What a stellar past few days it has been! Watches & Wonders 2022 unveiled an onslaught of amazing new watches. All of the participating brands really brought their A-game, revealing some amazing new watches that I was absolutely lusting over. The show also featured incredible coverage, where each watch justifiably was able to be showcased to the world, giving each piece its deserved time in the limelight. So to all of the participating watchmakers, I applaud you on another wonderful showing.
As opposed to covering all of the new watches, I've gone the super subjective route of picking out a handful (or two) of my favourite watches that were released at Watches & Wonders 2022, including new watches from Rolex, Vacheron Constantin, Chopard and Cartier. Trust me when I say I wish I could have included more, but then I might as well had been covering all of the novelties in their entirety. So, here it is, my 12 favourite new releases from Watches & Wonders 2022.
Vacheron Constantin 9750C/000R-002C
Aka the Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater Tourbillon Split-Seconds Monopusher Chronograph. Perhaps the most complicated watch at Watches & Wonders 2022 and definitely the one with the longest name, the Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater Tourbillon Split-Seconds Monopusher Chronograph is a behemoth of haute horlogerie which features a split-seconds chronograph, a minute repeater and a tourbillon all encased in a 45mm wide and 16.40mm thick pink gold case. Utterly magnificent.
Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Skeleton
Parmigiani Fleurier has opened the dial of its Tonda PF much to my delight. Available in either stainless steel or rose gold, the new Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Skeleton is a beautifully finished timepiece whose skeletonisation brings to light the idea that perhaps the domain of openworking doesn't just belong to you-know-who. The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Skeleton is a lovely, subtle, well put together timepiece that really fits the bill of a modern high-end sports watch that can be worn almost anywhere and with almost anything.
Angelus Chronodate Titanium
The pioneering spirit of Angelus has, as of late, been dominated by some super contemporary timepieces, with my favourite being the incredible U30 Tourbillon Rattrapante. But at Watches & Wonders 2022, Angelus flexed its collective creativity and unveiled the Chronodate Titanium. A mash-up of the maison's generations-past style coupled with contemporary horological engineering and finished with dashes of modernity throughout make for one of the most interesting releases at Watches & Wonders 2022.
Zenith Chronomaster Sport
Clad in gold with a contrasting black dial and coloured sub-dial registers, the new Zenith Chronomaster Sport is a prime contender to bring the heat to the daily-wearer chronograph market. I love the mushroom chronograph pushers, the matching gold bezel, the gold hands and hour indices, and the balance of colours on the dial. This is a beautifully executed watch that ticks a lot of my boxes.
Ulysse Nardin Freak S
Ulysse Nardin continues to enthral with its latest bit of high-tech watchmaking in the form of the new Freak S. Featuring what looks like a space vessel with twin reactors on the dial, the Freak S really and truly ushers in a new era of drama, theatrics and of course high-end watchmaking. This is an architectural, over-engineered bit of mathematical genius that I am absolutely infatuated by. Can't wait to see it in the metal.
Chopard L.U.C Full Strike Sapphire
Chopard's new L.U.C Full Strike Sapphire features five patents, a sapphire case and a minute repeater that chimes on transparent sapphire crystal gongs. A true spectacle of modern haute horlogerie and low-key one of the best watches of Watches & Wonders 2022. Serious bit of kit, this.
Cartier Masse Mystérieuse
Cartier had a respectable showing, but the Masse Mystérieuse definitely took the cake for me. Featuring the maison's mysterious moving skeletonised calibre on full display through the transparent dial, the Cartier Masse Mystérieuse offers intrigue, sophistication and an air of ambiguity in a refined and ultra-conservative package.
Vacheron Constantin Overseas Tourbillon Skeleton
Vacheron Constantin is enjoying a renaissance period, especially so with its Overseas collection. And at Watches & Wonders 2022, Vacheron Constantin clearly stamped its authority on the industry with the new Overseas Tourbillon Skeleton. Yep, an openworked tourbillon Overseas model. Available in either pink gold or titanium, the Overseas Tourbillon Skeleton puts on a display unlike anything else in its class, with maison's signature tourbillon front and centre. My pick of the two would definitely be the titanium model, which trumps the pink gold version only ever so slightly because of how much more wear I'd get out of it.
H. Moser & Cie Pioneer Cylindrical Tourbillon Skeleton
The H. Moser & Cie Pioneer Cylindrical Tourbillon Skeleton was a show-stopping piece for me. From its cylindrical one-minute flying tourbillon to its balanced proportions, wearable Pioneer shape and overall dramatic look, the H. Moser & Cie Pioneer Cylindrical Tourbillon Skeleton is easily one of Watches & Wonder's most impressive novelties.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Perpetual Calendar
Another show-stopper, and perhaps my favourite watch of the show. Here is the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Perpetual Calendar. What we have is the watchmakers' watchmaker flexing its grip on the industry, combining the maison's watchmaking prowess within the super wearable package that is the Polaris. Can't wait to see it in the metal!
Rolex GMT-Master II "Destro"
Rolex released the new left-handed GMT-Master II. Featuring a black and green aesthetic and a crown placed on the left side of the case, the new Rolex GMT-Master II "Destro" is a seriously interesting bit of kit that is as polarising as it is intriguing. Put me on the side that really, really likes it!
IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph 41 Top Gun Ceratanium
Last but certainly not least we have the IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph 41 Top Gun Ceratanium. Made from Ceratanium® in an all black design, the IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph 41 Top Gun Ceratanium is an intense yet subtle take on a watch that packs a lot of punch, has bucket loads of history and can be worn as dressy or as casual as you like. Awesome stuff from IWC as usual!