For those who love to immerse themselves in the world of watches – and today, that is a strong number – WatchTime New York exhibition returns this year to Manhattan for a fifth rendition. The show, which takes place October 25-26 at the landmark Gotham Hall, this year boasts a record 37 participating brands. Open to the public with a ticketed admission, this is the largest event of its size that allows consumers to come face-to-face with timepieces not yet seen in America, and to meet the executives of the brands from around the world.
Zenith El Primero Revival watch will be one of the exclusive timepieces showcased during WatchTime New York.
Guests this year will even be treated to the debut of Blancpain’s “Fifty Fathoms” original documentary directed by watch expert Jeff Kingston and produced by Blancpain. In fact, it will be shown on Saturday at the end of the day, followed by a Swiss wine and cheese tasting. The film is narrated by Emmy-award-winner Peter Coyote, and explores how Blancpain developed the world’s first dive watch in the 1950s.
Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Barakuda offers date and seconds hand in addition to hours and minutes and is water resistant to 300 meters.
Additionally, the show offers a host of panel discussions and hands-on exhibitions of watchmaking and the artisan skills that bring haute horology to the forefront. Topics to be covered in this year’s presentations and discussions on Saturday (show opens from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm) include a close-up look at the Chronograph, a presentation entitled “The Golden Age of Watchmaking: Past or Present?” and a look at “What Makes Young Collectors Tick.”
Saturday Events At WatchTime NY
- Ticketholders can browse, mingle, and shop.
- VIP presentations and expert panels on all things watch collecting will be scheduled throughout the day – panel schedule includes:
- The Chronograph 101: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
- The Golden Age of Watchmaking: Past or Present? Hosted by Noted Collector and Consultant Jeff Kingston: 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- What Makes Young Collectors Tick: 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- FIFTY FATHOMS : THE HISTORY AS TOLD BY THE PIONEER WHO CREATED IT, 3:00 p.m., Produced by Blancpain and directed and written by Jeffrey Kingston, “Fifty Fathoms: The History as Told by the Pioneers Who Created It,” goes behind-the-scenes and details the origin of the emblematic Fifty Fathoms, the world’s first timepiece that scuba divers could depend on with their lives.
- Four Roses returns on Saturday with complimentary tastings from 1 – 4 p.m.
Greubel Forsey Double Tourbillon 30 ° Technique in blue ceramic will make its US debut at WatchTime New York.
As mentioned, a host of brands will bring exciting timepieces to the forefront here. Among them: Greubel Forsey’s newest blue ceramic Double Tourbillon 30 Technique Ceramic watch. We covered this nearly $700,000 timepiece on Forbes here last week. The watch, created in a limited edition of 11 pieces, is a deft blend of the brand’s cutting-edge visions and masterful mechanics. Co-founder of the brand Stephen Forsey will also be in attendance to explain the watch.
Armin Strom Minute Repeater Resonance is a world’s first timepiece combing sonorous minute repeater and constant force mechanism. It will be on display at WatchTime New York.
Additionally, 10-year-young Armin Strom will be showcasing its incredible Minute Repeater Resonance for the first time to the American public. This $350,000 watch is a world’s first premier, is being made in a limited number of just 10 to celebrate the brand’s anniversary.
Carl F. Bucherer will bring the Heritage Bicompax Annual watch to WatchTime New York.
Another independent watchmaker, Romain Gauthier, is showcasing his one-of-a-kind Logical One watch. The Logical One is Gauthier’s own invention and boasts an energy-efficient movement that offers both constant force and high chronometry. The version coming to the US for this exhibition is a unique piece crafted in white gold and set with more than 7 carats of baguette-cut diamonds.
Romain Gauthier Logical One Baguette watch is a unique piece that boasts both incredibly precise mechanics and stunning beauty. It will be on display during WatchTime New York.
The list goes on and on, with special timepieces being brought in by brands such as Carl F. Bucherer, Japan’s Grand Seiko, Germany’s MeisterSinger, America’s RGM, Asia’s G-Shock and so many others. Some brands, such as Moritz Grossmann and Akrivia, are also unveiling a few surprises in the way of specialty pieces (under wraps until the show), and Tulloch will make its brand debut at WatchTime New York.
For the fifth annual WatchTime New York (to be held October 25,26 at Gotham Hall), an unprecedented 37 brands will exhibit, with new watches being unveiled and so much more. (Seen here, WatchTime New York 2018.)
Japanese watchmaker Grand Seiko will showcase a series of four U.S.-exclusive models designed to represent the four seasons. The Spring model features a subtly textured pale pink dial; The Winter model channels the season with titanium gray; the lush green of The Summer model is punctuated by golden hands and indices, and the midnight blue Fall dial offers contrasting silvery hands and indices.
As mentioned, many of the top executives from these brand will be present on the Friday night cocktail opening event, as well as all day long on Saturday. So for those who really want a first-hand explanation of a watch, its mechanics or its designs, this is the show to attend.
In total, the 37 brands attending: A. Lange & Sohne, Akrivia, Armin Strom, Arnold & Son, Bell & Ross, Blancpain, Bovet 1822, Breguet, Bremont, Carl F. Bucherer, Christophe Claret, Chronoswis, Cyrus, Czapek, De Bethune, F.P. Journe, G-Shock, Glashutte Original, Grand Seiko, Greubel Forsey, HYT, Jaquet Droz, Kerbedanz, Maurice Lacroix, MB&F, MeisterSinger, Montblanc, Moritz Grossmann, Muhle Glashutte, Omega, Oris, RGM, Romain Gauthier, Seiko, Tulloch, Voutilainen, and Zenith.
The fifth annual WatchTime New York event (and the recently hosted first Watch Time LA show) are created by WatchTime Magazine, which is a monthly print (with digital aspect) publication that appeals to nearly 800,000 watch collectors globally. For more information on pre-registration visit WatchTimeNY.
