The Roundup: the “Grass is Always Greener” Edition

Each week, EWC will be gathering horological industry news, cultural conversations and moments surrounding our favorite topic: timepieces. Happy Friday; here’s what’s on our watch.

Wimbledon Continues to Heat Up On and Off the Court

It’s been a wild ride at Wimbledon on and off the court. Major upsets abound while players like Iga Swiatek and Novak Djokovic continue to hold on through the semi-finals. In addition, the watch spotting in the stands has continued to be exceptional. Two particular brands appear to be dominating among the spectators: Rolex and Omega.

Actors Glen Powell and Andrew Garfield were both rocking models from Omega. Powell opted for a particularly dapper look, topping off his Brunello Cucinelli suit with a five-figure Constellation. Alternatively, Garfield (a major fan of the brand) paired his signature De Ville Tressor with a fitting all-white ensemble by Ralph Lauren.

Still, The Crown continues to take center stage on the wrist of athletes and entertainers enjoying the Grand Slam. Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo flexed an 18-karat rose gold Day-Date 40 featuring the iconic “president” style bracelet and a handsome olive-green dial. Alternatively, actor Tom Holland opted for a Daytona, the ice-blue platinum model to be exact. Of course, what would a tennis tournament be without the legend himself Roger Federer who, of course, would wear nothing other than a Rolex. He continues to rock his Land-Dweller.

The Rolex Land-Dweller Makes Waves in the Secondary Market

We all know The Crown sets the pulse in the secondary market. We’ve seen it time and time again with models like the Daytona. Now, the brand’s newest collection, the Land-Dweller, is making waves. One of the first models from the collection to hit the secondary market sold for $51,250 in a live auction on eBay this week. The unworn white gold and steel Ref. 127334 with box and papers opened with a starting price at retail value ($15,250) but ultimately sold for more than three-times that.

Breitling for the Win

For over a decade now, Breitling has been putting sustainability at the forefront, from solar panels in its Grenchen warehouse to a partnership with Ocean Conservancy, but this was just the beginning. The Maison also appointed a Chief Sustainability Officer to oversee each vertical and assess the carbon footprint of the whole organization. This week, the brand published its fifth Sustainability Mission Report, comparing progress against the European Sustainability Reporting Standards. Highlights include an uptick in renewable energy sources at Breitling properties from 53% to 73% and progress toward the goal to exclusively use lab grown diamonds by next year.

Growth for Hermes

More good news to share this week as Hermes makes plans for growth with new dial and case-making facilities underway. It’s been over a decade since the French Maison doubled down on its presence in the watch world with the acquisition of a dial maker in 2012 and casemaker in 2013. By 2017, Hermes had brought it all under one roof to a facility in Le Noirmont, Switzerland, which is now getting a major upgrade. The project is expected to complete by 2028, with an expansion to cover roughly 120,000 square feet creating new job opportunities for around 100 people.

A New Trio

Speaking of the iconic French brand, a new model just dropped this week from the Maison: the Slim d’Hermès Faubourg of Dreams. Here, Hermes continues to flex its expertise in artistic craft with a combination of engraving and miniature painting put on full display to capture one of its trademark equestrian designs. The 24-piece limited edition comes in two gorgeous colorways, yellow and blue.

Another group of metiers d’art timepieces hit the market this week from Vacheron Constantin. The brand introduced a set of 12 zodiac watches using guilloche to render each of the dozen constellations corresponding with the astrological signs. The Maison also puts its gem setting skills on display, with sapphires framing each beautifully constructed dial.

On the other end of the spectrum, Bell & Ross gives us an ultra-sporty addition to its catalog with the limited edition BR-05 Skeleton Phantom Ceramic. The all-black model is a stealth take on the brand’s signature aviation timepieces. It features a skeletonized automatic movement, visible through a black-tinted sapphire crystal dial and housed in a black ceramic case with polished and satin-brushed finishes.