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While timepieces are undoubtedly the stars at the annual international horological event, celebrities also turned out in full force.
Celebrity sightings have always given watch conventions like SIHH and Baselworld an extra hint of excitement. In the past, brands have invited their biggest-name ambassadors to dinners with retailers, to super-secret parties, or to wave to the crowds while wearing the newest novelties on their wrists.
Watches & Wonders, held at the Palexpo convention center in Geneva, has replaced Baselworld and SIHH. However, celebrity guest appearances, while less a photocall for the amateur paparazzi, are still effective methods for brands to make a splash and get some attention.
Here’s our who’s who of Watches & Wonders 2023.
Legendary midfielder David Beckham turned up at the Tudor booth, where he was presented with the new 41mm Black Bay with burgundy bezel and five-link bracelet.
Nic von Rupp, Beckham’s fellow Tudor Ambassador and international surfing sensation, left his mark on the fair by autographing a life-sized photograph of himself and by helping the brand introduce the new 41mm Black Bay GMT with an opaline dial.
Up-and-coming tennis prospect Roger Federer visited Watches & Wonders 2023 wearing an Air King from the little-known Swiss brand Rolex.
In an appearance that would make the real-life environmental activist Erin Brockovich proud, Julia Roberts joined Chopard Co-Presidents Caroline and Karl-Friedrich Scheufele to announce the maison’s commitment to using Lucent Steel (made with 80% recycled steel) in all its steel watches. Roberts also wore one of the brand’s new Lucent Steel timepieces.
Marquee stars like Beckham and Roberts may have garnered the most media attention, but the mountain climber also brought a big crowd to the Montblanc booth. Purja posed for selfies with enthusiasts while wearing the 1858 Geosphere Chronograph 0 Oxygen Limited Edition Boutique Exclusive.
The future of freestyle skiing, Olympic medalist Eileen Gu dropped by the ultra-modernist IWC Schaffhausen booth wearing a decidedly non-sporty rose gold, diamond-studded Portofino Automatic Day & Night 37.
Legendary Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho brought his outsized energy to the fair, flexing his REBELLION Timepieces’ Re-Volt Ronaldinho.
Chinese rapper and Hublot Ambassador Lay Zhang made a big impression at the Palexpo by sporting not one but two of the brand’s Watches & Wonders launches: the Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami Black Ceramic Rainbow and a Square Bang Unico Sapphire.
