 There's something of a revolution happening in the watch world. With a whole generation of potential customers who can't even wrap their heads around the idea wearing a high-end mechanical timepiece, something has to give. And at this year's most important industry event, important clues to its survival started to emerge.
Unlike the fashion industry—which can reflect the changing times by turning on a dime—the careful watch world works at a slightly slower pace. At Baselworld 2017, it became clear that the industry now has a greater understanding of consumers' shifting priorities and a willingness to look thoughtfully and respond their desires. This year's winning timepieces showcase the distinguished history of watchmaking while incorporating ingenious modern updates as well as wild advances in materials, manufacturing, and technology. They're also achingly beautiful. From the "holy grail" pieces featuring major complications that each serve a unique purpose to affordable knock-around weekend watches, here's a roundup of the most memorable timepieces, straight from the fair. Each offers vital proof that while your phone may do a perfectly serviceable job of telling you the time, watches still matter. http://www.esquire.com/style/mens-accessories/news/g3288/baselworld-watches-2017/ Van Cleef & Arpels has a long history of dreaming up amazing creations, and at this year's Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, two new dazzling timepieces were unveiled along with an equally stunning collection of unique pieces from the esteemed Parisian jeweler's archives. Each of the new releases—an incredible Automate Fée Ondine Table Clock and the wearable Lady Arpels Papillon Automate Watch—come to life during certain times of day, illustrating jaw-dropping animated scenes right out of an enchanted fairy tale.  Introducing the Fossil Q x Cory Richards smartwatch.  Checking the hour after his recent SXSW keynote speech, Cory Richards looks over his jam-packed schedule and realizes the day is slipping by faster than he imagined. Living life on the edge provides Cory with unprecedented clarity, a unique perspective much wiser than his youthful 35 years might suggest. After inspiring a massive crowds at the Austin Convention Center, the extreme mountain climber and Nat-Geo photojournalist is quickly able to settle down and explain his ongoing relationship with the passage of time, the watch brand Fossil, and his very first Fossil Q smartwatch collaboration. http://www.esquire.com/style/mens-accessories/news/a53873/cory-richards-fossil-smartwatch/  |
AuthorStephen Watson is a freelance stylist and watch editor. Archives
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