I have always been taught to start with the positives, so that is what I shall do. I will be the first one to admit that I have not seen the watches I am about to critique in person. So please add in the photographic fudge factor. And also remember: Dreams are free
Note: All pictures are courtesy of Watches and Wonders 2024 website
W&W2024 Winners:
1. IWC: This one is an absolute no brainer. The IWC Portugieser Eternal Calendar is a home run. To be THAT complicated and look clean and classy is simply breathtaking. The world's first secular perpetual calendar is the sort of flex that we can only dream of from Rolex (with the hype around discontinuation and model releases) and here you have IWC that has just pointed at their systems engineering team, given them a problem space and let the magic happen! You will never buy the watch to check whether in the year 2100, the leap year is missed, you buy it cause you can!
2. A Lange & Söhne: Gave IWC a close run for the top spot. This list would have been incomplete without the Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honyegold "Lumen". The green and the gold just works! I suppose the complications are endless (do we expect any less from the likes of Lange?): flyback chronograph, jumping minute counter and perpetual calendar. Would I like to own one? sure! Will I? Most certainly not if I plan to stay married! Limited to 50 pieces, it is equally as rare as it is expensive but it is a thing of beauty!
3. Jaeger-LeCoultre: Yes Yes I have expensive taste! Duometre Chronograph Moon is spectacular on the best of days. Does it look like a drink joker? sure! but what is life without a few quirks right? Sometimes you just need a watch from a brand that simply can live up to its name! And that is what JLC has done here!
4. Reusability of Denim clothes: Thank you Patek! I have been looking far and wide for solutions to my old worn denim clothes. Now I know what to do with them! Spare bands for my Patek 5980. In the spirit of channeling my inner Oris, I can recycle clothes now! woohoo!
5. Piaget: I have never been a fan of Piaget. But then again that might be a result of my ignorance of what they bring to the table. But when you bring out the world's thinnest tourbillon you deserve a mention. At 2mm thick (or shall I say thin) and $US400,000, it will also leave your wallet a lot thinner! But let's face it, it is a thing of beauty! Well done Piaget!
Watches/Brands that Need to Improve
Yes Yes, I didn't want to call them losers. Wanted to put a positive spin on it!
1. Rolex: Kudos to Rolex. They have managed to release an Invicta Homage! The all gold Deep Sea is downright hideous. It lacked imagination, taste, and classiness. Their other releases were underwhelming, to say the least, be it the 1908 or the GMT Master 2. And just when you thought you were done, Rolex hits you with the diamond bezel Daytona! Shocker!
Will these models sell well? Of course! It says Rolex on the dial and the fan boys will find an excuse to hype it up so that their money is safe!
2. Tudor: Given they are Rolex's little brother, therefore the scale of their disappointment should also be little brother level. Where Rolex chose to release an Invicta homage, Tudor decided they would release cheaper Rolex homages! Just seems like the photocopier along with the head of marketing are the hardest-working employees at Tudor!
3. Hublot: enough said right? Or shall I say more? No? thanks! You have saved me a little bit of emotional bandwidth! absolutely hideous and let's call it like we see it, Hublot and it's reputation does not actually help matters here!
4. Tag Heuer: Oh that's right! That is exactly what I was looking for! a Richard Mille movement in a Monaco so that it was more affordable? What's that? it is limited? what's that? it is six figures? What's that? it looks like a coffee table on one's wrist? What? it is a Ciga Design Homage? ok then.. ! moving on!
5. Bremont: Their nose dive continues. None of their watches will excite you and a few of them look like overpriced citizen pilot watches. And the prices only seem to be going one way. Either the product portfolio needs to be revamped OR that honour should be bestowed to their upper management. Harsh I know but there is nothing exciting about them at the moment.
Your challenge: Add to my list! Or refute it! Either way: happy judging! ✊Judge away! I will never call you a dumbass like Weh did for questioning Rolex releases!
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