The Roundup: the “Extra, Extra Read All About It!” Edition

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.

It’s a busy, busy news week in the world of watches with new models, new data on exports, new partnerships, and even one for the next generation of collectors: a watch-themed children’s book. 

The New New Pieces

Ulysse Nardin dropped a limited edition of its Blast: the Free Wheel Maillechort. With this model, a sleek maillechort dial (an alloy of copper, zinc, and nickel) sets the stage for a complex flying tourbillon with a constant force escapement. The Maison first introduced the uniquely designed complication a decade ago, and it took home the GPHG tourbillon award that year. Now, we get a striking new interpretation in a limited run of just 50 pieces

Richard Mille also released a new offering this week with its RM 33-03 Automatic. The model is the follow up to the RM 33-02 and debuts a new skeletonized automatic movement with a platinum micro rotor. The brand presents the timepiece in two variations: one in full grade 5 titanium and the other in a combination of Carbon TPT and 5N red gold.

Parmigiani Fleurier brings us a quintessential summer design with its new Tonda PF Sport Chronograph. This is your classic white watch with a twist thanks to the warm and soft tone of sandstone paired with rose gold. Aside from the new colorway, the design retains all the hallmarks of the Tonda PF Sport Chronograph line that you know and love, down to the ultra-refined textured rubber strap.

Speaking of summer watches, Omega offers up a new Seamaster Diver 300M in a bold orange hue. The palette gives nod to divers past where the choice of black contrasted with bright orange accents has become a staple combo for legibility. In addition to flecks of the shade on the dial, you get the choice of a bracelet or a daring orange rubber strap.

Forecast Says: Exports are Strong in These Two Countries

We know some of the countries that have consistently been the strongest for Swiss watch exports year over year, like the U.S., Japan, and, of course, Europe as a whole, but what about those poised for growth? According to the latest annual figures by the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industrybetween 2022 and 2024, Mexico ranks second with imports jumping 34.8%. This marks the strongest growth after India, which saw its watch imports increase by 45.9%, making it the fastest growing market for Swiss watch exports globally.

Over to Sports

In sports (and watch) related news, TAG Heuer has announced its return as the Official Timekeeper of TCS NYC Marathon. This marks TAG Heuer’s return to the event after previously sponsoring it, most recently in 2016. While the New York Road Runners (NYRR) itself served as the Official Timekeeper in the interim, Norqain had stepped into the role in 2022, now passing the torch back to TAG Heuer for the 2025 race.

Overseas, Omega has touched down in Singapore where the brand is serving as the official partner of the World Aquatics Championships. The duo has worked in tandem since 1973. Now in its 22nd edition, more than 2,500 athletes will gather in the Lion City for three weeks of competition.

Puff Piece

In 2017, Rebecca Struthers became the first watchmaker in British history to earn a PhD in horology. Now, the award-winning designer, watchmaker, and horological historian is bringing her expansive know-how back to basics with the debut of a new children’s book called About Time. In today’s tech-focused landscape, Struthers became concerned about the youngest members of the next generation of watch collectors and their ability to read an analogue clock or watch let alone their desire to enter the watch space as a profession. This led to her creation of a book that will help children understand everything from how humans first measured the passing of time to how a basic mechanical watch movement functions.