The good news for this year is that brands are focusing more on the real world than on the speciality watches into which they put so much time, attention and emphasis in the recent past.

There are still the spectacular watches, of course, and the ones aimed specifically at the markets the industry sees as full of potential. In January's Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in Geneva, Richard Mille presented a run of 20 pieces of the RM 51-01 in white gold or red gold with a tourbillon and a hand-sculpted tiger and dragon. In March, at BaselWorld, Louis Moinet presented a Dragon Tourbillon as well. Such pieces though, as interesting and alluring as they are, are thankfully not taking as much of the limelight as before. The industry seems to have taken a step back from the red carpet and spotlight, and remembered that there is horological passion at many levels.

It is rather easy to make a complicated watch interesting, but much more difficult to make a simple, clean watch stand out. The best example of this is probably the Patek Philippe Calatrava, often considered the most beautiful watch face ever made. Completely simple, timelessly enchanting and elegant yet so technically correct it is far more readable in a dimly-lit plane cabin than many an "aviator" watch with big numerals and big hands.

After all the years of bigger and busier is better, there are some great examples of the fact that sensible sizes and clean faces have a very important place in the watch world. This year, the esteemed Geneva house presents a new Calatrava for men in 38mm of white gold - the 5153G-010 with a hand-wound movement.

The big news for Patek though was steel. It isn't often that the brand produces high complications in stainless steel, and these are picked up very quickly by those in the know. The 5960/1A-001 self-winding Annual Calendar Chronograph comes in a 40.5mm case with a striking comparatively modern dial treatment. It strays a bit from classic Patek Annual Calendar Chronographs, but it is a piece already starting long lists at Patek showrooms.

A watch of more classic line was on hand from Chopard. Its L.U.C 1963 is simply named and simply elegant. The certified chronometer uses its in-house L.U.C 63.01.L pocket watch movement in a red gold case with a stunning porcelain dial of black on white. Only 50 pieces will be made.

The windows of Rolex are always swamped by enthusiasts as soon as the doors open, and this year was no exception. A much-awaited homage to a previously released and loved model was presented - the GMT-Master II with a blue and red dial known by collectors as a "Pepsi" for the colours. Now though, the bezel is in ceramic, which was a particular challenge because it is a one-piece two-colour ceramic dial and because red is extremely difficult to produce in ceramic. The piece is in white gold, which may dismay some collectors who wish for the classic steel, but will probably do nothing to dampen sales of a watch whose original sells for far more now than it did new.

The three watches just mentioned all came from independent watch companies, or ones not connected to large groups. It is arguable that each of them is a force in their own right, Rolex, in particular, is the mammoth of the industry. Over the past few years, much has been made of the strength and increasing power of the watch groups or the luxury groups that control many watchmaking names. This year, we are seeing an increased awareness of the importance of independence, whether with these three large companies or the many smaller ones. These independent companies take the chances and often chart the courses that the industry follows. Many of the important but lesser known independent watchmaking companies have been bought up by the large groups in their process of becoming true manufacturers that design and produce all their own parts, pieces and components.

Perhaps the most interesting trend from this year's watch fairs is that when we sit down with the watchmakers of the big groups, we end up discussing the developments being made by the independent companies. In a world where much is made of the big getting bigger and taking more, we are seeing the admission that it is independence that truly brings things forward.