After almost a decade of design being the major horological obsession, THIS IS THE YEAR OF THE TOOL in watchmaking; complications and technique above all else. In 2026, “WHERE DO WE GO NEXT?” is undoubtedly the question on every watchmaker’s mind. 

FOR THE CHOPARD FAMILY celebrating their 30th year in watchmaking, the answer is its new minute-repeater skeleton watches: you’ll spot one of them, the Grand Strike, on our covers. Grand Strike, combining a grande sonnerie with a tourbillion regulator, takes the title of THE MOST TECHNICALLY-COMPLICATED WATCH ever created by Chopard; it also takes the maison into the almighty circle of grande sonnerie movement makers including Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin and Audemars Piguet.

Speaking of AP, the anniversary celebrations continue there, too. To celebrate 150 years, the brand has released a super-complicated watch with an unusual calendar display: only not for the wrist, but for the pocket. The move is a sure sign the brand is looking to appeal to very serious collectors, and though it may at first appear to have old-fashioned roots, it represents a certain KNOW-HOW IN EXPERIMENTING WITH THE LIMITS THAT FEELS ADMIRABLE. So much so, AP’s Chief Industrial Officer calls this pocket watch “the best thing the company has created” during his 15 years there. Elsewhere in our pages, we look at Van Cleef & Arpels’ Midnight Jour Nuit Phase de Lune, a watch that accurately indicating the phases of the Moon during the night and day. What’s more, a new skeleton dial H08 from Hermès proves that even design-focussed clientele can be attracted to these styles thanks to EXPOSED MECHANICS.

In fashion, Dior’s sculptural Grand Bal watches and Louis Vuitton’s versatile Escale collection show that the FASHION HOUSES ARE NO LONGER PRETENDERS to fine watchmaking’s throne. The traditional watchmakers may be hoping their emphasis on complications presents a departure from what’s possible at the fashion houses; here at QP, we’re just fascinated that the competition is heating up.