The first big watch exhibition of the year, Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) 2019, just took place in Geneva and it was a highly revealing show. Here we take a look at five of the top trends making their way to wrists around the world later this year.

Complex Complications
While complicated watches may have taken a bit of a backseat this past year or two as many brands were focusing on introducing new collections that are more retail-price friendly, top horological brands are unveiling new complex calibers.

Standouts at the show include Vacheron Constantin’s Twin Beat watch with patents pending and offering the first-ever user-controlled dual frequency system that could endow the watch with more than two months of power reserve.

Armin Strom’s new Dual Time Resonance watch takes high-precision mechanics to new heights as well with its patented resonance clutch spring.

A. Lange & Sohne doesn’t disappoint, either, as this year the German watch brand unveils the Richard Lange Jumping Seconds with midnight black dial and red accents.

Even Hermès surprises us with a unique patented module that enables the viewing of two huge moon phases (as seen from the northern and southern hemispheres) that are stationary on the dial, while the time subdials rotate. These complicated watches are for those who want to wear their success on the wrist.

Vintage Design Flourishes
Vintage inspirations abound this year as so many brands look to their archives for ideas and concepts. These inspirations include retro accents from the mid-20th century such as beige or tan numerals, Arabic rather than Roman numerals, minute tracks and a cleaner dial.

Additionally, the best vintage watches feature dials of incredibly rich colors that are reminiscent of the 1950s, including salmon, silver, and white with blue accents. Montblanc may have the best example with the salmon-colored dial of the Pulsograph watch. Watch collectors with a nostalgic attitude will particularly love the vintage look.

Unconventional Watch Case Shapes
Move over round watches and make way for some intriguing new watch shapes. This year we witnessed the unveiling of intriguing new shapes including elongated ovals, horizontal ovals, tonneau (barrel-shapes), square, and rectangular watches, among others.

Even brands that have never created anything but a round watch (such as Laurent Ferrier) released differently shaped cases this year. These cases are designed for the confident individual who wants to stand out in a crowd.

Vivid Blue Dials
While blue has always been a beloved watch dial color, this year many brands take the hue to new heights. For the first time we are witnessing the emergence of unique shades of blue achieved via guilloche and lacquer, enamel, or proprietary galvanic processes. Today’s vast range of blues—from green-blue to rich royal blue—offers a more alluring look than the next with a romantic and even regal appeal.

Ground-Breaking New Materials
Today’s watchmakers continue the search for new and different materials, offering up surprises in dials and cases. In some instances, brands using proprietary and original alloys, most of which have a carbon component. Among the new materials are Panerai’s high-tech Carbotech (compressed carbon fibers) as seen in the Submersible BMG-Tech whose case is made out of bulk metallic glass. The brand also offers watches made with Eco-Titanium, which is recycled titanium.

Ulysse Nardin unveils its Freak X watch made of Carbonium, a material from the aeronautics industry not yet used in watchcases, and IWC unveils its own ceramic and titanium alloy called Ceratanium. These innovative materials are designed to offer a compelling alternative to the well-known metals and are geared for the adventurous collector or watch lover.