Luxury watch industry trends highlight natural stone dials and independent makers

The luxury watch industry is seeing a growing trend in the use of natural stones for dials, as highlighted by recent releases from Watches & Wonders Geneva 2026. Brands are utilizing materials like sodalite, light green aventurine, and pietersite to create unique, one-of-a-kind timepieces where no two dials are identical.

Notable releases include Arnold & Son’s HM model featuring Namibian pietersite, Rolex’s Day-Date 40 with a light green aventurine dial in 18ct Jubilee gold, and Piaget’s Polo 79 incorporating sodalite.

In addition to these high-end releases, the watch market is seeing increased interest in microbrands and independent watchmakers. To celebrate this movement, the “TOKYO WATCH WOW! 2026” event is scheduled for November 7, 2026, at WHAT CAFE in Tennozu, Tokyo. The event aims to bring together diverse independent makers and microbrands, allowing collectors to interact directly with founders and creators.