Dubai Watch Week’s Horology Forum, which is taking place in New York this fall, has revealed a diverse line up of speakers mixing watch collectors, brands and retailers with actors, fashion gurus and experts in futuristic concepts like NFTs.
The event, which is open to the public, takes place from September 24 to 25 at 875 Washington Street in the Meatpacking District of Manhattan.
DWW is promising a weekend of fascinating and unfiltered conversations between collectors, artists, business professionals, tech gurus, fashion personalities and creative minds through panels, debates and masterclasses.
Actor and horologist Aldis Hodge will join a panel on American watchmaking, exploring its history, appeal, challenges, and future.
Mark Cho, Co-founder of menswear fashion destination The Armoury and watch collector, will sit on a panel about the impact of consumers on brand design decisions.
Creative director and senior vice president of NFT programming for OneOf, Christopher Sealey, will moderate a panel focused on surveying the crypto consumer and collectability trends.
“Channeling the incredible diversity of talent, interests, cultures and people of New York City, this edition of our Horology Forum has been purposefully curated to focus on our overarching objective of providing an educational platform for all attendees and fostering connections,” says Hind Seddiqi, Director General of Dubai Watch Week. “We look forward to welcoming new and existing watch lovers to an experience designed to celebrate the passion of our community.”
HOROLOGY FORUM TOPICS & SPEAKERS
MADE IN AMERICA
Saturday, Sept. 24 at 11am
Observing American grass-root attempts at reviving watchmaking as a local industry. Is it a matter of heritage and generations of practice that promote a healthy watch industry, or will true grit prevail? We bring in American-made watchmakers to reveal their journey to answer this question, while taking into account increasing consumer demand by Americans for ‘Made in America.’
Moderator Cara Barrett, founder of direct-to-consumer kid’s watch brand Parchie.
Speakers: Aldis Hodge: Hollywood Actor and Watch Enthusiast; Eric Wind: Renowned vintage watch expert; owner of retail and advisory company Wind Vintage
THE PEOPLE VS. LUXURY
Saturday, Sept. 24 at 1:30pm
A panel surveying the influence of consumers, media, and culture on luxury products. How powerful is clickbait and is it affecting authenticity?
Moderator: Jian DeLeon: editorial and fashion director, Nordstrom Men’s.
Speakers: Mark Cho: co-founder of menswear brand The Armoury; co-owner of menswear brand Drake’s; Rebecca Ross: AVP, head of sale, watches, Christie’s New York
CLICKCLOCK: DO A DOUBLE TAKE
Saturday, Sept. 24 at 3pm
Should families channel their focus and resources on passing down the baton of the family business from one generation to the next, or should they find successors outside the family tree for new perspectives?
Moderator: Barbara Palumbo, watch editor, writer, and speaker; editor-at-large at Revolution and contributor for Vanity Fair.
Speakers: To be announced
NFT FLIP: HEADS, TAILS, EDGE
Sunday, Sept. 25 at 11am
In a volatile market, how do watch brands consider the crypto consumer, and are NFTs an asset class, an engagement tool, or simply a current trend?
Moderator: Christopher Sealey, creative director & SVP, OneOf, a green NFT platform connecting fans and collectors to artists, athletes, and brands.
Speakers: Mojdeh Cutter, head of partnerships & events at Swiss Institute Contemporary Art NY and managing director, TimeForArt; Brian Govberg: director of sales, WatchBox.
CLICKCLOCK: DO OR DO NOT RESUSCITATE
Sunday, Sept. 25 at 2pm
Should the watch industry revive heritage brands or forge new paths and create new brands, harnessing the power of change?
Moderator: Barbara Palumbo, watch editor, writer, and speaker; editor-at-large at Revolution and contributor for Vanity Fair.
Speakers: Jonathan Ferrer: designer & founder, Brew Watch Co; Bertrand Meylan: chief executive officer, MELB Luxe Subsidiaries.
