A festival of activities at Geneva Watch Days

From the opening day and throughout the five-day gathering, the public will enjoy free guided tours departing from the central Pavilion. These will be led by experts certified by the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH), ensuring excellent visits of the exhibition. There are more than 100 exceptional timepieces waiting to be discovered. The tours will extend into the showrooms of several brands and conclude at the FHH headquarters, Pont de la Machine, with a visit to the “Watches and Talents” exhibition. What crucial role does the human dimension play in watchmaking? This is the question the exhibition addresses. This theme will also be the subject of dedicated talks, with dates and locations to be announced soon on the Geneva Watch Days website.

Thanks to this strengthened collaboration, “Watch Reviews” presenting brands’ latest offerings will be held on 30 August and 1 September, along with “coffee breaks” for watch enthusiasts to share their passion to enjoy networking. On 31 August, a “Brunch by FHH” will allow everyone to test their watchmaking knowledge.

Furthermore, six symposiums moderated by Revolution magazine will tackle current burning questions. How is the watchmaking industry facing sustainability challenges? Have major players in the pre-owned market became influencers? Who are the influential women in the industry? Does the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève hold sway? What are the safe bets for investments? Lastly, which emerging brands are making waves in 2024?

For the second year in a row, a charitable auction will take place on Sunday 1 September, jointly hosted by Geneva Watch Days and Phillips in association with Bacs & Russo. Conducted by Aurel Bacs, it won’t be watches that are auctioned off, but unique objects or experiences. The proceeds will go to the Pierre Amstutz Fund, honouring the former Director of the Ecole d’Horlogerie de Genève. This nonprofit aims to support apprentices facing precarious situations, enabling them to complete their studies successfully. This initiative underscores the watchmaking industry’s solidarity along with its commitment to preserving skills and nurturing talent.

To accommodate all these new activities, Geneva Watch Days have dedicated a wing of the Pavilion to their cultural partners: FHH, of course, but also the Ecole d’Horlogerie de Genève, Horopedia and The Watch Library. It is called the “Culture Club”. Additionally, a new space will be unveiled this year, the “Glass Box”, just a few steps away from the main Pavilion. This is where symposiums and “Watch Reviews” will take place, to the delight of an audience captivated by watchmaking.

August 15, 2024