Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie Genève (SIHH) is a big deal in the watch world. This epic, invite-only convention is when the most luxurious brands and biggest names in watchmaking descend upon Geneva and show off their newest and most impressive releases. SIHH is the watch industry’s Fashion Week so to speak. Whether you’re a watch fanatic or not, here are some of SIHH 2018’s hotly anticipated releases everyone will appreciate.
Cartier’s Libre Collection
Cartier is releasing a limited-edition collection of five signature watch shapes and designs, reimagined with a radical and whimsical bent. Designers and watchmakers recast some of Cartier’s most iconic watch models, including the Crash and Baignoire, with exaggerated proportions and dazzling embellishments including baguette-cut diamonds, Tahitian mother of pearl and black spinels.
For all their unbridled creativity, the watches still include distinctly Cartier touches and pay masterful homage to their inspiration. Fans will love to compare the transfigured designs of the Cartier Libre with their original design.
Piaget’s Altiplano Ultimate 910P: The World’s Thinnest Automatic Watch
In 1957, Piaget made its foray into the field of ultra-thin watchmaking with the groundbreaking introduction of the 9P Caliber. This groundbreaking released ushered in the development of its ultra-thin watch line, the Piaget Antiplano, which celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2017.
At this year’s SIHH, however, Piaget is poised to wow fans yet again with the release of the Altiplano Ultimate 910P. The Altiplano Ultimate’s case measures a mere 4.3mm in depth and is the world’s thinnest automatic watch. (To illustrate how truly thin that is: the Altiplano Ultimate’s watchcase is roughly the size of two stacked US nickels.)
While thin quartz watches are commonplace, slim automatic watches require an incredible amount of artistry and engineering to fit the incredibly complex movements and hundreds of components into a tiny space. To wit: Piaget’s watchmakers dedicated three years to perfecting the Altiplano Ultimate’s design. This mind-bogglingly thin watch is sure to make huge waves at SIHH.
Audemars Piguet’s 25th Anniversary Royal Oak Offshore
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore is the rugged sibling of Audemars Piguet’s sensational Royal Oak model which, after a rocky debut, has become the watch of choice for tastemakers and celebrities like LeBron James and Jay Z. (For more on the history of the Royal Oak that effectively saved Audemars Piguet’s business, read our post on it here.)
The Royal Oak Offshore, meanwhile, is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2018 and to commemorate this milestone, Audemars Piguet is releasing three new Royal Oak Offshore models. The first is a reissue of the original 1993 Royal Oak Offshore with a striking blue tapissierie dial. The second and third anniversary editions (one in 18k pink gold, one in steel) are mechanical marvels; the Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph Tourbillon features a mesmerizing open-worked dial and is powered by the hand-wound caliber 2947.
Each model has an extremely limited release of only 50 pieces. If you can even get your hands on one of these bad boys, it will set you back $25,440USD for the reissued model. The price for the Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph Tourbillon, however, has yet to be released but we’re curious to see how much they fetch.
IWC’s $253,000 Portugieser Tourbillon Watch
2018 will mark IWC’s 150th anniversary and to honor this sesquicentennial, IWC will debut an impressive 27 timepieces at SIHH. Among these anniversary timepieces will be an (estimated) $253,000 limited-edition Portugieser.
Commissioned by the Portuguese navy in 1939, the Portugieser is a signature model for IWC, recognized for its elegant simplicity and clean dial. This latest Portugieser Constant-Force Tourbillon Edition “150 Years” carries on that tradition while championing IWC’s watchmaking prowess. Crafted in platinum, the Portugieser Constant-Force Tourbillon will amaze and delight watch fanatics who can marvel at the wildly complex hand-wound movement caliber 94085 that combines a constant-force tourbillon with a perpetual moon phase display. (In laymen’s terms, IWC’s master watchmakers have crafted an exceptionally precise watch.)
The IWC Portugieser Constant-Force Tourbillon Edition “150 Years” is limited to only 15 pieces. The fascinating complexity of the watch’s movement and the incredibly small release more than accounts for the Portugieser’s staggering $253,000 USD price tag.
A. Lange & Sohne’s Homage to Late Walter Lange
In 1990, Walter Lange ambitiously set out to rebuild A. Lange & Sohne. Originally founded by Walter’s great grandfather, Ferdinand Adolph, in 1845, A. Lange & Sohne was nearly obsolete in the wake of World War II and the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall before Walter assumed the helm. During his tenure, Walter revived the withering brand and restored it as one of today’s finest and widely respected German watch brands. Sadly, Walter passed away in January 2017 but he leaves behind an impressive legacy and one the A. Lange & Sohne watchmakers hope to commemorate with their 1815 Homage to Walter Lange watch.
To memorialize Walter, the watch features two seconds hands: one that sweeps and a central second hand one that jumps. The jumping second hand was originally conceived in 1867 by Ferdinand Adolph (Walter’s great grandfather) and later became a favorite development by Walter personally.
Other sentimental nods to the founder can be found woven into the watch’s reference number 297 (which is Walter’s birthday, July 29th) and the seemingly curious number of pieces to be released: 27 in yellow gold (to symbolize the 27 years between 1990 and 2017 when Walter was at the company’s head); 90 pieces in pink gold (borrowed from the year 1990 when Walter registered Lange Uhren GmbH); and 145 pieces in white gold (to signify the 145 years from when Ferdinand Adolph originally founded the brand). A. Lange & Sohne has plans to craft one of these commemorative watches in stainless steel and auction it for charity in 2018.
This year, TrueFacet’s president Andrew Block will be visiting Geneva and touring the vast SIHH convention, scoping out some of these incredible new releases. Follow us on Instagram @TrueFacet for an exclusive look at the trade show starting January 15th!