The world’s most important luxury watch trade show has altered its format to include some of the world’s most innovative, independent watchmakers to its roster of exhibitors.
Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH), organisers of the edition of Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH), held in Geneva every January, has added nine independent watchmakers to its programme of exhibitors under the Carré des Horlogers banner.
These will include Christophe Claret, De Bethune, H. Moser & Cie, Hautlence, HYT, Kari Voutilainen, Laurent Ferrier, MB&F and Urwerk.
These independent brands will join the roster of 15 Richemont and invited brands which already includes A.Lange & Söhne, Audemars Piguet, Baume & Mercier, Cartier, Greubel Forsey, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Montblanc, Panerai, Parmigiani, Piaget, Richard Mille, Roger Dubuis, Van Cleef & Arpels and Vacheron Constantin.
The FHH also announced that the interior décor of the show at Geneva PalExpo will be sleeker and more contemporary and give the individual brands more opportunity to create their own identities within their spaces.
UPDATE: One brand noticeable by their absence is Ralph Lauren. The brand informed WatchPro that it has decided against exhibiting at SIHH in order to focus on its ‘strategic markets’. The company plans to launch its 2016 watch and fine jewellery collections via invitation-only regional events in the spring, enabling it to engage with members of the press and the trade and to develop the brand’s international network in a targeted and qualitative manner.
The 26th edition of Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) will be held from January 18th until 22nd 2016.
