While digital and smart watches have undoubtedly become popular, luxury timepieces continue to remain timeless in terms of craftsmanship and remain in demand. Earlier this year, numerous leading luxury watchmakers unveiled their novelties for the year in Geneva, Switzerland. Several events were held, which included SIHH (the Salon International de la Haute Horlgerie) headed by the Richmont Group. Non-Richmont brands were also included along with numerous independent watchmaking companies. The new launches during these events highlighted some of the luxury watch trends for the year. What are they? Let’s take a look:
- Retro Vibes
For this year, there were a number of top watch brands that took a look at their archives for launching timepieces that flaunted the vintage look. These new retro-inspired watches are a tribute to the bygone eras in regard to aesthetics. However, they have also been adapted to meet the contemporary demands and comprise of the latest horological technology. For instance, the design of the Montblanc 1858 Automatic models was distinctly military whereas the Zenith Heritage 146 was a nod to the company’s popular chronographs of the 1960s.
- Material Focused
One of the most notable trends that was seen in the top watches launched this year was the use of innovative and distinct materials. This was clearly obvious in the AudemarsPiguet Royal Oak Frosted gold watch for women thanks to its precisely hammered gold construction. Another fine example was AudemarsPiguet Royal Oak Calendar that was scratchproof due to the use of black ceramic. One more black ceramic introduction was by Tag Heuer in the form of Carrera Heuer-01 Black Matt Ceramic chronograph. The Panerai LAB-ID Luminor Submersible 1950 Carbotech 3 Days Automatic focused more on the use of innovative carbon elements. The Hublot Big Bang MECA-10 Magic Gold blended ceramic and gold cleverly and made the latter more robust and resistant, even though it is usually prone to denting and scratching.
- Restrained Sizes
Whether it was the thickness of the case or the diameter, a restrained trend was generally seen in the size of men’s watches this year. This is definitely a refreshing change after almost a decade of oversized watches being introduced. Some spectacular ultra-thin models for men include Bulgari Octo Roma, the Piaget Altiplano 60th Anniversary and the Drive de Cartier Extra-Flat. There were some additional models as well that were sized down considerably, indicating that oversized watches were no longer a priority.
If you are thinking of investing in a watch any time soon, it might be useful for you to give some thought to these luxury watch trends of 2019. Luxury watches command a good price and you don’t want to invest in a model that will go out of fashion. You can learn more here about the various models that are available from different watch brands in terms of luxury watches. The prices charged by each brand are different and you can choose one in accordance with your style and your budget to ensure you get something that gives you value for money.
Daryl Green