Watches & Wonders 2024 may have ended, but it still keeps me profoundly busy. It was once again a great fair, yet now with even more brands, which meant even more meetings. In six days, I had over 60 meetings and walked 40 miles, which resulted in a strange combination of exhaustion and rejuvenation. The five-hour nights might also have something to do with the first, because as nearly the entire watch world gathers in Geneva, there is a lot of catching up to do. That includes the worldwide team of WatchTime, as we are rarely all on the same continent, let alone the same city.

Exploring dial decoration techniques at Grand Seiko

With more brands participating, it has become challenging to see them all, but here, teamwork comes into play. I was particularly interested in the new brands that joined the fair, such as Nomos, Eberhard, Raymond Weil, and Bremont, and I was not disappointed. The fact that there was, at least to me, not a star of the show was not due to a lack of quality, but because nearly all the brands up their game. In general, the focus seemed to be on further refining existing models and expanding successful model ranges. That may not sound that exciting, but it is the bedrock on which the industry is built.
Louis Moinet’s sensational case with its Around The World In 8 Watches Collection

Right now, I am in the process of digesting it all. I have changed from running through the vast halls of Palexpo in a suit and tie for my desk and a sw...