Watches & Wonders 2026: Watches Beyond the Ordinary
There are numerous categories of watches — and at least as many timepieces that defy categorization. Unique designs and an innovative approach to technology consistently give rise to extraordinary watches that go beyond the norm.
At Watches & Wonders 2026, you can discover these extraordinary watches.
Ressence – Type 9 IKE
The Belgian brand’s stated goal is to spark conversation—and the “Type 9 IKE,” limited to eight pieces, certainly does just that. For this model, Ressence has teamed up with Japanese artist Terumasa Ikeda, who uses the brand’s minimalist design as a canvas and transforms it into a futuristic-looking composition with precise layers of lacquer and delicate mother-of-pearl inlays. The convex, rotating dial lends the watch a lively dynamism.
“When I discovered Ikeda’s art, I was immediately captivated by his futuristic style, which at the same time embodies an ancient craft,” says Benoît Mintiens, founder and creative director of Ressence. “The result looks like a signal from another galaxy—a code sent back to us from the future.”
Yet the design is not merely superficial; it is closely interwoven with the mechanics. Ikeda developed a composition that is precisely tailored to the functioning of the Ressence Orbital Convex System (ROCS). Instead of traditional hands, an orbital display consisting of rotating discs indicates the time: the entire dial surface rotates to indicate the minutes, while smaller discs rotate simultaneously to indicate the hours and move around their own axes.
“When I first saw the ‘Type 9’ orbital display, it reminded me of a planetary system—something astronomical,” says Ikeda. “That inspired me to explore the heliocentric view of the world, when astronomers sought the truth through data despite resistance from established authorities. I can relate to that mindset very well.”
The biggest challenge was applying the Japanese lacquer technique to the curved surface. “Lacquer is actually flat and extremely fragile—like eggshells,” explains Ikeda. “We had to soak the material and carefully shape it so that it would conform to the curve.”
This intricate timepiece is housed in a black DLC-coated titanium case measuring 39 millimeters in diameter. (MSRP: €43,000)
Ulysse Nardin – Super-Freak
Over the past 25 years, Ulysse Nardin has continued to evolve the “Freak” in all its forms, constantly pushing the boundaries. With the “Super Freak,” limited to 50 pieces, the manufacture combines this expertise with its more than 180-year tradition of watchmaking.
“The Freak has freed people from the notion of what a watch must be,” says its designer, Ludwig Oechslin. Since its introduction in 2001, it has stood for a radically new concept: no dial, no hands, no crown. Instead, the entire movement rotates within a patented carousel mechanism, with energy transmitted directly from the mainspring to the display. The upper bridge functions as the minute hand, while a disc below it indicates the hours.
The “Super Freak” is powered by the new in-house UN-252 caliber, comprising 511 components—developed over a period of four years. Thanks to a patented gimbal suspension, it features, for the first time, a seconds display and an automatic double tourbillon. Two flying titanium tourbillons, each inclined at a ten-degree angle, rotate in opposite directions and complete one revolution every 60 seconds.
Power is supplied by the efficient Grinder system, which ensures reliable power transmission despite its high complexity. The movement is housed in a new 44-millimeter white gold case. Typical of the “Freak”: the time is set via the bezel, and the movement is wound via the case back.
Despite all the technical innovation, the “Super Freak” remains a handcrafted product: over 70 percent of its components are machined by hand and assembled in Ulysse Nardin’s haute horlogerie workshop. (MSRP: €342,350)
Greubel Forsey – Balancier Convexe S²
This year, Greubel Forsey is unveiling the final two versions of the “Balancier Convexe S²”—one in black ceramic and 5N red gold, the other in white ceramic. This brings to a close the development of a caliber that has been refined and revised several times over the past five years.
Although the two final models look very different, they are based on the same mechanical platform and are each produced in a limited edition of eleven pieces. Featuring the characteristic convex case (41.5 millimeters) and powered by a hand-wound movement with a balance wheel inclined at a 30-degree angle, they place the movement front and center in a particularly striking way.
This launch marks the beginning of the caliber’s final phase: production will be permanently discontinued in 2026, bringing to a close a significant chapter in Greubel Forsey’s mechanical development.
From the very beginning, the “Balancier Convexe S²” was conceived as a fully integrated timepiece, with the case geometry and movement structure developed in tandem. Its convex design follows the natural curve of the wrist, combining excellent readability with exceptional comfort.
The movement, comprising 301 components and offering a 72-hour power reserve, draws its energy from two high-speed, coaxial barrels. The finishing remains a key feature: titanium bridges and plates are satin-finished and hand-finished with polished edges, recesses, and finely crafted transitions.
The functional layout remains unchanged: hours and minutes are displayed via a floating arched bridge, complemented by a small seconds sub-dial and a sector-shaped power reserve indicator.
These final remarks also mark the transition to an almost entirely new collection.
