My Day at Watches and Wonders 2026

Watches and Wonders is the biggest week on the watch calendar, and this year I finally got to see it in person. Short version: it was incredible.

Journey to Palexpo

I traveled from Zug to Geneva via train — one of the most beautiful train routes I have ever been on. Arriving at Palexpo around 11am on a public day meant dealing with substantial crowds and long queues at major booths.

IWC Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar Ceralume

The first stop was a product presentation for IWC's latest innovation. The 46.5mm white ceramic case features Ceralume technology that glows an intense blue in the dark for over 24 hours straight, with production limited to 250 pieces. It almost felt like two distinctly different watches depending on the lighting conditions.

Meeting Industry Figures

Walking the show floor externally to avoid lines, I connected with several notable figures:

• Roman Sharf: Previously met at a Miami watch show, he was wearing a Ferdinand Berthoud with a cylindrical hairspring.
• Oscar and the Honest Watch Dealer: Both offered practical guidance to someone newer to the industry.
• GMK: Encountered at lunch, an insane collection and genuine horological appreciation.

Lunch at Izumi

The group dined at Izumi, located on the rooftop of the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues overlooking Lake Geneva.

Gerald Charles

The brand visit proved memorable, with the team providing exceptional hospitality. Two pieces stood out.

Maestro GC Sport Tennis White: Limited to 250 pieces, this Grade 5 titanium watch features Darkblast coating (up to ten times more scratch-resistant than standard titanium). The 39 x 41.7mm case weighs just 64 grams. The crown sits on the left to prevent interference during tennis play, tested with professional players Hubert Hurkacz and Andrea Vavassori. Priced at $23,800.

Maestro 3.0 Chronograph in 18K Rose Gold: Built on a sketch by Gérald Genta from 2005, featuring asymmetric case-matching pushers and a chocolate brown sunburst dial.

Jacob & Co.

The brand hosted an event at the Four Seasons, allowing me to view their entire catalog, though it wasn't personally my style.

Private Viewing: Ulysse Nardin [Super] Freak

This proved a show highlight. The watch celebrates 180 years of the Maison and 25 years of the Freak. Features include an automatic double tourbillon carousel with seven-plane construction, where 97.46% of the movement is in motion at any given time. The 44mm white gold piece is limited to 50 units at CHF 320,000. Seeing it in person was unreal.

Back to Palexpo: Major Houses

Rolex

Rolex presented 58 new references celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Oyster case (patented 1926). Notable releases included:

• Oyster Perpetual 34 in Everose: Applied hour markers carved from natural dumortierite stone against a deep blue stone lacquer dial.
• Oyster Perpetual 36 with Jubilee Dial: The letters spelling ROLEX in a multicolored design celebrating the brand's dial-making heritage.
• Day-Date 40 in 18ct Jubilee Gold: A new proprietary gold alloy offering greater depth and warmth than standard yellow gold.
• Cosmograph Daytona in Rolesium: First Daytona combining Oystersteel with platinum components, featuring white enamel dial and matching sub-dials.

Vacheron Constantin

My favorite exhibitor of the entire show.

Overseas Dual Time Cardinal Points: Marking 30 years of the Overseas collection, four titanium variants represent cardinal directions — white (north), blue (east), brown (south), and green (west).

Overseas Self-Winding Ultra-Thin: A platinum version featuring the new caliber 2550 movement.

Unfortunately, handling these pieces required private bookings unavailable at the time.

Cartier

Cartier rounded out the major exhibitor visits on the public floor.

The One That Got Away

My greatest regret was missing a private viewing of the Rexhep Rexhepi RRCHF (Chronograph Flyback) in platinum with stormy blue enamel dial. One of the most beautiful watches released this year — the 38.8mm, 9.7mm thin piece carries a CHF 150,000 price with confidential production (approximately 50 pieces annually across the brand).

Heading Home

The group departed Palexpo around 8pm and returned to Zug by train.

Reflections

While the experience proved worthwhile, I have to acknowledge the limitations of attending a public day without advance private bookings or a media pass. Going forward, I plan to return with proper credentials, scheduled meetings, and multiple days on-site to better balance experiencing the show with meaningful industry connections.

The closing assessment: Watches and Wonders is everything you think it is and more. But how you experience it matters just as much as the fact that you are there.