TIME TO MOVE ON
IT’S ALL CHANGE FOR THE 2020S IN THE WORLD OF HAUTE HORLOGERIE
In mid-January, the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) kicked off, as usual, in Geneva, presenting 2019 novelties by 18 historic maisons and 17 independent brands.
The 29th edition, however, marked a wave of change. Beforehand, in December 2018, the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH), the SIHH’s organiser, announced a partnership with Baselworld, whereby they would stage their trade fairs back to back in 2020.
The dates were set for the SIHH to be held from April 26-29 in Geneva, while Baselworld, which normally took place in March, would now be scheduled from April 30 to May 5 in Basel.
The idea behind the synchronisation was to benefit visitors and the media, allowing them to attend two major exhibitions in one go.
Much more dramatic news was to come, however. In October, there was the shock announcement that there would now be no 30th edition of the SIHH at all. Having run annually since 1991, the SIHH was no more.
Instead, 2020 is a new beginning: the SIHH has been rebranded as Watches & Wonders Geneva, and will premiere April 25-29.
“Because it’s about more than watches, we chose a name that conveys a sense of wonder, excellence, openness and discovery; a different way to experience watchmaking,” said FHH’s chairwoman and managing director Fabienne Lupo.
Watches & Wonders Geneva will come with a new format to attract an old and new audience, and also to promote fine watchmaking to the general public.
At venues throughout Geneva, the “In The City” programme will include exhibitions, walking tours and visits to manufacturers, along with boutique presentations, museum open houses and conferences.
The main exhibition will continue to be shown at Palexpo, Geneva’s exhibition and convention centre.
“Watches & Wonders becomes the focal point for the exceptional talent, creativity and infinite innovation of the world’s leading watch and jewellery maisons,” said Lupo.
The reinvention, however, did not affect Greubel Forsey’s decision to end its participation, with the watchmaker stating that a large-scale watch fair was no longer in keeping with the evolution of its global markets.
The innovative brand, founded by Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey in 2004, instead launched its own world tour in autumn this year.
Richard Mille provided a sweet end to its involvement, with a candy-themed booth at SIHH 2019, while Audemars Piguet bid farewell with the big launch of the CODE 11.59 watch family.
Significant departures had already hit Baselworld, as Swatch Group, the largest exhibitor, pulled out all of its 18 brands from the watch and jewellery show, which celebrated its centenary in 2017.
For Swatch Group, it was “Time To Move”, as their subsequent event under this title showed. It was first held in Zurich in March for retailers to preview the 2019 novelties of six luxury brands.
Hosted by Breguet, Blancpain, Glashütte Original, Harry Winston, Jaquet Droz and Omega, “Time To Move” was then organised in mid-May for the benefit of journalists, who also visited production facilities and métiers d’art workshops in Vallée de Joux, Geneva, La Chaux-de-Fonds and Biel.
The experience aimed to deepen the understanding of the brands’ traditions and horological innovations, as embodied in the new watches.
This year’s dramatic changes have shaken the watch industry, but, on the bright side, have paved new paths for the 2020s.
WATCHES & WONDERS IS NOW THE FOCAL POINT FOR THE TALENT, CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION OF LEADING WATCH AND JEWELLERY MAISONS