At the time of writing this article (midday September 3rd), which also marks the last day of the Geneva Watch Days 2021, I ran a quick check to ensure none of the watches released from the event will be unintentionally left out. They’re so many! In this article, you will find a summary of what we think are the best watches released from Geneva Watch Days 2021.
The event turned out to be a success after the plan of exhibiting the watch in a de-centralized and phygital manner all over the city of Geneva was admired by many. Following the last year’s schedule, Geneva Watch Days 2021 was open and will be for a few more hours from August 30th to September 3rd. Five days filled with innovations, new feeds, designs, concepts, limited editions, affordable and untouchable watches released by some of the world’s most renowned brands.
However, with Breitling and Bulgari aside, who have already established themselves as leaders in the luxury watchmaking industry, it is worth mentioning the presence of so many independent and new Swiss companies gathered under one umbrella, who same as last year, decided to amaze us with new watch releases during Geneva Watch Days. Check them below in a spontaneous order…
Geneva Watch Days 2021 – Best Watch Releases
Girard-Perregaux Tourbillon With Three Flying Bridges
Starting our summary to Geneva Watch Days releases with the Tourbillon With Three Flying Bridges from Girard-Perregaux. The name says it all. The Swiss watch Maison with its roots dating back to 1791 has decided to come up with a prequel of their well-regarded “Three-Bridges” movement setting. The GP Tourbillon With Three Flying Bridges comes in a 44mm 18K rose-gold case where from the lower and upper sapphire crystals you can notice the harmonious symmetry of the movement. The three bridges, made of pink gold and coated with black PVD titanium, serve as the main plate while also supporting the barrel, gear train, and tourbillon. Speaking of which, the latter is positioned to the base of the dial, with its cage made of Grade 5 titanium and comprised of 79 components.
Quick take: Strongly sticking to the roots of artisanal watchmaking with bridges connecting the past with the future.
Price and Availability: $156,000 available through Girrard-Perregaux closest retailers. Not limited!
Arnold & Son Globetrotter
Featuring a stainless steel version of the Globetrotter from 2018, the new Arnold & Son Globetrotter 2021 edition hit the Geneva Watch Days with some slight differences. The timepiece comes with a world-time complication, where instead of the usual rotating 24-hour ring simultaneously showing the time in 24 different cities worldwide, the new Globetrotter with its ring fixed, works a bit differently. The time is read off a rotating hemisphere which displays the Northern Hemisphere with a point of view from the North Pole. Simply geographical marvels fitted in a 45mm case.
From the domed sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating on both sides, you will find the bridge that secures the upper pivot of the Northern Hemisphere which lays underneath. The blue limited version is also the most beautiful one, in my opinion at least. In this blue Globetrotter, the oceans are made of a Mother-of-Pearl powder and Super-LumiNova is used along the shorelines of the continents.
Quick Take: This is one of those watches where extraterrestrial and astronomical wonders meet functionality halfway.
Price and Availability: The Globetrotter is available in two versions: one with a blue outer dial limited to 88 pieces for $20,500, and the other version with a white opalescent outer dial, not limited, for $19,500.
Urwerk UR-100 Electrum
Moving now to the relatively young Swiss watchmaker. The Urwerk UR-100 Electrum released during Geneva Watch Days 2021 represents the brands’ sufficiency of imagination when it comes to watchmaking advancements. Urwerk continuous to put itself on the horological map by delivering an exceptional and even more hi-tech-looking version (as if it wasn’t enough) of their 100-series. The Urwerk UR-100 Electrum comes with an electrum case, an alloy made of silver and gold.
It breaks the conventional design of a watch by positioning the crown at the 12 o’clock position and further does that by putting a dial that looks like is borrowed by the Iron-Man lab (they even got him as a brand ambassador). And why wouldn’t he? The newest Urwerk UR-100 Electrum comes with a three-time satellite display and on the sides, you can keep track of the distance the earth travels around the sun in 20 minutes; and on the left-hand side, another scale is measured. The distance traveled by the Earth to the Equator.
Quick Take: An exotic watch, the perfect conversation starter boosted by the looks and the accuracy.
Price and Availability: Limited to 25 pieces, Available through Urwerk closest retailers for $67,800.
Konstantin Chaikin Wristmon “Minotaur”
The watchmaking industry is taking the overall aesthetics to the extremes and that can be reasoned by taking a look at the new Wristmon “Minotaur” by Konstantin Chaykin. The young Russian watchmaker obsessed with the making of Joker watches brings its timepieces as a cinematic pop art object that puts the world’s most beloved villain on your wrist. Same as with Konstantin Chaykin’s previous Wristmons, the “Minotaur” unleashed during the Geneva Watch Days 2021 brings a flavor of that insanity to your wrist.
The dial evokes the face of the Minotaur, a fabulous monster of Greek mythology portrayed with the head and tail of a bull and the body of a man. It also has the labyrinth motives on the dial and the design elements that characterize Wristmons, this time adapted to the mythology theme. So at the bull’s nose, you can see the letters that indicate the weekday while its eyes, the most captivating element, keep track of hours and minutes respectively. Further features include a 42mm iron-bronze case with an automatic movement, Vaucher VMF 3002 outsourced and later modified from Konstantin Chaykin.
Quick Take: A highly exclusive timepiece made from a promising Russian watchmaker that makes timekeeping a bit more fun.
Price and Availability: The newest Konstantin Chaykin Wristmon “Minotaur” comes in a limited edition of 8 pieces and has a price of $22,000.
Gérald Genta Arena Retro Mickey Mouse Disney
In case you don’t know, it was the adaption of Mickey on the dial of a watch that saved Mr. Walt Disney from going bankrupt back in 1933. Disney’s savior makes to this day, its appearance on the watch dials of brands worldwide, with Mickey’s arms, usually being used to keep track of time.
The newest timepiece from Gerald Genta manufactory (under the umbrella of Bulgari after Mr. Genta sold it in 2000), the Gérald Genta Arena Retro Mickey Mouse Disney, comes with the same design pattern. It features Mickey on the dial, fitted in a 41mm stainless steel dial with the retrograde mechanism stealing the show. The time tracking is offered by an hour display window positioned at the lower right of the dial and a half-circle perfectly aligns the minute markers in the upper half of the dial.
Quick Take: A watch whose design was brought to life by Mr. Gerald Genta, who also came up with the design of Nautilus and Royal Oak. Unreasoned pricing sadly!
Price and Availability: Limited to 150 pieces. The release date is on January 2022. Price tag approx. $20,000 at launch.
Ferdinand Berthoud Chronometre FB 1.6-3
It was established and created as a separate brand from Chopard in 2015 and its timepieces are made for the ones with some deep pockets. Same as with its previous watches, Ferdinand Berthoud Chronometre FB 1.6-3 also comes at a salty price ($208,500), but that is somehow justified as it is only one piece created. You heard it right.
The subsidiary brand of Chopard presented itself in the Geneva Watch Days with one sole timepiece named Ferdinand Berthoud Chronometre FB 1.6-3 and is exclusive to Art in Time (High-End Watch Retailer in Monaco).
The octagonal case shape comes in steel with a DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) layer. Its dimensions are 44mm x 13mm and underneath beats the COCS certified beast movement caliber FB-T.FC-2 with 45 jewels, 53 hours of power reserve, and a tourbillon with a suspended mainspring barrel and fusee cone.
The impressive movement is visible from the open heart at the lower center of the dial.
Quick Take: The watch on its own, from the design to materials to the movement – it’s a work of art. Exclusivity is what somewhat justifies the whopping $208,500 but if you love collecting Ferdinand Berthoud watches, money is not a problem to you.
Price and Availability: Limited edition of only one piece exclusive to Art in Time Monaco. Price, $208,500.
Czapek Antarctique Rattrapante
Continuing our journey to the latest releases from Geneva Watch Days 2021 with this artfully done steel chronograph from the independent watchmaker Czapek & Cie. The Czapek Antarctique Rattrapante is a product that comes from the association of Czapek & Cie. with Chronode, Swiss-based movement manufacture that flies under the radar.
The skeleton watch sports a monopusher chronograph with a split-seconds mechanism fitted in a 42.5mm stainless steel case and bracelet with the “Easy-Release system”, exclusive to Czapek.
Further features include luminescent steel sword hands, sapphire crystal glass on both sides with AR coating, 60 hours of power reserve, and surprisingly water resistance of up to 120m, for my fellow Americans that are 400ft.
Quick Take: It is all about the mechanism with the new Czapek Antarctique Rattrapante as the young watchmaker has brought a complex grande complication with 49 jewels and 292 parts which make Czapek and Chronode stand at the pinnacle of mechanical watchmaking creativity.
Price and Availability: Limited edition of only 77 pieces made with a price tag of $50,500. Available through Czapek & Cie. Geneva boutique, official retailers, and from the brand’s official website.
Greubel Forsey GMT Earth Final Edition
The watchmakers of this century thankfully, are more than ever paying attention to the conventional mechanisms and oftentimes learning from the past, and making wonders for the future. But the same cannot be said about the overall aesthetics, the designs, concepts, and case shapes who, have recently passed every boundary of imagination.
All the stage set is about the GMT Earth Final Edition from Greubel Forsey – a watch that is as attractive and attention-catching, as it is functional and accurate. Personally, the four last peculiarities are what make my Grail watch. The Greubel Forsey GMT Earth Final Edition is the third edition of the model after their first launch in gold, the second in platinum, and the newest Final Edition sporting a titanium case. The watch is unique in terms of design and its functionality is the star of the show.
The timepiece comes with a marvelous number of functions, including here a GMT, a rotating globe with universal time on 24 time zones, day-night indicator, GMT Pusher, power-reserve, hours, minutes, small seconds, a lateral window displaying the equator, Tourbillon 24-Seconds, second time zone, cities with summertime, summer and wintertime.
Quick Take: If you’re on a mission to burn your money as fast as possible, simply pass by one of Greubel Forsey’s retail partners. Although exclusivity, uniqueness, and beauty of the horological world are all synonymous with Greubel Forsey, money must not be a concern to have these timepieces adorning your wrist.
Price and Availability: The Greubel Forsey GMT Earth Final Edition belongs to a limited edition of 11 timepieces with the value of one estimated to reach a whopping $500,000 give or take.
Breitling Top Time Chronographs Classic Cars Trio
The decision of which of these new watches released to purchase just became even more difficult with the Breitling Top Time Chronographs Trio. The trio drives inspiration from the classic sports cars from the 60s, Chevrolet Corvette (red and black), Shelby Cobra (white and blue), and the Ford Mustang (green and black). The racing chronographs trio pays homage to three icons from the American car culture and also to Breitling’s original Top Time timepieces from the 1960s. The watches come in a stainless steel case with leather straps and a water resistance rating of 100 meters. Although part of the same collection and seemingly identical, underneath the latest Breitlings beat two different movements.
The Breitling caliber 41 – a self-winding COCS certified movement with 42 hours of power reserve and a ¼ second chronograph function powers the Breitling Top Time Shelby Cobra.
The Breitling caliber 25 – also a self-winding chronometer-certified mechanical movement with 42 hours of power reserve and a ⅛ second chronograph powers the Breitling Top Time Chevrolet Corvette and the Breitling Top Time Ford Mustang.
Quick Take: A different approach to modern-retro interpretations that brings to the wrist accurate timekeeping and a refreshing design.
Price and Availability: Available through all Breitling’s authorized dealers and from the brand’s official website for $5,500. And no, it is not limited.
Still here? Keep surfing. You’re almost finished…
MB&F X L’Epée 1839 Orb
Another release from this year’s Watches and Wonders came from MB&F in collaboration with L’Epée 1839. But unlike any other watch, this one is a table clock, a highly futuristic one, and also expensive as Swiss-made designation can get. The $33,600 MB&F X L’Epée 1839 Orb is a table clock powered by an in-house manufactured movement from L’Epée 1839. The latter specializes in the design and manufacture of high-end clocks, a craft that the Swiss brand has been perfecting for over 180 years.
Quick Take: The blend is so well fitted, with MB&F being well-known for breaking the rules of watchmaking, and L’Epée 1839 having the chance to market themselves for their fresh avant-garde clocks.
Price and Availability: Available in two versions: both and white, each limited to 50 pieces. The watches have a price tag of $33,600 and are available directly online from the official website of MB&F.
Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF
The Haute horologie Mansion which initially started as a restoration workshop continues its journey to the world of timekeeping with its newest Tonda PF collection. Parmigiani Fleurier made its debut during Geneva Watch Days 2021 with an entire collection rich in designs and functions.
The Tonda PF collection is a sum of seven total watches: a high-beat chronograph, a two-hander, an annual calendar with retrograde date, and a high-beat split-seconds chronograph in solid platinum, each with an integrated bracelet. What you will find in common on Parmigiani’s seven watches is a Grain d’Orge guilloché dial pattern, solid-gold open-worked hands, the vertical oval PF logo at the 12 o’clock, the multi-finish bezel, and the applied hour markers. From here, each watch comes with its own unique flavor and functionality.
Tonda PF Micro-Rotor: Comes in two variants (steel with a platinum bezel – $22.900 or rose gold case – $53,900) Powered by calibre PF703 with 48 hours of power reserve. Time-and-date classic sports watch with guilloche dial fitted in a 40mm case.
Tonda PF Annual Calendar: Also comes in two variants (steel with a platinum bezel – $38,700 or rose gold – $77,500). Underneath, beats the calibre PF339 with an automatic modular annual calendar function and 50 hours of power reserve. Both feature a guilloche dial in warm gray, a retrograde date hand, and a double moon phase.
Tonda PF Chronograph: Available in two models (steel with a platinum bezel priced at $31,00 and the rose-gold model which can be yours for $69,700). The timepiece is powered by the in-house integrated chronograph with a 5HZ frequency and 62 hours of power reserve.
Tonda PF Split Seconds Chronograph: Limited to only 25 pieces with a price tag of $171,000, the 42mm Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Split Seconds Chronograph comes with a platinum case, bezel, dial, and bracelet. The highly exclusive timepiece is powered by an in-house mechanical chronograph calibre PF361, with gold bridges, 5HZ frequency, and 65 hours of power reserve.
Doxa Sub 600T Pacific Ltd
Looking for a professional dive watch? Your search has come to an end! The newest Doxa Sub 600T Pacific has all that a diver can hope for. In case you’re not familiar with the brand, let me tell you that Doxa has been setting the bar high for professional dive watches since the 1960s, the time when the brand joined watchmaking. The latest release from Doxa, Sub 600T Pacific pays tribute to their iconic model with the same name from the 80s. 40 years later, in partnership with the Australian watch blog Time+Tide, Doxa brings a professional dive watch with approx. 200m of water resistance (600ft) and by the time you would have read this article, it would be probably gone. The timepiece belongs to a limited edition of 200 pieces and you can learn more about it here.
Quick Take: A well-built and reliable dive watch that incorporated the Swiss know-how when it comes to watchmaking.
Price and Availability: Belonging to a limited edition of 200 pieces and available for purchase from Doxa’s official website.
Oris Aquis Date Upcycle
Oris continues to hit the watch marketplace with new and meaningful releases that are as perfectly designed as they are immensely functional. After their Oris Divers Sixty-Five ‘Cotton Candy’ was released at Watches and Wonders 2021, the Swiss manufacturer continues to amaze us. Aquis Date Upcycle made its debut during this year’s Geneva Watch Days and serves to a cause, a humble and necessary one. Aquis Date Upcycle is part of Oris’ continuous efforts to establishing itself as a climate-neutral company, and further raise awareness about Global Warming, Earth’s climate changes, and “plastic occupation”. The new Oris Aquis Date Upcycle focused on the last concern, and their solution has brought to life the watch made of upcycled PET ocean plastic, each unique in pattern and color. The watch is water-resistant up to 300 meters and it has the dive watch features incorporated. Mentioning here Super-LumiNova hands and markers, and a unidirectional rotatable bezel with a grey ceramic insert. The watch comes in two sizes, 41.50mm or 36.50mm, and both sizes are non-limited.
Quick Take: One of the most affordable watches from Geneva Watch Days that serves a good cause and also features unique dials. And as it happens with Oris, functionality is as always unbeaten.
Price and Availability: Available in two sizes (41.50mm or 36.50mm), both not limited. You can have your Oris Aquis Date Upcycle adorning your wrist for $2,300.
FAQ about Geneva Watch Days
Who are the participant brands of Geneva Watch Days?
Geneva Watch Days is an initiative undertaken by the Founding Benefactor Brands: Bvlgari, De Bethune, Breitling, Gerald Genta, Greubel Forsey, Girard-Perregaux, MB&F, H. Moser & Cie, Urwerk, and Ulysse Nardin. The non-profit organization is formed alongside Associated Brands: Blanchet, Arnold & Son, Czapek, Ferdinand Berthoud, Doxa, Louis Erald, Oris, Reuge, Maurice Lacroix, Parmigiani, Phillips, the Frederique Constant Group, with further participant brands including Konstantin Chaykin, Charles Girardier, and Raketa.
Where and when is Geneva Watch Days held?
For 5 days, from August 30th to September 3rd, a de-centralized event takes place in the city of Geneva, at the heart of the world’s watchmaking industry. Visitors are welcome to visit the showrooms, boutiques, manufactures, and hotels where the participating brands present the art of horology with their novelties in a self-managed manner.
Who created Geneva Watch Days and why?
Mr. Jean-Christophe Babin, CEO of Bulgari, in collaboration with Georges Kern, CEO of Breitling, Patrick Pruniaux, CEO of Girard-Perregaux and Ulysse Nardin and Maximilian Büsser from MB&F – managed to attract a handful of other Swiss watchmakers who play a major role in fine watchmaking and decided to participate in Geneva Watch Days. The City of Geneva supports the project and gave permission and validated the plan of a de-centralized and phygital event that complies with the pandemic restrictions for public gatherings.
In Final Words
The timepieces mentioned above are what we value as some of the best watches released during Geneva Watch Days 2021. Other brands and models left out are Bulgari’s Divina Mosaica, Diva’s Dream,
Octo Roma Central Tourbillon Papillon, and Octo Roma World Timer. Ulysse Nardin also came up with new feeds and De Bethune as well is worth to be mentioned for their collaboration with WatchBox. The latter is a leader in the watch’s second market and the collab has brought to life a highly impressive timepiece too.
