The Top 5 Trends From Watches and Wonders 2026

Geneva was buzzing once again, as watch aficionados from around the world descended upon the Watches and Wonders show to get the first glimpses of what the top horological houses have in store for 2026. This year, we saw many trends, but rich colors and luxe materials were what really popped. From soft shades of blue to rich burgundies, there was a wide range of beautiful hues to complement any palette.

There was also some standout work with precious metals. Rolex created a new gold alloy, combining yellow, white, and Everose to achieve Jubilee gold, a tone that seems to shift shades depending on the light. The dial is made of green aventurine with diamond hour markers. Vacheron Constantin introduced the new self-winding ultra-thin movement Calibre 2550 in platinum. And speaking of super slim, Bulgari debuted the Octo Finissimo 37, a new, slightly smaller proportion that houses the ultra-thin in-house movement, delivering a 72-hour power reserve.

True to its DNA, Cartier brought high jewelry craftsmanship to its already iconic lineup of watches. The Grain de Café jewelry watch is an extension of the house’s jewelry line, whose name translates to “coffee bean.” The watch is inspired by a 1920s vintage brooch with a tiny clock in the center. This timepiece’s bracelet is made of articulated tiny yellow gold leaves with diamond tips, while the dial at the center features snow-set diamonds.

Take a look below for the biggest trends we saw in Geneva.

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Platinum Is the New Luxury Metal

With the cost of gold continuing to rise, platinum was the precious metal of choice for many brands, including Piaget, Vacheron Constantin, and Cartier.

Shades of Green

The color was everywhere, from the jade aventurine dial on Rolex’s latest iteration of the Day Date to the sage dial and straps of Hublot’s Big Bang. Zenith’s GFJ featured a central disc crafted from bloodstone—a variety of green jasper whose natural red veining ensures each piece is unique.

Sky Blue Statements

The pale shade provided a chic and neutral base for dials as well as straps. Complementing many tones of gold, these light, milky hues really stood out. Hublot’s Big Bang Original in coal blue is a classic shape in a soothing color. The Tudor Royal got an update with several colors, but the light blue dial really caught my eye.

Wrapped in Warm Burgundy

Taking cues from the world of luxury accessories, rich shades of burgundy and cranberry were ever-present throughout. Bulgari updated its Serpenti watch with the warm hue, set in yellow gold and surrounded by diamonds. Piaget used aventurine for the dial, which was also set in diamonds on a textured matte leather strap. Hermès’s Cape Cod in cranberry felt delicate and cool.

Diamond-Encrusted Details

The diamond watch creations this year were nothing short of spectacular. Chanel’s Première Ribbon Diamonds watch featured 108 diamonds sleekly set in white gold for a modern and cool feel. Meanwhile, Cartier fully encrusted the Panthère, including the dial, with snow-set diamonds, as well as introducing the Myst De Cartier, a high jewelry watch fully pavéd in diamonds. The sculptural bracelet does not have a clasp, but rather a bead-like elastic construction that allows the wearer to stretch it over the hand. Each piece requires 112 hours of gem-setting work.