When I went to Geneva for Watches & Wonders, the best way to describe the journey would be a horological food coma of bliss. Never before had I engaged with so many brands and timepieces at once, a delectable 40-brand course meal for a week straight. Of course, with such a wide menu of watches I did find my favorite dishes. So, I won’t preamble any longer. Watch the video below to hear me and Andrew dig into our top five picks, or keep reading below for my five Watches & Wonders selects.Rolex Datejust 36 ref. 126234 Mint GreenThe Rolex Datejust, in my opinion, is the textbook example of a perfect “one watch”. It can as easily be worn with a t-shirt and jeans as it can with a three-piece suit. It is formal meets functional, and based on your desired configuration you can skew closer to one end of the spectrum than the other. The more casual take would be a smooth bezel with an Oyster bracelet, but the more formal, fluted, white-gold bezel on a jubilee configuration speaks more to me. The Datejust is near and dear to my heart, as it is the watch that first got me interested in timepieces. It was the one watch my grandfather, who sold watches for a living, would wear – a yellow Rolesor and white dialled Datejust, with a fluted bezel and Jubilee bracelet. It’s why I bought a Datejust 126234 late last year, and I absolutely love the watch to bits due to what it means to me and, frankly, how it looks, wears, feels, and performs. The mint green take above was stealthily introduced during Watches & Wonders, previously only available in the 31mm size. Now, however, it can be purchased in 36mm and 41mm as well. Had it been available when I got my Datejust 126234 in white Rolesor with a bright blue dial, I may have gone with mint green instead.Case MaterialStainless steel & white gold bezelCase Dimensions36mm x 12mm x 43.3mmWater-Resistance100m (screw-down crown)DialMint green sunburstStrapJubilee bracelet with EasyLink adjustmentMovementIn-house 3235 (automatic)Power Reserve70 hoursComplicationsHours, minutes, seconds, dateAvailabilityNowPrice$8,750 USDCartier Santos Dumont Limited Edition in pink gold with beige lacquerView this post on InstagramA post shared by Time+Tide (@timetidewatches)I just find this watch drop-dead gorgeous, and it was clear in the wake of its announcement that it was a sleeper favourite for both those in attendance and those tuning in from home. Watch collectors in the vintage space love a good cream colour, whether an aged white dial or aged luminescent plots. So, the appeal of the hue is definitely not random. But, in this instance, the colour is utilised in a novel, dare I say sexy, way. The Santos Dumont is already a striking design, and had it been left in just a standard pink gold case it would still be a looker. This limited edition, however, utilizes a light layer of beige lacquer on the entire front of the pink gold case. The dial also leverages a layer of creamy beige lacquer as well, its texture creating intriguing depth.The overall aesthetic makes me think of palm trees, Havana, and a nice cigar. It is just such a distinct and attractive watch to me. On a deeper and less superficial level, while the manually wound calibre within does not have particularly boundary-pushing specifications, I do have a bit of a connection to its design. The calibre 430 MC inside, while billed as a manufacture calibre, ?is actually Cartier’s take on Piaget’s in-house calibre 430P (a direct descendant of their legendary 9P calibre). As a former employee of Piaget, as a watch specialist in-store, it saddens me that I do not have a Piaget watch in my collection. But with this watch, I can tick two boxes in one go.Case MaterialBeige lacquered pink goldCase Dimensions31.4mm x 7.3mm x 43.5mmWater-Resistance30mDialBeige lacqueredStrapsGreen leatherMovement430 MC (manual-wind)Power Reserve38 HoursComplicationsHours, MinutesAvailabilityNovember 2022, 200 piecesPrice12,000Grand Seiko SLGT003 “Kodo” Constant Force TourbillonView this post on InstagramA post shared by Time+Tide (@timetidewatches)When the initial T0 tourbillon concept movement was unveiled, many were intrigued to see how it would be incorporated into production in the years to come. While technically innovative, being a prototype the movement did not necessarily hold up to the Grand Seiko standard. Their grammar of design. With the new SLGT003 “Kodo” Constant Force tourbillon, we finally see the culmination of development for Grand Seiko’s first high complication piece – and boy was the wait worth it. Typically Grand Seiko is known for their play with “light” and “shadow”, but the 9ST1 calibre introduces the dimension of “space” into the mix.The calibre shows off the finishing and peak technical prowess of the manufacture, as well as introduces the world to what we can expect from their new Atelier Ginza. Everything about the watch caught my gaze. It’s platinum and titanium case, which still includes a depth rating of 100m, a screw-down crown, and drilled lugs to make strap swapping that much easier. The constant force tourbillon mechanism, which, amazingly, is on a single axis I should add, almost appears like a spider or Stranger Things demigorgon, slowly creeping and inching in its rotation. The only shame with this watch is that there are only 20 pieces, and, regardless, I cannot afford it.Case MaterialPlatinum 950 and Brilliant Hard TitaniumCase Dimensions43.8mm x 12.9mm x 50.6mmWater-Resistance100m (screw-down crown)DialOpenworkedStrapUrushi lacquered black leather strap with folding claspMovement9ST1 (manual-wind)Power Reserve72 hours, 50 hours Constant ForceComplicationsHours, minutes, constant force tourbillonAvailabilityNow, Limited Edition of 20 piecesPrice$350,000 USDA.Lange & Sohne Odysseus TitaniumWhile Ricardo and I may have to have a death-match to see who gets this watch in our fantasy draft of sorts, I am totally in agreement with his sentiments. In such a saturated category, where many timepieces share too many visual cues, the Odysseus is a rather original exercise in the integrated sports watch category (although it technically does not have an integrated bracelet depending on your definition). The German Glashutte watchmaking DNA is crystal clear in this piece, no porthole inspiration or octagonal bezel. The double apertured day and date complications are signature Lange, and the combination of textures is gorgeous to the eye. The steel and gold incarnations of the watch that preceded this limited-edition titanium take have brushed surfaces accented by polished touches.The titanium, however, leverages a predominant matte finish, which somehow makes the polished bevels stand out even more. I also must mention the continuing desirable elements of a stunning in-house calibre, distinctly Lange decorated and with a full-balance bridge, as well as a micro-adjustment clasp that can be engaged even while on the wrist. I am a stickler for having a perfect fit, so to be able to find it while the watch is still on the wrist is an amazing capability. In my opinion, it is the best Odysseus yet, making a watch I already really dug that much better.Case MaterialTitaniumCase Dimensions40.5mm x 11.1mmWater-Resistance120 metresDialIcy gray-blueStrapsTitanium BraceletMovementL155.1 DATOMATIC – AutomaticPower Reserve50 HoursComplicationsDay, Date, Hours, Minutes, SecondsLimited250 PiecesPrice48,600Vacheron Constantin Les Historiques 222 Boutique EditionView this post on InstagramA post shared by Time+Tide (@timetidewatches)Don’t get me wrong, I am a fan of the modern Overseas design and its versatility. But sometimes the classics always triumph over the latest and greatest, and, with Vacheron meticulously reviving past icons in their Les Historiques range down to the most minute details, the new 222 Boutique Edition is your best chance to get the J?rg Hysek?design in its most robust form. Sure, finding one at retail will be a challenge to say the least. That being said, even if a pipe dream, this is a watch worth waiting for. It retains all the charm of the vintage piece, while affording the owner with the benefits of a modern calibre and manufacturing techniques. It’s 37mm x 7.95mm are dream dimensions for my wrist, and this was definitely a piece I was reluctant to hand back over when it was time to leave the booth.Case Material18K Yellow GoldCase Dimensions37mm x 7.95mmWater-Resistance50mDialGold-tonedStrap18K Yellow Gold braceletMovementCalibre 2455/2 (automatic)Power Reserve40 HoursComplicationsHours, Minutes, DateAvailabilityNow, Boutique OnlyPrice$62,500 USDOur full team recap of Watches & Wonders Geneva 2022If you are wondering what the entire team thought of the fair, or just want to get to know us better, definitely check out the video above – pint of beer or whiskey in hand recommended.
30.04.22