The Roundup: EWC's Favorites of Watches and Wonders 2026
The Roundup
Each week, EWC will be gathering horological industry news, cultural conversations and moments surrounding our favorite topic: timepieces. Happy Friday; here’s what’s on our watch.
Watches & Wonders has been going on all week, with countless releases from the exhibiting brands. It’s a lot to take in, so we’ve curated a shortlist of the EWC team’s favorite releases for the 2026 edition of Watches & Wonders.
Zach Gorrasi - Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Chronometre Perpetual Calendar
“This is an easy choice for me: JLC Master Control Chronometre Perpetual Calendar in stainless steel.
To me, it has the perfect dimensions, and the blue/gray gradient dial is stunning and balanced. But what really puts this over the top for me is the bracelet. Such a clean design with their own unique touch. I cannot wait to see one in person!”
Kathleen McGivney - Van Cleef and Arpels Midnight Jour Phase de Lune
“The star of the show for me is the Van Cleef and Arpels Midnight Jour Phase de Lune. It has two overlapping complications, with an animated day/night display indicator as well as a moonphase display. This may underscore my slight bias towards my favorite complication, the moonphase, but the inclusion of the day and night indication and the fact that you can activate that animation on demand really wowed me. The execution and finishing are exceptional, and the depiction of the sun is truly spectacular, with guilloché at the center and its golden rays extending outward, bringing the celestial to life.”
David Cote - Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41
“For me, the standout has to be the crown itself: Rolex, with the new Oyster Perpetual 41 celebrating 100 years of the Oyster. The yellow Rolesor case and bracelet, capped by that domed gold bezel, feel like a quiet nod to early mixed‑metal Oysters while still reading as a modern daily wearer.
I love the way the slate sunray dial hides the anniversary in plain sight, with “100 years” replacing “Swiss Made” at six o’clock. The engraved “100” on the crown offers another nod to the anniversary, and the discreet green minute‑track squares tie it all back to Rolex’s signature color. Under the hood, you still get the workhorse caliber 3230 with 70 hours of power reserve and the beefed‑up 2026 Superlative Chronometer spec, so it’s not just a commemorative piece; it’s a very real expression of what a modern Oyster is supposed to be a century on. They nailed it with this release!”
Cat Nelson - Audemars Piguet Établisseurs Galets
“My favorite release is the Audemars Piguet Établisseurs Galets. I love the well-known Royal Oak shape, but AP has historically made so many other cool watch cases and shapes, and I love to see that sense of whimsy return. It feels modern, fun, and timeless all at once. I also appreciate a women's watch that isn't just a smaller version of the mens with a diamond bezel. This is just so FUN! I’d love to see future variations with different stones and metals too!”
Christopher Weiss - Nomos Twice Unique
“I love Nomos' Twice Unique, a series of nine one-of-a-kind timepieces sold in pairs. These beautiful (and sometimes wild) dials are by artists working outside the industry. Nomos has a long history of dial variations, and these new pieces from artists who specialize in textiles, objects, gilding, painting, guilloché, and engraving make for a stunning and special collaboration.”