One of the not-to-miss places to visit during any stay in Geneva is the MB&F M.A.D. Gallery. This is especially the case if you are in Geneva for a watch event or have any interest in watches. The M.A.D. Gallery is everything you would expect from Max Büsser and his interesting, innovative, and crazy watches, but also the crazy cool designs that he shows us on a regular basis.

TAG Heuer has a long history of innovation and leading the way in chronograph watches. Indeed the original brand, Heuer (before becoming TAG Heuer) introduced along with Breitling and others the first automatic chronograph movement and led the way in popularizing the usage of wrist-worn chronographs during automobile races. The Heuer Monaco, Autavia, Montreal, Carrera, and many more, are the stuff of racing legends, and are all named after some rally or formula one race.

So when Jean-Claude Biver took the helm of the LVMH brand in 2016 to produce some needed rejuvenation, he immediately raised the need to continue pushing the boundaries in chronographs technology and keeping them affordable. The TAG Heuer chronograph tourbillon (with Heuer 02-T movement) was introduced in early 2016 with a price tag of around $15,000. This raised eyebrows in the industry, notably from one Thierry Stern, head of Patek Philippe.

What could TAG Heuer do for an encore? Well, introducing the TAG Heuer Nanograph Tourbillon with a brand new hairspring made from an unbeknown exotic material, that, of course, promises better performance than even silicon. I got a chance to see this watch during Geneva Days or Geneva watch fair, in January 2019. Let’s take a closer look.

The Zenith Manufacture is most known for a movement: the El Primero. The first automatic chronograph movement, released exactly 50 years ago. Few innovations have occurred in the space since and this movement remains widely used today and was indeed the basis for many legendary wristwatch chronographs, including the Rolex Daytona and the TAG Heuer Carrera.

Today, Zenith has experienced a revival. Not simply as the creator of a legendary movement but also one that is innovating on mechanical engines, reviving classic watches, and releasing bold new designs. Each of these three points can be seen in their Defy Lab watch released last year, the popular vintage-inspired pilot line, and their bold new Defy collection.

Toward the end of the week of SIHH in Geneva, I had an opportunity to see first hand a sneak peak at the new 2019 collection from Zenith. While I was sure to be interested in what they could be doing for such an important anniversary, what ended up catching my attention, to my surprise, was something else.

The 2019 novelties I want to look back on all follow the “Hublot Big Bang recipe” and for the most part, in my view, succeed widely at producing a uniquely Hublot timepiece. Does that translate into a watch you are likely to see at the next social event? Unlikely. However, that’s exactly the point. These limited (all Hublot watches are limited) are not meant for the new collector or those discovering Hublot today. Instead, they are for the season collector, perhaps already owning an Hublot, wanting something unique in a familiar package. Let’s explore three of these interesting Hublot watches.