The most interesting novelty of SIHH 2010 is undoubtedly the revision of prices carried out by the manufacturers. Hence, many brands have endeavoured to include more affordable entry levels in their collections, while being careful not to diminish brand value: an inevitable anti-crisis recipe? Fine, as long as you don't lose out on quality. So far, from the models we have been able to admire on display, the risk seems to have been averted, so it would seem that we can only rejoice at this new, slightly more 'friendly' pricing policy.
Today's most beautiful watches? Beyond any doubt we saw them at A. Lange & Soehne, from the new Zeitwerk Luminous, with its fascinating translucent dial and luminescent hour markers, to the special editions for the 165th anniversary of watchmaking in Saxony: three examples made of a new gold alloy, honey-coloured and twice as hard as normal 18-carat yellow gold (Tourbograph, Lange 1 Tourbillon and 1815 Moonphase). This is followed by the Saxonia Annual Calendar, the Lange 1 Daymatic and the Richard Lange Referenzuhr.
From Vacheron Constantin, a demonstration of style and continual expansion of manufacturing savoir-faire. This year, the House is focusing on the classic: from ultra-flat watches (with diameters of around 38 millimetres, if not less) to grand complications, with the addition of outstanding models in the Métiers d'Art collection, with Japanese lacquer dials.
Piaget, true to its DNA, also focuses on the ultra-thin, with the world's thinnest automatic watch (in the Altiplano collection), before showing off its glamorous soul in the haute joaillerie collection, dedicated this year to jazz music.
Let's then talk about Jeanrichard, which continues its growth in the sports watch sector, removing any classic model from its catalogue, and extends the use of its JR 1000 manufacture calibre to all its collections.
We conclude with Roger Dubuis, perhaps the only brand that has not revised its pricing policy downwards, but has made stylistic changes, simplifying the graphics of the dials, but not intervening on the dimensions, which remain extra-large. Who knows if it will be right about the competition?
