This guide covers the best watches released at SIHH 2019. You can read our other SIHH 2019 coverage here, or skip right to the best watches below.
The warmer weather of this year’s Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie paired well with the bold, bright colorways that emerged as one of show’s biggest trends. But there was so much more to consider in 2019, from The Incredible Shrinking Case Size to a focus on military heritage (yes, again) to multiple engineering feats of preposterous complication that picking our 12 Best of this year’s SIHH turned into a feat of its own.
As usual, our coverage focuses on premium watches and fine watchmaking technology that’s outside the budget for most — but every model here represents some new bar in engineering or materials innovation, the stuff that finds its way into more affordable pieces down the line. We’ve also selected watches we would spend our own hard-earned money on: models with solid engineering, enduring design, and unquestionable value at a reasonable (if premium) price.
Next year, things will be even more complicated, as SIHH comes together with the world’s other most influential luxury watch show, Baselworld, as a sort of Super Bowl of watches — a fortnight of non-stop, back-to-back horology coverage spanning late April to early May. Until then, we bring you the 12 Best Watches of SIHH 2019, the most significant new releases as decided by a week’s worth of discussion, debate, and hands-on evaluation here in Geneva.
See you at Baselworld, watch nerds.
A Note On Affordability: While the term “affordable” varies widely, it’s important to consider context. Watches at SIHH often exceed five and even six-figure price points. We consider both the overall price and a “typical” price for a particular maison (brand) when we consider what’s affordable. It’s not a perfect science, but we feel this method best caters to you, the Gear Patrol reader, and your interests.
