For the second consecutive year, IWC chose to introduce some much smaller case sizes into its new collection. Following the Portofino “mid-size” models last year, the brand followed with the juxtaposition of pilot’s watches in a 36mm diameter case. Such a diameter would probably have been dismissed outright by the collective product and marketing minds at the “engineered for men” brand only a few years ago.
« Ce mois-ci, gagnez une montre Eterna pour dames »
Among the 94 new watches Cartier presented at the show there were new collections for ladies and gents, in the form of the Hypnose and the Drive respectively. While the Hypnose shows off the brand’s jewellery prowess, the Drive looks set to follow the huge success of last year’s Clé de Cartier collection with a cushion shape that immediately makes it stand out from the crowd.
Montblanc continues to be the leader as far as value for money is concerned, but looking around at the everyday watches that the average luxury Swiss watch buyer (rather than the avid collector) might purchase. The price gap between, say, a new Baume & Mercier and a Cartier has narrowed considerably and thus opens up the choice a lot more for the consumer.
This year’s SIHH was not without its talking pieces, such as the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept “Supersonnerie” – a minute repeater that sounds 10 times louder than anything else on the market thanks to a new type of construction inspired by the guitar. It is probably the only watch at the SIHH 2016 that you could hear before you could see. Parmigiani Fleurier’s Senfine project may still be music of the future, but this revolutionary technology could be glimpsed beating away at 16 Hz on the wrists of Vaucher Manufacture’s CEO and head of movement development.
This week we delve deeper into the new crop of watches presented at the SIHH and bring you interviews and insights from the people behind them, including interviews with Cartier’s International Marketing and Communication Director Arnaud Carrez and a double interview with IWC’s Head of R&D Stefan Ihnen and the legendary watchmaker Kurt Klaus.
Don’t miss today’s photo gallery of the big WorldTempus 15th anniversary party from last Wednesday.
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