Watches & Wonders 2026: The key trends to watch

Watches & Wonders 2026, the world’s premier luxury watch exhibition, will take place from 14–20, 2026, at Palexpo, showcasing over 60 major brands, with public access from April 18–20. As collectors and enthusiasts prepare for the event, early signs point to two standout trends this year: modern skeletonized watches and stone dials.

Twenty years ago, it was Roger Dubuis and Cartier who dared to bring skeletonizing into the 21st century. Back then, the few other skeletonized watches were often stuck in a baroque style that hadn’t changed much since the technique was first pioneered in the 1760s.

Today, the story is completely different. Every brand worth its salt is creating skeletonized or at least open-worked timepieces. These watches combine traditional decorative arts with a contemporary edge: sharp angles, straight lines, rhodium-plating, and the use of titanium are just a few of the modern techniques being employed. Look no further than H. Moser & Cie., Cvstos, Richard Mille, Lorige, TAG Heuer, Armin Strom, Audemars Piguet, and Zenith. If a brand has the muscle, it also has a skeletonized or open-worked watch crafted with a striking, modern design.

“Everybody Must Get Stoned”

Stone dials are everywhere in 2026, appearing across nearly every price point. Brands embracing the trend include Dennison, H. Moser & Cie., Piaget, Rolex, Bvlgari, and others. While Piaget first popularized stone dials around the era of Bob Dylan’s 1966 song “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35”– a title referencing biblical punishment, not illicit substances – the trend faded after about a decade. Today, it’s back with a vengeance.

Among the most popular stones are green and striped malachite, shimmering blue lapis lazuli, ultra-black onyx, caramel-toned Tiger Eye, and even marble, as seen at Bvlgari. Each dial turns the watch into a miniature work of art, combining natural beauty with technical mastery.