At the world's biggest horology fair, Watches and Wonders Geneva, it is common for media personnel and retailers to rush past each other to attend their next appointment at the brands' swanky, house-sized booths. I speak as part of the journalist clique that has been attending the fair for over a decade. We know our job, our interviewees, and the brands we want to hit up. Few things jolt us. Last year, however, we did a double take when we spotted the Tick Tock Belles - local female watch collectors Stephanie Soh and Deborah Wong who go by that name on Instagram - at the entrance of the Palexpo, Watches and Wonders' exhibition site.
Clients used to be an uncommon sight at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH), the precursor to Watches and Wonders Geneva. One of the world's two most important watch trade fairs a few years ago - along with beleaguered, once-dominant Baselworld -SIHH used to be an invite-only event for retailers and the media.
Following its revamp as Watches and Wonders Geneva (there is also a Shanghai edition), the fair has morphed in several ways. While SIHH was a smaller-scale, exclusive event comprising primarily Richemont brands like Cartier and Vacheron Constantin, Watches and Wonders has many more participants, including former Baselworld heavyweights Rolex and Patek Philippe.
And unlike SIHH, Watches & Wonders is more consumer-focused. Last year, for the first time since its inauguration in 2021, the week-long event included two public days, with all 12,000 tickets selling out in advance. It stands to reason why the organisers upped the number of public days this year to three. When it opens this month, the fair will have 55 brands showcasing their launches across 66,000sqm of exhibition space, or 1.5 times the size of the Padang.
This story is from the April 2024 edition of Prestige Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 2024 edition of Prestige Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Power To The People
Boucheron creative director Claire Choisne's latest high-jewellery creations are stylish statements of authority and achievement.
Walking into the Blue
Dive into luxury at Depth of Blue, Johnnie Walker Blue Label's first flagship bar in Southeast Asia. Dive into luxury at Depth of Blue, Johnnie Walker Blue Label's first flagship bar in Southeast Asia.
IN THE FLOW
For ANDRÉ FU, travel isn't so much a means of inspiration as it is a way to detach from everyday life to approach his work from fresh perspectives.
CHIC VOLUMES
Impractically oversized but utterly beautiful tomes featuring an eclectic subject, coffee table books serve to kick-start conversations in addition to being subtle avenues of sophisticated self-expression. Here are six titles to consider having on your living room table.
VICTOR OVER TIME
35 years after they broke convention as renegade art students, Phillip Lim catches up with eminent artist SUZANN VICTOR to reminisce about past escapades and how far the artist has come.
Circle of Friends
A Singapore family that has set up a second home in remote Kenya shares their connection with the local communities with guests of their lodge.
VIVE LA WEAVE
Chanel's latest high jewellery collection celebrates the innovation that put her squarely in the pantheon of legendary fashion designers.
VIEW BEYOND THE RACES
For Richard Mille, life in the fast lane is more than just performance-driven machines, it's a profound appreciation for excellence in various forms.
OFF TO THE FAIR
Watch clients are increasingly dropping into Watches and Wonders, a trade fair meant for retailers and media personnel. Here's why.
STEP LIVELY
In the original design of Hermès' Mon Premier Galop shawl by Chinese artist Tong Ren, a horse with an awkward yet happy gait is depicted in simple lines, colour blocks, and decorative-trimming inspired by traditional basketry.