Guide: Aleks's 5 favourites from 2024

Text: Aleksandar Mladenovic
Image: Aleksandar Mladenovic & The manufacturers

Once again time to look back at yet another interesting watch year where we have seen relaunches of classic models in more traditional sizes, affordable ceramic watches and crazy creations with precious stones. Even if the watch year 2024 may not go down in history as the wildest year there are a few nuggets of gold. I have put together my 5 favourites below.

Cartier Animal & Crocodile Jewellery Watch

Technically speaking two watches but I am stretching it a little and see them as from one and the same collection – i.e. watches inspired by the animal kingdom with loads of precious stones. Imaginative and extravagant. Cartier are of course masters at creating these creative creations with inspiration from the animal kingdom. We have of course seen countless panther motifs through the years. The favourite is quite clearly the one that is reminiscent of a Pebble in shape.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Monoface

Finally time for a more classic size on JLC's Reverso where they have had a focus on slightly larger sizes in recent years. The new Tribute Monoface comes in two configurations: a matte dial "opaline" as well as one with a blue sunburst. The case measures 40.1 x 24.4 mm which is very close to the original size of 38 x 23 mm. Sits very nicely on the wrist. Manual movement, minimalist dial. Two thumbs up from me. The list price is 114 000 kronor.

Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept Tourbillon

Piaget have been at the top when it comes to ultra-thin mechanical movements for several decades. The Altiplano Ultimate Concept once held the title as the world's thinnest mechanical wristwatch. They have had tough competition on that front in recent years from Bulgari, Richard Mille and most recently from the Russian independent watchmaker Konstantin Chaykin who has taken over the throne.

This year they therefore shifted focus a little and made the world's thinnest mechanical tourbillon instead which we had the possibility to get to handle during Watches & Wonders. Not the most practical wristwatch, but oh so cool.

Maurice Lacroix Aikon Ceramic

It does not have to cost the shirt off your back to have a watch with a case and bracelet entirely in ceramic. Rado are good at this and now Maurice Lacroix are getting into the game too with an affordable watch in ceramic.

Of course they do this in their best-selling collection Aikon and they do it with two different versions: one in white ceramic in size 39 mm and one in black ceramic in size 42 mm. The price is according to their website 3 100 euro.

Dennison ALD

I wrote an article earlier about the revived Dennison which is a time-honoured case manufacturer that has been given new life. A series of watches that has really appealed to me who have a soft spot for vintage watches with dials in natural materials. In this case stone dials.

A pleasant case shape that reeks of the 70s, stone dials and a humane price tag. It will undeniably be interesting to follow their (new) journey going forward.