The watchmaking industry is dotted with prestigious events, from the annual Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG), which crowns the best timepieces of the year, to the recently concluded Watches & Wonders. To round off the celebration of the importance of this precious object of time, this year will be the celebration of World Watchmaking Day, with a first edition that will involve the entire world, especially considering that watchmaking and mechanical arts have been recognized as cultural heritage by UNESCO since 2020
A dedicated non-profit association was created to coordinate the initiative
Founding members include the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie, the Foundation of Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève, the Watch Library Foundation, the Horopedia Foundation, the Horological Society of New York, the newspapers Europa Star and Le Figaro, Hantang Culture and Arc Horloger. Also of interest will be the participation of Hantang Culture, a major Chinese media and services group founded in 2003, dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between East and West and to promoting art, culture and every other creative sector.
Watchmaking is an art in itself: the twelfth art
The work of master watchmakers fascinates collectors around the world, and their craftsmanship is widely admired and deeply appreciated. For centuries, people around the world have marveled at the ingenuity and artistry of those who bring time to life. This makes it all the more surprising that, until now, there has never been a day dedicated to watchmaking, especially considering that the watchmaking and mechanical arts have been part of UNESCO's cultural heritage since 2020.
The date? October 10, 2025
It aims to be a tribute to tradition, as 10:10 is the time to which watches are usually set when they are turned on. A date that will bring together media outlets, watchmaking associations, collectors' clubs and content creators from around the world. The day's program will explore every aspect of watchmaking: from culture to science, from economics to sport, from traditional craftsmanship to contemporary art.
In parallel with the live streaming (webinar registration)) on October 10, the day is also open to all independent initiatives, wherever people gather to celebrate and support the world of watchmaking.
