Uhrinstinkt Magazine
« Geneva Horology Fair in March»
The countdown is on: On March 27, 2023, the Geneva Watches & Wonders watch fair will open its doors for the second time as a presence event. After the brilliant success of the 2022 edition, what is now the most important event in the Swiss watch industry is all about growth and openness. The sensation: for the first time, the fair will welcome the general public in addition to trade visitors.
49 brands – bigger than ever before
In the spring of 2022, excitement is high when, after a forced break of two years, a large, physical watch fair takes place again in Geneva. Although the long-awaited Watches & Wonders, with its nearly 22,000 visitors, does not reach the dimensions of the defunct Baselworld, which set a record attendance of 150,000 people in 2015, the successful starting shot into a new era of watch fairs had been fired. 38 brands, among them the biggest names from Zenith to Patek Philippe, presented their novelties to the international audience.
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With relief and optimism followed the certainty: There will be a successor with the W&W 2023. At the moment, the hot preparation phase is underway, so we are not yet able to provide you with any exact information on the program of the trade show or even the new watches. What is certain, however, is that the event will grow noticeably with 49 exhibitors and is pleased to welcome 13 new faces compared to last year’s edition. Only two manufacturers are leaving the fair. The full list of participating brands can be found on the official website; among the most notable companies are:
– Bell & Ross (new)
– Chanel
– Frederique Constant (new)
– Hublot
– Oris
– Patek Philippe
– Tudor
– U-Boat (new)
– Zenith
– Rolex
Two visitor days for the general public
Watches and Wonders 2023 will be held 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 final weekend brings a grandiose innovation 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 site. To make the visit a success, the following points should be noted:
- Tickets can be ordered exclusively online on the trade show website (www.watchesandwonders.com) from early February 2023.
The price is 70 Swiss francs (currently 71 euros) per person. It is a one-day ticket, which can be purchased either for Saturday, April 1 or Sunday, April 2. The opening hours are in each case from 8:30am to 7pm.
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Great cooperation of Rolex, Patek and Richemont
Building on the success of the previous Watches & Wonders Geneve, three of the main participants join forces for a new project: Rolex, Patek Philippe and the Richemont Group create the so-called Watches and Wonders Geneva Foundation (WWGF), a non-profit organization with the aim of promoting the “excellence of watchmaking” globally through physical or digital watch as well as jewelry exhibitions. A board of directors will be created to manage the WWGF, with Rolex CEO Jean-Frédéric Dufour serving as chairman and Emmanuel Perrin (head of the Richemont watch division) as vice chairman. At the same time, Matthieu Humair, the current CEO of the trade show organizer FHH (Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie), moves into the position of Chairman of the Board of the new foundation.
The fact that the rising fair will present its novelties in 2023 not only in Geneva is part of the concept: in addition to the Watches & Wonders “Geneve”, there is a fair of the same name in the Chinese province of Hainan, which will open its doors in the two cities of Sanya and Haikou over a full three months (December 2, 2022 to February 28, 2023). The event underlines the enormous importance of the Asian market for almost all luxury brands. However, while watches from 49 brands will be presented in Geneve, W&W 2023 in Hainan counts only 13 houses, which exclusively cover the upper luxury segment. Those who want to experience Oris, Hublot, Grand Seiko and many other houses cannot avoid a visit to Switzerland.
Major brands that do not participate
Despite all the good news surrounding Watches and Wonders 2023, we cannot attest to the completeness of the brand lineup that was found in the best years of Baselworld. In addition to Breitling, the entire Swatch Group is missing, having not entered a major watch show since its cancellation at Baselworld 2019. For visitors, this means that in addition to affordable manufacturers like Tissot, Hamilton and Certina, Omega and high-end greats from Breguet to Blancpain are notably absent. We also miss Audemars Piguet at Watches and Wonders 2023.
Despite the considerable gaps, the organizer has succeeded in putting together a wide variety of brands for different tastes and price ranges. We are looking forward with particular excitement to the price-performance hits from newcomer Frederique Constant, but the exotics from Bell & Ross and U-Boat should also spice up the overall picture of the watch fair compared to last year. Those who like it fine will drop by Chanel, Chopard or Ulysse Nardin. Lovers of the sporty will get their money’s worth at TAG Heuer, Tudor and Co.
Is it necessary to visit the Watches and Wonders 2023?
The possibility of a private visit is a novelty in the Swiss watch fair world and confronts many enthusiasts with the question: Is the trip to Geneva worth it? The fact is: Neither the 70 franc entrance fee nor the journey or even the overnight stay in the Geneva area at the time of the fair are particularly inexpensive. On the other hand, Watches & Wonders attracts visitors with an overall package that makes the mouths of die-hard watch freaks water: Not only the great variety of brands, which, in addition to trying on brand-new luxury watches, allows for exciting technical discussions and contacts with other enthusiasts, but also the spectacular presentation of the fair on the Palexpo grounds and most likely an exciting supporting program make the event worth seeing. As a visitor, you will be able to talk about the experience for a long time to come and perhaps get to know your next dream watch up close.
Those who can’t make it will be able to enjoy extensive coverage with interviews, videos and articles on the Internet. Our magazine will be back after the watch fair to sum up the most important news of the fair.
