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 2026 is behind us, and the watch collecting world is still gathering its thoughts about the hundreds of new releases that were announced there. But the watch industry isn’t stopping there - new releases, partnership announcements, and auctions are coming our way. Let’s dive in.

New Watch Releases This Week

Jaeger-LeCoultre announced new collaborations with industrial designer Marc Newson as it unveiled an exhibition called ‘The Perpetual Timekeeper’ at Milan Design Week. The exhibition both showcases the Atmos clock and honors the longtime partnership between the brand and Newson. In addition to exhibiting 53 timepieces and 32 Atmos clocks and a curated selection of Newson’s signature designs, the brand unveiled three new clocks in collaboration with Marc Newson: the Atmos Hybris Artistica Tellurium in a limited edition of 3 pieces, the Atmos Designer Calibre 568 for $42,800, and the new Memovox Travel Clock, price available on request. The exhibition at Villa Mozart in Milan runs through April 26.

Vacheron Constantin introduced a series of watches in collaboration with the Louvre Museum, the Métiers D'Art Tribute to Great Civilisations. The four models, limited to 15 pieces each, showcase nine decorative crafts through the representation of cultural symbols placed within a decorative arts context, and are powered by the in-house Manufacture Calibre 2460 G4/2 movement. The models were inspired by collections in the museum’s Department of Antiquities, celebrating Pharaonic Egypt, the Assyrian Empire, Ancient Greece and Imperial Rome.

In advance of its upcoming tour showcasing its 2026 collections, De Bethune announced the DB28xs Sea Tourbillon, powered by caliber DB2009V7, which features a high-frequency tourbillon, beating at 36,000 vibrations per hour and completing a full rotation in 30 seconds. The movement is ultra-light, weighing just 0.18g. The 39mm mirror-polished titanium case frames a blued titanium dial with a random guilloché pattern that evokes the depths and waves of the sea. The DB28xs is priced at $210,000.

Celebrity Watch Endorsement

Urban Jürgensen announced that Timothée Chalamet will join the brand as a partner with a minority equity stake in the family-owned company. According to the brand, he joins a number of other strategic external investors who own a small portion of the company. This will be Chalamet’s first foray into taking a partnership role in a company, and he will also work as a creative advisor to the house on a number of projects and initiatives. Chalamet has been frequently seen wearing Urban Jürgensen timepieces on multiple red carpets and other occasions.

Watch Industry News & Auction Update

Watches & Wonders 2026 concluded on Monday, April 20, with new records in attendance and social media impressions. Overall attendance was up by 9% year-over-year, with 60,000 unique visitors attending the show, including 1,750 journalists, 6,000 retailers, and 25,000 tickets sold during the three days of the fair that were open to the public. In addition, the new ‘In the City’ programming drew 10,000 participants around the city of Geneva.

Go in-depth with EWC on the Watches & Wonders releases on YouTube here.

Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo announced highlights of its Hong Kong Watch Auction: XXII, taking place May 30 and 31, 2026. It includes the only known Patek Philippe Ref. 2499 First Series in pink gold with Vichet case and British hallmarks, the first diamond-and-ruby-set edition of the Cartier Crash Squelette ever to appear at auction, a selection of Art Deco Cartier clocks, a double-factory-sealed condition Ref. 5970R with a bespoke “MSO” monogrammed dial commissioned by renowned American entrepreneur Michael Ovitz, a Philippe Dufour Simplicity in stainless steel with a grey guilloché dial and Breguet numerals, and an F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain “Chine 2010” in a 38mm platinum case.