FROM THE EDITORS Letters + Events
The new Grand Seiko Tentagraph
ONGOING INNOVATION
Michael Thompson Editor-in-Chief | mike @ isochronmedia . com
ith debuts at three major watch exhibitions since we last met in print , we ’ ve had plenty of new watches to
W explore and expose to our readers . And for the most part , you ’ ll see these online and in our next issue .
Inside this Fall edition of iW we ’ ve chosen to show you a few debuts from early this year when we traveled to Geneva for the first of two Watches & Wonders events . As we ’ ve noted previously , the show itself was extremely busy , with far more debuts and what felt like double the attendance of the 2022 event .
In addition to the highly discussed debuts from Rolex ( new titanium cases and colorful dials ), Patek Philippe , Zenith , TAG Heuer , Oris and Ulysse Nardin , the late March event made clear that ingenuity within watchmaking is as strong a ever .
To underscore that observation , inside you ’ ll read about Patek Philippe ’ s newest adaptation of its Travel Time dual-time display , now paired with an original dial showing local time and home time via two center hands turning on a 24-hour circle . Patek Philippe places the indicator for noon at the top of the dial instead of at the 6 o ’ clock position , which is more traditional for 24-hour dials . This simple change , backed with complex watchmaking , brings the 12 o ’ clock indication up to the top of the dial .
The new Grand Seiko Tentagraph , the watchmaker ’ s first automatic chronograph within its Evolution 9 collection , is a stunner ( see above ), with Grand Seiko ’ s own high-beat movement ( Caliber 9SA5 ) enriched with two barrels and an ultra-efficient Dual Impulse Escapement .
More innovation is seen at Oris , which updated its already groundbreaking automatic mechanical altimeter by placing it into a new carbon-fiber composite case .
Not long after the spring watch events , Louis Vuitton updated its bedrock Tambour , which is now a higher-end collection sporting an all-new in-house automatic movement , a slimmer case and a luxurious bracelet .
And of course we show you a full lineup of Franck Muller debuts from earlier this year , including its sharp-looking series made with Damascus steel as well as a very elegant new Curvex CX Piano with a lustrous dial that requires twenty coats of black lacquer . Enjoy reading the issue , and we ’ ll see you again in print in 2025 . Regards ,
6 | INTERNATIONAL WRISTWATCH | FALL 2023