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Watches and Wonders 2022 Recap: The Best Releases from the Show
Over the last couple of weeks, the watch industry has seen a flurry of new releases from various brands. Watches and Wonders in Switzerland was a significant contributor to this influx of new releases. As someone who was on the ground in Switzerland for the duration of the week, I wanted to summarize the show’s highlights, some of my favorite releases, and potential low lights.
Favorite Watches from Watches and Wonders 2022
One of the standout releases at the show was from JLC with the Reverso Tribute Chronograph. This watch is a perfect execution of a chronograph in a Reverso case, which we haven’t seen for some time. The watch features the manual JLC 860 horizontal clutch and column wheel movement. The watch’s traditional tribute style dial on one side is understated, while the other side is all business, showing off the beautiful movement. The chronograph pushers are integrated into the case and do not extend too far, maintaining the Reverso’s classic understated style.
Another favorite release from the show was the Tudor Black Bay collection, specifically the non-diver variants, including the 31, 36, 39, and 41. Tudor addressed a glaring hole in their collection by revisiting these traditional three-hand everyday style Black Bay models. Last year, Tudor updated the SMG models with the MT calibers, and this year they’ve shifted to MT calibers COSC certified with a 70-hour power reserve and a T-fit clasp. You also get a wide range of dial color options, with the new blue dial color being a standout. These watches are 100 meters water-resistant, making them a great option for a do-it-all watch at an attractive price point.
Parmigiani Florier also stood out with their Tonda PF Minute Répétition. This refined steel sports-oriented dress hybrid style watch features a micro-rotor movement, wears like a dream on the wrist, and slides comfortably underneath a dress cuff given its thickness. The watch builds on the idea of last year’s GMT model and integrates it with a minute timer, an elapsed timer for the watch, and other cool features.
New Releases from Other Brands
Apart from the new watch releases, some other brands also unveiled some great products. One such brand is Noma, which released the Noma’s Club Campus Collection, featuring two new dial colors: electric green inversion and coral. This watch is one of the best-positioned everyday style watches in the market, with a price point of $1,500 and an in-house manual wound caliber on the inside. It also has 100 meters of water resistance, making it a great option for daily wear.
Another standout release was the New Tissot PRX Chronograph, extending beyond the two original models from last year. This new release features a panda dial format with a shade of blue that looks fantastic. The dial color has a nice line finish to it, making it unique and eye-catching.
Controversial Releases from the Show
Finally, let’s discuss some controversial releases from the show. One such release is the new Rolex Explorer II, which received mixed reviews due to its lack of significant updates and changes. The watch still features a similar design to the previous model, albeit with some minor updates to the bracelet and dial. Some Rolex fans were disappointed with this year’s release, expecting more significant changes.
Another release that received mixed reviews was the Patek Philippe Nautilus Perpetual Calendar. The watch’s design is controversial, with some people loving it and others finding it underwhelming. The watch features a blue dial with a perpetual calendar function, a moon phase display, and a 40mm case. The watch’s price point is also a point of contention, with some people finding it to be too expensive.
Conclusion
In summary, Watches and Wonders 2022 had some fantastic releases, with JLC’s Reverso Tribute Chronograph, Tudor’s Black Bay collection, and Parmigiani Florier’s Tonda PF Minute Répétition being some of the standout releases. While controversial releases like the new Rolex Explorer II and the Patek Philippe Nautilus Perpetual Calendar received mixed reviews, the show overall showcased some exciting new watches to look forward to in the coming year.
