As May gave way to June, retailers and watch brands in America flocked to Sin City for the U.S.A.’s most important jewelry and watch fairs: Couture and JCK Las Vegas. View full story on WORLDTEMPUS – 15 June 2012
Several important themes took center stage: the emergence of smaller women’s watches in the 26-30 mm size; the concept of classic or vintage inspired men’s single-complication watches; and military and armed force-inspired pieces. It is expected that these directions will be the trendsetters in the American market this year.
Many brands were releasing smaller-sized women’s watches, often in two-tone cases and bracelets. Other brands showcased complex watches for women. Dior made a strong statement with its stunning artistic-dial masterpieces brought stateside for this exhibition – showing incredible one-of-a-kind couture watches that blend mixed gemstone dials with diamonds and gems for magnificent luxury appeal.
Men’s watches made a prevailing statement throughout the show with emphasis clearly on vintage classic looks, single complications and military themes. Graham London surprised retailers (and some press) with its incredible new Silverstone Tourbillograph, which won the Couture Time award for 
GrahamTechnical Excellence. Executives in the Graham suite were actually seen throwing the tourbillon timepiece onto the marble coffee table and floors to demonstrate its extreme resilience. This watch, which holds two patents, features a tourbillon integrated into its complex chronograph movement. It is made exclusively for Graham by La Joux-Perret, and is the result of four years of research and development.
Bell & Ross, while showcasing its strong military and aviation expertise, also exhibited its alluring new Argentium (a high-tech silver alloy) watches as well as two Jumping Hours 
Louis Moinettimepieces created by the brand in cooperation with independent watchmaker Vincent Calabrese. Louis Moinet brought some of its amazing new inventions to Vegas, as well, with superb complications for men and women.
In the military watch arena, Ball Watch unveiled the Engineer Hydrocarbon NEDU military watch dedicated to the U.S. Navy Experimental Diving Unit. This new timepiece is the first diving watch with a patented helium release valve incorporated into the crown. Water resistant to 600 meters, the ruggedly constructed watch case is 17.3 mm at 
Ball Watch Co.’s NEDUits thickest point – making it strong enough for such depths. Similarly, Bremont reinforced its aviation and military ties with the new Bremont C17 and ALT1-WR world timer watch with Roto-Click bezel that enables the user to work out the global time zones using the international landing location in 24 zones. The ALT1-WT model won the People’s Choice award at the Couture Time Contest.
