Watches & Wonders Returns to Miami

Brands like Chopard and Tiffany & Co. have signed on for the second Miami edition of the consumer event, slated for Feb. 15 to 17.

Ashley Davis Ashley.Davis@nationaljeweler.com

Watch and jewelry brands like Chopard and Tiffany & Co. have signed on for the second Miami edition of the consumer event, timed to coincide with a yacht and car show.

Miami—Consumer watch and jewelry show Watches & Wonders moved from Hong Kong to Miami last year and proved to be such a hit with consumers that the city’s second edition is geared to be even bigger and better than the first.

Produced by the Foundation de la Haute Horlogerie in partnership with Miami Design District Associates, the three-day event kicks off Friday, Feb. 15 and runs through Sunday, Feb. 17, timed to coincide with the Miami Yacht Show and Miami Concours, an exotic and collectable car show.

One of the highlights of Watches & Wonders Miami is its watchmaking workshops for consumers.

This year, 30 brands—compared with last year’s 21 brands—will participate, showing off their latest and most impressive timepieces, some of which will be making their debuts.

Design District watch and jewelry boutiques A. Lange & Söhne, Bulgari, Cartier, Hublot, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Louis Vuitton, Panerai, Piaget, TAG Heuer, Vacheron Constantin, and Van Cleef & Arpels are back for the second Miami show, while the Dior, Omega, Sevan Bicakci and Tiffany & Co. boutiques are new to the line-up.

In addition to the freestanding boutiques, a tent at Jungle Plaza will house brand pop-ups. Audemars Piguet, F.P. Journe, Romain Gauthier, RJ, and Voutilainen are returning to the tent, while Chopard, De Bethune, Girard-Perregaux, H. Moser & Cie., HYT, Roger Dubuis, Speake-Marin, Ulysse Nardin and Zenith will exhibit there for the first time.

The Jungle Plaza tent will also house a bar for thirsty watch connoisseurs, while a DJ will perform in the evenings in the outdoor plaza.

In addition to browsing and shopping, Watches & Wonders visitors will have the opportunity to learn more about watchmaking and collecting through educational panels and workshops.

A view of one of last year’s timepiece workshops

Of the many seminars to be held, a few highlights include “Initiation to Watchmaking,” a watchmaking workshop; “Defining Independent,” which will discuss small, indie brands; and panel discussions titled “Can Women Save the Watch World?” and “Women Who Collect.”

On Friday night, the Miami Concours car show kick-off party will take place at Jungle Plaza, with an award-winning 1937 BMW 328 Roadster, which completed the Mille Miglia race in 2017, on display alongside Chopard’s Mille Miglia collection.

On Saturday evening, the Miami Symphony Orchestra will perform for eventgoers at the Palm Court and Sunday will include watchmaking events for children.

To continue the synergy between luxury

Banner will be right here …

timepieces, cars and boats, Ulysse Nardin also will act as the neighboring Miami Yacht’s Show official timekeeper.

To register for workshops and discussions, or to learn more about the event, visit the Watches & Wonders website.
https://www.watchesandwonders.com/

Ashley Davisis the senior editor, fashion at National Jeweler, covering all things related to design, style and trends.