FROM THE EDITORS Letters + Events
The Bulgari Octo Finissimo
Automatic Satin-Polished
Steel is one highlight from
Bulgari’s early 2020 debuts.
Michael Thompson
Editor-in-Chief | [email protected]
CHANGING TIMELINES
F
or many years we have reserved this space – and multiple pages inside this issue – to unveil a handful of the
watches previewed by exhibitors at the SIHH in Geneva.
But not this year – or ever again.
As you’ve likely heard, watch debut shows are changing as they seek
optimal timing, commercial relevance and new consumers. The SIHH,
renamed Watches & Wonders Geneva, commences this year on April 25,
followed immediately by a Baselworld show currently in flux (as it deals with
the exit of several major exhibitors, including Breitling, Seiko and Casio).
Thus, instead of showing you an array of new watches inside this first
issue of 2020, we’ll show you those debuts just ahead of the late April
shows within our next print issue, as well as online.
Until then, I suggest you check out our recent online coverage of the first
LVMH Watch Week, held in Dubai in mid-January, where Hublot, Zenith and
Bulgari unveiled a broad range of 2020 watches.
From that new debut event Zenith underscored a wide range of its
bedrock designs with new pilot models, a feminine touch within its Defy
collection and new Elite collection watches. At the same time, Zenith
expanded its Defy 21 high-speed model offerings with two special editions
reflecting new and existing partnerships.
Also from Dubai, I can report that Bulgari has added several effervescent
new models to its snakehead-shaped Serpenti collection while also adding
6 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | WINTER 2020
new gold, steel (and ceramic) finishes to its record-holding ultra-thin Octo
Finissimo collections.
In addition, Hublot debuted the entirely new Big Bang Integral, the first
Big Bang with an integrated metal bracelet. The 42mm collection debuts
with three case metals (titanium, King Gold and black ceramic) and offers
a new three-link bracelet that sits nicely on the wrist. The Big Bang Integral
collection, fitted with Hublot’s Unico chronograph movement, is also
notable for utilizing the rectangular pushers originally found on the Big
Bang in 2005, but replaced in recent years by round pushers.
As noted, information about all these debuts can be found now on the iW
Magazine website as the timing of the Dubai event didn’t allow for extensive
coverage inside this issue. Check out this space in our next print issue for all
the details on the bulk of the remaining 2020 watch debuts as we head to
Geneva and Basel.
Regards,