As a company that is passionately dedicated to sustainability and eco-friendly practices, ID Genève is firmly focused on the environment, and for its latest release of 2024, the Swiss brand has unveiled the Elements collection as its second series of timepieces. Inspired by the colors and shapes of nature, the new ID Genève Elements collection represents an entirely new model for the brand. It pairs a 100% locally recycled stainless steel case with holographic nano-engraved dials and the option of either a matching stainless steel bracelet or a sustainable hemp-based fabric strap.
The new ID Genève Elements collection spans five dial variations, and each one offers a distinctly different expression of the same quasi-psychedelic holographic concept. Four of the five Elements models are dedicated to each of our planet’s elements (earth, air, fire, and water), while the final watch from the series represents the mythical fifth element, and it showcases a dial that features a combination of colors and details found on its four siblings. Aside from their dials, the five ID Genève Elements watches are otherwise identical, although the series features an interchangeable strap/bracelet system that further expands the range of possible configurations within the collection.
Measuring 37mm in diameter by a rather svelte 8.8mm thick, the cases of the ID Genève Elements watches are crafted from 100% recycled stainless steel, and they feature a distinct profile that incorporates both angular and fluid lines set against contrasting brushed and polished surfaces. While the case profile is visually distinct, it also offers quite a lot of aesthetic versatility, and the type of strap or bracelet fitted to the lugs can have a dramatic influence on the overall appearance of the watch. Protecting the dial is a flat sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment, while a signed crown resides on the side of the case at 3 o’clock, and water resistance for the ID Genève Elements collection comes in at 50 meters to protect against daily contact.
The standout feature from the ID Genève Elements collection is its unique style of holographic dial, which features an intricate multi-colored surface and a highly dynamic iridescent appearance that plays with the light. The Elements collection’s dials are created using a nano-engraving process developed by the Swiss company Morphotonix, which specializes in advanced printing technologies for high-security items such as banknotes and passports. While each of the five dials represents a different element, their iridescent colors and fluid lines are intended to be evocative of the naturally occurring wonders of nature; however, anyone who has dabbled in hallucinogens will almost certainly have other associations with these striking psychedelic dials.
The new ID Genève Elements watches are powered by the familiar ETA 2892 automatic movement, which runs at a frequency of 28,800vph (4 Hz) with a power reserve of approximately 42 hours. However, to further reinforce the brand’s commitment to recycling and sustainability, ID Genève uses refurbished ETA 2892 calibers, which have been serviced and restored to their factory-intended specifications. The ETA 2892 is one of the most prevalent automatic movements within the greater Swiss watch industry, and while it may be rather unremarkable from a horological perspective, ID Genève specifically chose this caliber for the Elements collection due to its ability to be repaired and maintained by virtually any competent watchmaker in the world.
Several different strap/bracelet options are available for the ID Genève Elements collection, including a hemp-based fabric strap made by the German brand Revoltech and a matching three-link bracelet crafted from the same 100% recycled stainless steel used for the case. While the 18mm space between the lugs features an elegant curved profile, cleverly designed end-links allow the bracelet to form an integrated appearance with the case, and they also enable the ID Genève Elements models to be compatible with any of the straps made for the brand’s various Circular models, such as the Circular S that we reviewed earlier this year. The sides of the bracelet links feature large bevels that extend the polished facets on the lugs, and the two different styles of hemp fabric straps each offer a distinct appearance due to how they integrate with the case.
While the ID Genève Elements watches are fitted with intricate nano-engraved holographic dials, their case architecture is less complex than what exists among the brand’s Circular models, and with official retail prices starting at 3,400 CHF (or approximately $4,000 USD, at the time of writing), the new Elements models are slightly more affordable than their Circular collection siblings. Additionally, while the ID Genève Elements collection is being produced as a limited edition of 500 examples, its introduction marks an entirely new case silhouette for ID Genève, and I can only imagine that we will see this versatile blueprint of the Elements series expanded into other models at some point in the future. For more information on the ID Genève Elements collection, please visit the brand’s website.
