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Nintendo? Donald Trump? What’s making our watch columnist giddy this week

It’s neither the video-game company’s latest lo-tech release nor the Stormy Daniels affair that’s got us all excited. Rather it’s the new releases at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, in Geneva

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Published: 6:31pm, 23 Jan 2018Updated: 11:51am, 24 Jan 2018

It’s all rather unbecoming but I’m feeling giddy this week. No, it’s not because Nintendo has unveiled a new series of toys, made of, uh, cardboard. Or because of hilarious reports that the president of the US of A paid hush money to a porn star to cover up an affair (although I’m still laughing at that). Rather the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH), in Geneva, Switzerland, the first big watch fair of the year, has closed its doors and there’s been a rush of new releases. Yay! Wait, what do you mean you’re not as excited as I am? Bah!

The IWC Tribute to Pallweber Edition “150 Years” Ref IW505001 wristwatch.

This news may not evoke as much joy in normies, but allow me, at least, to get you partially excited (not in the Stormy Daniels sense) about what’s new and what’s hot. And solidly in the Top 10 of my list from SIHH 2018 is the IWC Tribute to Pallweber Edition “150 Years” Ref IW505001, a little bit because it doesn’t look like an IWC and mostly because it is simply beautiful.

As the name suggests, this watch marks an anniversary, and not just any old anniversary but 150 years, so the Swiss luxury brand has gone big with a wristwatch and an achingly beautiful pocket-watch version, too. We’ll focus on the wristwatch as it’s going to be more widely available and, well, I don’t really have to sell it much as, in terms of design, layout and finish, it is top notch.