IWC, Cartier, Vacheron, and Lange at Watches and Wonders 2026

I have been pleasantly surprised by the Watches and Wonders releases from these brands. So, let's take a closer look at some of the highlights from the Richemont Group this year. Let me know your favourites in the comments.

IWC announced recently that they are the official timekeeping partner for VAST, the world’s first commercial space station. This watch has come from the development of a space flight ready timepiece that can accompany the astronauts on the VAST Space Station. The 44.4mm ceramic case houses an automatic manufacture calibre and all of the functions can be adjusted using the new patent pending rotating bezel allowing the watch to be operated while wearing space gloves. The bezel can also wind the watch allowing it to be wound even when in zero-gravity environments. Possibly the coolest new release from Watches and Wonders this year for me!

Price - £22,600

The current Ingenieur is now three years old and was treated to a full lineup at last year’s Watches and Wonders. This year there are a few new models, but nothing as ground-breaking as the releases from 2025. There is a new green full ceramic, 41mm perpetual calendar in titanium, 41mm 5N gold tourbillon, and two new 35mm models, one jewel set and two tone, the other steel with a blue dial. Overall, some strong updates to the Ingenieur line highlighting IWC’s watchmaking and material capabilities. My pick is the titanium perpetual calendar.

Price - £34,500 (Ingenieur Titanium Perpetual Calendar)

IWC are celebrating their range of Le Petit Prince watches with some updates to the model line. The new models feature gold hands and a new beautiful shade of blue on the dial. The engraved case back depicting the little prince himself has also been redesigned and applied to each of these models. Le Petit Prince is available on the Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar, Pilot Chrono 41, Mark XX, and Pilot 36mm as well as the beautiful 34mm Portofino Automatic Day and Night.

Price - £4,190 for the Pilot 36mm up to £31,800 for the Ceramic Perpetual Calendar

Having experimented with ceramic since the early 1980’s, IWC are well versed in material science for their watchmaking. A few years ago they launched Ceratanium, an amalgamation of titanium and ceramic that enhanced the properties of both materials. This years things have gotten a little crazy with a new luminous ceramic they call Ceralume, of course. It’s available on their brilliant Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar and certainly stands out in both daytime and nighttime.

Price - £61,300

Cartier have brought back the roadster in three configurations of steel and gold with some new design accents inspired by the automotive world. There are two sizes available 47 x 38mm, or 42.5 x 34.9mm and both are powered by in-house automatic movements. I’m unsure about these, although I am certain that they will be popular with Cartier collectors and fans. There’s just something about that date window I’m not sold on, but perhaps I need to see them in person before making judgement.

The Santos Dumont gets a multi-link bracelet available in yellow gold and platinum giving the already refined reference a touch of extra class. There are also some new dial designs, silver and gilded obsidian which sounds and looks very exotic. The sparkling affect on the obsidian is created by tiny air bubbles trapped in the stone. Amazing!

5 new models have been added to this lineup ranging from classy and understated to bedazzled and funky. The core range is available in several different gold tones with more minimalist dial designs. The most striking of the range is the Métiers d’Art Tortue special, a full gem set dial and case that depicts the famous Cartier Panther. It’s Cartier once again combining fine jewellery and watchmaking.

A far more exclusive range of Cartier watches, this year focusing on the Tank Normale, Tortue Chronographe Monopoussoir, and Crash Squelette. All three models feature a full platinum case with burgundy accents, the ruby cabochon, and blued steel hands. These watches are beautiful, meticulously crafted and will be extremely desirable.

Designed to capture the spirit of global travel and exploration while offering the highest quality of watchmaking we expect from Vacheron, this new lineup is a strong contender for my favourite releases of the whole show. Available in four dial colours that each represent a cardinal point, this watch embodies what the Overseas name represents. Powered by the Calibre 5110 DT/3 and protected by a titanium case with 150m of water resistance this could be considered the pinnacle of ‘Go Anywhere, Do Anything’ watches. I certainly do.

Price - CHF 33,700

Demonstrating the versatility of the Overseas platfrom, Vacheron have also released one of the most beautifully simplistic additions to date. The 39.5mm platinum case houses an ultra-thin movement resulting in a case thickness of just 7.35mm. The salmon shade on the dial and minute and hour only display are effortlessly elegant. Think you’re not getting much for your money? It also comes with rubber and leather straps! Joking aside, this is an incredible, high horology masterpiece that has been beautifully executed.

Price - CHF 98,000

The wonderfully whacky gets a sublte dial update, now featuring blue numerals and hands housed in a pink gold case in 40mm and 36.5mm. The in-house manual-wound Calibre 4400 AS is just as beautifully decorated overall making for a stunning dress watch with a unique spirit and curious history.

Price - CHF 32,300

There are not many brands that produce a tourbillon and make it only visible from the case back. But Lange is one of those brands and they had so much fun designing this dial that the most complicated part of this watch got relegated to the back. This L225.1 movement is a masterpiece of horology. Fully decorated, infinitely complex, and manufactured from precious metals, this is arguably one of the most impressive movements at the show. And despite this powerhouse of a movement, it’s the dial that is the real talking point. The translucent smoky effect reveals the workings behind the perpetual calendar and the luminescent features.

Price - ~EUR 550,000 (limited to 50 pieces)