World Watch Day: Successful debut for the 1st World Watch Day

For the premiere of the World Watch Day On October 10, 2025, organized by the World Watch Day Association, events, exhibitions and conferences took place simultaneously in more than 25 countries.

The date of the hybrid format World Watch Day was deliberately chosen. The date—October 10th—reflects the ten-past-ten position of the hands on an analog clock, which symbolizes a smile.

Strong online engagement

This first World Watch Day reached an estimated total reach of over 6 million people through hundreds of social media and online posts under the hashtag #worldwatchday.

International media, watch brands, collectors' clubs, trade fairs, museums and dealers participated in this opening ceremony with panel discussions or special articles and contributions.

Highlights of a global day

In addition to the online activities, there were also many physical activities for the first World Watch Day. Highlights included:

• the opening of the exhibition “Even a broken clock is right three times a day” at the Museum of Art and History in Geneva (at 10.10 a.m.),
• Discussions on watch literature and independent watchmaking by artists and collectors under the direction of Tempo Futuro in Lisbon,
• the opening of the Horological Society of New York to visitors,
• thematic tours on the global history of watchmaking at the International Watch Museum in La Chaux-de-Fonds,
• the recognition of the best of the Scandinavian creative watchmaking scene through the Nordic Watch Awards in Stockholm;
• the ringing of public clocks and church bells at 10:10 a.m. in Besançon, the cradle of French watchmaking, and several other French towns and cities
• the presentation of the program and exhibition “Art Shanghai – Touching Infinity: Art beyond Time” by Hantang Culture in Shanghai,
• Conferences and panel discussions organized by Bucherer with key figures from the world and culture of watchmaking in Paris
• the conference “Sharing Watchmaking Culture” organized by Espace Horloger with the brands Audemars Piguet and Jaeger-LeCoultre in the Vallée de Joux and
• Conferences, panel discussions and exhibitions on watchmaking organized by the Chamber of Commerce in Istanbul.

outlook

Due to the strong commitment of the international watch community and the positive response, the World Watch Day Association has decided to initiate the next World Watch Day in 2026 in order to further strengthen partnerships among the players in the global watch industry.

worldwatchday.org