Two respected New York City watch fairs—one decidedly high-end, the other more egalitarian in nature—have synchronized their dates this year to offer watch enthusiasts and retailers a long weekend saturated with in-demand and up-and-coming watch brands.
The WatchTime New York event and the Windup Watch Fair will collectively showcase more than 70 watch brands Oct. 25-27 at two locations: Gotham Hall (WatchTime New York, Oct. 25–26) and the Chelsea Market (Windup Watch Fair, Oct. 25–27).
The fairs both launched in 2015, coincidentally, and have experienced healthy growth in foot traffic and count and quality of exhibitors in the past four years. By synchronizing their dates, the fairs present a discovery experience that spotlights a sizable swath of the wristwatch industry, from watches that sell for $100 to pieces fit for the auction block.
Their ascension as trade and consumer events in the industry comes at a time when European fairs, including Baselworld, are struggling to stay relevant. The U.S. is the second-largest market for Swiss watches in the world, and New York City is home to RedBar and other serious watch collector groups—the appetite for shows like these is certainly there.
Exhibitors at this year’s WatchTime New York fair include top-shelf brands Omega, Breguet, Grand Seiko, MB&F, A. Lange & Söhne, Greubel Forsey, and F.P. Journe. The event will open with a cocktail reception on Oct. 25 for a cozy 350 guests (tickets are already sold out). Saturday, Oct. 26, is a full day that will feature brand presentations and Q&A sessions with WatchTime’s expert editorial staff, noted collector and WatchTime collaborator Jeff Kingston, and industry experts. Tickets for Saturday are available here.
The three-day Windup Watch Fair at Chelsea Market will feature 39 watch and accessories brands that range from independent newbies to storied European houses. Oris, Christopher Ward, StockX, Yema, and Zodiac are cosponsors of the event, which is free and open to the public. Exhibiting watch and accessories brands slated to exhibit include Hamilton, Spinnaker, Raven, Dan Henry, Farer, Baltic, Crown & Buckle, and Autodromo. Multibrand watch retailer Watches of Switzerland will host the fair’s invitation-only opening reception on Oct. 25 at its SoHo location.
Top: Watches in! A promo photo from the WatchTime New York fair (image courtesy of WatchTime New York)
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