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What To Expect At Watches And Wonders 2023 - Chrono Hunter

The hottest horological event of the year is set to take place between March the 27th and April 2nd
Showcasing 48 brands across the luxury watch sphere including Audemars Piguet, Rolex, Zenith, Cartier and Vacheron Constantin.
For the first time, the event will be open to the public on Saturday the 1st and Sunday the 2nd of April.

The time is nearly upon us. It’s the talk of the town…if not the entire horological world. We are of course referring to Watches and Wonders 2023. The anticipation is palpable. Sweaty palms, beads running down the forehead as if it was your first interview. Yes, we cannot wait either. Kicking off on March the 27th, enthusiasts and collectors alike are foaming at the mouth like hungry lions to grab a small slice of what's new in the sector.

And Geneva is the setting for this timepiece extravaganza for seven days of schmoozing, networking, round table talks, expositions and exclusive creations. Mind you, you’ll have to wait for Rolex as their new models are literally under lock and key until the last second. What you don’t need to wait for is all the latest gossip and releases as we may just have our expert spies on the ground in Geneva! Come and say bonjour and see how you can buy a watch or sell a watch with us - the smart way. So what can we expect? Let’s find out.

The Location

Within close proximity of Geneva airport, The Palexpo Exhibition Centre plays host to this year’s Watches and Wonders 2023. Boasting more than 100,000 square metres of space, it is owned by the city or canton of Geneva. Sound familiar? This is where the official Geneva seal certification for watch movements is authenticated.

Palexpo Exhibition Centre, Source: Palexpo

Although the first few days are reserved for those who have snaffled a press pass or invitees of the brands in attendance, that doesn’t mean you have missed out timelords. Now, any avid enthusiast or would-be collector can visit on both April 1st and 2nd to indulge in the 40-plus Maisons presenting. Plus, there’s a spanking new feature this year - “In the City”. Taking in various stores and event spaces across the city, Geneva welcomes many individuals looking for that all-round immersive timekeeping experience.

Who Is Exhibiting at Watches and Wonders 2023?

First of all, let’s tell you about the no-shows for this year’s prestigious event. Even the post-pandemic furore around consumers wanting to buy a watch didn’t stop the following from not returning;

H. Moser & Cie
Armin Strom

However, Watches and Wonders 2023 will see more than a dozen new brands entering the exhibition. This features:

Alpina
Beauregard
Bell & Ross
Charles Zuber
Charriol
Chronoswiss
Frederique Constant
Grönefeld
Hautlence
Hysek
Kerbedanz
Pequignet
U-Boat.

And here is the full list below in all its glory;

Brands in Attendance

Lange & Söhne - Alpina - Angelus - Arnold & Son - Baume & Mercier - Beauregard - Bell & Ross - Cartier - Chanel - Charles Zuber - Charriol - Chopard - Chronoswiss - Cyrus Genève - Czapek & Cie - Ferdinand Berthoud - Frederique Constant - Grand Seiko - Grönefeld - Hautlence - Hermès - Hublot - Hysek - IWC Schaffhausen - Jaeger-LeCoultre - Laurent Ferrier - Louis Moinet - Montblanc - Oris - Panerai - Parmigiani Fleurier - Patek Philippe - Pequignet - Piaget - Rebellion Timepieces - Ressence - Roger Dubuis - Rolex - Rudis Sylva - Speake-Marin - TAG Heuer - Trilobe - Tudor - U-Boat - Ulysse Nardin - Vacheron Constantin - Van Cleef & Arpels - Zenith

What Should You Expect At Watches and Wonders 2023?

As you know from our bold predictions and outlandish forecasts for W&W, remember to expect the unexpected. A genuine horological pilgrimage for many, this is a real no holds barred feast of watchmaking, pulling out all the stops this year. As Liam Gallacher once said, you’ll be slowly walking down the halls (or should that be salons) faster than a cannonball where you will discover a spectrum of activity over the weekend of April 1st and 2nd.

Source: Forbes

From educational talks to several panel sessions in the heart of the Auditorium, there will be a range of speakers, experts and topics covered to whet any enthusiasts appetite. From the emergence of blockchain technology to how to build a vintage watch collection, here are a few of Chrono Hunter’s top picks;

Saturday April 1st

11am - Entitled “what’s trending” this will concentrate on product trends and commenting on what specialists have noticed across the week regarding aesthetics, materials and tones.

12pm - “What’s Your Watch Worth?” should be of interest to many enthusiasts and collectors with how the true value has developed over time

Sunday April 2nd

12pm - A deep dive into how a watch becomes iconic and how it merits this recognition.

4pm - “The ABC of vintage collecting” is a step by step talk on how to start a vintage collection as this trend has been catapulted into the horological sphere

Source: Watches and Wonders

Meanwhile, next to the designated salons, you will have the opportunity to absorb yourself with horological knowledge concerning all things watchmaking. This is thanks to not one but four guided tours across the 48 exhibiting brands. In addition, don’t miss the LAB area, dedicated to ground-breaking innovations across 12 projects regarding where watchmaking is going in the future. Oh we are not done yet. Swiss photographer Karine Bauzin will be putting on a dedicated exhibit called “What Time is it?” uncovering the perception of time.

Your Bitesize Guide To “In The City.”

In association with various watch brands as well as Watches and Wonders Geneva Foundation, there will be a festival put on for anyone to enjoy. Free of charge, there are a host of activities to keep the most hardcore enthusiast busy in Geneva. Prepare to jam pack your diary even more with guided tours around the city, including taking in a tour of the iconic Patek Philippe Museum. The revelry is set to begin at 5pm on Thursday Match 30th on Rue Basses where Watches and Wonders are launching a takeover, brimming with entertainers and street performers.

Taking in along the way all the prestigious luxury watch stores along Rue du Rhône, time appears to be no object for them as we hear they will open till 9pm. And if you see the Watches and Wonder symbols along the way in different watch stores they may have a surprise waiting for you in store including potentially looking at brand new pieces of the watchmaking line!

Everything You Need To Know About “Time To Watches”

Aimed at smaller independent watch brands like Lebois & Co, Maison Beaubleu, OLIGO and Paul Picot, Time to Watches is back for the second consecutive year. Between March 28th and April 1st, around 30 brands will showcase their wares at the Geneva School of Art and Design.

Source: Time to Watches

This can easily be reached via a complimentary shuttle going to and from Geneva’s main airport. This is the cool place where passionate enthusiasts can uncover the latest hip brands, vintage timepieces and get up close and personal with new watches. This truly is access all areas!

Anything Else To Watch Out For?

Franck Muller Limited Edition The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee 2022, Source: Franck Muller

Well, if you are looking to buy a Franck Muller watch, get yourself to Geneva pronto as they will be showing their watches off between March 27th and April 2nd under the World Presentation of Haute Horlogerie (WPHH), together with Cvstos and Backes and Strauss. While there are far too many exhibits to mention on their own, why not catch our other horological highlights in downtown Geneva. Jacob & Co will no doubt be presenting their nigh on outrageously expensive timepieces at Hotel des Bergues while FP Journe will be in attendance at the Manufacture. Who knows, you may bump into Francis Ford Coppola in Geneva, sporting the 1 of 1 piece he created with this brand that sold for more than £4 million at auction. Don’t they call that a “piece unique?”

Conclusion

What is certainly unique is that Watches and Wonders 2023 is tantalisingly close. Be it new collaborations, breaking news, latest natterings, new releases and, yes Rolex who deserves a whole other story to themselves, we will have our horological finger on the pulse…even when the drop becomes too hot! Watch this space time peeps as we will be bringing you the scoop (and more) starting March 27th.

UPDATE: Look at what has just hit! Hot off the timekeeping press, the 2023 Rolex Teaser seems to point to a potential new larger Explorer in titanium. Could this be introduced next week? This might coincide nicely with the 70th anniversary of Rolexes expedition on Mount Everest. There may be a revamped steel Yacht Master, again in titanium or what seems like a gold Rolex GMT in the pipeline. At least from what we can make out. Do you want to hazard a guess? For now, new watches 2023 are all we are getting…all we can say is watch this space.

Can’t wait that long? Want to discover how to buy a watch or sell a watch in time for Watches and Wonders 2023? Contact Chrono Hunter here. With nearly 900 exceptional Trustpilot reviews, we are your number one source when you come to making a purchase or sale. Download our dedicated app today or fill in our simple online form. Receive multiple offers in less than 24 hours from our established network of luxury retailers and bag the timepiece of your dreams today.

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