As what is probably the most important week of the year for fans of the very finest that the watchmaking industry has to offer, the SIHH exhibition brings with it hundreds of new watches. From Monday you will be able to discover many of them on WorldTempus, but in this preview we aim to help to steer you through the mass of information and single out some of the most important news items you will see next week.
Pillars and pilot
Without giving too much away, we can reveal rather vaguely that two big brands will be unveiling collections based around three pillars. One of them is Cartier and, based on what the brand has already revealed for its gents and ladies models, you can probably guess what those pillars are. The themes used by Montblanc have been kept tightly under wraps, but you will be able to discover one of them next Monday at the top of our homepage.
The pilot’s watch is an important part of IWC’s heritage and we have already seen a foretaste of things to come from the Schaffhausen brand. Expect much more next week as pilot’s watches will be the main focus of the brand’s 2016 collection.
Head for Watchmakers’ Square
Ralph Lauren will not be present at the SIHH this year. In their place will be nine new exhibitors showcasing some of the finest in independent watchmaking. The Carré des Horlogers includes the likes of H. Moser & Cie., where visitors will be looking to catch a glimpse of the new Swiss Alp Watch. It is the closest thing to an Apple Watch that you are likely to find at the SIHH, but only in appearance.
The party is on WorldTempus!
For the first time, there will be no “boat” during this year’s SIHH. This is of little relevance to the watch fan, since it was an exclusive after-party venue reserved for the media and customers during the week and hardly newsworthy. But to ensure that the week does not go by without at least one party to remember, WorldTempus is organizing the most international after-party of the week on Wednesday in Geneva. Fifteen years on the web makes us older than some of the brands exhibiting at the SIHH and is worth a celebration.
Ladies’ Day
The SIHH traditionally kicks of at 9.00 on Monday morning with the official opening of the Roger Dubuis stand. WorldTempus readers will, however, get a sneak preview of the stand from the stroke of midnight on Sunday evening. The theme in that particular corner of the Palexpo will be dedicated to ladies.
The talking piece?
Some brands like to keep their cards very close to their chest up until the SIHH officially opens its doors. Richard Mille may therefore surprise us with yet another new case material, for example, while a safer bet is that the new Panerai watches will be very… Panerai. But there is already a strong contender for what might be a talking piece, with Parmigiani Fleurier set to unveil something very special for its 20th anniversary. Think high frequency. Very high frequency.
