Watches and Wonders 2024 (Instagram) has once again set the stage for horological excellence, unveiling timepieces that blend tradition, innovation, and luxury. For aficionados and lovers of the finest timepieces in the world, we present a list of 12 pieces that caught our eye at Watches and Wonders. Each piece tells its own story of craftsmanship, design, and exclusivity.
Cartier Privé Tortue Monopoussoir Chronograph
The Cartier Privé Tortue Monopoussoir Chronograph sees a prestigious renewal in the Cartier Privé collection, revisiting the historic Tortue silhouette first introduced in 1928. This edition merges classic elegance with modern sophistication, featuring a platinum or yellow gold case that embodies timeless luxury. Measuring 43.7mm by 34.8mm, the watch houses the 1928 MC Manufacture caliber, ensuring excellent timekeeping with a 44-hour power reserve and 28,800 vibrations per hour. The aesthetic is enhanced with a burgundy-red or dark blue alligator strap, making it a standout piece for collectors. Limited to 200 pieces, this chronograph is not just a timepiece but a piece of history.
Rolex GMT-Master II
The Rolex GMT-Master II is reimagined with a sophisticated black and grey colour scheme, introducing a black ceramic and grey Cerachrom bezel. This model maintains its iconic status with a 40mm Oystersteel case and chromalight-coated indicators on the dial that ensure legibility. A distinctive GMT hand adds a touch of colour and functionality, allowing for easy reading of a second time zone. The caliber 3275, a self-winding mechanical movement, provides up to 70 hours of power reserve and is COSC-certified for precision. With options for an Oyster or Jubilee bracelet, this watch combines Rolex’s renowned longevity with style, making it an ideal choice for global travellers who appreciate understated elegance and performance.
Hermès Arceau Duc Attelé
Hermès integrates its storied equestrian tradition with haute horology in the Arceau Duc Attelé, a watch that showcases intricate craftsmanship and innovative design. The dial features a central triple-axis tourbillon and a tuning-fork minute repeater, presented in a striking 43mm titanium case. The watch’s design includes whimsically reclining Arabic numerals and claw-shaped hands, providing a unique aesthetic that measures time along the chapter ring’s rim. The H1926 movement, visible through the caseback, displays intricate details like the chiming mechanism and horse-themed components. This limited edition of 24 pieces highlights Hermès’ commitment to combining artistic flair with technical proficiency, making it a coveted piece for collectors and enthusiasts.
Vacheron Constantin – Grand Lady Kalla High Jewellery
Vacheron Constantin expands its revered Grand Lady Kalla line with a high jewellery watch that combines opulent aesthetics with versatile functionality. The new model features a lavish arrangement of 131 diamonds on the watch and 268 on the accompanying sautoir, embodying the brand’s commitment to luxury and craftsmanship. This watch pays homage to the original Kalla design from the 1980s, reinterpreted for today’s fashion-forward clientele. It offers various styling options, serving as both a statement piece and a testament to Vacheron Constantin’s jewellery-making expertise. This piece is perfect for those who seek a watch that is both a timekeeper and a piece of exquisite jewellery, reflecting their refined taste and style.
Hublot Big Bang MP-11 14-Day Power Reserve Water Blue Sapphire
Hublot’s Big Bang MP-11 14-Day Power Reserve Water Blue Sapphire introduces a striking new colourway, showcasing the brand’s innovative use of materials. The transparent water blue sapphire case houses a sculptural 7-barrel movement visible through the case, emphasizing Hublot’s technical prowess. This design not only offers a mesmerizing view but also maintains a two-week power reserve, a testament to Hublot’s engineering capabilities. Limited to 50 pieces, this model appeals to enthusiasts of unique timepieces and showcases Hublot’s ability to push the boundaries of traditional watchmaking with modern materials and bold aesthetics.
Chanel Monsieur Superleggera Intense Black Edition
The Chanel Monsieur Superleggera Intense Black Edition showcases Chanel’s ability to blend high fashion with high performance. Limited to 100 pieces, this watch features a robust ceramic and steel case with a sleek black finish, reflecting its inspiration from the high-speed world of racing. The matte black dial houses a manual-winding movement with two integrated complications: an instant jumping hour and a 240° retrograde minute, enhancing its functionality and style. The combination of a black nylon strap with calfskin lining and a black-coated steel buckle adds to its elegant yet sporty appeal.
Panerai Submersible GMT Luna Rossa Titanio
Panerai’s Submersible GMT Luna Rossa Titanio is a robust dive watch that incorporates cutting-edge luminosity with Super-LumiNova X2, ensuring visibility in the darkest conditions. Crafted from lightweight, durable Grade 5 titanium and reflecting the design ethos of the new Luna Rossa sailboat, this watch is not only a functional tool, but a piece of modern art. The P.900/GMT movement ensures a three-day power reserve and an impressive 500 meters of water resistance. Added to that, it’s now 10 percent more luminous that before, even after being submerged in darkness for over three hours.
TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph
The TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph celebrates 55 years of the Monaco line with a model that blends heritage with avant-garde innovation. This watch features a unique case design, half crafted from grade-5 titanium and half from sapphire, creating a stunning yet incredibly lightweight (85 gram) timepiece. The TH81-00 mechanical split-seconds chronograph caliber, developed in collaboration with Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier, is the lightest automatic chronograph movement produced by TAG Heuer. The pieces are beautiful testaments to TAG Heuer’s timeless collaboration with the world of motorsport.
Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept Tourbillon
Piaget continues its legacy of innovation with the Altiplano Ultimate Concept Tourbillon. This model features an astonishing thinness of just 2 mm, an incredible feat when you consider that this case is housing a complex mechanism within a sleek 41.5 mm diameter. The gorgeous case is made from blue PVD-treated cobalt alloy. The development of this ultra-thin tourbillon required reimagining 90% of the watch’s components, highlighting Piaget’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of watchmaking. The Altiplano Ultimate Concept Tourbillon represents Piaget’s philosophy of exceeding the necessary, making it a prestigious addition to any collection.
Chopard – Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph Jacky Ickx
Chopard celebrates the legendary racing driver Jacky Ickx with the Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph JX7, crafted in partnership with Chopard Co-President Karl-Friedrich Scheufele. This exquisite timepiece, available in limited editions of 250 in Lucent Steel and 50 in Lucent Steel with ethical 18-carat yellow gold, draws inspiration from classic car design and Ickx’s iconic helmet. The 40.5mm chronograph features a midnight blue dial, mirroring the hue of Ickx’s helmet and is complemented by a rubber strap with a 1960s Dunlop tire-tread pattern, now also in matching blue. The watch is designed for optimal readability, with Super-LumiNova coated hands and hour markers, and special red accents on the 6 and 24-hour markers to honor Ickx’s six Le Mans victories. A ‘glass box’ sapphire crystal enhances the dial’s depth and legibility, while the exhibition case-back displays the precise chronograph movement and commemorates the enduring partnership with an engraving of the ‘owl’ helmet. This timepiece not only epitomizes Chopard’s commitment to motor racing but also celebrates a deep-rooted friendship and shared passion for exceptional engineering.
Roger Dubuis – Orbis in Machina
Roger Dubuis’ Orbis in Machina is a celebration of the brand’s innovative approach to watchmaking, featuring a dual perspective of the iconic tourbillon. The watch’s front shows a contemporary design with pink gold and grey concentric circles, while the back offers a view of the traditional craftsmanship. Housed in an 18K pink gold case and displayed on a black leather strap, this model merges past and future, appealing to those who cherish both heritage and modernity in their timepieces.
Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra
Bulgari asserts its mastery of ultra-thin watchmaking with the Octo Finissimo Ultra, now the world’s thinnest mechanical watch at 1.7mm. This record-breaking piece advances Bulgari’s history of setting and surpassing thinness records, offering an aesthetic and engineering marvel that is thinner than a US quarter. The integration of the movement’s mainplate with the caseback and the optimization of the sapphire crystal are key innovations that contribute to its slim profile. Limited to 20 pieces, this watch is a hallmark of Bulgari’s pioneering spirit in the luxury watch industry.
Van Cleef & Arpels’ Lady Arpels Brise d’Été
The Lady Arpels Brise d’Été watch by Van Cleef & Arpels encapsulates the tranquil essence of a summer morning. This exquisite timepiece features a dynamic scene within the Maison’s metaphorical gardens, with butterflies and flowers crafted from white and yellow gold and detailed in plique-à-jour enamel. An animation module brings this bucolic tableau to life, with moving elements that include fluttering butterflies and blooming flowers. Set against matte mother-of-pearl, the dial showcases azure corollas with vibrant spessartite garnet pistils, surrounded by foliage in champlevé enamel and tsavorite garnet. This sophisticated watch merges art with the natural cycle of time, offering a poetic vision of nature’s perpetual rhythm.
For more of the world’s finest watches like these from Watches and Wonders 2024, visit our dedicated archives.
