Despite a turbulent year, the planned Geneva Watch Days event went ahead this weekend and A&E was there to experience the latest novelties from luxury watchmakers.
This year, the watchmaking industry has seen many major events and fairs postponed or cancelled, which limited the possibility of clients interacting directly with the new products. So it was a great moment for all when the Geneva Watch Days event was able to go ahead this August in the home city of watchmaking.
The platform was the brainchild of some of the industries CEOs. After many discussions, it was realised that while full-scale events may still be cancelled this year, a more intimate fair with fewer brands in a more informal setting would be the perfect way to celebrate the latest novelties and the reopening of many markets. The four-day event had the support of the City of Geneva and took place at various venues throughout the city.
The event saw 17 watch brands come together to present their latest timepieces in person with those who were able to travel, while some brands still also put on virtual presentations for those who could only watch from the other side of their screens. Brands who were part of the event included: Bvlgari, Breitling, Ulysse Nardin, Jacob & Co, Louis Moinet, H. Moser and many more. It was an intimate affair, with pop up events taking place across some of the city’s luxury hotels, as well as presentations within stores.
Some of the highlights are below:
Bvlgari presented a world-record-breaking watch. The Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Chronograph Skeleton Automatic Watch marked the sixth record-breaking novelty from the brand in as many years. This unrivalled design has a mechanical manufactured ultra-thin skeleton movement with automatic winding, chronograph, single-push and tourbillon combined into a thickness of just 7.40mm.
This design takes the Octo collection to new heights with a standout technical masterpiece that combines masterful watchmaking with a sleek, modern design. This watch has a 42mm sandblasted titanium case, skeletonised grey-matte dial, titanium bracelet and is limited to 50 pieces.
Breitling hosted a summit that saw the brand present the new Endurance Pro performance watch. The watch has a 44mm case formed from Breitling’s unique composite material “Breightlight”. This unique material is super light and durable.
The watch features a thermo-compensated SuperQuartzTM movement that is ten times more accurate than the conventional quartz, and it offers optimal comfort, matchless precision, and functionality that will appeal both to committed athletes and more casual sports enthusiasts. Designed for both men and women with a sporty lifestyle, the Endurance Pro is available in five bold colours with rubber straps as well as the option to have a sustainable Econyl strap.
The launch of this watch also marks the launch of a new Breitling Triathlon Squad starring three hugely successful athletes. These men and women represent the values of the brand and perfectly represent the lifestyle this timepiece was designed for.
Ulysse Nardin introduced the Blast collection. Based on the concept of fire and ice, this collection is about dangerous extremes. This watch is made with rock-hard masculine lines with geometric architecture, complex savoir-faire and a bold recognizable design.
Blast consists of a robust open-worked design, playing off the transparency of its new powerful automatic silicium tourbillon and a bold X-shaped cage which beats inside at a frequency of 2.5Hz. Light penetrates the open-worked body of the watch like a laser. Some Ulysse Nardin emblematic codes have been included – the rectangular frame, the 3-horned signature fixing the strap, the smooth, coloured bezel, the verticality of the movement with the barrel at 12 o’clock and the flying tourbillon at 6 o’clock.
The distinctive look was modelled on the image of a stealth flying aircraft. BLAST is available in four distinct models, each with the new manufacture UN-172 movement with an automatic tourbillon and the new self-deploying buckle. Several strap options are possible: structured rubber, leather, velvet and some other specific option.
You can find out more about Geneva Watch Days in the upcoming issue of A&E.