A place to dream

In Hong Kong, the lion dance is a traditional part of any inaugural ceremony, Watches&Wonders being no exception. The ritual has particular significance as, after the leonine leaps and bounds, those present are invited to touch one of the two creatures’ heads as a promise of good fortune and prosperity. This year, the twelve Chief Executives of the Maisons exhibiting at this Haute Horlogerie Exhibition in Asia didn’t need any convincing to stroke the mane of the impressive looking beasts… and would even have used both hands, had they thought it might bring a double dose of luck.

Indeed, the phrase on everyone’s lips on day one of the fair was “this has to stop”. “This” being the fall in watch sales in this special administrative region, which is also Swiss watchmakers’ biggest market. In her opening speech, Fabienne Lupo, Chairwoman and Managing Director of Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie, the organiser of the event, referred to “recent economic trends and the uncertainty that reigns over certain markets” only to riposte that “we are returning to Hong Kong this year because we believe in taking a long-term view and in our lasting commitment to the region.” The presence of all twelve CEOs added weight to her words.

A digital fair

The crowds that pressed inside Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on this opening day left no doubt as to Fine Watchmaking’s appeal for an audience of collectors and connoisseurs whose grasp of the subject is unanimously acknowledged. Watches&Wonders 3.0, as it’s been dubbed, is designed for visitors to experience as a 360° immersion. This “third-generation fair” offers a digital environment including a smartphone app that provides full information about the exhibitors, the fair and the programme of talks by specialists. Visitors can also use the app to sign up for personalised tours of the booths, or let their phone guide them on thematic tours that show Fine Watchmaking from a new angle. The more daring can take part in a workshop to disassemble then rebuild a mechanical movement. The more curious can meet watchmakers and craftsmen from the Maisons.

The main attraction is, of course, the new watches on display, and particularly launches for the second half of the year. While SIHH remains the must-see event for the industry at the start of the year, Watches&Wonders, which shares essentially the same line-up, is the opportunity for brands to demonstrate their attachment to the Asian markets, not least with previously unseen creations. Their presentations are the reflection of a fair whose ambition is to deliver a constant stream of surprises and discoveries. In this respect, Watches&Wonders 3.0 is already a success.