The Roundup: the “Industry” 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.

Watches and Wonders, Already?

This week, things in the industry really seem to be heating up. Merely two months ago, members of every facet of the watch world from brands to collectors and, of course, our team found themselves in Geneva for the annual Watches and Wonders fair. Whelp, mark your calendars because next year’s dates have already been announced. From April 14-20, 2026, Palexpo will be abuzz with a whopping 60 brands on display – stay tuned, they’re set to be announced soon.

Happening Stateside

If you just can’t wait til next spring to get your fix, make plans to hit the second edition of Watch Week Aspen this August. From the 7^th to the 10^th, enjoy a mini version of the epic Watches and Wonders experience without leaving the country. New brands have just been announced, and the lineup is getting stacked. Here’s a taste: A. Lange & Söhne, Arnold & Son, Bremont, Gerald Charles, Glashütte Original, H. Moser & Cie., IWC, Moritz Grossmann, Norqain, and Zenith.

Back in the Motherland

Pinballing back to watchmaking’s epicenter, next week the Fondation Haute Horlogerie will celebrate its 20^th anniversary with the opening of the Watch Makers exhibition on Thursday, June 26 in Geneva. Some special guests will be there for the occasion, including Ilaria Resta, CEO of Audemars Piguet; Cyrille Vigneron, Chairman of Cartier Culture & Philanthropy at Richemont Group; and Patrick Pruniaux, CEO of Girard-Perregaux.

Certified Fresh

The Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres better known as COSC) has just revamped its digital presence and issued its 2024 annual report. The newly redesigned website now offers fresh insights even for those unfamiliar with watchmaking to grasp the why and how of chronometer certification. In addition, you can crunch the numbers with the COSC notching 2,376,987 certified movements, 54,920,207 certifications delivered since its founding in 1973, and 43% of Swiss mechanical watch movements exported in 2024 deemed COSC-certified.

On and Off Screen

The industry is eagerly anticipating the upcoming F1 film staring Brad Pitt, which will hit theaters June 27. The premiere went down this week and (as expected) the wrist game was strong. IWC obviously had a major presence on the red carpet. Javier Bardem rocked an Ingenieur Perpetual Calendar and Damson Idris opted for an Ingenieur Automatic 40 while George Russell went for the limited edition Ingenieur “Sonny Hayes.” Avid collector John Mayer was also in attendance unsurprisingly sporting a model from Audemars Piguet (a black ceramic Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar to be exact). Rounding things out, Brad Pitt himself kept it classic in a vintage Patek Philippe Ref. 2526.

The Best for Last

Of course, we can’t close out the week without highlighting some of the latest models to hit the market. Jaeger-LeCoultre expands its Polaris collection with a chronograph featuring the Maison’s signature ocean grey lacquer dial. Blancpain rounds out its Fifty Fathoms Automatique line with a third case size notching in at 38mm. Leave it to H. Moser & Cie to give us a healthy dose of fun and a splash of color with its latest additions: the Pioneer Spiced Aqua trio. On the flipside, Nomos gives us a new classic: a crisp, clean white Ahoi Neomatik 38 Date. Ulysse Nardin unveiled the limited edition Diver [X Skeleton One More Wave] supporting surf therapy for U.S. veterans. Still, it was Omega’s latest novelty that stole the spotlight this week: the first-ever 30mm Aqua Terra just landed in 12 new references.