What to Expect From Geneva Watch Days 2023
Geneva Watch Days is just around the corner: in this article we'll take a look at which brands might be coming up with new products for the event
For all watch enthusiasts, an important event is approaching: the Geneva Watch Days to be held from August 29 to September 2, in the heartland of watchmaking.
Watches & Wonders is definitely the main event in this industry, but what will happen in the coming days in Geneva has all the makings of a surprise. In this article we explain why.
Geneva Watch Days was born in 2020 as a more informal and less institutional watch show so that all companies could display their work in a new and more engaging context. Just as Baselworld, the most iconic watch fair, was dying, GWD was being born thanks to the initiative of Bulgari CEO Jean-Christophe Babin and other brands such as Breitling, Bulgari , De Bethune, Girard-Perregaux, H. Moser & Cie, MB&F, Ulysse Nardin, and Urwerk.
In addition to these brands, the 2023 edition will also have other outstanding participants such as: Konstantin Chaykin, Greubel Forsey, Jacob & Co, Krayon, Laurent Ferrier, MB&F, H. Moser & Cie, Oris, Phillips, and many others.
To understand what we should expect from this event we need to take a step back and see what has happened in past editions.
BVLGARI
As one of the founding brands of GWD, it is right to expect something from the Italian brand, especially seeing what has been presented in recent editions.
Two new Octo Finissimo were presented in 2020 and 2022, the Tourbillon Chronograph Skeleton Automatic and the Skeleton 8 Days, respectively. The first one set the sixth record in this collection as the thinnest watch, while the second one offers an impressive 8-day power reserve. Both watches have a skeletonized dial in common, which is why we could expect a new Octo with this dial for 2023, or is Bulgari thinking of setting a new record?
Yet another hypothesis is that the maison has been working on the other collections, as it did in 2021 when it offered two variations of the Octo Roma WorldTime. Indeed, the great predominance that Octo Finissimo is obviously positive because it drags the sales of the maison, but it could also be a risk as it could become increasingly unwieldy and leave progressively less space for other collections such as for example Octo Roma or Aluminium. For this reason, it would not be a surprise if Bvlgari comes up with some novelties for these other models.
H. MOSER & CIE
Very often during these events, Moser takes center stage. Thanks to its unconventional, unscrupulous and innovative flair, often the creations displayed by this brand are the ones that cause the most stir.
This is what happened last year when the maison presented the Streamliner Tourbillon Vantablack. The particularity lies precisely in the dial: this model is made of the blackest black available in watchmaking so much so that this shade manages to absorb 99.965% of light.
All of Moser's experience at GWD is linked to new versions of the Streamliner.
In 2020, a few months after the introduction of the Streamliner chronograph, the house had presented a new version of this model with a smoky Matrix Green dial. The Streamliner aroused great success for its sporty design and Moser decided to present other versions such as the one with that debuted at GWD 2021, with a gray dial and perpetual calendar.
As we reach year 4, it will be interesting to see whether Moser will continue to surprise us with new Streamliners or has something else ready.
CZAPEK
Lastly, we expect great news from Czapek, who two years ago amazed everyone with the Antarctique Rattrapante. This model, which you see in the photo, made in 77 pieces sold out after a very short time, am evidence of the huge impact it had. This model was then followed by the Sunrise version, made for OnlyWatch 2021 and sold at auction for CHF 240,000. The success of the Antarctique was kept alive by the maison, which then presented Antarctique Rattrapante Ice Blue last year. We can therefore expect a new version of this much loved collection.
Another possible hypothesis is that of continuity between GWD and OnlyWatch. If in 2021 the model chosen for both events was the Antarctique, this year Czapek for OW made the Place Vendôme Complicité model, with a double escapement. Perhaps a similar model could be produced for GWD. We shall see.
There will be a lot of news ahead, and there are many brands that have been working to surprise us. This article is just a small taste of what awaits us in a few days and we look forward to telling you about it in more detail.