With 65 exhibiting horology giants, the 2026 edition of Watches and Wonders is not to be missed. Beyond the technical specs, the trend of the year is wearable versatility. Watches are no longer just tools or status symbols; they’re deliberate aesthetic choices meant to adapt to both a professional environment and a personal one without missing a beat.
WATCHES AND WONDERS OPENING
To mark the second day of this week-long horological takeover, here’s a curated compilation of the standout releases already defining the opening of this annual event. The lineup is spanning everything from high-precision quartz movements that offer reliability to traditional manual-winding calibers for purists. It’s a landscape where sapphire crystals, diamonds, and rare natural stones are integrated into designs meant to be lived in, not just kept for special occasions.
AUDEMARS PIGUET
The Établisseurs Galets is a poetic tribute to Audemars Piguet’s home in the Vallée de Joux, drawing direct inspiration from the water-smoothed stones found along the shores. As part of a trio of unique creations, this yellow gold timepiece defined by its organic, pebble-shaped case and an oval natural stone dial that intentionally lacks hour markers, allowing some room for the raw mineral beauty to take center stage.
PIAGET
The Piaget Sixtie is back this year with a deep blue alligator strap in place of the metal bracelet featured in last year’s Watches & Wonders. The watch’s signature blue quartz dial complements the new leather strap perfectly, making the piece more wearable for everyday life.
BVLGARI
The Bvlgari Octo Finissimo 37mm is the answer to many collectors’ prayers, finally bringing the brand’s iconic watch to a smaller size that also helps push it into unisex territory. The integrated bracelet now also features a push-button butterfly clasp, as opposed to the previous tension-based version. The watch is available in sandblasted titanium, satin-polished titanium with a sunray gray dial, and an 18K yellow gold.
CHANEL
Chanel’s J12 Bleu is officially graduating from its limited-edition status to a permanent part of the collection. Introduced in last year’s Watches and Wonders as part of a nine-piece line, the custom matte Bleu ceramic, a shade so deep it sits on the edge of black, is now here to stay. As the first Chanel unisex sports watch created, this piece has a special place in many watch enthusiasts’ hearts.
ROLEX
The standout feature of this Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 40 is Rolex‘ debut of Jubilee Gold, which offers a muted hue sitting between yellow, grey, and pink. This exceptional piece is off-catalog and features a light green natural aventurine dial with a granular stone texture. The green aventurine is complemented by ten baguette-cut diamond markers. The satin-finished President bracelet and the unique mineral dial signals a bold shift toward a more industrial, tactile form of luxury.
CARTIER
The signature Cartier Crash design is skeletonized for the new Crash Squelette. While previous versions used bridges to mimic a dial, this new model introduces the manufacture 1967 MC caliber, a manual-winding movement designed to follow the watch’s legendary distorted contours. Paired with a platinum case and a deep burgundy alligator strap, this limited edition timepiece has successfully pushed the beloved crash design further into the realm of wearable sculpture than ever before.
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS
As part of the Jour Nuit collection, Van Cleef created the Midnight Jour Nuit Phase de Lune in honor of the moon and its phases. It has a dual-layered system that tracks a 24-hour day/night cycle alongside a precise 29.5-day astronomical moon cycle. While the sun is guilloche yellow gold disc and the moon is sculpted from white mother-of-pearl, the dial, made of black Murano aventurine glass, is the real star.
CHOPARD
Chopard’s Precious Lace jewelry watch is a dialogue between haute couture and high horology. The timepiece is crafted from 18-carat white gold and encrusted with over 1,000 brilliant cut sapphires and diamonds. The watch has a sense of weightless elegance, further enhanced by a faceted sapphire glass that catches light like a cut diamond.
PATEK PHILIPPE
Patek Philippe has reached astronomical heights with the Celestial Sunrise & Sunset watch. Housed in a 47mm white-gold case with space module architectural details, the watch features a real-time star chart of the Geneva night sky and a patented summer and winter correction system.
BAUME & MERCIER
The Joia de Baume & Mercier 24mm, adorned by 40 diamonds, is the ideal feminine piece. Its domed crown is set with black agate, the silver dial has a beautiful criss-cross satin finish, while the integrated steel strap is embossed with flattened links that echo the dial’s geometric pattern.
