Geneva, Sunday January 14th 2018 – What a night! Festive, friendly and free-spirited, this evening saw the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie 2018 kick-off with a grand event organized in downtown Geneva at the Bâtiment des Forces Motrices on the banks of the Rhone.
SIHH President Fabienne Lupo, along with the Councillor of Canton of Geneva Pierre Maudet, Mayor of Geneva Rémy Pagani, the exhibiting watch Maisons presented by their 35 CEOs, more than 400 guests, clients, collectors, retailers, journalists and watch industry personalities, as well as a number of eminent local personalities, congregated to celebrate the passion for Fine Watchmaking in a particularly festive spirit.
Guests were welcomed at the entrance by “Musique à Rollers” featuring young musicians combining acrobatic feats on roller skates with impressive musical techniques based on well-known arrangements.
On stage, the “Peretuum Jazzile” beatbox choir took over to give a stunning performance. One of the world’s most spectacular vocal groups, this ensemble has garnered worldwide success, particularly on YouTube with more than 50 million views. There are no instruments here, everything is done using the human voice, with powerful rhythms driven by peerless creativity.
The speeches given by Fabienne Lupo, Pierre Maudet and Rémy Pagani were a reminder of the very special place Geneva holds within the watch industry. The formal part of the evening concluded with a unique family photo: that of 35 CEOs standing alongside Fabienne Lupo, Pierre Maudet and Rémy Pagani in order to immortalize the moment.
A cocktail dinner had been created by five Swiss and French chefs on the ‘four seasons’ theme, notably including a marché gourmand and flower-themed patisseries, all staged amid magnificent floral decoration.
The SIHH is of course the first watch show of the year, serving to take the industry pulse and shape the major trends that will punctuate the watchmaking year. It is also an exceptional showcase, as much by the exclusive nature of its exhibitors and their masterpieces, as by the quality of its infrastructures.
For this 2018 edition, running from January 15th to 19th 2018, the Salon de la Haute Horlogerie is demonstrating flourishing success while ensuring controlled growth, with 35 exhibiting Maisons this year (featuring no less than six new arrivals including Hermès), an open day (confirmed after last year’s successful introduction), as well as the creation of a networking platform unique in its kind in the heart of the Salon, designed to create links and generate content. The Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie is ramping up its game.
The 20,000 visitors expected to attend this 28th edition will have an opportunity to discover the Fine Watchmaking world in even more attractive, exclusive, comfortable, interactive and connected conditions… so as to continue making the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie the world’s finest jewel case.
