Watches and Wonders (formerly Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, SIHH) is a
trade show
A trade fair, also known as trade show, trade exhibition, or trade exposition, is an exhibition organized so that companies in a specific industry can showcase and demonstrate their latest products and services, meet with industry partners and ...
of the international watch and jewelry industry. It is organized by the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH) and takes place at
Palexpo
Palexpo is a convention center in Geneva, Switzerland. The buildings are owned by the canton of Geneva while the company is a semi-private foundation. The center is located close to Geneva International Airport. There are seven halls, and 102,000 s ...
in
Geneva
, neighboring_municipalities= Carouge, Chêne-Bougeries, Cologny, Lancy, Grand-Saconnex, Pregny-Chambésy, Vernier, Veyrier
, website = https://www.geneve.ch/
Geneva ( ; french: Genève ) frp, Genèva ; german: link=no, Genf ; it, Ginevr ...
,
Switzerland.
Mainly attended by
Richemont group brands,
the SIHH is considered as one of the major shows for luxury watches along with
Baselworld
Baselworld Watch and Jewellery Show is a global trade show of the international watch, jewellery and gem industry, organized each spring in the city of Basel, Switzerland, at the Messeplatz.
The last Baselworld was held March 21–26, 2019. In ...
.
Watches and Wonders was scheduled for 25-29 April 2020 but was canceled due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...
, and converted to an online format.
History
Established in 1991, the SIHH was a deliberate attempt by
Cartier, along with
Baume & Mercier,
Piaget,
Gérald Genta and
Daniel Roth, to create a more exclusive trade show dedicated to fine watchmaking.
SIHH 2019, which was held from January 14 - 17, 2019, attracted over 23,000 visitors and journalists. In 2018,
Audemars Piguet
Audemars Piguet Holding SA () is a Swiss manufacturer of luxury watches and clocks, headquartered in Le Brassus, Switzerland. The company was founded by Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet in the Vallée de Joux in 1875, acquiring ...
and
Richard Mille announced that they will no longer attend SIHH starting in 2020. In October 2019, FHH announced that for its 30th edition (2020), SIHH would change its name to Watches and Wonders Geneva,
and would be held in successive weeks with Baselworld until 2024. In April 2020
Rolex
Rolex SA () is a British-founded Swiss watch designer and manufacturer based in Geneva, Switzerland. Founded in 1905 as ''Wilsdorf and Davis'' by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis in London, the company registered ''Rolex'' as the brand name of ...
,
Patek Philippe,
Chopard,
Chanel and
Tudor announced that they would be pulling out of
Baselworld
Baselworld Watch and Jewellery Show is a global trade show of the international watch, jewellery and gem industry, organized each spring in the city of Basel, Switzerland, at the Messeplatz.
The last Baselworld was held March 21–26, 2019. In ...
and host their own fair in April 2021.
HOW BASELWORLD SCREWED ITSELF INTO OBLIVION: How the world’s mightiest and most powerful watch fair made precisely the right moves to guarantee its self-destruction
Wei Koh, ''The Rake'', April 2020
See also
*Baselworld
Baselworld Watch and Jewellery Show is a global trade show of the international watch, jewellery and gem industry, organized each spring in the city of Basel, Switzerland, at the Messeplatz.
The last Baselworld was held March 21–26, 2019. In ...
* Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair
References
External links
*{{official, https://www.watchesandwonders.com/
Trade fairs in Switzerland
Horological organizations
1991 establishments in Switzerland
Recurring events established in 1991
Annual events in Switzerland