Like many of our readers, we at fact are a little obsessed with the beauty and ingenuity of modern timepieces. And with our own regional showcases coming later this year, we decided to get an early indication of what’s to come. We headed to Watches and Wonders Geneva 2026, the world’s premiere horology showcase, to discover what’s new in the world of watches. Read on to learn about some of our favourite pieces.

TIMELESS AND ELEGANT

A. Lange & Söhne presents the SAXONIA ANNUAL CALENDAR, a stylish companion for any occasion.

With its new self-winding movement, compact case dimensions and a timeless, elegant design, this new timepiece is available in white and pink gold, with a focus on superb legibility.

The most important information – time and date – can be easily perceived at first glance. The auxiliary dial at nine o’clock displays the day of the week, and its counterpart on the right-hand side shows the current month. Framed by the seconds display at six o’clock, the Earth’s companion moves across a star-spangled nocturnal sky. The precision of the moon-phase display is exemplary, only needing correction by one day after 122.6 years. The lunar disc in 750 gold is treated with a deep-blue coating process and with the 428 stars, a miniaturised image of the Milky Way is produced. The calendar display is programmed to advance correctly at the transition from the last day of each month to the first day of the next, needing adjustment only once a year: from February 28 ‒ or in a leap year from February 29 ‒ to the first day of March.

A new self-winding manufacture movement breathes life into the watch. The L207.1 calibre includes a unidirectional winding central rotor with a centrifugal mass in 950 platinum, as well as a classic screw balance that operates at a frequency of 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour. When fully wound, the power reserve is 60 hours.

GO: Visit alange-soehne.com for more information.

FINDING YOUR JOY

Break the rules and embrace your joy is the message behind Joia de Baume & Mercier, the new women’s collection from the Swiss luxury house.

In these pieces, dainty 28mm proportions and the absence of lugs demonstrate the casual everyday elegance of a jewel that tells the time. Black agate adorns the crown and a radiant, silvery sun-satin dial glows and fascinates the eye.

Joia de Baume & Mercier M0A10847
Offering the radiance of a silvery dial and a midnight blue, interchangeable strap, this 7.2mm-thick piece features a polished stainless steel case and bezel with a scratch-resistant, anti-glare crystal and domed stainless steel crown set with black agate. Roman numerals and hands are gold-plated and the buckle is also steel.

Joia de Baume & Mercier M0A10848
With similar attributes to the M0A10847, this watch presents an integrated strap in polished and satin-finished stainless steel with three rows of H-shaped links and a triple folding satin-finished clasp. An interchangeable spring-bar system makes it possible to change the bracelet without the need for tools.

Joia de Baume & Mercier M0A10849
Displaying the power of chromatic contrast, the 7.2mm-thick case is in polished 4N PVD coating, giving a warm glow. The round case features a scratch-resistant, anti-glare crystal and a solid caseback. The sun-satin dial is complemented by black Roman numerals and Ruthenium leaf hands, and the watch has an interchangeable black calfskin strap with a polished 4N PVD stainless steel pin buckle.

GO: Visit baume-et-mercier.com for more information.

CRASHING INTO THE FUTURE

Each year the watchmakers at Cartier Privé produce their Opus collection and for its 10th edition they are celebrating the Crash Squelette, among a trio of emblematic shapes that pay tribute to platinum, the maison’s signature material.

Created in 1967 in the heart of Swinging London, the unisex Crash watch beats to the same rhythm that animated the city at that time. With its asymmetrical dial, it revolutionised the aesthetic codes of watchmaking. Since its introduction, this watch has always been produced as part of very exclusive series.

This unprecedented design has now been reworked with a new skeleton shape. The Manufacture 1967 MC movement with manual winding has been specially developed to harmonise with the singular lines of this all-new aesthetic, such that all 142 of its components can be housed in the smallest space possible. With this watch, everything goes one step further, and as such the moving parts of the movement become one with the bridges. The distortion appears accentuated, as if the crown has dragged the movement down.

With bridges shaped like Roman numerals, the technique used and finishes presented reflect the maison’s watchmaking excellence. This movement construction, a Cartier signature, has been patented. The bridges on the mechanism have been entirely hammered by hand, using a traditional decorating technique requiring almost two hours of high-precision work or each piece. The Crash Squelette watch is available in 150 numbered limited-edition pieces.

GO: Visit cartier.com for more information.

A TIMELY ANNIVERSARY

Swiss house Chopard celebrates 30 years of its Fleurier Manufacture with the launch of L.U.C 1860.

The Chopard Manufacture in Fleurier was founded in 1996 on the initiative of Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, Co-President of Chopard. For this year’s exhibition, the watchmaker revisited one of its most defining creations with a refined continuation of the L.U.C 1860.

More than a simple anniversary piece, this new edition reflects both continuity and evolution, preserving the aesthetic codes that made the original iconic while incorporating the technical advancements achieved over the past 30 years.

The watch retains its elegantly restrained 36.5mm case and is crafted from Chopard’s proprietary Lucent Steel, offering both durability and a distinctive luminous quality. Its dial, presented in a striking Areuse Blue, draws inspiration from the nearby Areuse River in Switzerland’s Val-de-Travers.

The 18-carat white gold dial is hand-guilloché using a traditional lathe operated by in-house artisans. A sunburst pattern radiates outward, complemented by additional guilloché rings that structure the display. A satin-brushed chapter ring frames polished white gold chevron-shaped hour markers, while Dauphine hands ensure legibility and elegance. At six o’clock, a small seconds subdial maintains the symmetry of the design, notably omitting a date window to preserve visual purity.

Inside, the timepiece is powered by the L.U.C Calibre 96.40-L, an ultra-thin automatic movement measuring 3.30mm thick. This calibre is a direct evolution of the first movement conceived and produced by Chopard Manufacture in Fleurier in 1996. Equipped with a 22-carat gold micro-rotor, it efficiently winds a twin-barrel system, Chopard’s Twin technology, delivering a 65-hour power reserve.

GO: Visit chopard.com for more information.

THE SECRETS OF TIME

Hermès unveiled the Mysterious Mechanisms collection, drawing the eye to the secrets within its timepieces.

In each watch, fine openings provide a display in which each gear plays a role in a miniature mise-en-scène where function converses with aesthetics. The art of skeletonisation becomes a language in its own right, finding a new expression in the Arceau Samarcande watch.

Recalling the maison’s origins, the horse permeates the Arceau Samarcande. The round case, in 750 white gold, gem-set 750 white gold or gem-set 750 5N rose gold, is 38mm in diameter with stirrup-inspired asymmetrical lugs. Time rings out beneath a Saint-Louis crystal dial openworked to form a horse’s head. The crown appears at three o’clock and each piece is engraved with an H.

The cutout reveals the new H1927 skeletonised mechanical self-winding movement featuring a custom-made calibre designed and produced exclusively for Hermès.

Under the starry eye of the horse, a game of hide-and-seek leaves room for the imagination, while the sapphire crystal caseback enables the wearer to admire the movement details along with the minute repeater hammers and the micro-rotor, finely adorned with the Duc Attelé motif.

The dial comes in either Saint-Louis blue or Saint-Louis white crystal with the horse’s head in either sapphire crystal or diamond-set and rhodium-plated sapphire crystal. The Arabic numerals are either rhodium-plated or rendered in 5N rose-gilt and the hours studs come in the same materials. Straps match the colours of the watch.

The pieces are 28mm in diameter and 4.95mm thick. The 3Hz movement runs at 21,600 vibrations per hour and the timekeeper has a 48-hour power reserve.

GO: Visit hermes.com for more information.

INNOVATION TEMPERED BY TRADITION

With the Ingenieur Perpetual Calendar 41 in titanium, Swiss luxury watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen introduces its lightest timepiece in this line.

In the Ingenieur Perpetual Calendar 41 (Ref. IW344904) in titanium, the house achieves the perfect balance between past creations and contemporary accents.

The 41mm case and integrated bracelet are crafted entirely from grade 5 titanium, a material prized for its unique combination of strength, corrosion resistance and featherlight feel. Roughly 45% lighter than steel, the material makes this the lightest Perpetual Calendar watch in IWC’s lineup.

Inspired by an original design by Gérald Genta, the round bezel, secured by five functional screws, anchors the piece, while the integrated bracelet flows seamlessly from the case via its middle links, ensuring ergonomic comfort and visual continuity. On the finishing, sandblasted planes meet polished edges and satin-finished sides accentuate the geometry.

The dial continues this theme of understated sophistication. Rendered in matte grey to match the titanium exterior, it achieves a monolithic effect as if the entire watch were sculpted from a single block of metal. The hallmark Grid structure adds depth and texture. The subdials displaying calendar information are given a circular satin finish and feature a refined azurage along their edges. In the subdial at six o’clock, the single moon disc boasts a detailed azurage background. Both the applied metal markers and the hands are filled with Super-LumiNova, ensuring excellent legibility.

Powering the watch is the IWC-manufactured 82600 calibre, visible through the sapphire caseback. It is equipped with the brand’s signature Pellaton winding system and enhanced with durable ceramic components.

GO: Visit iwc.com for more information.

A FULLY REDESIGNED COLLECTION

Oris revives the Artelier line of urban dress watches with a fully redesigned collection, including the new Artelier Date 38.00mm.

The Artelier line features hallmarks including a taut, modern case, a simple, uncluttered dial and a utilitarian new bracelet design. The dial is available in dark blue, white and chocolate black. It reflects a shift towards simplicity and versatility, suited to modern lifestyles while remaining rooted in classic watchmaking codes.

The Artelier collection was led by 24-year-old designer Lena Huwiler, who set out to create a striking yet universal watch design for her generation. Her vision was to craft a piece that could be enjoyed by those passionate about industrial design, ergonomics, aesthetics and the timeless value of high-quality Swiss Made mechanical watches.

That vision is most clearly expressed in the Artelier Date 38.00 mm, which serves as the entry point to the new collection, powered by an automatic mechanical movement, Oris Calibre 733. The signature Oris Red Rotor is visible through the transparent caseback.

With the return of the Artelier line, Oris reintroduces its vision of an urban dress watch design for today’s generation. The multi-piece stainless steel case has a 38mm diameter with a thickness of 10.9mm and the top glass sapphire crystal is domed on both sides with an anti-reflective coating. The functions are date and stop seconds and the automatic winding provides a power reserve of 41 hours. Hands are coated in Super-LumiNova for visibility and the strap is available in either dark brown leather with a butterfly clasp or a multi-piece stainless steel bracelet with folding clasp.

GO: Visit oris.ch for more information.

A CONTEMPORARY ICON REBORN

More than half a century after its debut, the celebrated TAG Heuer Monaco enters its next chapter with a new, more ergonomic design, now powered by the in-house automatic Calibre TH20-11.

TAG Heuer redefines the 1969 square icon with an entirely new case design, drawing inspiration from the original reference 1133 launched more than 50 years ago.

A redesign introduced in 1997 was, in many ways, an abstraction of the original TAG Heuer Monaco. Only a few elements were carried over, but the 2026 iteration returns to the original.

The sharp, angular edges have been reinforced. The sapphire crystal is now closer to a true square in form, while the 39mm case, now crafted in grade 5 titanium, extends with gently curved sides. The caseback is a masterclass in ergonomics. A smaller round central section curves toward the edges, echoing a design feature of the original.

The dial has also been refined and elevated. Typography and text placement ensure absolute legibility, while the contrasting subdials and a combination of finishes introduce depth and character.

Presented in three colourways, the collection includes the signature TAG Heuer Monaco blue, directly inspired by the watch famously worn by Steve McQueen in his 1971 film Le Mans. A refined sunray-brushed and lacquered dark green version draws on the codes of classic British Racing Green.

Finally, an elegant black model is housed in a two-tone case of grade 5 titanium and 18-carat 5N rose gold.

At the heart of the watch lies one of the most significant upgrades, the new in-house Calibre TH20-11. Based on the manufacturer’s automatic Caliber TH20-00, it has an 80-hour power reserve and a five-year warranty.

GO: Visit tagheuer.com for more information.