The 1960s and ‘70s are widely remembered as a time of freedom and fantasy. Always quick to claim inspiration from these decades, in reality very few watchmakers dare to truly embrace such a bold aesthetic.

For women or for men, a watch is still a watch. As consumers reject traditional gender divides, more brands are emphasising why their watches can be worn by both sexes.

This June 26th, Breguet commemorates 220 years since Abraham-Louis Breguet was awarded a patent for the tourbillon. His invention continues to delight collectors and has become a “rite of passage” for any brand dedicated to watchmaking excellence.

This year’s raft of anniversaries is retraining the spotlight on adventure-prone watches, starting with the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso and closely followed by the IWC Pilot’s Watch and the Rolex Explorer II. Adding style in the heat of the action are the Cartier Tank and the Patek Philippe Nautilus.

Watches for her, watches for him, there is less of a clear-cut distinction among the year’s releases. The emphasis is more on emotional appeal as new colours enter the spectrum.

After talking the talk, the watch industry is beginning to walk the walk – and not just with isolated initiatives. Sustainable development is making very real inroads, as reported at Watches and Wonders.

The “cloche” (bell) shape appeared in Cartier pieces in 1920. “Cloche de Cartier”, because, when placed horizontally, its outline is reminiscent of a service bell rung at a counter. Like many Cartier signature pieces, it has been named after its shape, made notable for the purity of its line and clear inspiration.

The sports, or rather sports-style, watch stole the show at the Watches and Wonders Geneva digital fair.