It’s that time of year again, and next week Watches and Wonders will return for its fourth year after its rebrand from ‘Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie’ in 2022.
From 1 April, the leading watchmaking event will see an unparalleled lineup of 60 prestigious brands, and from 5-7 April, for the second year running, the public will have exclusive access to the world’s finest timepieces, hands-on workshops, and immersive experiences.
From industry-leading maisons like Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Cartier to independent trailblazers, Watches and Wonders Geneva offers a rare opportunity to explore cutting-edge innovations and meet the artisans behind the craft.
Here visitors can participate in product presentations, interactive sessions, and expert-led discussions, plus an unmissable evening ‘In The City’ promises even more excitement after dark.
On 3 April, Geneva’s center will come alive as watch boutiques remain open until 9pm, culminating in a special concert headlined by electronic duo Bon Entendeur on Quai Général-Guisan.
Young people are also put in the spotlight through the festivities, with the dynamic LAB space in Palexpo dedicated to innovations and start-ups, as well as the Watchmaking Village on the Pont de la Machine, where younger visitors can experience watchmaking and jewellery workshops, find out about training courses and follow the live broadcast from Palexpo of the SwissSkills 2025 qualifications for microtechnology professions.
Elsewhere in the city, forging new links between watchmaking, literature, philosophy, psychology and history, the Payot bookshop offers a chance to meet Geneva historian Gérard Duc, prominent Geneva author Max Lobe, and Swiss crime fiction stars Nicolas Feuz and Marc Voltenaeur.
The Bio Cinema will screen Les Héritiers des Paysans-Horlogers, a documentary by Swiss director Claude Schauli, about farmers who became passionate watchmakers.
Geneva-based photographer Fred Merz is also hosting a exhibition, Longitude 0°, which explores the Greenwich Meridian to discover some of its physical markers and share unique anecdotes from those who live near.
At the Auditorium, an impressive conference program will explore emerging talents and trades, the role of women in watchmaking, the challenges of the second-hand watch market, as well as horological arts and mechanics in the realm of UNESCO’s cultural heritage.
Tickets are still available at watchesandwonders.com.