For many, the convivial atmosphere of Geneva Watch Days is the highlight of the watchmaking calendar. GMT GCC’s Deremi Ajidahun was there to take in all the best of its horology and hangouts.
I love Geneva watch days. It genuinely merges the industry with the watch community, almost without trying. I love the fact that it’s a slower show, taking place inside the hotels, in the Rotonde du Mont-Blanc pavilion on the lake… It’s more casual, a bit laid back, and generally has a friendlier feel.
You take your time, and have the opportunity to mix and mingle with friends old and new. It’s easier to have meaningful discussions with the brands, and you can touch and feel the product in a different way that you might find with the bigger shows. Geneva Watch Days is very, very professional and beautifully put together, but what I find is that you can have a deeper, more meaningful conversation, without the thought of of the commercial side of the busines.
Geneva Watch Days is different, and I think this is its beauty. It’s more about creativity and networking than anything else. And of course, we have a great time. We have wonderful dinners in the evening. You meet a lot of friends, you have a lot of nice beverages together. A highlight for me personally is getting to go to the Leopard Bar at the Hotel d’Angleterre in the evening to smoke cigars and have a nice camaraderie — and see beautiful watches if you’re a watch lover, too! Make sure you head towards Geneva Watch Days at the end of next summer. It’s truly a great time of the year.
