Watches and Wonders Geneva at all times makes me suppose how fortunate the Swiss are to have a veritable legion of tourism officers within the type of watch fans. I’m speaking about of us like us at World of Watches (WOW) Singapore and LUXUO, but in addition you, pricey reader. This has been true since manner again earlier than there was such a factor as this explicit truthful in Geneva. To be truthful (no pun supposed), there’s something magical and mysterious about Swiss time, and the reply at all times appears to be simply past the closely protected doorways of the worldwide watch truthful held now in Geneva.

It now appears sure that Watches and Wonders Geneva has taken the place of BaselWorld as the principle worldwide watch truthful and can solely get larger because the years march on. Already, there are a number of showcases taking place across the metropolis throughout what’s being hailed as Geneva Watch Week, unofficially. On the identical time, Geneva Watch Days remains to be scheduled to run later this yr — town has emerged as the correct worldwide capital of watchmaking. For these of you who know something about Geneva’s current standing and its historical past, this may solely appear becoming.

Similar to final yr, WOW Singapore was totally sponsored by all collaborating manufacturers exhibiting at Watches and Wonders Geneva — although there are not any particular protection payback tales. Usually talking, as a watch specialist journal, nothing will get us psyched up like a watch truthful, so we’re solely too comfortable to cowl Watches and Wonders Geneva. In reality, now we have been doing simply that on-line for the reason that truthful began and have probably not stopped. This story can also be considered one of a number of in our summer time concern protecting the watch novelty exhibition in addition to the novelty debutants themselves.

Battling Time

This explicit story is a primer for individuals who need some information and figures concerning the Geneva truthful and the opposite reveals on the town. It additionally covers some primary info that we realise is sorely missing, contemplating a number of the nonsensical protection on YouTube and social media. On condition that our workforce was on the bottom and doing our personal stuff, we realise that watch gala’s do appeal to new folks too, a few of whom could not have the slightest thought of the way it all works. For all of you, let me say this: the scrum to get into the exhibition space is just not regular, however discovering a technique to eat lunch with out stressing out is. That battle could be very actual.

As for the safety measures which triggered airport-gate type snaking strains, these have at all times been a characteristic of the watch truthful held on the PalExpo. Within the days of the Salon Worldwide de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH, a reputation we are going to come again to), the steel detectors had been very a lot commonplace. Additional, nobody had ever requested if we had been bringing liquids into the exhibition space. This was new and completely egregious. The Asian contingent wants its cup noodles, and a thermos with scorching water is de rigueur. It’s merely unattainable to seek out scorching water outdoors of the employees canteen.

Talking of scorching water, as regards to social media, there have been greater than 1.8 million posts mentioning #watchesandwonders which reached an estimated 600 million folks (supply: WWG 2023). This quantity, launched April 3, has doubtless grown considerably and doesn’t embody the quantity of fabric on YouTube or TikTok. For some motive, Watches and Wonders privileges Instagram unfairly, as evidenced by the utilization of the hashtag as definitive of social media.

Typical Pondering

Taking a look at official attendance and participation by watchmaking manufacturers, the improved efficiency of the Geneva truthful over final yr’s version is apparent. Alternatively, it must be remembered that BaselWorld drew one thing like thrice the general attendance and hosted nearly each model, from the smallest to the most important. Simply as BaselWorld didn’t characteristic Richemont manufacturers, Watches and Wonders Geneva has a Swatch Group-shaped gap in its record of manufacturers. The Swiss press didn’t miss the possibility to comment on this and we too miss the presence of a very powerful Swiss watchmaking group which doesn’t present at any form of international truthful. It’s our understanding that the Group’s administration has no plans to alter the established order, however we urge them to rethink. Watches and Wonders president Jean-Frederic Dufour, who can also be Rolex’s CEO, publicly prolonged an invite to Swatch Group through Le Temps, so we are going to see how that goes.

Watches and Wonders Geneva can also be lacking the likes of Citizen (although Citizen-owned Frederique Fixed did debut this yr ), the Seiko Watch Company (Grand Seiko nevertheless confirmed as much as the get together after its debut final yr) and Casio. On that notice, the German and French pavilions are completely absent too, although this simply underscores the purpose that Watches and Wonders Geneva is just not BaselWorld 2.0. It’s definitely extra inclusive than the previous SIHH, with manufacturers akin to U-Boat and Charriol additionally discovering areas for themselves. If the principle stage of the Geneva truthful goes to soak up extra such manufacturers, it could be higher to open extra halls and take into account permitting these manufacturers to create their very own stands. This was BaselWorld’s answer to maintain from trying like a conference, which it undeniably is.

Regardless, Watches and Wonders Geneva remains to be a conference the place folks come for work and to do enterprise. It’d appear like a luxurious mall of some type, however it’s positively not. To be clear, which means retailers are right here to purchase watches – this can be a simplification however it can do – and press are right here to seek out tales. If you’re not with the manufacturers, then you might be right here to satisfy with both the model’s business workforce or the advertising and marketing and communications workforce. Completely nobody is right here to fall in lust with a watch in a show case, after which attempt to get an excellent value on simply that one watch to put on it strolling across the PalExpo. At this watchmaker’s market, nobody is promoting direct-to-consumer.

Perpetually Topped

However sufficient about our personal gripes about what the truthful is or not, save for only one extra — and solely as a result of we need to convey our protection of the truthful throughout LUXUO and social media collectively. Watches and Wonders Geneva doesn’t give out “best-in-show” awards — it’s not that form of occasion both. It falls to business observers and journalists to make such pronouncements. Right here is our take: Rolex has received the annual watch truthful, if such a factor is feasible, and reminded us why it deserves its crown. We started our watch truthful protection with Rolex on-line, the place the joy over what the model will do in 2023 was palpable.

As Watches and Wonders Geneva obtained underway, the massive information was that titanium is lastly a part of the usual assortment as foreshadowed by the Deepsea mannequin final yr. This yr, the Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Grasp 42 obtained the RLX titanium remedy which was one more signal that titanium was lastly taking centre stage at Rolex. After everybody obtained finished patting themselves on the again — a few of you could have harm yourselves (you realize who you might be) — even essentially the most blinkered of observers realised that this was not the story.

The actual information was on the basic aspect of issues — the dressier little bit of the Rolex story. In case you may have been residing in a time-free zone or a black gap, right here is the deal: it appears the Cellini assortment has been remodeled into one thing fairly totally different, referred to as the Perpetual 1908. We initially thought this was only one watch that may add further flavour, however a fast scan of the Rolex web site confirmed that the Cellini fashions of latest instances had been nowhere to be discovered. One may suppose this a storm in a teacup, however this new assortment arrives with a full set of fabric variants and exhibition casebacks (which showcase calibres with Syloxi hairsprings). The exhibition caseback on the Cosmograph Daytona definitely broke the Web, however solely time will inform if the Perpetual 1908 can change into an actual star.

Certainly, there are tonnes of little developments and main ones at that for the world’s most vital luxurious watch model and this isn’t the story to get into all of it. Properly, one thing to sit up for then, however do notice right here that the calibre 7140 powering the Perpetual 1908 is completely new and options the primary use of each the Syloxi hairspring and the Chronergy escapement.

Monitoring Elapsed Time

On the technical entrance, there was some disappointment this yr with a perceived lack of horological substance. There have been few new grand issues to talk of, if any. The phrase earlier than the truthful was that teams are involved about financial contagion spreading and had been getting ready for the worst. The closest we obtained to grand issues was new variants of the Patek Philippe Grand Grasp Chime (Ref. 6300) and an idea watch from Roger Dubuis, the Monovortex Break up-Seconds Chronograph, which the model is just not promoting; that is the one true idea watch at Watches and Wonders Geneva which is kind of one thing. Even Van Cleef & Arpels will probably be promoting its automatons (they’re all offered as we’re reliably if not formally knowledgeable). We are going to come again to the Roger Dubuis piece on the finish, however for now it serves as a pleasant lead-in to a hard-to-miss pattern: the dominance of the chronograph.

The chronograph complication acquired quite a lot of consideration this yr, with loads of attention-grabbing examples together with the next: the primary new formed variant showing at Jaeger-LeCoultre since 1996 and now the one such watch from any main model on the earth; the Odysseus Break up Seconds Chronograph redefining the person expertise and the show; the Montblanc 1858 Unveiled Timekeeper Minerva Restricted Version additionally taking part in with person expertise; and the Zenith Pilot Flyback Chronograph Massive Date for which the person expertise is as soon as once more paramount. The chronograph was additionally in focus at Hermes Horloger in addition to on the independents, with Gronefeld’s splendidly named Gronograaf being a standout. We will virtually hear you groan out loud at how this watch debuted final yr and received the Chronograph prize on the GPHG.

For this overview, we needed to supply what quantities to a teaser on a big new growth at Grand Seiko, the place one more chronograph was on the up. Helpfully named the Tentagraph, the watch is after all identified by its reference quantity, SLGC001, as is regular for Grand Seiko. It’s recognisable by its tri-compax format, fairly commonplace for this form of complication. In all different methods, the Tentagraph is totally totally different, being considered one of solely a handful of chronographs on the earth regulated by one thing aside from the Swiss lever escapement. Right here, it’s the twin impulse escapement you may recall from a few years in the past and most notably in calibre 9SA5, which is now carried out within the chronograph calibre 9SC5. We perceive that this can be a chronograph module added to 9SA5. The Tentagraph is definitely the primary chronograph from Grand Seiko and is really a powerful begin.

Incremental Advances

Whereas it’s not a chronograph in any manner, the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Minute Rattrapante additionally makes a present of doing one thing no watch has ever finished. Patek Philippe additionally chimes in withan unusually offbeat Ref. 5224. In reality, this might need actually been the truthful of idiosyncrasy, given the tide of very odd watches that succeeded in stunning everybody. To record them, these are after all the Puzzle and Bubble watches from Rolex; the Oris ProPilot X “Kermit”; the Ulysse Nardin Freak One; the Chanel Lion Astro Clock (Chanel by no means fails to convey the quirk, so this is only one of them); and the Hublot Massive Bang Built-in Tourbillon Full Blue Sapphire which nonetheless has a tough time escaping the shadow of the not too long ago launched Neon Yellow SAXEM Massive Bang and the persevering with Murakami collaboration.

Hublot introduced a brand new watch to the get together that we’re reserving area for right here, the MP-13. The bi-axis tourbillon with double retrograde time show appears to be like prefer it was at all times a part of the Hublot catalogue regardless of being completely new. The mix of the multi-axis tourbillon and retrograde motion is a primary in watchmaking, and the case is definitely new right here too (though it’d put in thoughts the visage of earlier MP fashions). Whereas we are going to get into the main points of the MP-13 in one other story, it’s suffice to say that this watch spoke loudest to positive watchmaking’s new emphasis on fit-and-feel, which is a little bit of an obsession at WOW. If there may be one factor you may recall concerning the MP collection, it’s that the instances defy easy explanations and are sometimes difficult on most wrists. This one is an enchancment, whereas nonetheless providing quite a lot of allure and horological leisure worth each.

Sadly, there was little else in the way in which of enjoyable with time at Watches and Wonders 2023, with even the LAB exhibition being largely a showcase for the hits (and a repeat of final yr’s highlights, which we perceive given how a lot larger the viewers is that this yr). It’s a minor criticism however however, having a robotic canine steal the present as a result of the watchmaking innovation is a rehash of final yr’s is just not nice. Maybe accidentally, it additionally revealed that conventional watchmaking advances incrementally, not by nice leaps ahead. That’s after all for the most effective. For an instance of such an ideal leap, look no additional than quartz within the Nineteen Seventies.

This brings us to the ultimate level, the place that Roger Dubuis idea watch comes again to serenade us on our manner out. Watchmaking manufacturers promote desires about what it means to grasp your personal time, whether or not that’s within the type of time-only watches constructed largely by hand as Ferdinand Berthoud does, or of “hyper horology” as Roger Dubuis does. Many of the substance is between these extremes, however this could not obscure the truth that it’s all nonetheless about desires. We’d like excessive ends to make highly effective statements. In any other case, essentially the most thrilling thought about time is one which has to do with greenback indicators. To place it one other manner, your wine fridge, shelf or cellar solely actually pays for itself in the event you suppose wine is a tasty beverage. If it is just about worth, then style is irrelevant, and that could be a disgrace for each winemakers and wine lovers alike.

Great Outcomes

Watches and Wonders Geneva is now prone to be the most important watch truthful on the earth, if the numbers launched by the organisers are something to go by. When it comes to materials area, the organisers stated nothing and many of the reviews don’t give attention to this. For some context, it’s in all probability the dimensions of Corridor One at BaselWorld, and twice the dimensions of the previous SIHH on the PalExpo (estimates are our personal so ship brickbats my manner please). There are 48 collaborating manufacturers at Watches and Wonders Geneva this yr, up from 35 final yr by our rely with supposedly 10 new manufacturers in 2023 and a pair having dropped out.

Held over the course of seven days, the truthful attracted 43,000 guests (an enchancment over the 22,000 in 2022), together with 5,400 retailers and 1,400 journalists. These enterprise guests had been joined over the weekend by 12,000 ticket-holders (these had been offered at CHF70), which is spectacular in a metropolis that generally feels a little bit ambivalent concerning the watchmaking festivities happening inside its area. Watches and Wonders says that 25% of the tickets offered went to folks below 25, with ticket-holder ages averaging out at a really hip 35. On condition that watchmaking has been making a giant deal of chatting with new generations, that is vital and can go an extended technique to confirming that Watches and Wonders Geneva is heading in the right direction. For some context, BaselWorld was criticised for being out-of-touch with the younger whereas the SIHH was just for insiders who tended to be a lot older.

In a doable preview of future occasions, the motion prolonged from the PalExpo, which is subsequent to the airport, to town correct. There have been actions organised at boutiques and different centrally positioned areas that had been a part of the official agenda for Watches and Wonders Geneva. To be clear, these didn’t embody the adjoining showcases by particular person manufacturers, nor different exhibitions that had been half of what’s now often called Geneva Watch Week.

For the broader world, the truthful organisers stated that protection of Watches and Wonders Geneva reached greater than 600 million, which is roughly double what it achieved final yr. It must be famous right here that 2,600 journalists had been tuning into the motion on the official digital platform which undoubtedly helps in rising the attain of the unique occasion. 

This text was initially revealed in print in World Of Watches‘ 2023 Summer season particular, concern #69.

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