The watchmaking industry is punctuated by prestigious events, from the annual Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG), which crowns the year’s finest timepieces, to the recently concluded Watches & Wonders. These grand spectacles, alongside a calendar full of fairs, competitions, and collector gatherings, owe their existence to the dedicated communities and organisations that share a passion for horology. And now, in recognition of this shared devotion, we’re all getting something rather special: a holiday.

The global watchmaking community has officially established World Watch Day, an annual celebration dedicated to the craft and culture of horology. The announcement came on Monday, April 7, 2025, during a special panel at Watches & Wonders Geneva focused on horology and UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The date chosen for this global celebration — October 10 — cleverly mirrors the 10:10 position traditionally displayed in watch photography that’s often described as the “smile” of a watch. The inaugural World Watch Day will debut this year, with festivities following the sun from East to West across global time zones.

“It’s really quite remarkable that until now, there hasn’t been a universal day dedicated to watchmaking,” said Raymond Loretan, President of the Foundation of the GPHG, one of the founding members of the initiative. “Especially when you consider that horological and mechanical arts have been recognized as part of UNESCO’s cultural heritage since 2020.”

Who are the people behind World Watch Day?

A dedicated non-profit association has been formed to coordinate the initiative. Founding members include the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie, Foundation of Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, Watch Library Foundation, Horopedia Foundation, Horological Society of New York, media outlets Europa Star and Le Figaro, Hantang Culture, and Arc Horloger.

The celebration is designed to be open and inclusive, welcoming participation from watch media, associations, collectors’ clubs, and content creators across the globe. Throughout the day, participants will explore watchmaking through various lenses, from cultural to scientific, economic, artistic, and beyond.

How to participate in World Watch Day

For those eager to participate in this inaugural celebration, a webinar on May 5, 2025, will provide details on the goals, structure, and opportunities for involvement. Sessions will be held at 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. CET, with registration available now at worldwatchday.org.

The initiative has garnered support from across the global watchmaking community. “Eastern philosophy teaches us that time is not just a measurement — it is the rhythm of the universe,” said Jessica Yu, Founder and President of Hantang Culture. “We hope this celebration inspires a renewed global reverence for time, and helps watchmaking carry forward the spirit of craftsmanship at the intersection of technology and humanity.”

“World Watch Day is a chance to celebrate the art and science of horology — reminding us that we’re connected by centuries of expertise and bound together through time.”

Nicholas Manousos, Executive Director of the Horological Society of New York