“What I appreciate about this is that it’s a gathering of a global scale. These are brands from all around the world coming together. It’s a chance for collectors like me to see what’s next but also what came before, because some of these brands are displaying some very rare vintage pieces. So, I would never get to see these unless I was here… I think that’s the importance of this: understanding there’s a past to this industry as well as a future. Putting them both together in one show is genius.”

Kevin O’Leary

During a panel discussion on Saturday, O’Leary also shared his insights with WatchTime Publisher Sara Orlando and WatchTime Senior Editor Bilal Khan. If you’ve missed it, you can watch his Collector’s Edition video from the WatchTime event here:

Also, make sure to subscribe to his channel.

Last week we recapped the fantastic show—which you can read more about, here. Today, we’re looking back at the weekend with our latest photo report, with photography via Petro Onysko. Enjoy!

Friday, October 20 — Day 1

Saturday, October 21 — Day 2

Sunday, October 22 — Day 3

And to learn about our next collectors’ event, sign up for the WatchTime newsletter, here.

Collectors flocked to experience the latest timepieces from 36 brand exhibitors, some revealed to the world for the first time live from the show floor. Renowned investor, author, TV personality, and collector Kevin O’Leary also attended the event, describing WatchTime New York 2023 as “Spectacular.” SAG-award-winning actor Aldis Hodge (“Black Adam”, “City on a Hill”) was also spotted at the event on Sunday, October 22.

The event kicked off with a sold-out VIP cocktail event on Friday, October 20, offering the first chance to experience the latest timepieces from the 36 brand exhibitors and the rare opportunity to mingle with global brand exhibitors, fellow collectors, and tastemakers while enjoying light bites and custom cocktails from WatchTime New York sponsor and Fifth Avenue retailer Wempe. Attendees were also treated to a grand reveal by Bell & Ross CEO Carlos Rosillo and Sacha Lakic – who unveiled their Blacktrack Motors collaboration and Blacktrack watch live on the show floor.

Saturday opened with insights from a high-profile collector – Kevin O’Leary, “Mr. Wonderful,” together with WatchTime Publisher Sara Orlando and WatchTime Senior Editor Bilal Khan. The renowned investor, TV personality, author, and watch collector also took time to walk the WatchTime New York show floor, mingling with fellow watch collectors and trying on watches from 36 leading watch brands under the grand dome of Gotham Hall. O’Leary wore two timepieces to the event – one on each wrist, and one timepiece sporting his trademark red watch strap. 

When asked what he thought about WatchTime New York, Kevin O’Leary replied: “Spectacular,” continuing: “What I appreciate about this is that it’s a gathering of a global scale. These are brands from all around the world coming together. It’s a chance for collectors like me to see what’s next but also what came before, because some of these brands are displaying some very rare vintage pieces. So, I would never get to see these unless I was here… I think that’s the importance of this: understanding there’s a past to this industry as well as a future. Putting them both together in one show is genius.”  

The 36 brand exhibitors this year included Armin Strom, Arnold & Son, Bell & Ross, Blancpain, Bovet, Breguet, Bremont, Carl F. Bucherer, Chopard, Chronoswiss, Cyrus, Czapek, Frederique Constant, G-Shock, Gerald Charles, Glashütte Original, Greubel Forsey, H. Moser & Cie., HYT, Laurent Ferrier, Louis Erard, Massena LAB, MB&F, Moritz Grossmann, Norqain, Oris, Parmigiani Fleurier, Perrelet, Piaget, RGM, Roger Dubuis, Speake-Marin, Ulysse Nardin, Vianney Halter, Voutilainen, and Zeitwinkel. Industry executives on site throughout the weekend included Bell & Ross CEO Carlos Rosillo, Kari Voutilainen of Voutilainen, Xavier de Roquemaurel of Czapek, Roland Murphy of RGM, Oris CEO of The Americas VJ Geronimo, and Emmanuel Breguet. 

Throughout the day Saturday and Sunday, attendees enjoyed complimentary tastings from Wolves Whiskey and Vin Fraîche Wine Group in between panel presentations that included “The Return of the Dress Watch,” moderated by Jeff Kingston and featuring Kelly Yoch (Director of Client Relations at Watches of Switzerland), Michael Hickcox, and Ken Koshiyama, (Haute Horlogerie International Sales Manager of Chopard). Saturday closed with “Aviation and Watches: What is a True Pilots’ Watch?”, moderated by Jeff Kingston, joined by Emmanuel Breguet (VP Head of Patrimony). 

The show closed its eighth edition with a final day of panels and watch presentations – including “Best alone, best together,” a panel exploring unexpected brand collaborations. The panel was moderated by WatchTime Editor-in-Chief Roger Ruegger, and featured panelists including Pascal Ravessoud (FHH), VJ Geronimo (Oris), Carlos Rosillo (Bell & Ross), and Adam Craniotes (RedBar).

The show closed with a panel celebrating indie watchmakers: “Independent Watchmaking on the Mezzanine.” Hosted by Jeff Kingston, the feature presentation highlighted Kari Voutilainen, Vianney Halter, Moritz Grossmann, Laurent Ferrier, Massena Lab, Cyrus, and Zeitwinkel. 

Many of the new and notable timepieces on display were exhibited for the first time on North American soil at WatchTime New York. Timepiece highlights included – but were not limited to – the Speake-Marin Openworked Sandblasted Titanium and Red Gold, the Arnold & Son Luna Magna Meteorite in red gold, the Bremont Supermarine GMT S302, the Czapek Quai des Bergues 40.5m, and the new Gerard Charles’ Maestro 8.0 Squelette. Zeitwinkel also introduced its “MAKS” timepiece collection to U.S. collectors for the first time. 

“The fact that our WatchTime network of collectors keep returning to this show year after year is a testament to the vitality of the U.S. market and the wholly unique experience our show provides. We have created a forum that brings collectors and brands together to learn, interact, and build connections.” 

Sara Orlando, Publisher of WatchTime New York

“We are proud to bring collectors and watchmakers together like never before – uniting the global watch community here in the heart of New York City at WatchTime New York.”

Roger Ruegger, WatchTime Editor-in-Chief

To learn more, visit WatchTime New York, here.

The Openworked Sandblasted Titanium and Openworked Sandblasted Red Gold are both presented in Speake-Marin’s hallmark Picadilly cases with four bold lugs and screws and available with diameters of 38mm and 42mm.

The watch dials of these time-only models stand out with their captivating surfaces crafted using a sandblasting technique. This method imparts a textured, grainy finish that, though consistently textured, exudes a rugged and exceedingly elegant appearance. This unique decoration plays with light, creating a mesmerizing interplay that is accentuated by the watch case material.

The finishing on the visible movement components underneath serves to underscore the intricate decoration complexity of the timepiece. Adding a touch of modernity, the minute indications and the small seconds counter, located at 1:30, are applied using an innovative 3D technique. For both legibility and aesthetic allure, the seconds hand, along with the heart-shaped central hours and minutes hands, adopts a polished black hue in the titanium version, while in the red gold version, the hands are gold-coated to harmonize with the case.

The engraving on the barrel at 5 o’clock which can be admired on the dial side expresses the eight values of Speake Marin, namely: respect, independence, liberty, unique, authenticity, Geneva, creativity and modernity.

At the heart of the Sandblasted Titanium and Sandblasted Red Gold is the self-winding in-house caliber SMA01. This movement with fully integrated micro-rotor was entirely created and assembled by the well-known workshop Le Cercle des Horlogers in La Chaux-de-Fonds. It beats with a frequency of 4hz and has a power reserve of 52 hours. As is standard at Speake Marin, the SMA01 is distinguished by exceptional decorations visible though the sapphire crystals on both sides, including bevelled bridges, 45° satin finish for the small seconds, circular satin finish, perlage, and polished screws.

Both versions are set with either a grey leather strap or a black leather strap, respectively attached with an 18K red gold pin buckle or with a titanium folding buckle, matching the metal of the watch case.

Available now, the Sandblasted Titanium has a recommended retail price of CHF 22,000 excl. taxes for the 38mm, and CHF22,600 excl. taxes for the 42mm; the Sandblasted Red Gold has a recommended retail price of CHF 34,000 excl. taxes for the 38mm and CHF 38,700 excl. taxes for the 42mm.

To learn more, visit Speake-Marin, here.

To purchase your tickets for WatchTime New York 2023, click here.

On the wrist, the new S302 features a familiar 40mm Trip-Tick case water resistant to 300m, with its design reminiscent of both previous Supermarine launches and Bremont watches at large. A stepped, screw-down crown and contrasting use of beveled polishing and brushed finishing adds to the multi-dimensional aesthetic of the watch. On the primarily steel edition, a day/night green and blue aluminum bezel insert defines the look, while the two DLC models opt for a black ceramic bezel insert with contrasting cream numerals. The fully DLC edition is available on either a leather or rubber strap, while the other two models come equipped on either of those or a stainless steel bracelet; the strap profile on each model is slightly slimmer, with the new design providing a more comfortable fit on the wrist.

Underneath a domed sapphire crystal we come to the Supermarine display of the watch, presented in either a blue or black colorway depending on the model and with Super-LumiNova details throughout. Printed geometric indices mark each of the hours, while an outer curved minute ring with new orange-accented quarter markings work to increase quick-legibility of the display. A subtle date indicator adds daily utility towards the 3 o’clock position, while an orange-tipped GMT hands complements the local time hands, altogether providing a look as good looking as it is useful.

The new movement powering the travel diver is an updated edition of the previous modified Sellita caliber used in the original S302. Dubbed as a modified Calibre 11 1/2’’’ BE-932AV, the new mechanism features a 50-hour power reserve, up from 38-hours in the previous iteration of the watch. The automatic movement also features a chronometer rating, whereas the previous movement did not. According to the brand, the updated power reserve and accuracy rating are a result of improved “pallet efficiency and barrel optimization,” with these mechanical improvements to be expanded to Bremont’s other watches over time.

The new Bremont Supermarine GMT S302 will be available this fall, with the two-tone version limited to 400 editions and the other options to come as regular production models. Pricing for the new collection ranges from $3,750 to $4,450 depending on the model and strap configuration.

To learn more, visit Bremont, here.

And to purchase tickets to WatchTime New York 2023, click here.