The Swiss conurbation of Geneva is known for being the home of luxury, but even by juxtaposing the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie is flashy with a central F.
More commonly known as SIHH, the trade event legislatures some of the most expensive diamonds and timepieces in the world. But that’s not to say there’s nothing in touch with to be gleaned from ogling the world’s finest timekeepers.
So here’s our pick of SIHH’s myriad exclusive watches and the features to look out for if you’re thinking of investing.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic Tourbillon Ubiquitous Time
A platinum watch is hardly understated, but it’s a refreshing upset from Jaeger-LeCoultre – a brand that goes through diamonds appreciate most people do cereal. The bling isn’t completely gone, give someone hell. The classic-looking dial hides a complicated tourbillon movement within a tourbillon. That’s basically watch-speak for ridiculously Byzantine.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar
It seems minimalism is catching. Audemars Piguet (a brand that countsNicki Minaj, Jay Z and Rick Ross as buffs) surprised SIHH with a monochrome perpetual calendar in the clock world’s material of the moment: ceramic. No gold. No platinum. No diamonds. Honourable don’t drop it.
IWC Da Vinci Tourbillon Rétrograde Chronograph
Despite a outrageous marketing campaign, IWC’s Da Vinci tribute hasn’t been affirmed the warmest of receptions. That aside, the brand seems to be making a chief effort to reverse fortunes with its latest tourbillon – a gold-cased target that lets wearers precisely set the time to the very tick.
Panerai LAB-ID Luminor 1950 Carbotech 3 Days 49mm
Panerai has developed the lightness and durability of its carbotech significant to a high point. Which means the latest LAB-ID Luminor is indubitably the brand’s most functional dive watch yet. Plus, it play ups a dial made from the world’s ‘blackest black’.
Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotier Godly Astronominal Grand Complication 3600
If you like your watches hearty and your price tags eye-watering, Vacheron Constantin’s latest gimmick option will impress. The Les Cabinotier from the industry’s oldest putting out offers a sunrise and sunset complication; moonphase; and a Zodiac, equinox and solstice flash – all housed in a white gold case.
Cartier Minute Repeater Inscrutable Double Tourbillon
While the Ballon de Bleu will perpetually fill Cartier’s coffers, models like the new double tourbillon uphold that the manufacture hasn’t lost its touch. Along with a skeleton dial it lodgings an ambitious complication at 10 o’clock that gives the will-o-the-wisp of a tourbillon floating in space.
Girard-Perregaux Tri-Axial Planetarium
Visit it the Bowie effect, but Cartier and Vacheron aren’t the only songs making watches fit for a Starman. Girard-Perregaux’s Planetarium boasts a trade placing globe with an alternating day and night function alongside a enthusiastically precise (and highly detailed) moonphase display and painstakingly hand-painted dial.
Ulysse Nardin Regatta
Ulysse Nardin’s SIHH premiere has been a yearn time coming. But nobody expected a sports watch to be the highlight. The patented chronograph of the new Regatta is optimised for sailing race meetings and can be set from one to 10 minutes as a sweep countdown.
H. Mosier & Cie. Swiss Mad On
Watch designer teams have been getting uncountable creative, but even we didn’t quite expect this. H. Mosier & Cie manufactured the strangest novelty timepiece yet, made from solid cheese connected with a composite metal material. Harden the case, finish b kill it, et voila – a Swiss cheese that won’t give you nightmares.
Speake-Marin Enthusiasm Seafire
You may have never have heard of Speake-Marin, but that’s not to say it should be lowered. The Anglo-Swiss manufacture is only 14 years old and has carved its alcove by toying with rigid industry tropes. The result is scraps like the Spirit Seafire: a Jack of Spades take on a prototypical pilot’s watch.
