It’s nearly upon us, WorldTempus family. The event you’ve all been waiting for, the event we’ve all been preparing for. While you may think that it all looks like “business as usual” over on our side, it’s what goes on behind the scenes that gives the true picture. Imagine the swans gliding along on Geneva Lake (I foresee many irate “Lac Léman!” emails headed in my direction from our French and Vaudois readers), their outward serenity masking the underwater reality — their skinny legs paddling bravely, frantically against the current. Dear reader, your beloved editorial team is just like those swans, and the current is the tsunami of prime-time horological news heading in our direction. That’s right. It’s Watches And Wonders 2021.
We’ve only just cleared the season of Passover and Easter by a hair’s breadth, which is a good thing, as I’m currently maxed out with the spirit of renewal, the joy of resurrection and an undimmed hope for salvation. I couldn’t think of a better way to approach the week ahead of us, especially after the battering that we’ve all had over the last 12 months, watch lovers and watch makers alike. We will see watch collections renew and reorient themselves following a quiet 2020. We will see the landscape of fine watchmaking revived and revitalised by a wellspring of beautiful creations, some of them deliberately held back last year in order to debut in a more optimistic time. And we will see at least one example of those exceptionally rare watches that I have described in the past (with near-heretical ardour) as horological messiahs — ground-breaking, limit-erasing, record-smashing, passion-inspiring.
Over the next 10 days, starting from tomorrow, we have a dedicated Watches And Wonders 2021 spotlight appearing on WorldTempus. I say starting from tomorrow, even though Watches And Wonders officially opens its doors on Wednesday, because we love you and we want you to enjoy a little taste of this year’s new releases before the full deluge hits. On Tuesday, Ulysse Nardin have invited WorldTempus on a horological odyssey, and you’re coming with us (obviously)! Now, for those of you who have signed up to have special access to the brand, we even have an additional gift — a hands-on video of the new Ulysse Nardin watches that will make you pretty much an expert on these timepieces. Yes, we know what you want.
Based on what you guys love to read and hear about, the following days will be filled with exciting new stories. Keep an eye out particularly for Bulgari, Roger Dubuis, Purnell, Hermès, Rebellion Timepieces, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Vacheron Constantin and Montblanc, because we’ll be bringing you something a little different, something a little special, a day in the spotlight for those brands too. You’ll know it when you see it.
Ready for the plunge? Take a deep breath.
