Yes, it’s that time of year again, and Watch Advice will be on the ground in Geneva for Watches & Wonder 2024, so let’s take a look at the spectacle that is Watches & Wonders!
It all kicks off this year on April 9th, when the watch world descends on Geneva, Switzerland for a week of fun and all things new in the watch world. Yours truly and Champs will be hitting the ground running early on Tuesday morning to beat the rush (wishful thinking) and bring you all the coverage from the fair, where 54 brands will be showcasing their latest pieces and creations for press, major retailers and other who’s who in the watch world.
So what exactly is Watches & Wonders? In a nutshell, it’s the world’s largest trade fair for watches, and it seems to be getting bigger every year. For those who remember, Baselworld was its predecessor which prior to COVID, came to an end due to various factors (another story in itself). Born out of this, however, was Watches & Wonders – a re-vamped and renamed fair that addressed many of the issues of Baselworld. After COVID, it was back in 2021 and over the past few years has become bigger each year.
This year, 54 brands are exhibiting at the Palexpo (Geneva’s convention centre) including brands from the LVMH Group, Richemont, and a whole host of independent brands large and small. And yes, Rolex is one of those. Whilst 2022 was a closed event to the watch world, last year it opened the doors to the public for two out of the seven days, and this year, the public will be welcome over Saturday, Sunday, and Monday with four press days prior to this. With so many brands to see, it will be busy!
Who Will Be There?
As mentioned, 54 brands will be showcasing their latest releases to the world, from A. Lange & Söhne through to Zenith and everyone in between. The full list is below:
A. LANGE & SÖHNE | ALPINA WATCHES | ANGELUS | ARNOLD & SON | ARTYA WATCHES |
BAUME & MERCIER | BEAUREGARD | BELL & ROSS | BREMONT | CARTIER | CHANEL |
CHARRIOL | CHOPARD | CHRONOSWISS | CYRUS GENÈVE | CZAPEK & CIE | EBERHARD & CO. |
FERDINAND BERTHOUD | FREDERIQUE CONSTANT | GERALD CHARLES | GRAND SEIKO |
GRÖNEFELD | H. MOSER & CIE. | HAUTLENCE | HERMÈS | HUBLOT | HYSEK |
IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN | JAEGER-LECOULTRE | LAURENT FERRIER | LOUIS MOINET |
MONTBLANC | NOMOS GLASHÜTTE | NORQAIN | ORIS | PANERAI | PARMIGIANI FLEURIER |
PATEK PHILIPPE | PEQUIGNET | PIAGET | RAYMOND WEIL | RESSENCE | ROGER DUBUIS |
ROLEX | RUDIS SYLVA | SPEAKE MARIN | TAG HEUER | TRILOBE | TUDOR | U-BOAT |
ULYSSE NARDIN | VACHERON CONSTANTIN | VAN CLEEF & ARPELS | ZENITH
So as you can see, there are plenty of juicy brands to check out, and I for one am excited to see all these brands and their pieces in the metal and of course, bring these to you each day. We’ve got loads of coverage coming out over the course of the week, so don’t forget to head to the site’s homepage where we will have dedicated sections running all the new pieces each and every day of the fair.
WATCHES & WONDERS 2024 COVERAGE
Outside the fair, there is plenty going on with many independent brands not part of Watches & Wonders showcasing their newest pieces via private events. And for those visiting, a range of exhibitions, entertainment, and celebrations each day in the heart of Geneva through the In The City program.
The Public Days
This year, Watches & Wonders is open to the public from Saturday 13th April to Monday 15th April, and the program looks like it’s a great way for watch enthusiasts to spend a few days.
Daily Tours
Each day will have guided tours of the brand booths running across the exhibition and people will have the choice of choosing one of 5 guided tours with experts and each tour will focus on a range of different brands. Tours kick off at 9:00am and run every couple of hours. For the full tour schedule, click here.
Conferences
Each day, see a range of watch industry experts, journalists and brand representatives talk in the Auditorium on a range of topics:
Saturday, April 13
10:30am – What’s trending in terms of new products? (Duration 30 mins)
A range of experts explain the latest trends in watchmaking: designs, materials, complications, colours etc. Speakers include:
- Ming Liu, international journalist and writer
- Scarlett Baker, journalist and editor
- Maxim de Turckheim, former head buying watch & jewellery at Net-a-Porter
- Lorenzo Maillard, watch expert and co-founder of heist-out magazine
11:30am – The independents phenomenon (Duration 30 mins)
How can we explain the late rise of the “indies”, independent watchmakers who have come to disrupt the established codes of watchmaking? Speakers include:
- Elizabeth Doerr, international journalist and writer
- Alexandre Beauregard, CEO of Beauregard
- Edouard Meylan, CEO of H. Moser & Cie.
- Benoît Mintiens, CEO of Ressence
2:00pm – Mike Horn X Panerai (Duration 30 mins)
Panerai is hosting the Mike Horn keynote at the Watches and Wonders Geneva Auditorium. Mike Horn, Brand Ambassador, explorer, and adventurer will explain the role of Panerai in his adventures.
3:30pm – TUDOR presents: Alinghi Red Bull Racing, challenger for the 37th America’s Cup (Duration 30 mins)
TUDOR, the principal partner of the Swiss challenge, offers a rare encounter with members of the Alinghi Red Bull Racing team as they prepare to take part in the 37th America’s Cup next autumn in Barcelona. We will be talking about technology, sports preparation, history, and what it means for a landlocked country to compete for the oldest trophy in the history of the sport.
4:30pm – What does AI mean for the watchmaking industry? (Duration 30 mins)
AI is everywhere and is developing fast; what does it mean for the watchmaking industry and how to embed such a technology? Speakers include:
- Robin Swithinbank, international journalist and author
- William Massena, international watchmaking expert and founder of Massena LAB
- Patrick Pruniaux, CEO of Ulysse Nardin and Girard-Perregaux
- David Sadigh, CEO of Digital Luxury Group agency
5:30pm – How to start a watch collection?
The enthusiast’s A.B.C. The world of watchmaking is magical but complex. How do you go about starting a collection and avoid the pitfalls? With speaker, Pascal Ravessoud, FHH Vice President.
Sunday, April 14
10:30am – My Watches and Wonders week, what to experience? (Duration 30 mins)
The Watches and Wonders Salon keeps getting bigger and bigger! Discover what our experts have experienced during their week and what is to be seen with speaker, Kristian Haagen, journalist and founder of TimeGeeks.
11:30am – Craftsmanship and the human value in watchmaking (Duration 30 mins)
Dozens of professions are involved in shaping today’s industry: technical, artistic, and industrial. Discover why human labour is so essential with speaker, Gianfranco Ritschel, watch expert and FHH Master Trainer
2:00pm – Jewelry in watchmaking (Duration 30 mins)
What is the link between watchmaking and jewellery? How have these two connected worlds come together, crossed paths, and are being embraced today? Speakers include:
- Eléonor Picciotto, founder of The Eye of Jewelry and editor-at-large at Revolution watch
- Stéphanie Sivrière, watch & jewellery creative director of Piaget
- Pierre Salanitro, founder of Salanitro SA
3:30pm – Geneva and the origin of Swiss watchmaking. (Duration 30 mins)
Discover how, in the 16th century, Geneva became the starting point for watchmaking in Switzerland with speaker, Pascal Ravessoud, FHH Vice President
4:30pm – Towards a non-gendered watch? (Duration 30 mins)
The societal changes we’ve been experiencing recently are shaking things up considerably. Here’s a look at what’s happening in the watchmaking industry with speaker, Suzanne Wong, editor-in-chief at WorldTempus
5:30pm – Iconic Watches (Duration 30 mins)
How does a watch become iconic and is labeled as such? Let’s take a look at some of the models that have left their stamp on our era with speaker: Pascal Ravessoud, FHH Vice President
Monday 15 April
10:30am – What’s trending in terms of new products? (Duration 30 mins)
A range of experts explain the latest trends in watchmaking: designs, materials, complications, colours, with speakers to include:
- Serge Maillard, publisher at EuropaStar
- Sharmila Bertin, editor-in-chief at The Watches Magazine
- Marie de Pimodan, editor-in-chief at GMT Magazine
- Emmanuel Schneider, content director at FHH
11:30am – Introduction to complications (Duration 30 mins)
Watchmaking is… complicated! Discover the main watch complications and why they were developed with speaker, Gianfranco Ritschel, watch expert and FHH Master Trainer
2:00pm – The future of watchmaking (Duration 30 mins)
The watchmaking industry is evolving; both in terms of products and industry, what changes are taking place and which direction are we moving towards? Speakers include:
- Cristina D’Agostino, founder and editor-in-chief of Luxury Tribune
- Edouard Meylan, CEO of H. Moser & Cie.
- Olivier R. Müller, founder of LuxeConsult
- Yasmina Pedrini, marketing & communications director of Frederique Constant
In addition to all these, there are plenty of other things that guests will see and experience, such as The Lab – an immersive, sensory area where start-ups, schools, and engineers unveil the professions, sectors, and new technologies of tomorrow’s watchmaking.
Product Presentations – Feel the experience of fine watchmaking by discovering the products in some of the exhibiting brands’ booths. Suspended moments between new products and flagship models. Last but not least, Brand Booth Animations – where guests can enter their privileged booth area, where singular activities will amaze and delight you. Experience the unique sensation of a special connection between you and the watchmaking marvels unveiled in a memorable setting.
Stay tuned on our site, and to keep up to date with live coverage, we’ll be showcasing so much more on our Instagram and Facebook accounts! Also, don’t forget to check out both my Instagram account – @digital_escapement and Champs’s – @champsg for additional coverage and our own perspectives. Watches & Wonders 2024, here we come!
