When the SIHH name was retired in 2019 and the global fair was renamed Watches and Wonders Geneva, its organiser was keen to put the Palexpo exhibition centre show at the heart of a citywide celebration of horology.
That mission was interrupted by the pandemic, but has been reignited for this year’s event, which runs from March 27 to April 2.
Watches and Wonders has said that the whole of Geneva will “hum to the rhythm of watch movements for a whole week”.
Watch stores in the city’s centre are coordinating with the organiser to create unique experiences ranging from new watch launches to educational sessions on the history of watchmaking businesses.
A special evening event dedicated to watchmaking will be held on the Rues Basses on March 30 that aims to draw attention to the world of watchmaking in a celebration featuring concerts, street entertainment and famous artists.
There will also be talks on Geneva’s role in the history of watchmaking at the Pont de la Machine, which will also be an information centre throughout the week.
The public is not only welcome at event in the centre of Geneva, they are also being welcomed into the halls of Watches and Wonders on the final two days of the exhibition (the first five days are solely for trade professionals and press).
As well as seeing all the new 2023 watches in the metal for the first time, the public will also have access to two days of panel discussions in a large auditorium.
Experts have been lined up to speak and field questions on topics ranging from NFTs and metaverse to vintage watch collecting and trends.
Participating brands at Watches and Wonders
A. Lange & Söhne, Alpina Watches, Angelus, Arnold & Son, Baume & Mercier, Beauregard, Bell & Ross, Cartier, Chanel, Charles Zuber, Charriol, Chopard, Chronoswiss, Cyrus Genève, Czapek & Cie, Ferdinand Berthoud, Frederique Constant, Grand Seiko, Grönefeld, Hautlence, Hermès, Hublot, Hysek, IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger-Lecoultre, Laurent Ferrier, Louis Moinet, Montblanc, Oris, Panerai, Parmigiani Fleurier, Patek Philippe, Pequignet, Piaget, Rebellion Timepieces, Ressence, Roger Dubuis, Rolex, Rudis Sylva, Speake-Marin, TAG Heuer, Trilobe, Tudor, U-Boat, Ulysse Nardin, Vacheron Constantin, Van Cleef & Arpels, Zenith
