Our Picks From Watches And Wonders 2022
As usual in the still very recent history of Watches And Wonders, the brands come together to reveal their news to the world in what three years ago became the biggest fair in the watchmaking industry after the goodbye or the see you soon Basel World.
Over the course of seven days, brands, journalists, influencers and enthusiasts gather in a single space, a full plate where even the most demanding cannot fail to find one or another piece of watchmaking that surprises them. Although the event’s agenda focuses on numerous presentations and meetings in the seven days it takes place, it is in the first two that everything happens and where the main brands compete for valuable space and this year was no different either.
The first day was occupied by the biggest brands such as IWC, Rolex, Tudor, Grand Seiko, Tag Heuer, Vacheron Constantin and the second included A. Lange & Sohne and Jaeger LeCoultre, among many others. It was during these two days that, in our humble opinion, the “winners” of the third edition of this event were revealed and which we immediately started to list.
A. Lange & Söhne Grand Lange 1
Which now appears with a new case in pink gold with the same 41m diameter but thinner 8.2mm (compared to the 8.8mm of the previous generation), a silver-grey dial, with an off-centre time, small seconds, outsize date window, power-reserve indicator and applied hour markers and hands in pink gold matching the case. Inside powered by the manual-winding Caliber L095.1, offering up to 72 hours of power reserve. This release also comes in white gold. For us, the Grand Lange 1 as well as the Lange 1 (smaller version of 38.5mm in diameter) remains one of the best contemporary daily watches and that’s why we chose it as Best Daily Wear.
A. Lange & Söhne Odysseus in Titanium
It’s another of the revelations of the Glashutte brand that for us deserves to be highlighted, not only for the fact that the brand used titanium material for the first time in a case watch, but also for the new beautiful textured dial in ice blue that in In our opinion, it is by far the most beautiful among the others, which, together with the lightness of the titanium case and bracelet, make this watch and in our opinion the Best Sport of the show. If you want to know more about the new Odysseus Titanium you can read here.
Cartier Santos Dumont
Which needs no introduction, appears this year in three different variants, the one that in our opinion stands out is the gold variant that also comes with a dial in the same shade, in addition to a square pattern dial with applied hour markers and hands in gold and which is offered with a green leather alligator strap, it’s for us the Best Dress watch presented during the event. You can find out more about this and other Cartier news here.
Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Ref. 5320G
For the many vintage watch lovers and collectors, this new perpetual calendar will not go unnoticed, introduced in 2017, now comes with a gorgeous rose opaline dial, we still love to call things by name and that’s why it’s for us a salmon dial. This new reference, in addition to bringing together the charming aspect of Patek’s vintage, comes in a white gold case measuring 40mm by 11.13mm, applied hour markers and syringe hands filled with luminescent material, day-month window at 12 o’clock, date sub-dial with a moon-phase aperture at 6 o’clock and finally, day-night indicator and leap year indicator. The watch is powered by self-winding Caliber 324 SQ, which we consider the Best Collectable of this W&W edition. For most purists who prefer manual movement, there is no need to be disappointed, as the chronograph Ref. 5172G which comes with exactly the same salmon dial but with manual movement.
Tudor Black Bay Pro
Long-awaited by the public, the Swiss brand now introduces a Black Bay GMT but with smaller dimensions of 39mm along with the BB58 although with greater thickness. The new BB Pro is reminiscent of previous Rolex Explorer II references and comes with a black dial, a discreet date window at 3 o’clock, a yellow GMT hand, a (surprising) fixed steel bezel and a renewed crown reminiscent of old Rolex crowns that equipped the first Tudors. With a price of €3,840 for the steel bracelet option, it is certainly the Best Proposal Value for us. If you want to know more about the new Tudor Black Bay Pro you can do it here.
Vacheron Constantin 222
It’s probably the best and most unexpected surprise of the event and so it will not be surprising that it is the one that gathers the most consensus. It is a faithful copy of the iconic 37mm model of the brand from the 70s and 80s now comes in gold and includes an integrated bracelet with hexagonal links, there is not much to say about the watch other than its history, which you can read more about here, and which for us constitutes the Best Revival.
These are the top picks of our editors for this year’s Watches And Wonders, share your opinions with us and let us know which form you were the best releases this year of the event.
