A busy week in Switzerland concluded for Watches and Wonders Geneva 2023 with record figures, including a near doubling of attendance from visitors.
More than 43,000 visitors took part in the seven-day spectacle, an increase from 22,000 in 2022.
According to organisers, more than 5,000 retailers from 125 countries participated with an impressive 50 per cent in-person increase in attendance from the press too.
“In case you hadn’t discovered by now, Watches and Wonders is sort of the Super Bowl of the watch and jewellery industry,” writes Josh Bozin of Harpers Bazaar.
“For one week, this trade fair and media event hosts the world’s most prominent watch and jewellery brands as they present their respective collections for the year, sometimes the consummation of years of research and development.”
“For the average bystander, Watches and Wonders might look a bit stuffy and over the top, but in fact, the hoopla is completely justified the moment you step inside Geneva’s all encompassing Palexpo convention centre.”
The final two days of the fair were open to the public and of the 12,000 tickets available, all were sold before the weekend began.
In terms of product design, this year’s show has been described as a juxtaposition of classic style and tempered restraint against outright excess.
“There were plenty of serious, restrained, elegant, and even relatively small timepieces on offer at Watches and Wonders,” writes Justin Fenner of Robb Report.
“But a handful of brands proved that there’s truly nothing that succeeds like excess—or at least a wild swing for the fences. Something tells us we’re going to be thinking about these things for a long time.”
Retailers completed more than 8,000 appointments, with more than 70 per cent of visitors to the fair coming from Europe.
“Watches and Wonders Geneva closes its 2023 edition with results that exceed expectations and best forecasts. All of its indicators are well above previous editions,” organisers said in a statement.
“The Salon confirms its trajectory as well as its position on the world watchmaking scene, thanks to controlled expansion and a common voice. The innovations were numerous, as were the expectations. Watches and Wonders has redoubled in creativity, innovation and openness in order to keep pace with a rapidly expanding global watch market.”
Improving social media presence was a priority in the lead up to the event, with organisers declaring that 1.8 million posts mentioning #watchesandwonders were viewed by more than 600 million people.
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