The Roundup: the “Match Made in Heaven” 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. 

This week, we are coming to you live from Switzerland amid Geneva Watch Days, the so-called “little brother” tradeshow to Watches and Wonders. We already gave you a tease with a trio of new releases yesterday, but we’re back with a few more today.

In addition to a slew of new watches, we also have some news back stateside with more killer watches spotted on and off the court at the U.S. Open, which is heading into the finals this weekend.  

Best in Show (in Geneva) 

First up, let’s break down a few of the best in show we’ve seen at Geneva Watch Days. Zenith debuted its first-ever collaboration with a furniture company, drawing inspiration from its color and design language for its latest installment in its popular Defy Chronograph collection. Ulysse Nardin also built on a classic with a new interpretation of its iconic Freak, for the first time employing the high-tech decorative art of Crystalium for the dial.

TAG Heuer has made a major splash at this year’s Geneva Watch Days with the debut of an entirely new technology that has been a decade in the making. On the monumental 350^th anniversary year of watchmaker Christiaan Huygens’ invention of the modern oscillator, TAG Heuer has has engineered a new patent with the TH-Carbonspring oscillator, debuting in two of its most beloved collections (the Carrera and the Monaco) alongside a new cosmos inspired Carrera with a moonphase.

Like Ulysse Nardin, Urwerk has also further enhanced one of its core designs with the invention of a new satellite complication thanks to two synchronized systems: a cam and rack mechanism inspired by the world of automatons, coupled with a speed governor. Together, they manage power, balance forces, and harness energy.

Czapek & Cie got ultra creative with a chronograph featuring a robot head at 12 o'clock whose eyes change color to indicate the function, with yellow for start, red for stop, blue for reset. For the first time, De Bethune’s signature tourbillon is housed in the 39mm xs format, paired with the brand’s trademark blue hue. Plus, the Starry Varius gets a gorgeous new plum colorway.

Best in Show (in New York City) 

Now, back to tennis. As we head toward the final rounds, more and more celebrities start taking the stands for the top matches. Let’s be honest, the watch spotting is getting just as intense as the play itself.

Jeremy Allen White was courtside in a casual, stainless steel Louis Vuitton Tambour while Rami Malek opted for a more dapper look with a Cartier Tank Louis. Steve Carrell and CC Sabathia stayed on brand with the official timekeeper, both rocking a Rolex: a classic Cosmograph Daytona for the actor and a more audacious Daytona “Giraffe” for the baseball pitcher. Meanwhile, Spike Lee kept it ultra-cool with an Omega MoonSwatch, and Steven Colbert was laid back in a TAG Heuer Monaco.

Players also kept their wrist game strong, even if their tennis game wasn’t as on point, Italian pro Lorenzo Musetti wore a gorgeous Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin at a press conference, and Tommy Paul rocked a De Bethune 28xs Steel Wheels during play. Still, the star of the show was Andrey Rublev, who proudly sported a six-figure watch from an up and coming brand called Vanguart.