Watches & Wonders 2026 may be well behind us now, but there’s still plenty of awesome pieces to discover! Join me as I highlight 5 that may interest you.
As we leave Watches & Wonders 2026 in the rear-view, clients take the time to reflect, while media companies like ourselves breathe a sigh of relief. As fun and entertaining as the world’s biggest watch festival is, it is always a hectic time as we cover the very best releases and brands for you. Allow me to toot our own horn for a moment as I give a massive shout-out to the whole crew for the work we have done over the past couple of weeks.
That being said, as much as we would love to cover everything there is at Watches & Wonders, we cannot cover it all. For as hard as we work, we are still human, and time is always finite. But who is to say I cannot give you another crash course? So, if you are still not ready to come down from the festival high, read on and discover five new releases that you may have missed from Watches & Wonders 2026.
Pequignet Royale Paris Chrono
As one of my favourite independents, it would be remiss of me not to mention Pequignet. The Morteau brand has long been hard at work in the industry, redefining what it means to be a purely French watch brand. Last June, I was fortunate enough to see it for myself, visiting their boutique in Paris and speaking with manager Thomas Fontaine. Back then, Pequignet hinted that something new was coming. Even so, I was still pleasantly surprised by this latest addition to the catalogue.
Introduced at Watches & Wonders 2026, the aptly named Royale Paris Chronograph is a novel continuation of the acclaimed Royale Paris collection. Sporting modest case dimensions of 39.5mm wide, 47mm long and 12.7mm thick, the duo of new offerings marks Pequignet’s first venture into the chronograph space. While I have not yet had the opportunity to wear a Royale Paris on a steel bracelet, the organic design flows seamlessly from the iconic architecture of the case. Available with opaline silver dials featuring red or blue subdials, the new release is distinctly modern in its presentation.
What makes Pequignet truly special is its commitment to in-house watchmaking. Almost all components of the movement are manufactured and assembled in Morteau, while more complex elements are produced in La Chaux-de-Fonds, just half an hour away. The new Calibre Initial Chronograph is exemplary in this regard, crafted with both technical and aesthetic expertise. While official details on beat rate and power reserve have yet to be disclosed, the track record of Pequignet’s other four in-house movements perhaps speaks to the quality of this new watch.
References: 9120313 (Blue) / 9120413 (Red)
Quick Specifications:
| Dimensions | 39.5mm case diameter x 47mm lug-to-lug x 12.7mm thickness |
| Case | Stainless steel |
| Movement | Automatic Cal. Initial Chronograph with 30min register & small seconds complications |
International Retail Price: €6,550
Discover more about this collection online at Pequignet.com
Hautlence Retrovision ’64
If there was another watch I was not going to miss covering at Watches & Wonders, it was always going to be something from Hautlence. This year, the unusual independent brand released yet another addition to its Retrovision series. Taking literal inspiration from the past, the collection comprises two limited editions: the ‘47, which mimics the appearance of a period-appropriate Bakelite radio, and the ‘85, a timepiece that transforms into a robotic action figure.
Hautlence’s latest expansion to the series is the Retrovision ‘64, which takes inspiration from the iconic communicator device from, well, a certain science fiction series that was hugely popular at the time. Measuring 41.8mm wide, a whopping 61.2mm long and 15.6mm thick, it is encased in grade 5 titanium with red gold and brown PVD. To check the time, however, you first have to flip the cover open. Once you do, you are greeted with a delightfully retro-futuristic dial design that mimics the layout of the communicator.
Most prominent is the gold-framed minute dial, finished in orange and green with an offset flying tourbillon. Below, an orange indicator fills one of 12 slots, each corresponding to an hour of the day. As the minutes reach 60, the lower indicator jumps to the next hour, snapping back to one o’clock where required. The automatic Calibre D50, beating at 3Hz with a 72-hour power reserve, is the heart of the entire display, developed specifically to suit both the function and aesthetic of this remarkable timepiece. There are only three in existence, though, so good luck if you are trying to get one.
Reference: ED50-TI00
Quick Specifications:
| Dimensions | 41.8mm case diameter x 61.2mm lug-to-lug x 15.6mm thickness |
| Case | PVD rose gold & brown grade 5 titanium with perforated cover |
| Movement | Automatic Cal. D50 with linear retrograde jumping hours & flying tourbillon complications |
International Retail Price: CHF 129,700
Discover more about this timepiece online at Hautlence.com
Frederique Constant Manufacture Classic Worldtimer
Frederique Constant is a name that seems almost perpetually underrated in the luxury watch industry. Sporting solid design credentials, in-house movements and an extremely wide price range, it is a wonder why the brand does not receive the fanfare it deserves. Within its vast roster, the Manufacture Classic Worldtimer stands out as a fan favourite for its cosmopolitan aesthetic. At this year’s Watches & Wonders, the collection was refreshed with a new set of three in downsized case dimensions.
Where the older models sat at 42mm in diameter, the new trio comes in at a more versatile 40mm. Interestingly, the case is slightly thicker at 12.53mm, up from 12.15mm, so you might notice a little added heft on the wrist. Nevertheless, it remains slimmer than the previous 40mm model in the series, which was produced in collaboration with Watch Angels. Offered in a classic sunburst blue dial, a heritage-inspired blue and cream, and a light blue variant with a 70 diamond-set bezel, Frederique Constant has also refined the original’s aesthetic.
The date wheel has been removed, while the 24 time zones are now more clearly segmented for improved legibility. The movement was also updated, with the Calibre FC-719 serving as a direct successor to the FC-718. Beating at 4Hz with a 72-hour power reserve, what sets this new movement apart is that the worldtimer can be set entirely via the crown. First introduced in the Watch Angels model, it is a level of convenience that even upper-echelon brands sometimes struggle to match.
References: FC-719NN3H6B (Navy) / FC-719BLW3H6 (Blue/Cream) / FC-719LBWD3DH6 (Diamonds)
Quick Specifications:
| Dimensions | 40mm case diameter x 12.53mm thickness |
| Case | Stainless steel / with 70 diamond-set bezel totalling 0.785ct |
| Movement | Automatic Cal. FC-719 with worldtimer (24-timezone) complication |
International Retail Price: €4,995 / €7,995 (Diamonds)
Discover more about this collection online at FrederiqueConstant.com
Trilobe Trente-Deux Secret Edition
Another French brand that has been making waves in the industry is Trilobe, a Parisian independent watchmaker. They gained notoriety for their unconventional way of displaying time, using rotating discs instead of standard hands. To this day, no Trilobe with traditional hands exists, and that is exactly why we love them. At last year’s Geneva Watch Days, Trilobe debuted the Trente-Deux — “thirty-two” in French — in reference to their workshop on Avenue de l’Opéra. Not only was the Trente-Deux their first integrated bracelet watch, but it also featured the Calibre X-Nihilo, the brand’s first movement to be developed and assembled in Paris.
For Watches & Wonders this year, Trilobe has expanded the collection with two new versions of the Trente-Deux in its bespoke Secret Editions. Available in steel and 18k rose gold, the new watches do not change the winning formula, measuring the same 39.5mm wide, 46.18mm long and 10.15mm thick. What makes the Trente-Deux Secret Editions special is that each one is a unique piece customised by you, the owner.
Since 2019, Trilobe has offered Secret Editions within its Nuit Fantastique line, allowing purchasers to depict a star map of their choice on the dial. The new Trente-Deux duo follows suit, inviting clients to select a specific date, time and place to be rendered as a custom starry sky. Made to order, they are still powered by the same X-Nihilo movement, beating at 4Hz with a 42-hour power reserve. However, with the potential for such a deeply personal dial, why would you ever want to take it off?
References: 3201SB (Steel) / 3203SB (Gold)
Quick Specifications:
| Dimensions | 39.5mm case diameter x 46.18mm lug-to-lug x 10.15mm thickness |
| Case | Stainless steel / 18k rose gold |
| Movement | Automatic Cal. X-Nihilo with hour/minute/second time discs |
International Retail Price: €21,500 / €39,500 (Gold)
Discover more about this collection online at Trilobe.com
Charles Girardier Plénitude Volcano Power Reserve & Lunar Phase
Every time I put together one of these ICYMI lists, I like to include a brand we have never covered before. As a self-professed watch nerd, I feel it is both my duty and my day job to help you discover new and interesting corners of the watch world. With that in mind, meet the recently resurrected Genevan brand Charles Girardier.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, Charles Girardier established himself as a prominent master watchmaker in the early Swiss industry. Although his business fell silent not long after his death, current CEO Patrick Alexandre Ulm was inspired to revive it in 2018. The decision was far from superfluous, with the brand achieving immediate success, including a GPHG award in 2020.
Making its debut at Watches & Wonders, the brand has unveiled the new Plénitude collection in two distinct versions. The first is the Volcano Power Reserve (VPR), offered in three references and equipped with small seconds and a power reserve indicator. The other two watches, the Lunar Phase models, forgo the power reserve in favour of a moonphase display. In terms of case dimensions, both share the same balanced proportions, measuring 39.5mm wide and 10.95mm thick in stainless steel.
Both watches strike a strong balance between elegance and modernity, with five colourways available across the Plénitude line. The VPR models come in sunburst grey, purple, or white mother-of-pearl, while the Lunar Phase variants feature combinations of white/blue mother-of-pearl and sunburst grey accents, alongside applied Roman numerals.
Powered by the in-house Calibre CG PL1 and PL2, both are manual-wind movements with a 60-hour power reserve. It is always encouraging to see brands like Charles Girardier featured at an event as significant as Watches & Wonders, but you will need to be quick if you want one of the 25 pieces available for each reference.
References:
VPR: CG PL1 39.5 1ST WE STD-1 (White MOP) / CG PL1 39.5 3ST PE STD (Purple) / CG PL1 39.5 2ST CE STD (Grey)
Lunar Phase: CG PL1 39.5 1ST WE STD (White MOP) / CG PL2 39.5 1ST BE STD (Blue MOP)
Quick Specifications:
| Dimensions | 39.5mm case diameter x 10.95mm thickness |
| Case | Stainless steel |
| Movement | Manual wind Cal. CG PL1 with Volcano power reserve indicator & small seconds complications / Cal. CG PL2 with moonphase & small seconds complications |