In just its second year, Watches & Wonders Miami, which just took place in the city’s Design District, has proved to be a smashing success.
Having attended part of it – representing Bob’s Watches with a gorgeous Rolex Sea-Dweller Deepsea ref. 116660 from the company’s showroom strapped to my wrist – I can say that the organizers have done a very smart thing by aligning their event with the Miami Concours, as the combination of beautiful watches, luxury cars, and iconic classic autos is one that has always held strong appeal. Additionally, staging the event in the Design District’s stunning Palm Court – one of the world’s best designed concentration of luxury watch shops, with the likes of Rolex and Omega located right across the street – is a stroke of pure genius.
Bigger and Better than Before
30 different watch brands participated in the event, which is more geared towards watch collectors and enthusiasts than industry-oriented fairs such as Baselworld and SIHH. The three-day event attracted almost 28,000 attendees, a 40% increase from last year’s inaugural rendition of Watches & Wonders Miami. Notable guests spotted in the Miami Design District over the weekend included NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson, Alex Rodriguez, Jennifer Lopez, Hannah Bronfman, and Brendan Fallis – among many others.
Watches alone might not have brought them in, but the added glamour of the stunning cars on display – including an incredible assemblage of Pagani hypercars in honor of the marque’s 20th anniversary – not to mention the Miami Yacht Show taking place nearby, was an easy sell.
Watches & Wonders Miami 2019
This year’s proceedings kicked off with a pre-opening cocktail party at the Design District’s newest hotspot, Swan, followed by a special concert in the Palm Court by the Miami Symphony Orchestra. Over the next three days, participating watch brands presented their newest collections while the likes of Dior, Girard-Perregaux, Hublot, HYT, and Ulysse Nardin took advantage of the occasion to unveil global product launches and never-before-seen timepieces. That’s in addition to watchmaking workshops, conferences, and panel discussions – most of which sold out well in advance. Next to the watch displays were some eye-popping autos including a 1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS which won the Concours’ Best of Show honors.
Now it’s time to get ready for Watches & Wonders Miami 2020….
