Wonderous Affair

Watches and Wonders Geneva concluded on a high note as participating Maisons brought their A-game for the year ahead. In a exclusive reportage, Men's Folio covers the highlight pieces and intimate conversations with the various Maisons.

- Asaph Low

Geneva, Switzerland, buzzed with excitement and energy as the city hosted the premiere watchmaking event, Watches and Wonders Geneva. On the watchmaking front, 48 Maisons, including esteemed independent watchmakers, unveiled vitrines filled with masterpieces and showstoppers for the year ahead. Innovation and creativity were at an all-time high as Maisons topped last year’s novelty lineup with yet another batch of stellar creations. Now into its sophomore year, the physical event concluded on a high as results exceeded expectations and forecasts. 43,000 unique visitors, doubled from 22,000 in 2022, attended Watches and Wonders Geneva over the week, while 1.8 million social media posts mentioned #WatchesandWonders, garnering close to a reach of 600 million people. By tradition, Watches and Wonders Geneva is a trade show mainly reserved for retailers and journalists. However, the organising committee Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie decided to open the last two exhibiting days to the public. All 12,000 tickets made available were snapped up with the excitement spilling into the city with the “In the City” experience. Special events in the watch boutiques and other points of interest were held in the watchmaking capital as locals and international visitors soaked in the horological affair. While Watches and Wonders Geneva 2024 has yet to be confirmed, the consolidated success on all fronts points to the return of the premiere watchmaking event next year.