by Dana Li
It’s about to be an exciting week in the watch world with Watches and Wonders right around the corner. For those who are newer to the watch community, Watches and Wonders is one of the largest, if not the largest event for brands to showcase their new releases and developments. This year, the event will be held in Geneva, Switzerland will feature 38 brands including Rolex, Patek Philippe, IWC, and many others. With all the anticipation of new releases and changes that brands are making, here are some brands to look out for next week.
Patek Philippe
While Patek Philippe needs no introduction and is typically one of the most anticipated brands each year at Watches and Wonders, this past year has been an especially big year for the brand. With its collaboration with Tiffany & Co. on the steel Nautilus 5711 and many record-setting auction results, Patek is in a great place to capitalize on this momentum for Watches and Wonders. The brand also discontinued a number of references, including the Nautilus 5711, Calatrava 5196, and a number of Grand Complications and Annual Calendars. With so many references out of production, there’s sure to be some exciting announcements from Patek coming next week.
Oris
Oris has been putting out some incredible watches recently, from the Cotton Candy Divers Sixty-Five, the limited edition Aquis Sun Wu Kong in both the steel and the Artist Edition enamel dial versions, and the Roberto Clemente Big Crown Pointer Date. The brand seems to be moving towards more luxurious offerings, starting with their 18K Gold Carysfort Reef Aquis, a move that could signal the production of more precious metal watches in their line-up. It’ll be interesting to see what Oris comes out with during Watches and Wonders as they continue to create amazing pieces for collectors.
Grand Seiko
Although Grand Seiko was only launched internationally in 2010, the brand has clearly made a name for itself with its thoughtfully designed and technically robust watches. From the Japan Seasons Heritage pieces to the grand Masterpiece collection, Grand Seiko makes some of the most beautiful and detailed watches out there. With the recent updates to their proprietary Spring Drive movements in their latest releases, the brand may be pulling out all the stops for Watches and Wonders to showcase unique, breathtaking designs while also debuting some upgrades on the Spring Drive.
Jaeger-LeCoultre
One of my personal favorites, Jaeger-LeCoultre consistently impresses with technological innovations for Watches and Wonders. The brand is often known as the watchmakers’ watchmaker given its historical contributions to numerous brands including the holy trinity of Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin, and Patek Philippe and continues to live up to its reputation. Last year, Jaeger-LeCoulture debuted a four-face Reverso called the Quadriptyque, which showcased 11 complications and 12 patents. I’m extremely excited to see what the brand launches this year, especially if they expand the Reverso lineup to include more complicated pieces.
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