Watch enthusiasts and collectors, it is high time to mark your calendars—the upcoming edition of Watches and Wonders Geneva will open its doors to the general public for the very first time this spring.
Formerly Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH), Watches and Wonders is one of the largest and most important watchmaking summits in the world. This year’s event will be held from 27 March to 2 April. Access for the first five days will be exclusively reserved for press, retailers, and guests from participating watchmakers, while the two final days are dedicated as public open days. It will be the first time that Watches and Wonders opens to the masses over the weekend.
This year’s salon will see 48 watch brands present their novelties and showcase the latest trends in watchmaking. Visitors can also look forward to an extensive line-up of talks and panel discussions where experts will gather and share their insights on watch-related topics such as trends, values, collections, as well as heated subjects like the metaverse, NFTs, blockchain, and circularity.
For the theme of 2023, the event will tell the story of time from the past to the future. It will start with the past through creations featuring long-standing traditions, followed by the present interpreted by watches revolutionising this intricate art. Finally, the future will be showcased in an area devoted to innovations and latest technologies from participating watchmakers.
Another not-to-be-missed experience is the “What Time Is It?” photo exhibition curated by Swiss press photographer Karine Bauzin. This ethnographic work, which took her 10 years to complete, looks into human beings’ relationship with time and in what ways it is perceived. She asked people she had met in 20 countries the same question—“What time is it?”—and the answers can be concluded in one universal hand gesture, which watchmakers used when they designed the wristwatch.
But such excitement will not be exclusive to the exhibition hall. Also for the first time, Watches & Wonders will be extended to the whole of Geneva. During the event week, the city’s iconic streets Rue du Rhône and Rues-Basses will become the stage for an orchestrated showcase, where major watch boutiques lining the avenues will open their doors to unveil unique designs, ornate pieces, and rare watch complications. Participating stores will also prepare activities for visitors to take part in and demonstrate their watchmaking prowess.
On 30 March, a special evening event will take place in Rues-Basses from 5–9 pm, featuring concerts, street entertainment, and well-known artists. Alternatively, you can pay a visit to the nearby Pont de la Machine for talks on Geneva and watchmaking.
Intrigued? You can be among the first to get your tickets. Priced at CHF70 (HK$590), admission to Watches & Wonders is nominative and tickets are only available on the official event website. Online ticketing for the event opened on 1 February at noon on watchesandwonders.com.
Watches and Wonders Geneva 2023
27 March–2 April 2023
Palexpo, Route François-Peyrot 30, 1218 Le Grand-Saconnex, Geneva, Switzerland
All images courtesy of Watches and Wonders.
