The exhibitors included internationally renowned watch brands, such as Omega, Vacheron Constantin, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Breguet, Blancpain, A. Lange & Söhne, Carl F. Bucherer, Seiko, Bell & Ross, and more, each of which exhibited the newest and most interesting timepieces in their current collections. A handful of brands even took the opportunity to introduce entirely new models and collections to collectors in the United States, including Omega, with its Seamaster Planet Ocean Deep Black collection; Vacheron Constantin, with 10 new references in its Harmony collection; Blancpain, with the premiere of its new limited-edition Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe in a blue ceramic case; Nomos, with its blue-dialed neomatik nachtblau editions; and Armin Strom, with its new rose-gold Edge Double Barrel model.
Saturday’s lineup of panel discussions, presentations, and activities included a talk on “Vintage Collecting” presented by Phillips and moderated by WatchTime Editor-at-Large Joe Thompson, with featured speakers Aurel Bacs and Paul Boutros; an expert panel discussion on the state of the mechanical watch industry, moderated by media personality and reporter Bill McCuddy; WatchTime Editor-in-Chief Roger Ruegger’s presentation on the history and evolution of dive watches; guided watch tours and talks by leading watch collector and brand consultant Jeff Kingston; and book signings with authors and industry experts Roberta Naas and Aaron Sigmond.
Some of the exhibiting brands showcased professional watchmakers plying their trade at work benches in real time throughout the day, allowing consumers to observe and learn about the watchmaking process firsthand. Several celebrities were sighted at the Saturday session, including “Fast and Furious” actor Sung Kang, who greeted visitors to the Perrelet booth and promoted his new limited-edition timepiece, the Turbine Sung Kang; and renowned German Opera singer René Pape, a friend and ambassador of independent Glashütte watch brand Moritz Grossmann.
Guests over the event’s two days included notable international watch collectors, timepiece enthusiasts, journalists, and social media influencers. By any standard, the 2016 edition of WatchTime New York surpassed the first, with an expanded line-up of watch exhibitors and a notable increase in ticket sales. “The energy and excitement from both the guests and the exhibitors was palpable throughout the show,” said Roger Ruegger, Editor-in-Chief of WatchTime. “We have in only two years established WatchTime New York as a destination event for the luxury watch community, and we expect even more brands to recognize the potential of WatchTime New York as a platform to launch and showcase their important timepieces in the future.”
Roberta Naas signed copies of her book, Jewels of Time.
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Are there any Watch Time Switzerland Travel tours planned for 2019 or 2020?