1. WatchesThe Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, which concluded its 24th edition Jan. 24 in Geneva, works hard to maintain a vibe of exclusivity. Guests dine on foie gras and truffles while perusing timepieces from 16 of the world’s most distinguished makers. This year, however, some brands opted to show their democratic sides with a focus on entry-priced pieces. “The overall strategy we are following is that we would like to share our passion for fine watchmaking,” Jens Henning Koch, executive vice president of marketing for Montblanc International, told JCK as he showed off the new Meisterstück Heritage perpetual calendar in steel for the unbeatable price of $12,800. At the other end of the spectrum, watchmakers made their cosmic obsession clear with a slew of spectacular astronomical models: Chief among them is Van Cleef & Arpels’ new Astronomie Poétique collec