What 2 watch collectors took away from Watches and Wonders 2025
Self-confessed Cartier watch nerd Nic James and TickTockBelle Stephanie Soh share their highlights from the Geneva watch fair
With Watches and Wonders 2025 (WWG) still fresh in our minds, Tatler GMT reached out to Nic James, head of The Horology Club Malaysia, and Stephanie Soh, one-half of TicktockBelles in Singapore, for their thoughts on the fair from an enthusiast's perspective.
Read more: Watches and Wonders 2025: Tatler GMT editors pick their favourite watches NIC JAMES
What watch releases or trends stood out to you?
Last year's event left me a bit underwhelmed. There were plenty of releases, but nothing that really grabbed my attention. As a collector, it came across like the industry was playing it safe.
But this year brought back the wow factor. We saw new movements, interesting technology, better case proportions, and thoughtful updates that made the watches more wearable. It felt like the brands cared about what was happening under the hood, not just how the watch looked on the outside. I was genuinely excited, and that hasn't happened in a while.
Which maisons made the strongest statements this year?
Rolex really stood out to me. They launched the Land-Dweller with the new Dynapulse escapement, and that's a big move from a brand known for slow and incremental changes. Rolex doesn't often introduce entirely new models, so this was exciting to see. The engineering behind the escapement is interesting, and I'm curious to see how it performs over time. What excites me most is its potential— does this mean we will get to see a slimmer Submariner one day?
Ulysse Nardin also impressed me. I've always appreciated the Freak, but the new Diver [Air] really excited me. The skeletonised diver can handle 5,000g of force and is water-resistant up to 200m. It's like Richard Mille technology that can be taken underwater. It wore so well too for a 44mm.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Vogue Arabia
26-05-2025
- Vogue Arabia
Gemma Chan Joins Cartier as Newest Global Ambassador
Cartier has officially announced British actress and producer Gemma Chan as its newest ambassador, unveiling the partnership during a dazzling High Jewellery event in Singapore. The announcement marks a natural next step in Chan's ongoing relationship with the Maison, having already participated in a number of its cultural celebrations. At the exclusive gala held at the National Gallery Singapore, Chan embodied elegance and innovation—two key traits that define both her career and Cartier's identity—by wearing the intricate Molinae necklace and earrings from the Nature Sauvage collection. Best known for her work in Humans , Crazy Rich Asians , and the Oscar-winning The Boy and the Heron , Chan continues to make waves not only in front of the camera but also behind it. She is currently developing and starring in a biopic about legendary actress Anna May Wong, and she is also executive producing the upcoming Amazon MGM Studios TV series Rise of the Empress . A UNICEF UK Ambassador, Chan is admired for combining star power with a commitment to social and cultural impact. 'I am delighted to join the Maison Cartier as an ambassador and honoured to mark the announcement at this exceptional display of creativity and savoir-faire in Singapore,' Chan stated. 'I have long appreciated the beauty and finesse of the Maison's creations, and I look forward to continuing this exciting collaboration.' The timing of her ambassadorship beautifully coincides with Cartier's unveiling of En Équilibre — a fresh chapter in its High Jewellery narrative. This new ring collection showcases the Maison's signature balance of artistic restraint and bold design. Comprising five singular creations, the collection reflects Cartier's devotion to harmony, precise craftsmanship, and expressive colour pairings. Hugo Julliot With Gemma Chan now a face of the brand and En Équilibre highlighting Cartier's continued innovation, the Maison enters an exciting new era that celebrates bold individuality, masterful design, and enduring cultural resonance.
Tatler Asia
08-05-2025
- Tatler Asia
Met Gala 2025: When superfine tailoring met superfine jewels
Jennie in Chanel Above Jennie in Chanel (Photo: courtesy of) Blackpink's Jennie, who is a Chanel ambassador, arrived in a meticulously tailored black tuxedo gown with an off-the-shoulder top and a dramatic train, inspired by Coco Chanel's 1920s-30s menswear styles. Layered pearl chains and a Chanel high jewellery ring punctuated her look. A black-and-white top hat completed her ensemble, signalling a new era of sartorial risk-taking for the K-pop icon. Jennie's thoughtful homage to classic tailoring perfectly captured the gala's spirit while showcasing her evolving style. Rosé in Tiffany & Co Above Rosé attends the 2025 Met Gala wearing Tiffany & Co jewellery (Photo: courtesy of) After a three-year hiatus, Rosé of Blackpink returned to the Met Gala in a plunging black Saint Laurent tuxedo suit tailored by Anthony Vaccarello, complete with a dramatic train. Her look was accessorised with an oversized Tiffany & Co pendant necklace and matching ring. Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan makes his Met Gala debut Above Shah Rukh Khan giving us a lesson on layering (Photo: courtesy of Theo Wargo/FilmMagic) Bollywood's Shah Rukh Khan, aka King Khan, made a striking Met Gala debut in a custom black Sabyasachi suit, going shirtless beneath a tailored waistcoat that revealed his sculpted physique. But it was his jewellery that truly stole the show: these include a dazzling diamond-studded 'K' pendant, a necklace with his initials, layered gold chains and four ornate rings. His jewels were a masterstroke of personal symbolism and regal Indian craftsmanship, perfectly aligned with the gala's celebration of dandyism and self-expression. Isha Ambani in a Maharaja-style Cartier necklace Above Isha Ambani in a Cartier necklace with a great backstory (Photo: courtesy with) Indian businesswoman Isha Ambani wore a breathtaking Cartier necklace from her personal collection, a 481-carat cascade of diamonds inspired by a legendary diamond necklace Jacques Cartier designed in 1931 for India's Maharaja of Nawanagar. Fun fact: In the 2018 film Ocean's 8 , the historic necklace was the centrepiece of a heist that took place at the Met; a prop version of the famous piece was created for use in the film. Nicole Kidman shimmered in Cindy Chao The Art Jewel Above Nicole Kidman in Cindy Chao The Art Jewel (Photo: courtesy of) Nicole Kidman graced the Met Gala in a striking black strapless Balenciaga gown, perfectly complemented by exquisite jewellery from Cindy Chao The Art Jewel's White Label Collection. Her jewellery included the sculptural Four Seasons Foliage Earrings and the elegant Four Seasons Branch Bangle. Adding a vibrant pop of colour, Kidman wore the Emerald Flora Ring, a standout piece. Together, these jewels elevated her look and marked one of the night's most memorable jewellery moments. Colman Domingo in Boucheron Above Colman Domingo draped in Boucheron (Photo: courtesy of Michael Buckner/Penske Media via Getty Images) Actor Colman Domingo wore Boucheron's Iceberg necklace from the Bleu Carte Blanche High Jewelry 2024 collection, paired with a diamond ear climber. Teyana Taylor in David Yurman jewellery Above Teyana Taylor wearing David Yurman jewellery (Photo: courtesy of Mike Coppola/MG25/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue) Teyana Taylor wore a look designed by Ruth E Carter and accessories by David Yurman jewellery. These included serpentine chains, brooches and a watch-fob-inspired necklace. The sterling silver, white gold and diamond pieces cascaded down her back. In case you missed it: 7 Mother's Day gift ideas that mum will actually appreciate Hailey Bieber in Tiffany & Co Above Hailey Bieber dripping in Tiffany & Co diamonds (Photo: courtesy of) Hailey Bieber opted for Tiffany & Co jewels from the 2024 Blue Book Collection: classic white diamonds in various shapes and sizes. While her platinum earrings featured over 12 total carats of pear-shaped diamond drops, the platinum necklace featured a diamond of over 25 carats surrounded by diamond accents. She added further sparkle with a bracelet and two statement rings—one boasting a diamond over 6 carats, the other over 8 carats—and completed the dazzling set with a Tiffany Victoria Alternating Ring in platinum. Gigi Hadid in De Beers Above Gigi Hadid in De Beers (Photo: courtesy of John Shearer/WireImage) Gigi Hadid shimmered in De Beers diamonds. Her jewellery included the Light Rays high jewellery earrings and ring by the maison, adding radiant brilliance to her Miu Miu ensemble and reinforcing her status as a red carpet style icon. Lewis Hamilton in Briony Raymond Above Lewis Hamilton in classc Briony Raymond jewels (Photo: courtesy of Michael Buckner/Penske Media via Getty Images) Lewis Hamilton embraced the dandy theme with a brooch and matching cufflinks crafted from freshwater pearls and garnet-coloured diamonds by Briony Raymond. His coordinated accessories, including a brooch on his hat, were standout touches that married bejewelled heritage with haute couture flair. Read more: Met Gala 2025: From Alicia Keys to Doja Cat, the celebrities who understood the assignment Kim Kardashian decadent in Moussaieff jewels Above Kim Kardashian in Moussaieff (Photo by Theo Wargo/FilmMagic) Kim Kardashian made a bold jewellery statement in Moussaieff jewels, adding her signature mix of glamour and edge to the Met Gala's constellation of star-studded looks. She layered a white diamond choker with a diamond fringe necklace, a diamond line necklace with matching diamond earrings and a ring to complete her look. Anne Hathaway in Bulgari Above NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 05: Anne Hathaway attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/FilmMagic) A magnificent Bulgari necklace took centre stage in Anne Hathaway's Met Gala 2025 look—a breathtaking statement piece featuring a giant rectangular sapphire framed by sparkling diamonds. This exquisite jewel provided a striking contrast to her bespoke Carolina Herrera ensemble, which paid tribute to the late American fashion journalist André Leon Talley. Hathaway wore a crisp, oversized white cotton shirt tied at the waist-echoing Talley's famous style mantra 'you can wear a white shirt and be well-dressed', paired with a black-and-silver striped beaded column skirt, a signature Herrera motif. Priyanka Chopra Jonas in Bulgari Above Priyanka Chopra's Bulgari necklace featured a 241.06 carat emerald centre stone (Photo: courtesy of) A show-stopping Bulgari necklace featuring the Magnus Emerald—the largest faceted emerald ever set by the brand at 241.06 carats—was the centrepiece of Priyanka Chopra's Met Gala 2025 look. This extraordinary jewel, part of Bulgari's forthcoming Polychroma High Jewelry collection, was paired with matching Bulgari diamond earrings and an emerald-and-diamond cocktail ring by the actor. Chopr complemented these magnificent jewels with a custom black-and-white polka-dot blazer and skirt ensemble by Olivier Rousteing for Balmain.
Tatler Asia
07-05-2025
- Tatler Asia
What 2 watch collectors took away from Watches and Wonders 2025
Self-confessed Cartier watch nerd Nic James and TickTockBelle Stephanie Soh share their highlights from the Geneva watch fair With Watches and Wonders 2025 (WWG) still fresh in our minds, Tatler GMT reached out to Nic James, head of The Horology Club Malaysia, and Stephanie Soh, one-half of TicktockBelles in Singapore, for their thoughts on the fair from an enthusiast's perspective. Read more: Watches and Wonders 2025: Tatler GMT editors pick their favourite watches NIC JAMES What watch releases or trends stood out to you? Last year's event left me a bit underwhelmed. There were plenty of releases, but nothing that really grabbed my attention. As a collector, it came across like the industry was playing it safe. But this year brought back the wow factor. We saw new movements, interesting technology, better case proportions, and thoughtful updates that made the watches more wearable. It felt like the brands cared about what was happening under the hood, not just how the watch looked on the outside. I was genuinely excited, and that hasn't happened in a while. Which maisons made the strongest statements this year? Rolex really stood out to me. They launched the Land-Dweller with the new Dynapulse escapement, and that's a big move from a brand known for slow and incremental changes. Rolex doesn't often introduce entirely new models, so this was exciting to see. The engineering behind the escapement is interesting, and I'm curious to see how it performs over time. What excites me most is its potential— does this mean we will get to see a slimmer Submariner one day? Ulysse Nardin also impressed me. I've always appreciated the Freak, but the new Diver [Air] really excited me. The skeletonised diver can handle 5,000g of force and is water-resistant up to 200m. It's like Richard Mille technology that can be taken underwater. It wore so well too for a 44mm.
