After making its first year a major success in what saw the British watch industry bounce back to in-person events post-Covid, WATCHPRO Salon is back for its second year.
Opening this morning to retailers and press, before a VIP preview on Friday afternoon, the show has grown to 51 brands and partners this year.
The public will also descend on The Londoner on Saturday too as watch lovers, buying teams, industry colleagues and collectors’ alike head to the Leicester Square location to sample some of the best watches the independents have to offer.
Speaking ahead of the show in this month’s print edition, which doubles up as a show guide, Lucy Cheesewright, Head of WATCHPRO Live, revealed her excitement.
She said: “We were overwhelmed by the success of, and response to, the inaugural event last year and have been working hard to deliver a bigger and better edition in 2022. I’m proud to say that I think that is exactly what we have done. And one of the greatest testimonials to the fact that we have so much cool stuff happening at the event this year is that we’ve dedicated the November issue of WATCHPRO to the show.
I was event director of another well-known UK watch show that was held at the Saatchi Gallery from 2011 to 2016. Over the six years, it grew from 30 participating brands to 96, so I came to WATCHPRO with a wealth of knowledge but, more importantly, a devotion to the industry and events like this. It’s a real labour of love to deliver and I hope it shows.”
On this year’s show specifically, she added: “What’s most exciting about the Salon is the selection of brands on show. Some you’ll have heard of, some you may not. We also have an incredible programme of talks and panels, curated by us exclusively for WATCHPRO Salon. From Fratello founder Robert-Jan Broer talking about the phenomenon of Speedy Tuesday, to RedBar CEO Kathleen Turner chatting with collectors, and Dave Sharp of Scottish Watches hosting a watches and whisky discussion with The Londoner’s whisky sommelier (yes you do get to taste each one!), there is something for everyone.
“The opportunity to meet the makers behind some of your favourite brands, discover new ones whilst getting face-to-face access to some of the most fascinating people in the industry is unique to shows like this and cannot be beaten for the watch lover. All-in-all, WATCHPRO Salon is one of the most diverse and fascinating watch shows in the world.”
