannot wait to see what the next year has in
[00:14:29] store for the World of Watches.
[00:14:32] That's all from me on this week's episode.
[00:14:34] Until then, head to my YouTube channel and Instagram profile for content on the novelties here.
[00:14:41] Don't forget to subscribe, like and comment on what you thought about these new emerging watches.
[00:14:48] I will see you soon with another enthralling episode with our guests soon.
[00:14:54] Stay tuned!