Watches and Wonders 2024, the most important international trade show in this sector, officially wrapped up on the 15th of April, and since then, the world of watches has been buzzing with excitement following the revelations revealed during the week-long event.
At Banks Lyon, we were front and centre during these updates and announcements, compiling everything about the brands we are proud to be official stockists of. Now, we are bringing you all you need to know about Watches and Wonders 2024 and what the biggest brands on the market brought to the table.
Watches and Wonders 2024: The Recap
Each year, we anticipate Watches and Wonders, and this year did not disappoint. There were some groundbreaking announcements, which we will delve into later on. Here are some of the facts from 2024’s event:
- Overall, the event was bigger than in previous years, with an increase in the number of exhibitors, visitors, and tickets sold!
- Watches and Wonders’ organisers have said that the choice to invite the general public was an excellent decision, contributing to the success of this year’s event. While nothing has been confirmed yet, this is a great sign for those interested in attending next year, as it looks like tickets for the public will once again be available.
- There were 54 brands present at this event, including many of the biggest names we are proud to stock here at Banks Lyon. Visitors were able to watch talks and view displays on the subject of TAG Heuer watches, for example, as pictured below.
The Biggest Trends This Year
While it would almost be impossible to summarise everything showcased across seven days at Watches and Wonders, there were a few themes that kept coming up throughout the talks, displays, and announcements. Here are the top three themes we uncovered across the event:
- Watches for Women. Many brands focused on timepieces for women, revealing watches with smaller dials and more feminine designs. For example, Cartier unveiled a new
Tank Mini during the event, measuring just 28mm. Alongside this, there was a huge focus on the gender-neutral dial size of 36mm. This gives women a wider choice of watch designs to choose from and was seen as a great advancement in the industry. - Record-breaking Designs. As always, there were record-breakers among the new designs and technology announced at Watches and Wonders. For example, Bulgari brought out the world’s thinnest tourbillon, measuring just 1.7mm thick; it practically disappears from view when turned on its side.
- Sustainability. As with most other industries, there is a huge drive for sustainability in the watch sector, which was evident during this event. For instance, Montblanc unveiled a new 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen CARBO2, which is built from CO2 from biogas production and mineral waste from recycling centres.
Pictured right is the Cartier Tank Americaine Mini Quartz Watch, one of the slightly older Tank Mini models for those looking to get on the new smaller dial trend quickly. It is available from Banks Lyon for £3,250.00 or from only £27.08 per month on 0% finance, subject to status.
What Is New from Our Biggest Brands?
As promised, here is a peek into what some of our most renowned watch brands unveiled during Watches and Wonders 2024.
Cartier
Cartier debuted the Animal Jewellery Watch in three variations, keeping close to the animal inspirations that can be seen in other collections, such as the Cartier Panthere watch range. This blend of animal prints created through sparkly and colourful gemstones is bold, daring, and everything that Cartier embodies as a brand.
TAG Heuer
TAG Heuer is a brand with an enormous presence at Watches and Wonders, and this year, they did not disappoint. The Swiss watch brand announced the Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph – a square dial timepiece that commemorates 55 years since the launch of the original TAG Heuer Monaco watch in 1969. With a new Caliber TH81-00 movement, this watch promises to be as impressive technology-wise as it is in terms of design.
IWC
IWC introduced an all-new Portugieser with this Eternal Calendar model. Fascinatingly, this timepiece is the first ever in which its calendar (including leap years) will remain accurate and without any corrections for 400 years. In addition to this, its moon-phase display will be precise for an incredible 45 million years!
Hublot
Hublot made waves during Watches and Wonders 2024 with the introduction of the new MP-10 Tourbillon Weight Energy System, as pictured in all its glory below. With its signature square look, the timepiece goes against the norm by eliminating the dial and hands. Instead, it has a lock-style display that shows the hour and minutes.
As mentioned, this is just a glimpse into the world of Watches and Wonders this year, with plenty more updates and new releases to come to Banks Lyon. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome the newest additions to our showrooms in Lancaster and Kendal and right here online. Don’t miss this opportunity to pick up the latest and greatest available on the watch market. If you need help selecting your next timepiece, please don’t hesitate to get in touch using our handy Live Chat at the bottom right of our website. Alternatively, contact us via WhatsApp on 07751 807 041 to get help quickly from our friendly and knowledgeable team.