13.04.2021 - News

The wacky and wonderful at Watches Wonders Geneva

This year’s Geneva-based digital Watches & Wonders showcase has enjoyed seeing 38 brands displaying their newest luxury timepieces. With everything from pure classics to ingenious and outlandish pieces, there’s certainly been something for everyone.

But a lot more has been expected of exhibitors this year as they’ve had to prepare zoom-style presentations and discussions online rather than allow visitors to view pieces up close and personal.

Of course, there’s still the Shanghai physical show to go in the coming few days but here are a few of our favourites from Geneva.

The Reverso Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185 from Jaeger-LeCoultre

Say hello to the first ever four-faced wristwatch. You’ll be incredibly lucky to get your hands on one of these marvellous masterpieces as only 10 have been created. And before I forget to mention it, they’re a cool £1.1 million each.

The ‘Quadriptyque’ is a pure spectacle; an incredible watch with no fewer than 11 complications. It’s been released to coincide with the 90th anniversary of the brand’s reversible-dial mode. 

The obverse of this Reverso has been adorned with a dial showing the time alongside the workings of a minute repeater that chimes hours, quarter hours and minutes with the press of a button. 

Across the other three dials are a whole host of other complications including day and night indicators, a perpetual calendar and a flying tourbillon. It even boasts two patented complications for tracking the moon’s orbital distance from the Earth and predicting solar and lunar eclipses.

But compared to its competition it’s pretty chunky, coming in at 51.22mm by 31mm wide.

Cloche de Cartier from Cartier

For those whose French skills stop at bonjour and ça va, a cloche is a bell, and so is the shape of the new debut from Cartier.  It’s a vintage retake on a 20s Cartier with the same outline, so named because when placed horizontally it looked like a service bell in a hotel lobby.

The new Cloche is the latest in a series shape watches – part of the Cartier Privé collection. What is fancy about this piece, is that if you really wanted to, you could stand it on your bedside and use it as a little clock. It’s also designed to be read easily whilst driving due to the positioning of the numbers.

Despite the asymmetrical case, the Cloche de Cartier has conventional lugs and comes in at a compact 37.15mm. There are three case metals available: yellow and pink gold models with sapphire cabochon crowns and a platinum model with a ruby crown. 

Each timepiece conceals a Cartier signature in the Roman numeral seven.

Nautilus 5711/1A-014 from Patek Philippe

When the most desired watch in the world – the Nautilus 5711 – was cancelled last year there was some mild worry amongst Patek fans desperate to get hold of one.

Gerald Genta’s creation from 1974 had become an investment piece which is still increasing in value today. But the good news is the beautiful navy model is being replaced, this time with an olive green dial – a trend for 2021.   

The new model, water resistant to 120m, features the hugely recognisable design of the case, while the bezel and bracelet include subtly satin and polish finishes. A sapphire caseback displays the self-winding calibre.   

Excalibur Glow Me Up from Roger Dubuis

This limited-edition is just amazing. It’s the first timepiece to feature luminescent diamonds. 

Featuring an eon gold case and 60 luminescent baguette cut diamonds in different hues, it’s quite the star attraction.

The spokes are painted with Super-LumiNova paint making them reminiscent of a bold 70s disco.

Even if bright lights aren’t your thing, you can certainly marvel at the signature skeleton dial where a tourbillon seamlessly floats. 

How we can help

If you’re after a wacky or wonderful watch for your collection or love a certain luxury brand, we can help you source your ideal model. Simply contact us today and we will talk you through our current finance deals and options if you’d like us to sell your watch.