The land of amazing vistas and majestic mountains, Switzerland, is also home to some of the finest watchmakers in the world, most of whom will be present in Geneva for Watches & Wonders Geneva 2022, the premier event for marquee brands such as Breitling and Cartier to emerging “indie” brands and even 18th century heritage houses.
After years of virtual events, if any at all, Watches & Wonders Geneva 2022 is ready to welcome audiences back to the convention floor in what is sure to be one of the world’s grandest showcases of watch craftsmanship.
An ideal opportunity for makers from all over the globe to show off the latest in design and artisanry, as well as the newest, cutting-edge technology in the world of horology, Watches & Wonders Geneva 2022 also acts as a kind of who’s who of the exclusive world of timepieces – this time more than ever before. In what can only be called one of the most impressive guests lists we have seen, audiences can expect to see pieces from A. Lange & Söhne, Breitling, Cartier, Chanel, Chopard, Grand Seiko, Hermès, Hublot, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Montblanc, Oris, Panerai, Parmigiani Fleurier, Patek Philippe, Piaget, Rolex, TAG Heuer, Tudor, Vacheron Constantin, Zenith, and many others.
The 2022 fete is a return to form in many ways for Watches & Wonders after two years as both digital and smaller-scale events dominated the pandemic era. Now, with the return of visitors, Watches & Wonders Geneva 2022 comes back in both digital and physical formats in Geneva’s Palexpo Convention Center.
One major change that is sure to elicit comment is the appearance of brands that were previously exclusive to Baselworld such as Patek Philippe, Rolex, Tudor, and members of the LVMH portfolio including TAG Heuer, Hublot, and Zenith. These brands will also be joined by Chanel, Chopard, and Grand Seiko, again, in a major departure from their previous Baselworld exclusivity.
A notable absence is Switzerland’s own Swatch Group and this is largely chalked up to that house’s unique method for introducing new pieces to the world. Explanations for this sudden change abound, but many fingers point towards the rising costs of exhibition space at Baselworld and the concomitant rise of alternative communication platforms for ending major marquees’ exclusivity with the exhibition.
This second phenomenon, exemplified by the rise of Zoom and teleconferencing, has had a particularly heavy impact on many of the more staid events while those like Watches & Wonders Geneva 2022 promise a hybrid, dual approach that caters to the largest possible global audience of watch connoisseurs.
Baselworld’s loss is Watches & Wonders Geneva 2022’s gain as guests can expect a panoply of watches straight out of the portfolios of the world’s largest brands. And, as with every great journey, this is only the beginning as we look towards the future of Watches & Wonders Geneva. Now that things are starting to get back to “normal” so to speak, audiences are already waiting with bated breath for what could be an even bigger show in the years to come as Watches & Wonders Geneva establishes itself without question as the gathering for the world’s horological elite.