WatchTime New York 2024 Comes to a Close
WatchTime New York, North America’s most influential watch exhibition and the anchor of New York City’s unofficial watch week, concluded on a high this weekend. The major watch enthusiast event returned to Midtown Manhattan at Gotham Hall from October 18-20, and welcomed over 2,500 collectors over the course of the weekend. The 3-day exhibition and celebration of wristwatches showcased the latest timepieces from 36 leading watch brands and offered the opportunity for attendees to engage directly with industry leaders, tastemakers, and fellow collectors.
The event opened on Friday, October 18th with a sold-out cocktail party. The eclectic crowd of executives, VIPs, tastemakers, and enthusiasts enjoyed “The Timeless Classic” custom cocktails and light fare from retail partner Wempe, while mingling and perusing the latest timepieces. Several brands, including Bell & Ross, Arnold & Son, Angelus, Czapek, G-Shock, Ulysse Nardin, and Urwerk unveiled brand new timepieces, some revealed to the world for the very first time from the WatchTime New York show floor.
Bremont welcomed alpinist and brand ambassador Jimmy Chin to showcase his latest collaboration at the brand booth. The evening’s other notable attendees included former NBA player Rudy Gay, actor Fred Savage, and a host of high-profile industry executives, including Claude Greisler of Armin Strom, Carlos Rosillo of Bell & Ross, Davide Cerrato of Bremont, Dr. Robert Punkenhofer of Carl Suchy & Sohne, Xavier de Roquemaurel of Czapek, Mirko Bertolucci of Cyrus, Edouard Meylan of H. Moser, William Massena of Massena LAB, Christine Hutter of Mortiz Grossmann, Thilo Muhle of Muhle Glashutte, Roland Murphy of RGM, Christelle Rosnoblet of Speake-Marin, Albert Edelmann of Zeitwinkel, and Rudy Albers of Wempe, Jeffrey Cohen of Citizen Watch America, and Ron Bhindi of Bhindi Jewelers.
The evening culminated with a special moment to mark WatchTime magazine’s 25th anniversary. WatchTime event producer and professional singer Minda Larsen offered a soaring rendition of “Happy Birthday,” after which the WatchTime team blew out the candles on a wrist-watch shaped cake.
Saturday, October 19th, kicked off with large crowds of collectors who enjoyed exclusive tastings from wine sponsor Domaine Drouhin Oregon and spirits sponsor Wolves Whiskey. The day’s signature panel, “WatchTime Looks at 25: Twenty-Five Years of Watches, Collecting, and Industry Lore,” was moderated by actor, avid horologist, and A. Hodge Atelier watch designer Aldis Hodge. Feature panelists included current WatchTime Editor-in-Chief Roger Ruegger; Joe Thompson, watch industry expert of over 40 years and former WatchTime Editor-in-Chief; and watch collector and expert Jeff Kingston.
On his way out of the event, Aldis Hodge said “I had a fantastic time at WatchTime New York. If you haven't been to this event, definitely come. As far as stepping into the watch world, it's the greatest place to start and get to know the people and to understand why we — the brand watchmakers, and collectors—do what we do."
New and returning visitors came Sunday, October 20th, to enjoy another full day of watch browsing, tastings, and the day’s headline panel, “Vintage Collecting in 2024: Vintage and Pre-Owned in a Modern World,” moderated by Nicholas Manousos and featuring actor, director, writer, producer, and lifelong enthusiast and collector Fred Savage, along with Global Head of Watches at Sotheby’s and founder of the acclaimed “RollieFest,” Geoffrey Hess, and TikTok watch sensation and vintage watch specialist Mike Nouveau.
Speaking to the magazine’s 25th anniversary, Roger Ruegger, WatchTime Editor-in-Chief said, “I am very grateful to mark this milestone moment together with our global network of collectors, brand partners, and friends – alongside Joe and Jeff, who helped lay the foundation for WatchTime New York and WatchTime’s enduring success.”
Ruegger went on to say, "This event is the living fulfillment of WatchTime’s mission to educate and connect collectors with the watchmakers and brands they love. We can’t wait to return for year ten next year."
Sara Orlando, WatchTime Publisher: “Nine years ago, we set out to produce the New York City watch event this city deserves. Our dream – WatchTime New York – has come true. Every year, this event brings the community together. It’s become a true bucket-list experience and has inspired New York City’s unofficial watch week, with countless spin-off events. I can’t think of better testament to success than that!”
The 36 WatchTime New York 2024 brand exhibitors included: Armin Strom, Arnold & Son, Artime, Bell & Ross, Blancpain, Bovet, Breguet, Bremont, Carl F. Bucherer, Chopard, Chronoswiss, Cyrus, Czapek Genève, Frederique Constant, G-Shock, Gerald Charles, Glashütte Original, Greubel Forsey, Hautlence, H. Moser & Cie., Lang & Heyne, Laurent Ferrier, Massena LAB, MB&F, Moritz Grossmann, Mühle Glashütte, Norqain, Parmigiani Fleurier, Perrelet, Piaget, RGM, Speake-Marin, Ulysse Nardin, Urwerk, and Zeitwinkel.
When WatchTime New York first launched in 2015, the revolutionary event concept – part watch exhibition, meetup, and educational forum – forever changed the way brands market to collectors, and the way collectors experience and buy watches. The event was the first of its kind to bring brands, executives, designers, tastemakers, and collectors together in a single forum, inviting connection and fostering a global watch community. Over the last nine years, the runaway success of WatchTime New York has helped pull back the industry curtain and propel watch collecting from a solitary, niche pursuit to a mainstream, global, communal experience.
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