Best of Watches and Wonders Shanghai 2024

The Watches and Wonders organization has deep ties to Richemont, the luxury conglomerate that owns brands like Cartier, Panerai, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre and Piaget. And unlike their massive annual fair in Geneva, which brings together countless companies and brands, Watches and Wonders Shanghai 2024 is exclusively for Richemont brands (plus Nomos for some reason). Here are our favorite releases from Watches and Wonders Shanghai 2024, which kicked off on August 28.

IWC Year of the Snake Watch

The IWC Portofino Automatic Moon Phase 37 Year of the Snake (Ref. IW459604) is a limited edition watch celebrating the Lunar New Year, specifically the Year of the Wood Snake, with only 500 pieces available. It features a 37mm stainless steel case and an attractive burgundy dial. The watch includes a precise moon phase display at 12 o’clock, which only deviates by one day after 122 years, and a unique gold-plated rotor shaped like a snake. Powered by the IWC 32800 movement with a five-day power reserve, it comes with both black and burgundy calfskin straps.

Piaget Polo Skeleton Ceramic

Piaget’s attractive Polo Skeleton debuted in 2021, and now there’s a ceramic version. The Piaget Polo Skeleton Ceramic is actually their first ceramic watch ever, and interestingly it features an inner titanium “container” around the movement to reinforce the ceramic.

Vacheron Constantin Engraved Snake Dial

The Métiers d’Art “Legend of the Chinese Zodiac” collection began in 2012, first celebrating the year of the snake. In 2024, Vacheron Constantin celebrates the beginning of another 12-year cycle with an engraved cobra dial for the classy 40mm ref. 86073. This model features hour, minute, day, and date apertures around the edge of the dial so as not to distract from the masterpiece in the middle. These watches are the result of world class enameling and engraving. Both rose gold (86073/000R-H034) and platinum (86073/000P-H033) versions are offered.

Roger Dubuis Excalibur Double Tourbillon Cobalt

Roger Dubuis has been making its distinctive Excalibur collection since 2005, and although the brand doesn’t get as much attention now as it did then, they’re still making some crazy hyperwatches. They’re no stranger to double tourbillons, and at Watches and Wonders Shanghai they unveiled the Excalibur Double Tourbillon Cobalt made from a cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloy they first used in 2021. The arms race for obscure advanced watch materials continues!

With Geneva Watch Days 2024 starting only one day after Watches and Wonders Shanghai 2024, there’s no shortage of events to keep watch enthusiasts busy. The once-a-year all-at-once release paradigm that was once the norm in the luxury watch world seems to be largely a thing of the past. But we’ll be here to keep all the new releases straight for you.

Revisit W&W Geneva Releases:
Watches and Wonders Geneva 2024: Everything to Know
Best of Watches and Wonders 2024
IWC 2024 Watches and Wonders Releases
Vacheron Constantin 2024 Watches and Wonders Releases
Panerai’s $96,300 Submersible Elux LAB-ID