The year in watchmaking, wrapped – 24 moments in 2024, from record-breaking ‘thinnest’ to celebrity watch spottings – Taylor Swift, Kevin Hart, Mark Zuckerberg – and major moves at LVMH and Richemont
From watch fairs and bumper vintage auctions to landmark releases, and from C-suite moves to new A-list collectors, here are 24 of the most important events that shaped high horology this year
Of course, watchmakers and brands across the board made waves and released ever bolder pieces. We had not one but two watches vie for the record of thinnest watch in the world. We saw Patek Philippe resurface with its first new collection in 25 years. And there was a changing of the guard for top brass at LVMH and Richemont, whilst brands partnered even more heavily with independent watchmakers and even clockmakers. There’s a lot to celebrate as we wrap this year up, so here are 24 highlights of this year in horology.
1. LVMH Watch Week brought us new Bulgari, Hublot and Daniel Roth
LVMH kicked off high horology in 2024 with style as this year’s LVMH Watch Week saw dazzling releases from the conglomerate’s brands. Hublot’s sci-fi-esque MP-10 Tourbillon departs heavily from the brand’s usual sports watches, while Bulgari gave us the malachite-dialled Lucea alongside the Bulgari Bulgari, evoking the 1970s. LVMH also presented an updated Daniel Roth Tourbillon Souscription in a bid to relaunch one of the most celebrated names in high horology.
2. Frédéric Arnault heads watches at LVMH – plus CEO shifts for Tag Heuer, Hublot and Bulgari
Bernard Arnault’s second-youngest son, Frédéric, previously CEO of Tag Heuer, was appointed CEO of LVMH Watches in January, in the wake of successful revivals of historic models for the brand, including the Monaco, Monza and Carrera. In July, Julien Tornare (above left), who succeeded Arnault as Tag Heuer CEO in January, took over as the CEO of Hublot in September, replacing Ricardo Guadalupe (above right). Citing a desire to “step back from operational management”, Guadalupe was appointed honorary president, per a release. Tornare was succeeded by former Bulgari general manager Antoine Pin as Tag Heuer CEO.
3. Raúl Pagès took home Louis Vuitton Watch Prize
The inaugural Louis Vuitton Watch Prize for Independent Creatives was awarded to Raúl Pagès in February for his showstopping Régulateur à Détente RP1. The piece was selected from a pool – which included Simon Brette and Petermann Bédat – by a finalist judges’ panel that included Tag Heuer movements director Carole Forestier-Kasapi and independent maker Rexhep Rexhepi. Pagès was also awarded a grant and one-year mentorship by a team at La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton, for building a watch that features an intricately designed detent escapement for increased accuracy, commonly seen in marine chronometers.