Geneva seems to have definitively earned the undisputed title as the go-to location for watch brands to showcase their timepieces.
After the fall of Baselworld, Dubai and Shanghai appeared to be confident contenders, ready to vie for this role. Due to all the difficulties with flights and travel restrictions, the Swiss may have become more willing to go the distance themselves and meet their clients in distant markets rather than waiting for them to arrive as guests. Nevertheless, the year 2022 is seeing a return to the former order.
The main show in town this spring is set to be Watches and Wonders Geneva, which will get underway at Palexpo Geneva and online on March 30. The decision was taken not to depart from the hybrid format, which will have journalists glued to their laptop screens.
On a side note, Switzerland's Federal Council only lifted the requirements to work from home on February 3, and private gatherings and parties are still limited to ten individuals. This is also the limit set for the virtually exclusive press conferences at Watches and Wonders.
There'll be 38 watch manufacturers taking part in the show: A. Lange & Söhne, Baume & Mercier, Cartier, Chanel, Chopard, Grand Seiko, Hermès, Hublot, IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Montblanc, Oris, Panerai, Parmigiani Fleurier, Patek Philippe, Piaget, Roger Dubuis, Rolex, TAG Heuer, Tudor, Ulysse Nardin, Vacheron Constantin, Van Cleef & Arpels, Zenith.
Along with independent watchmakers Angelus, Armin Strom, Arnold & Son, Cyrus Genève, Czapek & Cie, Ferdinand Berthoud, H. Moser & Cie., Laurent Ferrier, Louis Moinet, Rebellion Timepieces, Ressence, Rudis Sylva, Speake-Marin and Trilobe.
This already sounds like a decent lineup, but the period from March 30 to April 5 looks all the more interesting when you consider how many events are going to be held in parallel, which have sprung up around Watches and Wonders.
Anyone who thinks a group of fourteen independent brands at the main event isn't enough can check out the Masters of Horology exhibition by the Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants (AHCI).
The watchmakers on the bill are Svend Andersen, Vianney Halter, Konstantin Chaykin, Ludovic Ballouard, David Candaux, Miki Eleta, Raúl Pagès, Alessandro Rigotto, Florian Schlumpf, John-Mikaël Flaux, Robert Bray, Daizoh Makihara, Bernhard Lederer, Sebastian Naeschke, Sébastien Billières, Anton Suhanov and Silvain Pinaud.
Still not enough? Another eight independent brands are expected at Barton 7 in Geneva. Singer Reimagined, Schwarz Etienne, Ikepod, Blaken, Le Rhöne Genève and Genus Watches have already been confirmed to take part.
Last but not least, a new event will be held in Geneva this Spring called Time to Watches, organized in partnership with the Geneva University of Art and Design (HEAD – Genève).
Around another thirty companies will be participating in this event, including Corum, Sinn, MeisterSinger, Louis Erard, Reservoir, Chronoswiss, Raketa, L'Epee 1839, L.Leroy, Mauron Musy, Pierre DeRoche, Schwarz Etienne, Perrelet and Pequignet. It's sure to be an exciting week.