Whet Your Horological Appetite

Revealed even before the largest watch event of the year, these early releases from the first quarter of the year promise a whole lot more to come.

- LYNETTE KOH

By the time you read this, the world’s biggest horological event, Watches & Wonders would have just concluded. Bringing together 48 exhibiting brands, the Genevan show combines the luxury trade event formerly known as the Salon Internationale de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) and key brands from the beleaguered watch fair Baselworld.

However, ahead of Watches & Wonders Geneva, several participating brands launched timepieces as a precursor to the event proper. It has become increasingly important for watch names to keep the buzz going throughout the year — especially after the pandemic upended not just the major trade shows, but the ways that brands do their outreach as well. To set the stage for more to come, here are the horological appetisers unveiled in the first quarter of the year.

01 CARTIER: CLASH [UN]LIMITED 

While there are many high-jewellery watches, Cartier’s early launches for Watches & Wonders stand out among glittering horological creations. To be sure, there is a lot going on in the five models of the new Clash [Un]limited collection. There are gold beads, pointed picot studs, pyramidal clou carre studs, faceted links, sapphire-crystal glass, and gemstones galore in each watch. Many of these elements can also be found in the Clash de Cartier fine-jewellery range, which has been frequently updated since its 2019 debut.