The Watch Photo Awards, which were launched in the spring, reward the best watch photos submitted on a different theme every month, from May to October 2018.  At the end of each monthly competition, the WPA jury selects ten photos, according to the criteria of creativity, relevance to the theme and technical proficiency. These ten photos are published by the WPA’s media partners. The public then votes for the best of those ten.

It is a sign of the times that Breitling decided to launch a new collection not at a major trade fair, nor even in Switzerland, but at a swish event in London attended by selected journalists and the ever-present influencers. Undoubtedly the most important announcement at this event was the return of a name familiar to those who know Breitling’s history: the Premier.

Van Cleef & Arpels will no longer be present at the SIHH, which is why the Parisian jeweller is unveiling its new creations in a somewhat offbeat manner, without regard to any particular schedule, at exclusive sessions. The theme for 2019 is the next chapter of a story that Van Cleef & Arpels loves to tell, featuring one of its favourite narrative themes: poetic astronomy. These exceptional new pieces belong to a family of twelve watches named Lady Arpels Zodiac Lumineux.

Roger Dubuis is convinced that women are as keen as men to wear daring and technical calibres. The brand sees woman as someone sensitive to both aesthetics and technology, setting her own goals, writing her own rulebook and standing out from the crowd. Like Roger Dubuis women, shooting stars are oblivious to the rules, which is why they have been chosen to confer a feminine look at the Excalibur Single Flying Tourbillon - Shooting Star. Enriched with alternative techniques, this timepiece is available in a choice of blue, white and pink interpretations, all issued in eight-piece limited editions.

Following the result of the race at the Mexico Grand Prix in Mexico City, Hamilton’s score in the Drivers’ Championship places him beyond the reach of his competitors in the final races of the season. IWC has been the “Official Engineering Partner” of Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport since 2013. 

Browsing Raymond Weil’s watch collections, from the earliest days up to the present, is a little like an eclectic musical history lesson covering everything from Mozart to David Bowie, Wagner to AC/DC. Music has been a source of inspiration for the watchmaker since the brand was founded in 1976. Not only does music resonate through the names of its watches – Fidelio, Toccata, Maestro, Nabucco, Don Giovanni, Tango, etc. – it also guides the brand’s partnerships with famous artists, instrument makers such as guitar maker Gibson, concert halls and international events such as the BRIT Awards. It drove the passion of company founder Raymond Weil, and continues to be an impetus for the third generation of the family, which holds the reins of the brand today and includes some talented musicians. 

In a world that is more and more regulated, provocation makes more and more sense. It helps to put things into perspective and obliges us to think differently, or at least take a look at ourselves. By its very nature, provocation is polarizing – you either like it or you don’t.

I’m surprised to be talking about time zones again for the second time this year (the first time was here), but such are the sensitivities surrounding Brexit, and in particular the thorny issue of what happens on the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, that an issue like the abolition of daylight savings time throughout Europe inevitably ends up being used in the increasingly bitter feud about Britain’s exit from the European Union.

Disruptive and regarded by some as plain mad, Roger Dubuis prides itself on its fearless approach. One that involves risk-taking, pushing boundaries and defying any possible rules, all the while proclaiming its Swiss credentials. The Manufacture reinvents watchmaking codes, drawing its inspiration from other industries, and tries to offer its customers truly memorable experiences.

Born in the Swiss Alps, Alpina has always shared common values with skiing, a sport in which technical competence, precision, perseverance and respect for the mountains are essential. Official watch supplier of the French Ski Federation since 2016, the brand has shown its commitment and affirmed its support for the FFS and its athletes. Their excellent results in the World Cup and the most recent winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang only served to strengthen the decision to renew the partnership for the next two years.

Hysek, one of the last remaining fully-independent manufactures, is undertaking major revitalisation of its sales network. In both Paris and Geneva, the firm is embarking on remodelling, removals, and optimisation of its retail outlets. 

Mexico's Salón Internacional Alta Relojería (SIAR) fine watch fair took place on October 16th to 18th. Created in 2007, this event is the highlight of the watchmaking year for both South America and the Caribbean, with 40 watch brands in attendance, joined by more than 400 guests from the international media. 

After eleven years of collaboration, Longines is bowing out of its role as Official Partner and Official Timekeeper following its decision not to renew its long-standing contract. The 2018 tournament marked the final chapter in a journey that has united the brand and the Paris grand slam for more than a decade. Throughout that time, a host of joint initiatives have been organised to promote rising young tennis stars, like the Longines Future Tennis Aces tournament, which brought together 20 players under the age of 13 from 20 different countries, and the "Rendez-vous à Roland-Garros in partnership with Longines” tournaments, which gave young hopefuls the chance to win a place in the Roland-Garros Junior Championships.  

DFS Group (DFS), the luxury travel retailer, is launching the tenth edition of its Masters of Time exhibition this December, with a special anniversary collection that highlights craftsmanship, design and innovation. This year’s exhibition, titled “Masters of Time X”, will be unveiled during a two-day gala weekend at T Galleria by DFS, Macau, Shoppes at Four Seasons, featuring watches and jewellery from some of the world’s most renowned brands including several pieces created especially in celebration of the event.

Chopard unveiled a surprising unique piece L.U.C model at this year’s SIAR in Mexico City dedicated to the “Dia de los Muertos”, using design motifs associated with this celebration. The L.U.C Perpetual T Spirit of ‘La Santa Muerte’ is the second unique piece with grand complication, after the L.U.C Perpetual T – Spirit of the Chinese zodiac model presented in 2017. The L.U.C models represent the highest standard of watchmaking at Chopard. All the stages in their production are carried out in house, from movement design to gold production, case machining and hand decoration right up to the final quality control.

The ideal solution, clearly, would have been a weekend in Florence to try out the Epurato by Anonimo, with photo opportunities against the backdrops of the Santa Croce, the Ponte Vecchio and the Piazza della Signoria. But Anonimo already has plenty of shots of the Epurato in the heart of the city and, anyway, clichés aside, having worn the watch for several days, it doesn’t need any Renaissance architecture to make a statement on the wrist.