Miami is always an alluring destination for some sunshine over President’s Day weekend. This year, however, the ever-progressing Magic City offers more than white sand and world-renowned nightlife with the debut of timepiece fair Watches & Wonders Miami. Hosted by the Miami Design District and Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FIHH), the event runs concurrently with the Miami Yacht Show and Miami Design District Concours (showcasing over 125 exotic vintage cars) from Friday, February 16 through Sunday, February 19.
The exhibition, which previously brought luxury watchmakers to Hong Kong, draws brands stateside with over 20 participants including: A. Lange & Söhne, Audemars Piguet, Bulgari, Cartier, Hérmes, Hublot, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Louis Vuitton, Panerai, Parmigiani Fleurier, Piaget, Tag Heuer, Vacheron Constantin, Van Cleef & Arpels, F.P.Journe, among others. Here, the labels present their latest 2018 models—unveiled at Geneva’s Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) last month—like Audemars Piguet’s 25th anniversary of the Royal Oak Offshore as well as rarefied pieces from their core collections.
Watches & Wonders Miami also supports the District’s commitment to art and craftsmanship with the unveiling of Damien Hirst and Panerai’s collaborative painting (to which Hirst expresses, “I hope the painting makes you think 'we are here for a good time, not a long time.'”) and offering of watchmaking workshops that demonstrate old-school techniques.
The exhibition is free and open to the public, and only requires pre-registration for workshops, lectures, and roundtable discussions. 140 NE 39th St.; miamidesigndistrict.net.
