When the world’s most renowned watch brands unveiled their newest styles at Watches and Wonders earlier this year, we couldn’t wait to give our customers a first-hand look. Our Watch Buyer Joe Perez and VP of Merchandising Angela Hope returned from Switzerland excited to share their favorite new trends. Now that these watches are landing in stores, you can drop by your nearest Ben Bridge and get an in-person look to see what suits your style or shop online. In the meantime, we wanted to share some of the developments that caught our eye at Watches and Wonders.
“The number one trend I’m seeing is dial color,” Joe said. “We have a lot of pastels and we love seeing all the different names they use, like lavender, and my favorite ice cream flavor, pistachio.”
Joe says there’s also a red dial TAG Heuer Carrera Day-Date that caught his eye and those are sure to be a popular addition to the year’s releases with their Formula 1 inspiration. TAG even brought out legendary Formula 1 cars as part of its exhibit to celebrate the launch of their red dial stunners, which included a Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph.
Aquatic blue dials are just as popular as they were last year, but purple is one of this year’s most sought after up-and-coming dial colors.
Visiting the many exhibits, Angela picked up on a growing trend among watchmakers - more variety in case size.
“Reduction for the most part,” Angela says. “I’m really excited to see some releases in 35, 37 and 38 millimeters. We also saw a lot of slimmer cases that looked very sleek and elegant.” While 36 and 40 millimeters are tried and true case sizes, more options between 35 and 39 millimeters means more people can find a size that’s perfect for them.
“We’re seeing some new types of movements coming out,” Joe says. “There’s a lot of innovation in that area. Movements are also getting smaller, which allows for slimmer cases.” For those who love the art and engineering of a mechanical watch movement, there is no shortage of releases to get excited about.
Our favorite brands are making it easier for watch owners to explore their own style. You’ll see a lot of straps and bracelets with easy release features that allow you to easily swap out strap colors and materials to give your timepiece a whole new look. Joe is particularly excited about new steel bracelet designs that allow for easy link adjustment with no tools needed!
Want to get a firsthand look at a newly released watch? Find your nearest Ben Bridge Jeweler. Our Personal Jewelers are luxury watch experts who can help you find the perfect piece for yourself or someone special. If you’d rather browse online, we’ve got you covered. Get a look at some of our favorite watches.