Timed to Perfection

Every January, timepiece collectors and lovers of luxury goods hold their breath to see the new wonders that have been created by the world's most renowned watchmakers. That is when all is revealed at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) in Geneva, Switzerland, which is open only to retailers and media.

Now, at Watches&Wonders, First Asia Horlogerie Exhibition, invited guests can see these top-tier timepieces under one roof at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, from today until Saturday.

A. Lange & Söhne, Audemars Piguet, Baume & Mercier, Cartier, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Montblanc, Officine Panerai, Piaget, Roger Dubuis, Vacheron Constantin and Van Cleef & Arpels - all important brands of luxury goods group Richemont - are participating, including independent brand Richard Mille.

Fabienne Lupo (pictured below), chairwoman and managing director of the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH), the organiser of Watches&Wonders, says this is the first event of its kind in Asia to feature 13 of the great maisons of Europe.

"Watches&Wonders is more focused on the culture, know-how and expertise of the participating maisons," she says. "We know that Chinese and Asian people have a great appreciation for fine watchmaking, and I am sure they will love to attend this kind of event."

Piaget CEO Philippe Leopold-Metzger agrees that Asians, and particularly Chinese people, "now represent a big part of the luxury business, and this event is a formidable opportunity for us to bring part of our manufacture to Asia". The choice of Hong Kong [as a venue] "is ideal for attracting clients from all across Asia", he says.

Hong Kong's central location offers a convenient meeting place in Asia for watch collectors and the brands' guests and customers. The foundation is expecting more than 400 journalists from the mainland alone.