8 Mind-Boggling New Watches That Prove 2024 Is the Year of Mechanical High Art
Art historian Jospeh Luzzi recently wrote that, “Historically, the term renaissance is invoked whenever a critical mass of innovative minds come together to rethink tradition and then…produce original works that have transformative effects.” I would add that a renaissance is also marked by heated competition between like-minded creators (witness Leonardo and Botticelli in 16th-century Florence, or the one-upping jazz greats of Harlem in the 20th century). Given what we’ve seen just now at Watches & Wonders—as well as from brands that dropped new releases just before the show—I think it’s reasonable to suggest that we are living through a renaissance of the mechanical arts.
Perhaps it’s easier to see the mechanical renaissance this year because, so far, the new watch collections have been aesthetically underwhelming. The big buzz at this year’s edition of Watches & Wonders was that there wasn’t much buzz. Most of the major brands failed to deliver a “hype” or “hero” watch, which dominated the previous few years as high-end watches blew up and became a mainstream preoccupation. That bubble has deflated considerably, and to the extent that horological normalcy can make headlines, that’s what’s happening.
However, flip this year’s most impressive watches over to look at the movements, and a far more interesting story emerges—of incredible technological feats and record-breaking achievements in the mechanical arts. Though I could’ve probably listed as many as 20 mechanically impressive watches, the seven I’ve selected from the previous two weeks will serve to prove my point. Some of you may disagree with how I’ve rated them, but—let’s be frank—that’s half the fun.
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