Revolution GWD 2024 Symposiums
Ethics and Sustainability
29 Aug | 1630 CET
Moderators:
Wei Koh – Founder, Revolution
Oliver R. Müller – Founder, LuxeConsult
Panelists:
Georges Kern – CEO, Breitling SA
Jean-Christophe Babin – CEO, Bvlgari
Michel Nydegger – CEO, Greubel Forsey
Patrick Pruniaux – CEO, Ulysse Nardin & Girard-Perregaux
As the Swiss watch industry faces increasing scrutiny in a world grappling with climate change, industry leaders are confronting a critical question: What is the role of this tradition-steeped sector in the global fight for sustainability? Decades ago, maximizing profit often came at the expense of the environment and society. Today, however, the industry recognizes the urgent need to balance progress with ethical responsibility. The panel will delve into how the Swiss watch industry, driven by both machinery and human craftsmanship, can contribute to a more sustainable future while preserving the skills and traditions that define it.
GPHG 2024 Forum
30 Aug | 1130 CET
Moderators:
Wei Koh – Founder, Revolution
Carine Maillard – Director, Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève
Panelists:
Jean-Christophe Babin – CEO, Bvlgari
Maximilian Büsser – CEO, MB&F
Rexhep Rexhepi – Founder, Akrivia
Andrea Furlan – Co-Founder & Lead Designer, Furlan Marri
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As official partner to Geneva Watch Days, the GPHG is organising a forum at 11 am on Friday 30 August at the Rotonde du Mont-Blanc.
Following a short presentation of the GPHG and its developments by Raymond Loretan and Carine Maillard, respectively President and Director of the Foundation, Wei Koh – Founder of the Revolution and The Rake magazines – will host a round table on ‘The impact of the GPHG: ethics and importance’ featuring Jean-Christophe Babin, Maximilian Büsser, Rexhep Rexhepi and Andréa Furlan.
Upstart Brands: The Rising Stars of Watchmaking
30 Aug | 1130 CET
Moderators:
Wei Koh – Founder, Revolution
Andrew McUtchen – Founder, Time+Tide Watches
Panelists:
Matteo Violet Vianello – Founder & Creative Director, Anoma
Sylvain Berneron – Co-Founder & Creative Director, Berneron
Thomas Fleming – Founder & Creative Director, Fleming
James Kong – COO & Art Director, Fleming
Sohaib Maghnam – Founder, Maghnam; Director, Beda’a
William Massena – Founder, Massena Lab
Phil Toldeano – Founder, Toledano & Chan
Alfred Chan – Watch Designer, Toledano & Chan
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In the evolving world of watchmaking, the path to launching a successful brand has transformed dramatically. No longer confined to the traditional Swiss model of decades-long apprenticeships, today’s watchmakers come from diverse backgrounds, bringing fresh perspectives to the industry.
Women Leadership in the Watch Industry
31 Aug | 1445 CET
Moderators:
Wei Koh – Founder, Revolution
Tiffany To – Head of Sale, Philips
Panelists:
Catherine Eberlé-Devaux – Watch Communications Director, Bvlgari
Carine Maillard – Director, Société Suisse de Chronométrie
Carole Forestier-Kasapi – Movement Director, TAG Heuer
Marine Lemonnier-Brennan – Founder & Managing Director, 289 Consulting
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The Swiss watch industry, often seen as a realm of tradition and precision, is quietly driven by a group of influential figures whose work shapes its very core. While these names may not be immediately recognizable to the public, their impact is undeniable.
Chronometric Certifications
31 Aug | 1600 CET
Moderators:
Oliver R. Müller – Founder, LuxeConsult
Panelists:
Andreas Felsl – Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Horage
Bernhard Lederer – Founder, Lederer Timepieces
Claude Greisler – Co-Founder, Armin Storm
Olivier Kuffer – President, Société Suisse de Chronométrie
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Do certification standards established in 1976 still hold relevance in an era dominated by atomic time precision? Key topics will include the importance of materials versus concepts in achieving chronometric precision. The panel will explore various innovative approaches, each one representing a unique path toward enhancing chronometric excellence from Armin Strom’s resonance technology to Horage’s MicroReg technology, and Bernhard Lederer’s detent escapement. The discussion will also assess the contributions of major brands like Omega, Rolex, and Tudor compared to those of niche players in advancing the field.
Wanna Buy a Watch: Major Evolutions in the Secondary Watch Market
31 Aug | 1715 CET
Moderators:
Wei Koh – Founder, Revolution
Panelists:
Fred Savage – Actor & Founder of Timepiece Grading Specialists
Geoff Hess – Global Head of Watches, Senior Vice President at Sotheby’s
Jack Forster – Global Editorial Director, The 1916 Company
Roy Davidoff – Co-Founder, Roy & Sacha Davidoff S.A.
Anthony Traina – Editor, Hodinkee
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As headlines blare about falling secondary watch prices, industry experts offer a different perspective: the market is stabilizing, not collapsing. With the feverish speculation of recent years cooling, what remains is a robust and growing interest in horology, reflected in popular culture’s obsession with wristwear at major events. This reset, experts argue, is paving the way for a more sustainable market where the intrinsic value of mechanical watches holds firm.
Hands of the Artisans: The Renewed Appeal of Craftsmanship & Metiers d’Art
01 Sep | 1315 CET
Moderators:
Wei Koh – Founder, Revolution
Dillon Bhatt – Founder, LuxForte
Panelists:
Joshua Shapiro – Founder & CEO, J.N. Shapiro Watches
Robin Tallendier – Co-Founder, Atelier Wen
Simon Brette – Owner & CEO, Simon Brette Watches
Danièla Dufour – Watchmaker
Luca Soprana – Co-Founder, Ateliers7h38
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In April 2015, the watch industry faced an unprecedented challenge with the release of the Apple Watch. At Basel Fair that year, an icy atmosphere prevailed as brands, journalists, and watchmakers speculated about the future of mechanical watchmaking. A decade later, those fears have proven unfounded. Instead of shunning traditional watchmaking, Gen Z has embraced haute horlogerie with a fervor that may surpass that of their predecessors with a passion that stems from their upbringing in a digital age, where they seek refuge in the tactile and the timeless.
Post-Hype Collectability: From Vintage Watches to Modern Grail
01 Sep | 1430 CET
Wei Koh – Founder, Revolution
Mark Kauzlarich – Editor, Hodinkee
Panelists:
Alexandre Ghotbi – Deputy Chairman & Head of Watches Europe and Middle East at Phillips
Geoff Hess – Global Head of Watches, Senior Vice President at Sotheby’s
Jasper Lijfering – CEO, Amsterdam Vintage Watches
Max Bernardini – Founder & CEO, Bernardini Milano
Remi Guillemin – Head of Europe and Americas, Watches department at Christie’s
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In the period between 2021 and early 2023, watches shifted from their status as unique intersections of engineering and art to objects of rampant speculation. This phenomenon sparked fast fortunes and saw even novice enthusiasts entering the market as resellers of brands like Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Audemars Piguet. Independent watchmaking, once a niche for dedicated collectors, also fell prey to this speculative frenzy. However, as quickly as this bubble inflated, it burst, leading to a more measured and rational period in watchmaking. The question now is: what trends will define this new era?
Deal Me In – Watch Dealers as Influencers
01 Sep | 1545 CET
Wei Koh – Founder, Revolution
Roy Davidoff – Co-Founder, Roy & Sacha Davidoff S.A.
Panelists:
Cameron Barr – Founder & CEO, Craft + Tailored
Mike Nouveau – Vintage watch specialist
Sacha Davidoff – Co-Founder, Roy & Sacha Davidoff S.A.
Roman Sharf – Founder, Luxury Bazaar
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As the landscape of watch journalism evolves, a new generation of influencers has emerged, primarily from an unexpected background: watch dealers. Unlike traditional journalists, these dealers are less constrained by brand relationships or advertising concerns, giving them the freedom to express unfiltered opinions and insights.
