The latest developments in the world of luxury watches clearly reflect a new obsession: beautiful design. Decorate the new rigid versions with bracelets (in plain gold or diamonds) of Cartier's classic Baignoire. A watch with a simplified, oval shape loved by Catherine Deneuve. Even Piaget, Chanel, Dior, Hermès and Jaeger LeCoultre presented incredibly elegant pendant watches worn around the neck. An exquisite piece of jewellery that also tells the time.
Meanwhile, chunky watches from the brands that have a focus on men (Panerai, Hublot, Audemars Piguet) have also been adapted to appeal to women with more delicate tastes. So discover more about this and other key watch trends for 2024, below.
The jewel watch 2.0
The growing popularity of a gemstone jewellery that shows the time reflects the return to the real origins of the wristwatch. Although usually considered primarily a male fashion accessory, the first Swiss wristwatch was originally designed for a woman. The Countess Koscowicz of Hungary. In the late 19th century, the Countess, wanted to impress with an unprecedented piece of jewelry. So she commissioned Patek Philippe to design the smallest possible watch that could fit on a bracelet. This was unheard of at the time, as men wore pocket watches. Also check out Piaget, Bulgari, Hermès, Chanel and Dior for the most impressive reissues of 2024.
The iconographic clock
Fun but also lovable characters appear on the clock dials. But the mood in 2024 is much more sophisticated and less kindergarten-adjacent than in previous years. But a possible exception is the all-white Snoopy watch by Franck Muller X Bamford Watch Department. So wear this sweet watch with an evening dress or just jeans and a t-shirt. See also the narrative richness of a colourful Hermès horse, the smiling faces of Richard Mille or the romantic panoramas of Van Cleef & Arpels.
The engagement watch
Did you get an engagement ring at Christmas? Congratulations! How are you going to pay it back? Former Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach has revealed that after accepting Jeremy Jauncey's proposal while staying at the Burgenstock Hotel on Lake Lucerne (where Audrey Hepburn was married), she started looking for a Panerai watch for her new fiancé. Matilde Mourinho, founder of Matilde Jewellery, recently got engaged and is looking for a watch for her future husband. “How exactly my mother got a watch for my father (former Chelsea coach José Mourinho) after their engagement.”.
“An engagement watch is therefore much more than just something the future partner will wear on their wedding day,” says Pierre Hardouin, head of marketing at Bucherer. The luckiest grooms will receive a timeless piece by Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet or Vacheron Constantin.
Celebrity watches
Late last year Audemars Piguet unveiled a limited edition of its iconic Royal Oak model designed in collaboration with rapper Travis Scott and his record label Cactus Jack. Hublot and Bulgari have also capitalised on the celebrity halo effect through collaborations with Japanese superstar artist Takashi Murakami and K-pop superstar Lisa from Blackpink. But in 2024 there are expected to be many more celebrity watch collaborations to occupy the newspaper columns.
Source: vogue.co.uk
