This is the final day of Watches and Wonders before the annual Geneva event opens its doors to the public. As members of the trade had their first look at new models, journalists and influencers describe a Watches and Wonders marked by refinement, wearability, and some prominent corporate anniversaries.
Here’s what we’re reading across the web about the show and this year’s watchmaking trends:
“Many of the fair’s most closely watched debuts are not wholesale reinventions, but revisions of familiar models—adjusted proportions, reworked case sizes, and new expressions of long-established complications.”
—Paige Reddinger, Justin Fenner, Rachel Cormack, Oren Hartov, and Victoria Gomelsky, “The Boldest, Most Exciting New Timepieces at Watches and Wonders 2026,” Robb Report
“The downturn that has been gnawing at Swiss watchmakers for the past two years hasn’t fully lifted, and the industry is still finding its footing in a world where Chinese appetite remains muted and a booming secondary market is increasingly the first port of call for buyers discouraged by ever-rising retail prices.”
—Tim Barber and Jeremy White, “The Most WIRED Watches at Watches and Wonders 2026”, Wired
“While Rolex usually dominates the conversation, 2026’s been a year where the ‘indies’ and the heavy hitters like Audemars Piguet, Cartier, and Tudor are putting up a strong fight for their share of the spotlight. So far, we’ve worn everything from blue ceramic perpetual calendars to reimagined racing icons, and the level of technical artistry on display is truly exceptional.”
—Ben McKimm, “Best Watches From Watches and Wonders 2026 (So Far),” Man of Many
“While many arguably played it safe this year with simple aesthetics, standout brands made bold moves to leave their mark on time.… Rolex, for instance, which celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Oyster, released several pieces destined to be on collector must-have lists for some time.”
—Roberta Naas, “Rolex and Cartier Release Dazzling Anniversary Pieces at Watches And Wonders 2026,” Forbes
“Creativity was off the charts. At the H. Moser et Cie booth, co-owner Bertrand Meylan showed me a forged quartz fiber watch that was simple but ridiculous: all black and in Moser’s smooth Streamliner style, it had an unusual little orange bulb on the lower lefthand side. If you pushed it, it would wind the watch.… It’s this kind of thinking that makes you understand why watchmakers haven’t run out of ideas, even after centuries of years making the same device.”
—Chris Rovzar, “The Best of Watches and Wonders 2026: Patek, Rolex, Cartier and IWC,” Bloomberg
“Color’s been getting more and more common in watches beyond your classic white, black and blue dials. This year, though, rich purples and reds, icy blues and summer-ready mint greens have been replaced with a sleek palette of grey, white and black.”
—Sam Kessler, “The biggest trends from Watches and Wonders 2026 and the themes that will define watchmaking this year,” Stuff.tv
“It made total sense that teeny tiny watches are all the rage in Geneva.… Rolex, the crown jewel of the fair, and always the most hotly anticipated presence, has released a new gold mini of its own. The perennially adored Oyster Perpetual—long defined by its clean-cut, sporty look—is reworked in satin-finished yellow gold.… At 28 mm, it’s solid and slightly weighty, but still firmly within mini territory and an easy contender for stacking.”
—Malaika Crawford, “Tiny Watches Are the Biggest Trend at Watches and Wonders 2026,” British Vogue
The JCK News Desk uses AI to research articles from across the internet. This story was then prepared and edited by staff writer David Blomquist.
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