In 2001 Jean-Marie Schaller encountered the genius of an eighteenth-century watchmaker who would become the focus of all his energy. Twenty years on, Louis Moinet is very much one of the small group of independent brands that are shaping watchmaking's "new wave".

The face of the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Mariner is none other than Benedict Cumberbatch, star of In a Breath, a short promotional film shot on Rakino Island in New Zealand. In it, we see him meditating before plunging with his watch into the ocean.

The Geneva manufacture revives its Heures Créatives collection, first shown in 2015 at Watches & Wonders Hong Kong, with a fresh interpretation of the Heure Romantique watch. Shimmering with diamonds, it confirms the significance women have always held for the brand.

Grand Seiko has put together a dazzling agenda for its 60th anniversary, marked by the opening of new manufacturing facilities, the inauguration of a flagship boutique on Place Vendôme, a dozen limited editions fitted with new calibres, and the unveiling of a concept movement.

Over 650 artisans from 25 countries feature in a new online searchable guide to European craftsmanship, developed by the Michelangelo Foundation. The platform also has suggestions for master classes, exhibitions and tours, recommendations from personalities in craftsmanship and design, and ideas for immersive experiences across Europe.

Water is one of the biggest environmental challenges, from access to drinking water, at risk of becoming a luxury, to the threats that pollution and overfishing represent for the oceans and marine life. Many of the projects that Rolex supports propose innovative solutions.