Watches & Wonders 2024...Wonderful or WTF...here's my take...

Thank you for the write up Mel. So many awesome watches you showed. Thank you for sharing! You are describing a world so different from my own. It sounds like you and your wife are having a fantastic time in Geneva. Enjoy!

What a treat to be at W&W! I will try to go next year if my wife lets me 🤣. Thanks for sharing those pics. Ugh, I'd freak out if I saw my favorite YouTubers in real life, haha. Jk, but this is my dream. In a giant room full of fellow watch geeks.

Surprised my little VC is on display there, haha. There's some crazy watches on display.

That honeygold lumen perpetual calendar datograph is nuts. The blue datograph is calling my name, but I think I'll pass for a lumen zeitwerk or something the future. Too much bundling going on.

Congrats on the Minerva! I tired that on before, but in that unique gold alloy...with bronze or something? It makes it less dressy, but yours is nice. Steel?

I watch and wonder if I will ever be able to afford anything on show 🤔

Thanks - yes it is steel.

The major dial differences here from the prior references: no 12 at the top of the dial, clear subdials, and Minvera in blued steel right up front not hidden below.

It also has been raised up and open sapphire windows placed in the sides. So you can see the movement better because it allows more light to enter. You can also see a more 3-dimensional effect because it is raised up (slightly thicker than previous references). There is also a gorgeous blue baseplate that just provides the finishing touch of elegance.

I had passed on previous references as there was always something a bit off about them. This one is stunning and if you saw it in the metal, my guess is your wallet would be jumping out of your pocket.

Obviously, I'm showing photos of the watches that stun.

Frederique Constant/Alpina had a wonderful booth with loads of great looking, well made, and affordable watches. I just didn't take any pictures in there as it was way too crowded and that made it a bit unpleasant to navigate the large booth.

The TAG Heuer booth was really great as well. I didn't show any of those photos, but they really had a nice layout. They had everything in there from the most affordable to the ridiculously expensive.

I skipped the Tudor booth this year. They were a bit dickish last year, so I passed on even going over there this year.

I also didn't take any photos of the Patek booth as most of their watches just bore me to tears...there are a few that I lust after, but a very few.

If you happen to be in Switzerland or nearby when the show is running it is worth going on the days its open to the public just to enjoy seeing so many unattainable watches in one place.

Thanks Per - it was a true blessing to get to be there.

It makes all the many long hours toiling in the salt mines worth it.

Most of the people there were just wonderful, and the staff at our hotel were courteous and helpful.

Unfortunately, I wish I could have stayed longer...but the salt mines were calling me back home.

How much is the steel version? Their website never has any good information and have no idea where to even enquire about a Minerva. I like the changes in your pic, the fact that it's steel, and the blue intermediate y-shaped bridge.

Where did you secure the watch? A boutique?

Cartier and JLC won the day for me, I absolutely love the new Cartier monopusher and the JLC duometre is likely my “one and done”

Great write up! 👌🏻

Thanks for sharing..👍👍👍👍

Perversely it's been nice to see Rolex turn up with nothing but gold bullion and a Homage. It's given the spotlight to others. I'm looking forward to the IWC enteral calendar. I hear the waiting list is only slightly longer than 45 million years.....

You saved me from airfare, lodging and a yelling match with Nico.

Great write-up!

The price is $45k.

As a Club 58 member, I get the opportunity to request an allocation before the watch is made available for general sale to the public.

My guess is about half of the 100 were likely allocated the first day of the show.

Not sure how the remainder will be allocated across the globe.

If you have a serious interest, DM me and I can put you in touch with someone.

Thanks! I agree with you - Richemont really nailed it this year.

I love the Cartier, JLC and Montblanc novelties and I even like a couple of the IWC references that were released. There's also the Piaget Polo '79 that is a gorgeous watch...just a bit too expensive at $74k.

And I too am entranced by the Duometre - I didn't want to take it off my wrist. The problem is the salmon dial in platinum is $86k...quite the expensive watch.

Thanks for the offer and Intel. It seems the case size is the same as the lime gold one, ie 43mm and with long lugs it was a bit too long for me unfortunately. It's beautiful, dang. I'm on the hunt for a not too monstrously sized rattrapante right now, though a monopusher is always welcome.

You are chronoguy, so I should check. Do you have a PF Chronor Anniversaire Rattrapante?

Thank you for sharing 🙏 From what I could tell from YouTube, there were only about 6 watches in the whole building this year!

Thanks Chris! Always appreciate the kind words.

Unfortunately, Bremont was stuck in the back corner like a naughty schoolboy.

You would not have found them unless you were looking for them. They were located by themselves on the second floor by some of the exits and near the free magazines.

I'm not much a fan of Bremont. Nothing against them just not really excited about their references. I totally understand those who are passionate about them though.

So I didn't get to their booth, though I did load up on the free magazines from all over the watch world. And the specialist book dealer there kindly held my canvas bag full of magazines for me until the end of the show (it must have weighed 30 pounds)...so huzzah to the book dealer a true gentleman.

Thanks for the kind words.

I know salmon has had a resurgence recently, but remember so many of the classic chronograph watches from the 1940s/1950s had salmon dials.

For me, if you release a vintage style chronograph you really need to have a salmon dial in the mix.

So while I understand your perspective, I do think salmon will survive the test of time as it has for so many years already.

But could you imagine that Duometre in a blue dial with platinum...that would be pretty awesome indeed.

Very cool summary of what you saw at W&W and congrats on the beautiful watches you‘re getting. That JLC in rose gold with silver dial is also stunning and would be my personal favourite.

This is not really the price bracket I‘m shopping in and I think the same is true for many others here as well. I think most people focus on releases from the most popular mainstream brands and then complain if nothing exciting (to them) comes along. Anyway thanks for showing another side that is not readily covered by most watch influencers

Thanks for the kind words. Glad you found it of interest.

It was a fun event and always exciting to be surrounded by watches and with friends who are as demented about watches as all of us here.

Yes indeed, there is nothing new about salmon dials. But personally for me it is quite a niche solution. The target group is collectors who are rich, have many watches (all possible colours dials) and you try to please them and to force buying something from you. Then I would go for limited series with salmon dials. JLC already did it with Reverso for example (250 pieces).

Classical watch for me is with a white, black or blue dial (I like the latter as a colour the most generally in my life). So, for the company those colours could be a safe heaven to produce. But as I said before, I think they targeted a specific group of potential buyers. All good, just make it as a limited offer for collectors as salmon fashion comes and goes. And for the rest (the price reminder!! 😆) give a blue dial with platinum.

There is an interesting article about salmon dials:

https://www.acollectedman.com/blogs/journal/how-salmon-dial-came-to-be

However, I think JLC this year did well with a blue DUOMETRE QUANTIEME LUNAIRE. The colour is super cool, I would say it reminds vintage style jeans.

On the other hand, my opinion means nothing. I am sure JLC made market reseaches and informed decisions afterwards what to issue or not.

Let's go fishing then 😀

Wow! Now I want to go so bad next year!

Thanks ZZ - great points and really appreciate the article on salmon dials.

Cheers! 🍻

Great write up and I’m green with envy.

post ban re post!

_________________________________________________________________

Amazing write up Mel!

so lucky you were able to attend.

I’d have been one of the glossy eyed enthusiasts to bring your spirits higher I think 😳🤩🤯😮

Love the subtle tail !

oh, and this is the better colorway of the two - no question

Also - I loved the new 9SA4, did you get a chance to feel it’s supposed heavenly wind?

When a heritage line or thin dress case with 9sA4 gets the new color changing dial - GS will be getting my money 💸. 15cm runner wrist and Tokyo Lion case do not mix!!

Thanks Alan!

I didn't spend much time in the GS booth. I was eager to get around to everything, so I cut it short in some spaces.

By the end of the day, all you want to do is find a comfortable place to sit and rest your aching feet.

Wow what a tour you have given us! I feel like I was there after reading your post! Thank you very much Mel and congratulations for your new acquisitions 👌👏

Thanks Kostas! Glad you enjoyed it. More to come on the visit at Minerva...finally got the photos off my wife's phone. Look for another post this weekend.

I will be looking forward to reading your next post then 🤩

Congrats on the write up / thoughts / photos. 👏 good on you for speaking to Nico. He’s loud but I enjoy his videos.