Join Watchonista At Watches & Wonders 2019!
Watches & Wonders Miami is back and bigger than ever! Join Watchonista this President’s Day Weekend in Miami’s Design District. Based on last year’s festivities, it's going to be a significant event.
By Watchonista
It’s a Long Weekend of Watches
Created by the Foundation Haute Horlogerie (FHH) in partnership with the Miami Design District, Watches & Wonders is kind of like a mini SIHH or Baselworld, but with much warmer weather. Taking place February 15-17 in Miami’s Design District. You’re not going to want to miss this!
Over the weekend, brands will showcase their newest timepieces for buyers and collectors – plus there is a full slate of panels and workshops lined up! This is a unique opportunity to view and try on novelties previously only seen at SIHH. For the weekend, boutiques and pop-up shops will take over the Design District with special hours and an open house atmosphere that will enhance the experience.
Watchonista’s Participation
Throughout the weekend, Watchonista’s entire US team will be on-site covering the very best of the show. On Friday, February 15th, we’ll be hosting a very exclusive cocktail reception for collectors. Email events@watchonista.com to claim one of the last remaining spots.
Lastly, Watchonista will be participating in discussion panels throughout the weekend. All panels will take place in the Miami Design District. Below is a full schedule:
Friday, February 15, 2019
Perceiving Time, A Panel Discussion
Time: 3:00pm – 3:45pm
For centuries, analog time displays have typically used concentric hands indicating the hours and minutes on a simple dial. Through new technology and ideas, indies are challenging the way we view and perceive the passage of time with new materials, like HYT, and elaborating on past traditions, like Kari Voutilainen.
Moderator: Josh Shanks, Watchonista Speakers: Gregory Dourde (HYT) / Kari Voutilainen / Pierre Halimi (F.P.Journe)
Friday, February 15, 2019
Can Women Save The Watch World?
Time: 5:30 PM - 6:15 PM
The world of fine watchmaking has long been associated primarily with male consumers, even though studies have shown that women understand luxury better and have stronger, more crisis-proof consumption patterns. What's the key to bringing the watch industry more in line with the needs of the female customer and could this mean better watches for everyone?
Moderator: Rachel Felder, Author
Speaker(s): Greg Simonian Westime / Josh Shanks, Watchonista / Roberta Naas, Writer / Fabienne Lupo, Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie
Saturday, February 16, 2019
What's Yours Is Mine, What's Mine Is Yours
Time: 5:30 PM - 6:15 PM
Walk into any watch boutique in the world, and you'll see the divisions between watches targeted at men and watches targeted at women. And yet it's becoming more and more common to see women with tough sports watches and men with diamond-studded pieces. Do categories such as, "Men's watch" and "Women's watch" still make sense if no one follows them anyway?
Moderator: Victoria Gomelsky, Writer
Speaker(s): Sophy Rindler, Red Bar Miami / Nick Sullivan, Esquire / Hyla Bauer, Watchonista's Contributor / Michael Friedman, Audemars Piguet
Sunday, February 17, 2019
Getting your super-collector all-access pass
Time: 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM
The worlds of vintage watch collecting and modern watch appreciation are miles apart. Some modern watch collectors try for years to master the landscape of vintage watches but never entirely escape its various pitfalls. What are the essential lessons to learn, the best path to take, and how can you avoid getting burned?
Moderator: Roger Ruegger, Watch Time
Speaker(s): Paul Boutros, Phillips Watches / William Massena / Matthew Bain / Pascal Ravessoud, Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie / Alexander Friedman, Watchonista
What we’re looking forward to
Beyond the panels and parties, there are some very cool things happening with every participating brand. For example, Piaget will be displaying its record-breaking Altiplano Concept timepiece, the thinnest in the world. Dior will unveil a new personalization service for its Dior Grand Bal watch, allowing customers to design their own made-to-measure timepiece. Hublot will be showcasing the work of artist Michael Moebius in its boutique. Jaeger-LeCoultre will demonstrate the Maison's know-how by featuring various craft stations in its shop.
It's Even Bigger Than Last Year
Last year, 21 brought out their best for Watches & Wonders. 2019 sees 12 new Maisons showing off their wares, including De Bethune, Dior, Girard-Perregaux, H. Moser & Cie., HYT, OMEGA, Roger Dubuis, Speake-Marin, Tiffany & Co., Ulysse Nardin, Zenith, and Turkish jeweler Sevan Biçakçi, who recently launched a new luxury timepiece collection. That's 29 of the most prestigious Maisons in watchmaking.
Participating for a second year will be A. Lange & Söhne, Audemars Piguet, Bvlgari, Cartier, F.P. Journe, Hublot, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Kari Voutilainen, Louis Vuitton, Panerai, Piaget, Romain Gauthier, RJ, TAG Heuer, Vacheron Constantin, and Van Cleef & Arpels.
So not only do you get the chance to see watches that were just revealed at SIHH in Geneva in January, but you will also have the opportunity to get a pre-Baselworld to peek at previously unseen models.
It’s Fun in the Sun
Taking place at the heart of the Miami Design District, Watches & Wonders, the event also intersects with the Miami Design District Concours and the Miami Yacht Show. Need a break between discussion panels? Then check out an art installation.
Need a way to get your new watch home? The Concours offers car enthusiasts a fantastic selection of exceptional vehicles. Need a place to keep your timepiece? 31st annual Miami Yacht Show will be home to over 500 yachts from the world's most exceptional luxury shipbuilders.
And then there are the events! The Watchonista team had an incredible experience at the first edition of Watches & Wonders. And largely because the event gives guests the chance to meet and mingle with industry executives, watchmakers, experts, and other enthusiasts. By day, you can learn about all aspects of collecting and investing and complications. By night, the Design District transforms into a crazy cocktail hour (last year it looked like a Cirque de Soliel show with booze).
And this year promises to be even more exciting. For example, Patrick Pruniaux, CEO of Ulysse Nardin and Girard-Perregaux, will be hosting the global launch of the Ulysse Nardin X Collection on a super yacht!
It’s the Place to See and Be Seen
Basically, Watches & Wonders Miami gives Swiss Brands and local retailers the chance to connect with luxury fans from across North America. And most importantly, these watch lovers will be out in full force showing off their favorite timepieces.
Miami has always been a hot zone for high-end watch spotting, but last year at Watches & Wonders we saw an unprecedented amount of rare vintage and collectible watches just strolling by. And most folks were happy to stop and talk about their timepieces, making it a great place to network with other enthusiasts.
Watches & Wonders: Join Watchonista And Girard-Perregaux For The Global Launch Of A Very Special Timepiece
By Josh Shanks
, Contributor
This Friday, we’re hosting an exclusive cocktail party in Miami’s Design District. You’re not going to want to miss this.