« Geneva's Watch Fair in March »
The countdown is on: On March 27, 2023, the Geneva watch fair Watches & Wonders opens its doors as an in-person event for the second time. After the resounding success of the 2022 edition, what is now the most important event of the Swiss watch industry is all about growth and openness. The big news: for the first time, the fair will welcome the general public alongside trade visitors.
49 Brands – Bigger Than Ever
Anticipation is high in the spring of 2022 when, after a two-year forced hiatus, a major physical watch fair takes place in Geneva once again. With just under 22,000 visitors, the long-awaited Watches & Wonders doesn't come close to the scale of the now-defunct Baselworld, which set a record of 150,000 visitors in 2015 – but the starting gun for a new era of watch fairs had been fired. 38 brands, including the biggest names from Zenith to Patek Philippe, presented their novelties to an international audience.
Relief and optimism followed with the confirmation that W&W 2023 will have a successor edition. Preparations are currently in full swing, so we can't yet give you exact information on the fair's program, let alone the new watches. What is certain, however: with 49 exhibitors, the event will grow noticeably and welcomes 13 new faces compared with last year's edition. Only two manufacturers are leaving the fair. You can find the complete list of participating brands on the official website; among the most important companies are:
- Bell & Ross (new) - Chanel - Frederique Constant (new) - Grand Seiko - Hublot - Oris - Patek Philippe - TAG Heuer - Tudor - U-Boat (new) - Zenith - Rolex
Two Days Open to the General Public
Watches and Wonders 2023 runs for a full week: from Monday, March 27, to Sunday, April 2. While the first five days are reserved for trade visitors (press, retailers, invited guests), the closing weekend brings a fantastic new feature for all enthusiasts: Watches & Wonders 2023 Geneve will present its watches to the general public. For the first time, any ordinary mortal can buy a ticket and become part of the experience at Geneva's Palexpo exhibition center. To make sure your visit goes smoothly, keep the following in mind:
- Tickets can be ordered starting in early February 2023, exclusively online via the fair's website (www.watchesandwonders.com).
- The price is 70 Swiss francs (currently €71) per person. It is a day ticket, available for either Saturday, April 1, or Sunday, April 2. Opening hours on both days are 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
A Major Alliance of Rolex, Patek and Richemont
Building on the success of the previous Watches & Wonders Geneve, three of the most important participants are joining forces for a new project: Rolex, Patek Philippe and the Richemont Group are founding the Watches and Wonders Geneva Foundation (WWGF), a non-profit organization whose aim is to promote the "excellence of watchmaking" worldwide through physical or digital watch and jewelry exhibitions. A board of directors is being set up to govern the WWGF, with Rolex CEO Jean-Frédéric Dufour as president and Emmanuel Perrin (head of Richemont's watch division) as vice president. At the same time, Matthieu Humair, current CEO of the fair's organizer FHH (Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie), takes on the role of chief executive of the new foundation.
The fact that the up-and-coming fair won't present its 2023 novelties only in Geneva is part of the concept: alongside Watches & Wonders "Geneve," there is a fair of the same name in China's Hainan province, which opens its doors in the two cities of Sanya and Haikou for a full three months (December 2, 2022, to February 28, 2023). The event underscores the enormous importance of the Asian market for virtually every luxury brand. But while watches from 49 brands are presented in Geneve, W&W 2023 in Hainan counts just 13 houses, all of them exclusively in the upper luxury segment. If you want to experience Oris, Hublot, Grand Seiko and many other houses, there's no getting around a trip to Switzerland.
Major Brands Not Taking Part
Despite all the good news surrounding Watches and Wonders 2023, we can't credit the brand lineup with the completeness found in Baselworld's best years. Besides Breitling, the entire Swatch Group is missing; it hasn't set foot at a major watch fair since pulling out of Baselworld 2019. For visitors, this means that, in addition to affordable manufacturers such as Tissot, Hamilton and Certina, Omega in particular is absent, as are high-end heavyweights from Breguet to Blancpain. We'll also miss Audemars Piguet at Watches and Wonders 2023.
Despite these considerable gaps, the organizer has managed to assemble a broad variety of brands for different tastes and price ranges. We're especially excited about the value-for-money hits from newcomer Frederique Constant, while the more unconventional offerings from Bell & Ross and U-Boat should liven up the overall picture of the fair considerably compared with last year. If you prefer refined elegance, stop by Chanel, Chopard or Ulysse Nardin. Fans of sporty watches will get their money's worth at TAG Heuer, Tudor and the like.
Is Watches and Wonders 2023 a Must-Visit?
The option of a private visit is a first in the world of Swiss watch fairs and leaves many enthusiasts asking: is the trip to Geneva worth it? The fact is, neither the 70-franc admission nor the journey, let alone accommodation in the Geneva area during the fair, comes particularly cheap. On the other hand, Watches & Wonders tempts with a complete package that will make die-hard watch fanatics' mouths water: not only the wide variety of brands – which lets you try on brand-new luxury watches as well as enjoy engaging expert conversations and connect with fellow enthusiasts – but also the fair's spectacular staging at the Palexpo grounds and, in all likelihood, an exciting supporting program make the event well worth seeing. As a visitor, you'll be talking about the experience for a long time, and you may even get up close and personal with your next dream watch.
If you can't make it, you can look forward to extensive online coverage with interviews, videos and articles. Our magazine will be back after the fair to sum up the most important news from the event.