5 factors forcing change at SIHH 2017: our overview of the new players and market shifts

Jan 9 , 2017

SIHH 2017

This year’s Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) welcomes new exhibitors and return of a founding partner. The effects of the economic slowdown and new legislation concerning ‘Swiss Made’ label will also affect the fair

Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) is one of the most important events in the Swiss luxury watch industry. The international exhibition, running this year for the 27th edition, sets the benchmark for the entire industry.

The fair, which takes place from January 16 to 20, 2017 at Geneva’s Palexpo, features major players in the luxury watchmaking industry, many owned by luxury conglomerate Richemont Group, such as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Piaget. It also features independent watchmakers such as Audemars Piguet, Richard Mille and Parmigiani. Since last year, the fair has included a new programme called the Carré des Horlogers, presenting innovative contemporary watchmakers including Laurent Ferrier, MB&F and H. Moser & Cie.

Last year was not a good year for the luxury Swiss watchmaking industry. Reports showed that the export of Swiss watches dropped by a drastic 8.9 per cent in the first quarter of 2016 compared to the previous year, and traditional performing markets such as China faced great challenges due to economic slowdown and pressure on luxury spending owing to the nationwide anti-corruption drive.

“Trade fairs have a vital role to play when the economy is slowing [down] because they are precisely that: for the trade,” says Fabienne Lupo, chairwoman of Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie.

“Trade exhibitors use them to take the temperature of the profession and then adapt production to their order books. Then it’s up to them to adjust their offering to reflect the economic climate and development time, which for watches is generally calculated in years. It’s a tricky but essential exercise.”

Despite a volatile market situation, there’s much to look forward to at SIHH 2017.

Fabienne Lupo at the ribbon-cutting ceremony at SIHH 2016

New players

Following last year’s successful Carré des Horlogers, SIHH is adding five more “new-wave watchmakers” to its line-up, bringing the total number of exhibitors to 30 – a record for SIHH. The new members include Grönefeld, MCT – Manufacture Contemporaine du Temps, Ressence, RJ – Romain Jerome and Speake-Marin.