Last Week, two major watch events took place synonymously on different sides of the world. From August 28 to September 1, nine prestigious watch Maisons showcase their latest novelties at Watches & Wonders Shanghai. Over in Europe, the 2024 edition of Geneva Watch Days saw over 100 new horological offerings from 52 watch brands between August 29 - September 2. As the eventful summer watch week comes to a close, Hypebeast looks back on some of the most noteworthy novelties.
Zenith Defy Skyline Tourbillon Felipe Pantone Special Edition
Zenith reunited with long-time collaborator, Felipe Pantone for a special edition Defy Skyline Tourbillon, marking the duo’s third collaborative timekeeper. Starring Pantone’s signature kinetic art style, a unique effect permeates the dial, interplaying with light, color and geometric patterns. The iridescent treatment doesn’t stop on the dial — it’s also reflected in the star-shaped oscillating weight on the caseback. Zenith’s emblematic El Primero 3630 caliber beats at a rate of 36,000 vph inside, providing around 60 hours of power reserve.
The Defy Skyline Tourbillon Felipe Pantone Special Edition will be avaiable starting September 12, retailing at $62,300 USD and in a limited run of 100 examples. Read more about the timepiece here.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Enamel “Venice Series”
Outside of the two watch events, Jaeger-LeCoultre paid homage to Claude Monet’s iconic Venice paintings with a trio of Reverso Tribute Enamel timepieces. Each watch in the series is a tribute to a specific Monet painting: “San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk,” “The Grand Canal” and “The Doge’s Palace.” These timepieces celebrate the intricate crafts of miniature painting, enameling and guilloche, reflecting the brand’s dedication to fine watchmaking and decorative arts.
The dials of these watches complement the artwork with intricate guilloche patterns, covered by layers of translucent grand feu enamel. Each dial’s pattern echoes the themes of light and reflection central to Monet’s Venice series, enhancing the overall aesthetic harmony between the dial and caseback. 10 editions will be released per design, more details on Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Reverso Tribute Enamel “Venice Series” can be read here.
De Bethune DB28xs Aérolite
Combining elements of the DB28xs Starry Seas and DB28XP Météorite, the DB28xs Aérolite stands proudly on its own with a mesmerizing appearance and contemporary dimensions.
Attired in a 39mm watch case crafted from black zirconium, the blue meteorite dial shimmers with resplendence, while random guilloché and white gold “stars” complete its galactic design. Deared with 6 days of power reserve, the DB28xs Aérolite runs on a miniaturized DB2005 caliber. Priced at $120,000 USD, the timepiece is released as an annual limited edition. Read more about it here, along with the rest of the brand’s releases for Geneva Watch Days.
H. Moser & Cie. And Studio Underd0g Collaboration
At Geneva Watch Days, Studio Underd0g and H. Moser & Cie. presented a pair of passion fruit-inspired timekeepers: the Endeavour Perpetual Calendar Passion Fruit and the Studio Underd0g 03SERIES Passi0n Fruit.
Housed in a 42mm-sized steel case, the Endeavour Perpetual Calendar Passion Fruit features a purple lacquered main dial in a sunburst pattern. This is layered underneath a maracuja fumé secondary dial, that’s coated in a Grand Feu and hammered enamel. Sporting a slim profile that measures 38.5mm in diameter, Studio Underd0g’s 03SERIES Passi0n Fruit stars a Coarse Dégradé amber-color dial against a royal purple base. Powered by a hand-wound Sellita SW510 M movement, the reference is complete with a hand-stitched black calfskin leather strap.
Limited to 100 examples, H. Moser & Studio Underd0g’s collaboration is sold as a set at $64,900 USD. More details on the two pieces can be read here.
A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Handwerkskunst
In the brand history of A. Lange & Sӧhne, the Handwerkskunst name is only ever bestowed to timepieces that are truly exclusive and special. The Datograph Handwerkskunst showcases a sophisticated dial adorned with ornate tremblage engravings. Composed of 750 gold, the main dial presents a black-rhodium appearance, while its totalizers come in a light gray.
Measuring 41mm in case width, the watch proudly exhibits its lavishly-finished L951.8 Manufacture caliber through an open caseback. Complete with a hand-stitched, dark-brown alligator strap, the Datograph Handwerkskunst is limited to only 25 examples worldwide. Read more about the timepiece here.