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There are several explanations for the watchmaking tradition of displaying watches set at 10:10<\/b> in stores or advertisements: this symmetrical V shape is not only balanced and open, but also symbolizes an engaging smile…<\/p>\n
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These two \u201cmagic\u201d numbers were bound to inspire the organizers and partners of the first World Watch Day. These include major institutions and players in the watchmaking world, such as Arc Horloger, the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie, the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Gen\u00e8ve, The Watch Library, Horopedia, Le Figaro, the Horological Society of New York, Europa Star, Hantang Culture, etc. UNESCO<\/b> is also naturally involved, as the watchmaking and mechanical art crafts of the Franco-Swiss Jura Arc were added to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2020.<\/p>\n
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And everyone agreed to choose October 10 (10-10) 2025<\/b> as the date for this very first edition, as well as for all those that will take place in the years to come.<\/p>\n
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In another nod to the double 10, all enthusiasts and aficionados were invited to take a photo of their favorite watch at precisely 10:10 a.m.<\/b> and post it, tagged with the hashtag #WorldWatchDay, on social media, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or other platforms.<\/p>\n
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With this simple and fun gesture, the initiators of International Watch Day hope to give the event a popular and international aura<\/b> by mobilizing watch enthusiasts around the world and showcasing the immense range of existing creations.<\/p>\n
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Officially announced on April 7 at the Watches & Wonders exhibition during a panel discussion on watchmaking and intangible heritage, this celebration aims to be as open and inclusive as possible.<\/b><\/p>\n
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Streamed<\/b> worldwide, taking into account time zones from East to West, the day invited all enthusiasts, media, brands, collectors’ clubs, and other content creators to participate and submit content through local or online initiatives.<\/b> The aim was to showcase the countless facets of the world of watchmaking, whether from a cultural, scientific, economic, artistic, artisanal, or sporting perspective, to name but a few.<\/p>\n
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Today (and sometimes for longer), the day offers a rich program of conferences and exhibitions.<\/b><\/p>\n
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In Franche-Comt\u00e9 (France) and Switzerland, the cradles of watchmaking, there are many initiatives.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In the former, while the bells of the Saint-Maurice church in Besan\u00e7on rang, of course… at 10:10 a.m., the general public can enjoy various guided tours on October 10 (collections and presentation of the future Cit\u00e9 des Horlogers at the Mus\u00e9e de la Montre in Villers-le-Lac, exhibition “Avant la pince, l’outil d’horlogerie ! !!\u201c at the Mus\u00e9e de la Pince de Mont\u00e9cherou<\/b>, \u201dEnter the manufacturing adventure” in Beaucourt<\/b>). From a more practical perspective, the premises of the Association pour la Formation Professionnelle des adultes (AFPA) in Besan\u00e7on<\/b> are open to the general public, as are the premises dedicated to watchmaking apprenticeships at the Lyc\u00e9e Edgar Faure in Morteau<\/b>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For latecomers, the Mus\u00e9e du Temps in Besan\u00e7on is offering a guided tour of the exhibition on the measurement of time and a (re)discovery of the permanent collections on Sunday, October 12.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n In Switzerland, there will be a guided tour of the collections with a focus on international watchmaking at the International Watchmaking Museum (MIH) in La-Chaux-de-Fonds on October 10 (starting at 10:10 a.m.), or at the Espace Horloger in the Vall\u00e9e de Joux, participants can take part in discussions with manufacturers from the Vall\u00e9e de Joux (at 10:10 a.m.), a round table on \u201cThe role of manufacturers in spreading watchmaking culture,\u201d and a raffle to win 20 signed copies of the book “La Montre. Histoires et savoir-faire\u201c at 10:30 a.m., or a guided tour of the temporary exhibition \u201dComix M\u00e9canix” at 12:10 p.m.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The exhibition \u201cEven a broken clock is right three times a day\u201d at the Geneva Museum of Art and History (MAH)<\/b> offers a chance to extend the festivities: starting on October 10 at 10:10 a.m., it will run until the 31st<\/b> of the month.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n In addition to France and Switzerland, other events (exhibitions, conferences, etc.) are being held elsewhere in the world, whether in Europe (Great Britain, Portugal, Sweden), Asia (Turkey) or the United States.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In Lisbon, for example, an independent watchmaking fair and conferences are being organized, while in New York, the Horological Society is opening its doors.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Enough to bring together all watch lovers, across time zones…<\/p>\n <\/p>\nAnd in Switzerland…<\/h2>\n
Elsewhere in the world<\/h2>\n