Eight new brands and a record 54 exhibiting houses gathered to unveil their new pieces and collections

 

 

Watches and Wonders Geneva 2024 positioned itself as the largest Haute Horlogerie event ever organized in Geneva. In keeping with tradition, the first four days were reserved exclusively for industry professionals, and for the first time the following three days were open to the general public.

Jean-Frédéric Dufour, President of the W&WG Foundation, shared his vision of the event as a means to promote manufacturing across borders. "Together we go further," he said. Meanwhile, Delphine Bachmann, the Swiss State Councillor in charge of the Department of Economy and Employment, said, "Watches and Wonders Geneva is a harbinger of the innovative and dynamic future of this vibrant industry." The 2024 edition of W&WG closed with a record number of visitors, welcoming more than 49,000 people, surpassing the 2023 event.

 

 

The innovations

At the Palexco-Geneva convention center, Hublot presented three versions of the Big Bang Unico model, in Orange Ceramic and Green Ceramic, a limited series of 250 pieces equipped with the Unico Manufacture chronograph caliber; it offers a power reserve of 72 hours. The third, in Pink Sapphire, with only 100 pieces available, is equipped with the MHUB1280 Unico 2 Manufacture caliber.

Also highlighted were the Square Bang Unico Magic Gold and Ceramic Magic Gold, Big Bang Integrated Time Only Black Magic and Ceramic Blue and Big Bang Unico Ice Bang, an exclusive series of 100 pieces; powered by the Unico 2 Manufacture movement, it is defined as an automatic chronograph with a 72-hour power reserve.

 

 

Chopard has created a sporty, elegant and contemporary collection characterized by pure design and sophisticated mechanics. The line was launched with the presentation of the Alpine Eagle 41 XP Frozen Summit and the Alpine Eagle XL Chrono, which interprets its flyback chronograph in a case characterized by the extreme lightness of grade 5 titanium.

In addition, the L.U.C. XPS Forest Green celebrates the three core values of the L.U.C. range: technical performance, aesthetic refinement and commitment to watchmaking; its dial combines vintage charm with modern watchmaking excellence.

He also highlighted the L'Heure du Diamant collection, which, from its creation in 1969 to the models presented at W&WG 2024, has retained its true essence: a pioneering modernity that has become timeless.

After 25 years of the Datograph, A. Lange & Söhne launched the Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold "Lumen", limited to 50 pieces, which combines a flyback chronograph with minute counter, a perpetual calendar and a tourbillon with stop seconds mechanism. A new version of the Datograph Up/Down in 18-carat white gold with a blue dial, limited to 125 pieces, was also presented.

Arnold & Son presented the Longitude Titanium, an elegant and sporty COSC-certified chronograph with a 42.5 mm titanium case. It is equipped with a 12-hour power reserve and an impressive seconds counter at 6 o'clock that pays homage to John Arnold's marine chronographs.

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow's watchmaking

This edition featured a new LAB where schools, emerging companies and exhibiting brands presented their visions of tomorrow's watchmaking. The auditorium was the setting for a series of lectures on various themes, the highlight of which was the photo exhibition "Timekeepers" by Luc Debraine, who poetically illustrated some thirty photographs of a time that has stopped.

For Matthieu Humair, Managing Director of the W&WG Foundation, the exhibition highlights the growing interest in the industry "on the part of the younger generation, with an average age of 35, which is extremely encouraging".

For those who were unable to attend the W&WG, the Watch Village was organized in the heart of Geneva - with free admission - with various cultural and educational activities related to watches.

 

 

Text: ± Photo: Courtesy of brands / Ultrajewels