No one is ever fully prepared for the surprises awaiting them at the ‘motherland’ of watches, Watches and Wonders. And this year was no different – starting from the surprising new releases to the discontinued Rolex models at Watches & Wonders 2024. 

As the biggest and most prestigious event in the haute horology world, Watches and Wonders 2024 celebrated the finest in watchmaking, leaving enthusiasts inspired and excited about where things are going.

The sights, styles, and scenes from Watches and Wonders 2024 were beyond anything we hoped for. The fortunes of the luxury watch industry are back with a raft of all-gold watches. Those with their eyes on gold will know what we’re talking about—grand designs, exciting creations, and bold ideas that could initiate trends!

Let’s talk about the store of wealth now.

5 Luxurious Gold Watches Unveiled at Watches and Wonders 2024

• Rolex’ Very Gold’ Deepsea, Ref. 136668LB

Presenting a startling version of its oceanic giant, the Deepsea, Rolex dictated authority with the new solid 18ct yellow gold Deepsea Ref. 136668LB. Constructed with a whopping 320 grams of gold, the new Deepsea’s chunky profile feeds its purpose as a hardcore tool for deep-water exploration. Rolex assures that this is the heaviest watch it has ever made.

This all-gold attire is decked with a complementing bright blue dial that almost pops off against the yellow gold surrounding it. It has a ceramic bezel in a matching colour that makes it look almost electric. Given its water resistance of 3900m and power reserve of 70 hours, the watch commands attention both on land and underwater. On top of that, the solid gold Oyster bracelet adds dramatic heft to the watch.

We saw a few new things here: Rolex has now integrated a blue ceramic compression ring into its existing ring lock system. Secondly, it has dropped the Sea-Dweller moniker, de-cluttering the dial. Interestingly, the case back is made of RLX titanium, not gold. We assume there’s some functional reason behind this. All in all, this new all-gold Deepsea is another absolute no-nonsense watch from the daddy of the pack.

Key attributes

• Model: Ref. 136668LB
• Material: 18ct Yellow Gold
• Case Diameter: 44mm
• Dial: Blue
• Bracelet: 18ct Yellow Gold Oyster
• Crystal: Sapphire Crystal
• Water-Resistance: 3900 metres
• Power Reserve: 70 hours
• Movement: Calibre 3235

• Tudor Black Bay 58 ‘Gold’ GMT, Ref. M79018V

This is your calling if you’re all about the glam of a solid gold tool watch. Anyone who felt the large (very large, actually) Rolex Deepsea was too much should consider its family member Tudor for a more toned-down answer. While the lower-priced sibling is singing the same tune, it has produced a pitch-perfect gold version of its already-celebrated retro dive watch, the Black Bay 58.

All that shines is gold is definitely not applicable in this instance as Tudor has given the exterior a brushed or blasted effect. This sheen of gold is actually quite addictive and immediately recognisable for its less matte finish. What enhances this effect is the green dial and bezel. While many will furrow the brow, the golden green hue adds a touch of luxury normally reserved for Rolex, and the aluminium bezel presents a beautiful retro vibe. The Midas touch has been added to the bracelet, too!

This time, we saw that Tudor has perfectly proportioned the Black Bay 58 Ref. M79018V, making it a bit smaller than the standard Black Bay. You can easily put this golden glory in the precious metal sports watch category.

Key attributes

• Model: Ref. M79018V
• Material: 18ct Yellow Gold
• Case Diameter: 39mm
• Dial: Green
• Bracelet: 18ct Yellow Gold  
• Crystal: Sapphire Crystal
• Water-Resistance: 200 metres
• Power Reserve: 70 hours (Approximately)
• Movement: Calibre MT5400

• Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse, Ref. 5738/1R 

Our personal favourite, to be honest, is from Patek Philippe—the stunning Golden Ellipse Ref. 5738/1R. The brand has created a scintillating gold bracelet for this exquisite dress watch that silently gives away a lesson in refinement. The Golden Ellipse was born at the perfect time in history, in 1968, to help redefine Patek’s fine watchmaking skills, and this new model brings back the 1970s glamour with a minimal luxe charm—we love!

This delightfully artful dress watch grabbed the headlines with its harmonious proportions, elegant pink gold design, matching gold chain bracelet, and ebony black dial – the list is endless at this point. The rose gold Ref. 5738/1R straddles between a rectangle and a circle and finally settles at a finely proportioned elliptical case. The stunning ebony black dial with sunburst finish homes baton-style indices, all made in rose gold. To match the dial colour, there’s a black onyx cabochon set in the crown. And finally, the chain-link braid of the pink gold mesh bracelet is a work of art on its own.

While the Golden Ellipse models with bracelets have been around since the beginning of the collection until the 1980s, this is the first time Patek has paired a chain bracelet with a large-sized model. Totally appeasing any collector’s appetite for gold bracelet watches, the Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse Ref. 5738/1R is clearly the show-stopper.

Key attributes

• Model: Ref. 5738/1R  
• Material: 18ct Rose Gold
• Case Diameter: 34.5 x 39.5 mm
• Dial: Ebony Black Sunburst
• Bracelet: 18ct Rose Gold  
• Crystal: Sapphire Crystal
• Water-Resistance: 30 metres
• Power Reserve: Minimum 48 hours
• Movement: Calibre 240
  

• Vacheron Constantin Overseas, Ref. 7920V/210R-B965

This year, Vacheron Constantin did the thinkable: It combined the undeniably attractive forest green with the warmth of gold. Moreover, the brand released not just one but four new references in the same combination. While the Overseas can appear underrated in steel, the softly brushed pink gold versions ensure a stealth-wealth vibe.

Here, we shed light on the new Overseas Dual Time, Ref. 7920V/210R-B965, where the green dial embraces a fine textural contrast and has striking red accents on the PM/AM indicator and the dual time indicator hand. At a glance, anyone could think that Vacheron released this piece as a special edition of Mexico with the colours of the Mexican flag. But, honestly, the use of pink gold is what brings out the best in the green. A gorgeous blend of polish and brushing creates enough play of light, and the Maltese cross-themed bezel adds plenty of depth to the overall design.

Another thing that we absolutely love about this watch is that it offers a range of high-quality calf and rubber straps, providing enough versatility. Not only does it cater to aesthetic preferences, but it also ensures a comfortable fit for collectors. Without a doubt, the Vacheron Constantin Overseas Ref. 7920V/210R-B965 is one of the hottest releases of 2024.

Key attributes

• Model: Ref. 7920V/210R-B965
• Material: 18ct Pink Gold
• Case Diameter: 41mm
• Dial: Intense Green
• Bracelet: 18ct Pink Gold  (Green calfskin leather & Green rubber strap)
• Crystal: Sapphire Crystal
• Water-Resistance: 150 metres (Approximately)
• Power Reserve: Almost 3 days
• Movement: Calibre 5110DT

• Cartier Tortue Monopoussoir , Ref. WHTO0007

A proper, timeless, evergreen Cartier is what defines the ‘Tortue’, which was first introduced in 1912. The new release, Ref. WHTO0007 is a dress watch that immediately impresses with its functionality, good looks, versatility, and movement. But the fact that Cartier has stuffed this model under its Privé collection (the brand’s special label for limited-quantity watches) kicks out all your chances to own one.

Let’s leave the sad talk behind. The new 2024 interpretation of the Tortue (meaning Turtle in French) remains faithful to the original design but now has a sleeker and lighter profile. While the 34.8mm diameter may make you think it is a small watch, the 43.7mm lug-to-lug measurement ensures a relatively large footprint. This yellow-gold edition shines with a silver opaline dial, printed black numerals, and blue apple-shaped hands. Cartier has placed the rail track outside the Roman numerals to enhance its legibility, and it works beautifully. You can appreciate the spectacle of gears at work inside through the open case back.

The biggest news, however, is the return of the Mono pusher (Monopoussoir), which allows the start, stop, and reset—all three functions—to be set with a single push.

Cartier has released only 200 pieces of this effortless beauty. So, this pebble-smooth elegant timepiece will undoubtedly find a collector-owner soon.

Key attributes

• Model: Ref. WHTO0007
• Material: 18ct Yellow Gold
• Case Diameter: 34.8mm
• Dial: Silver Opaline
• Bracelet: Dark Blue Strap
• Crystal: Sapphire Crystal
• Water-Resistance: 30 metres
• Power Reserve: 44 hours
• Movement: Manual Winding 1928MC mono-pusher chronograph with a 30-minute timer

Summing Up

There’s a reason why watch aficionados eagerly await Watches and Wonders. This year, the event lived up to the saying ‘All that gleams is gold’ – quite literally! The return of the weighty glitter resonated with us.

Moreover, as the price of gold is screaming upward, the value of these all-gold watches will escalate big-time. So, are you considering going for gold this season?