The largest horological trade show of the year, Watches & Wonders, took place in person in Geneva last week for the first time in three years. While we monitored the releases in real time, we also wanted to compile a few of our favorites into one round up. From lab-grown diamonds to watches with no hands to artistic collaborations, this year’s W&W had plenty on offer from almost 40 of the industry’s biggest brands. Scroll down to see the designs that caught our eye.
Hublot Square Bang Unico
Hublot has introduced a new shape at Watches & Wonders 2022 that’s getting lots of attention: the Square Bang Unico watch, which sits alongside the Spirit of Big Bang. Five new 42mm models set with the watchmaker’s HUB1280 Unico Manufacture movement are available, the first three in solid titanium, black ceramic, or King Gold. The last two blend titanium or King Gold with a black ceramic bezel. Featuring a ‘sandwich’ construction, it offers the wearer the same deep profile as most Hublot watches. The Hublot Square Unico features a largely sapphire dial to offer a clear view into the Unico movement, notably its column wheel (seen at the 6 o’clock position) and the date wheel. Even the hands here echo those seen on Big Bang models.
Panerai Luminor Goldtech™ Calendario Perpetuo
Panerai’s Luminor Goldtech™ Calendario Perpetuo, a limited-edition watch, is priced at $83,700, and is available in only 33 pieces. This stunning timepiece, powered by the P.4100 movement, has a case and bezel made with Polished Goldtech™. The black sun-brushed dial has luminous Arabic numerals and hour markers. On display is the day of the week, date at 3 o’clock, seconds and 24h indicator at 9 o’clock. Buyers of the Calendario Perpetuo will be invited on a unique journey to Florence to experience Panerai heritage first-hand.
Tudor Black Bay Pro
For 2022, Tudor is offering the Black Bay Pro, an entirely new model with a 39mm diameter case, a fixed steel bezel, and a Manufacture Caliber MT5652 with a built-in GMT function. The reference time on the Black Bay Pro model is indicated by an angular yellow “Snowflake” hand, an aesthetic hallmark of Tudor, which completes a lap of the dial every 24 hours. Local time is indicated by another, shorter “Snowflake” hand set by a jumping hour, which can be moved either backward or forward. The date, displayed through an aperture positioned at 3 o’clock, is coupled with the local time hand so that when setting the time and passing midnight in retrograde, it instantly jumps to the previous day. A highly unusual, sophisticated, and particularly practical function for the user. The Black Bay Pro is available in a choice of a riveted steel bracelet, a hybrid rubber and leather strap, or a black fabric strap with a yellow band.
TAG Heuer Carrera Plasma
Luxury Swiss watchmaker TAG Heuer has released the latest design and manufacturing innovation with the TAG Heuer Carrera Plasma timepiece. Breaking down barriers of what was once thought impossible, the engineers at TAG Heuer have created a stunning, high-quality watch featuring lab-grown diamonds offering endless design, sustainability, and material innovation possibilities. The Carrera Plasma blends an engineering masterpiece with technical design elements featuring stunning lab-grown diamonds. The Carrera Plasma watch features a 44mm case crafted from black anodized aluminum. The sleek metal, crafted diamonds, and various textures create the perfect complement of style and durability. The TAG Heuer Carrera Plasma features a black leather strap with a titanium-grade clasp to complete the design. The TAG Heuer Carrera Plasma is powered by the Heuer 02 Tourbillon Nanograph movement.
IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN Edition "Lake Tahoe”
Inspired by the winter landscape of Lake Tahoe, a mountainous area between California and Nevada frequently flown over by the pilots of the U.S Navy TOPGUN School, the IWC “Lake Tahoe” edition features a 44.5-millimeter white ceramic case, a pitch-black dial, and black hands coated with luminescent material. The pushers and crown are made of stainless steel, the case back of titanium. The matching white rubber strap with a distinctive embossing accentuates this eye-catching design. IWC will only produce 1,000 pieces of each edition annually, which might make these some of the most desired IWC Pilot’s Watches yet.
Rolex GMT Master II
The left-handed Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II features a Cerachrom bezel insert in green and black. This new edition of the watch echoes the GMT-Master created in 1955 which accompanied the advent of commercial flight. As the preferred watch of world travelers, the watch bidirectional rotatable bezel and a 24-hour graduated insert. It is fitted with an Oyster bracelet, the most universal bracelet in the Oyster Perpetual collection which is known for its robustness.