The official inauguration of Watches and Wonders Geneva 2023 was held on Monday, March 27 at 5:30 pm CET at Palexpo in the presence of representatives of the cantonal and municipal authorities and the 48 CEOs of the exhibiting Maisons.
During their speeches, Mr. Jean-Frédéric Dufour, President of the Watches and Wonders Geneva Foundation – organizer of the Salon – and Mr. Mauro Poggia, President of the State Council of Geneva, emphasized the dynamism and importance of such an event for the watchmaking industry and for the Canton and City of Geneva. They also mentioned the need to speak to future generations and the importance of creating new vocations. It was an opportunity for the industry to come together and speak with one voice.
Twelve dancers from the Geneva Ballet then performed a short excerpt from Ukiyo-e readapted especially for the occasion. Choreography by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui.
The ceremony ended at 6:00 pm CET with a ribbon cutting.
Speeches and addresses:
Jean-Frédéric DUFOUR: President, Watches and Wonders Geneva Foundation
Mauro POGGIA: President of the State Council of Geneva
Personalities in attendance:
Jean-Luc FORNI: President of the Grand Council
Fabienne FISCHER: State Councillor of the Canton of Geneva
Serge DAL BUSCO: State Councillor of the Canton of Geneva
Marie BARBEY-CHAPPUIS: Mayor of the City of Geneva
Sandra PORTIER: Mayor of the Commune of Grand-Saconnex
Michel POMATTO: Administrative advisor, Commune of Grand-Saconnex
Laurent JIMAYA: Administrative advisor, Commune of Grand-Saconnex
Peta GIROD: President of the Municipal Council, Commune of Grand-Saconnex
Jean-Daniel PASCHE: President of the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry
François LONGCHAMP: President of Palexpo
Claude MEMBREZ: General Manager of Palexpo
Jean-Vital DOMEZON: President of the Hôteliers de Genève
Matthieu HUMAIR: CEO, Watches and Wonders Geneva Foundation
Members of the Board of the Watches and Wonders Geneva Foundation Members of the Exhibiting Committee of Watches and Wonders Geneva CEOs of the 48 exhibiting Maisons
Images and videos for download: mediacenter.watchesandwonders.com
EXHIBITING MAISONS
A. LANGE & SÖHNE | ALPINA WATCHES | ANGELUS | ARNOLD & SON | BAUME & MERCIER | BEAUREGARD | BELL & ROSS | CARTIER | CHANEL | CHARLES ZUBER | CHARRIOL | CHOPARD | CHRONOSWISS | CYRUS GENÈVE | CZAPEK & CIE | FERDINAND BERTHOUD | FREDERIQUE CONSTANT | GRAND SEIKO | GRÖNEFELD | HAUTLENCE | HERMÈS | HUBLOT | HYSEK | IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN | JAEGER-LECOULTRE | LAURENT FERRIER | LOUIS MOINET | MONTBLANC | ORIS | PANERAI | PARMIGIANI FLEURIER | PATEK PHILIPPE | PEQUIGNET | PIAGET | REBELLION TIMEPIECES | RESSENCE | ROGER DUBUIS | ROLEX | RUDIS SYLVA | SPEAKE-MARIN | TAG HEUER | TRILOBE | TUDOR | U-BOAT | ULYSSE NARDIN | VACHERON CONSTANTIN | VAN CLEEF & ARPELS | ZENITH
