Patek Philippe, Bulgari, Zenith & Other Watches & Wonders Highlights
The Watches And Wonders 2021 Geneva Programme, now the world's leading watch fair, takes place this week with 38 brands slated to introduce us to their next luxury timepieces.
The entire line-up will see unveilings from Rolex, Cartier, Patek Phillipe, TAG Heuer, IWC, and more — all of whom have gathered in Shanghai to show the world what they've been working on. While only a select group will meet in person, there's plenty for the online world to get excited about, such as 40 keynotes, 400 digital conferences, 500 press conferences, panels, daily shows, and more.
If sifting through all of that sounds like too much work, Highsnob has you covered. We're rounding up the biggest announcements from each day and putting it all in one place — below.
TAG Heuer
Brand: TAG Heuer Model: Aquaracer Professional 300 Editors note: The brand has dropped seven new editions to its Aquaracer line, which arrive in two categories — 43mm and 36mm. All pieces receive a 2021 upgrade; new handsets, simplified dials, and 300-meters water resistance.
Zenith
Brand: Zenith Model: Defy Extreme Editors note: The Defy Extreme is one for the maximalists. It's big, bold, and arrives in three colorways — the microblasted titanium with rose gold accents is the standout.
Bulgari
Brand: Bulgari Model: Octo Finissimo Editor's Note: Timepieces don't get much slicker than a sandblasted matte-black ceramic Bulgari.
Patek Philippe
Brand: Patek Philippe Model: Nautilus 5711/1A-014 Green Editor's Note: Thierry Stern, Patek's president, set the standard for the week. At the beginning of Day One, he finally unveiled the timepiece everyone has been waiting for — the Nautilus 5711/1A-014 Green, aka the last ever riff on one of the world's most coveted luxury sports watches. Read more about it here.
IWC
Brand: IWC Models: Big Pilot's Watch TOP GUN Edition "Mojave Desert" and the Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar TOP GUN Edition "Mojave Desert." Editor's Note: IWC has been making military watches since the ’30s when it first started creating timepieces for pilots — almost a century on, it's still going strong. These models will drop in limited numbers. Find out more here. IWC also dropped The Big Pilot's Watch Shop Absorber XPL in black (also above).
Hublot
Brand: Hublot Model: The Big Bang Integral Tourbillon Full Sapphire, The Big Bang Integral Tourbillon High Jewellery, The Big Bang Sang Bleu II, The Big Bang Unico Yellow Magic Editor's Note: Hublot came through with four new head-turning timepieces — the Full Sapphire takes the lead as it's exactly that — full sapphire.
Panerai
Brand: Panerai Model: Submersible eLAB-ID Editor's Note: Described by Panerai as “an unprecedented achievement in the history of the watch industry,” the Submersible eLAB-ID is constructed from 98.6 percent recycled-based materials by weight.
Cartier
Brand: Cartier Model: Coche de Cartier, Privé Collection Editor's Note: From the same Privé Collection — Cartier’s platform for revisiting old classics such as the Crash — the Coche (meaning French for “Bell”) update is as timeless now as it was 100 years ago.
Rolex
Brand: Rolex Model: Explorer II Reference Number: 216570 Editor's Note: This 50th anniversary Explorer update might look the same as previous versions but that's not exactly a bad thing — this watch is a classic for a reason. As Hodinkee points out, the main thing that's changed is the size; it looks like it's been slimmed down a lot.
Hermès
Brand: Hermès Model: H08 Editor's Note: Consider this the next best thing if you can't afford a Birkin. Fashion watches are often a miss, but the signature Hermès orange on the band is just the right amount of flex.
TUDOR
Brand: TUDOR Model: Black Bay Chrono Editor's Note: In a sense, the Black Bay Chrono is TUDOR's version of the Rolex Daytona. The timepiece — which commemorates 50 years of the Swiss watchmaker's chronographs — is showcased in steel with a reworked case and two dial options. Find out more about it here.
Swatch
Brand: Swatch Model: BIG BOLD Editor notes: Swatch also came through with a new ceramic style — BIG BOLD shows off the brand’s latest innovation, Bioceramic, which blends ceramic with plastic.
Keep circling back to check the latest updates from W&W.
