‘This is the place to be if you want to see the trends’ (or a signal at least)
Eye-popping pavilions, hyper-limited releases, F1 race cars and bucketloads of Veuve Clicquot: The Geneva fair turned it on for a record 55,000 visitors.
Actress Simone Ashley and IWC Schaffhausen CEO Chris Grainger-Herrat pose with a race car used in the filming of Brad Pitt’s upcoming film F1. Getty Images
Cars. I see lots of cars,” says Hublot chief executive Julien Tornare in summing up this year’s Watches and Wonders in Geneva. “It’s like a parking lot out there.”
The world’s biggest fair of mechanical watches attracts thousands of retailers, wholesalers and journalists to the Swiss city each April. The trade show is held in a giant conference hall made up of elaborate pavilions that cost millions, to show off the latest in horology and attract top customers, who are also treated to private dinners and special appointments, so they can be the first to acquire the latest, hyper-limited releases. And this time around, there were also a lot of Formula 1 race cars.
Matthew DrummondAFR Magazine editorMatthew Drummond edits AFR Magazine, our premium monthly inserted magazine that covers business, politics, fashion, design, food and wine, and is home to the Rich List, Young Rich List and the Power lists. Connect with Matthew on Twitter. Email Matthew at matthew.drummond@afr.com.au
