Ten timepieces that truly dazzle
Rolex, TAG Heuer, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet and Hermès lead the charge in Geneva
Start-ups lend an optimistic air to this year’s Watches and Wonders fair; gaming nostalgia gets the luxury treatment; Audemars Piguet bets on rare craftsmanship; photobook documents the life of a clock-repair shop
One of the world’s best-known wristwatches toasts a landmark year
The maison’s ‘guardian of style’ and new CEO are mixing poetry and profit
The brand continues nearly a century of making moon phase watches with a 42mm variant in the tradition of exquisitely decorated pieces
The watchmaker bets on rare craftsmanship with the revival of a historic workshop model, to encourage artisanship and the preservation of esoteric techniques
For founder Benoît Mintiens, a bespoke calibre is the final cog in an integrated timepiece architecture
As another example of the Heuer Monaco comes up for auction, debate continues over how many the actor wore in the 1971 film
The presence of start-ups and students in creative and technical fields lends the Geneva show an air of optimism for the industry’s future
A photobook documenting decades in the life of a clock-repair shop raises poignant questions about mortality
A timepiece’s underside not only offers a canvas for design flourishes but increasingly is an opportunity to add value
Tailor-made for astronauts, the timepiece differs from previous efforts by forgoing adaptations of existing models
The brand set itself complex technical challenges for pieces based on themes such as chess, dominoes and video games
When dial names want scaled-up famous pieces, specialist suppliers offer discretion and expertise — in one case, fuelling watchmaking ambitions of its own
The FT’s architecture critic salutes a modernist masterpiece
Every watch has a starting salary. Let your wrist show your CV
The switchable dials coveted by collectors and celebrities alike
An ingenious clock inspired by the lines of a 1960s grand prix car with movements for timekeeping and engine parts
Six decades on, Jean Schlumberger’s creations are also inspiring a technically ambitious revival of an enamelling art
Chief executive Laurent Perves on why museum tie-ins count as much as mechanics
Industry expects the twice-extended skilled worker salary support programme to expire in July
Smaller players aim to compete with established names by making vibrant designs with bold materials at a fraction of the price
The Milan launch event sought to reinforce the conglomerate’s lagging watch division
Brands expect expansion and vertical integration will pay off in the long run
