I was delighted to be one of the invited forum attendees at SIHH 2010. I apologise for not taking any pictures – you will see many photos from the very competent photographers who were there – and I hope that a “word picture” may convey some sense of the occasion.
Firstly I must thank Michael for arranging the invite and IWC for graciously hosting us and allowing us a look at the new models for this year. Thanks also to Mr. Klaus, Mr. Pantli and the other IWC staff who joined us for dinner over the two nights, and to the IWC staff who presented the new models to us at SIHH.
SIHH is huge. There may be “only” 20 exhibitors but the PalExpo exhibition site is enormous and each Maison had a large booth. I may be somewhat biased but from what I saw, IWC certainly had the most eye-catching interior to their booth, the design clearly reflecting the theme for this year: updating the Portuguese line. Visitors to SIHH are well catered for with transport laid on from the hotels and complimentary food and drink.
You have seen photos of the outside and inside of the booth. Outside were display cases showing some examples from each of IWC’s six lines. Most surprising here for me was the Aquatimer 2000 with a white dial and black/orange bezel (similar to the “missing” AT). I did not know this is to be a limited edition-thanks David (diaphane). The inside of the booth was themed as a yacht, with “decking”, cleats and “sails”. Along one wall was a display case with some of the new Portuguese models alongside a Jubilee and original Portuguese. What a way to whet the appetite for the “touch and feel” later!
In due course we were invited into the Press Room and given the Press presentation of the updated Portuguese line. The presentation was slick and professional, the video graphics well done (some “borrowed” from the Jean Reno film).
Following this was the “touch and feel” session, with several IWC staff on hand to answer questions. Mr. Georges Kern then joined us for a Q&A session, during which he was frank, open, funny and yes, wearing pink socks. The discussion was “off the record”, so suffice it to say that I was impressed with his attitude, his frankness and his appreciation of what the Collectors and forum add to the Company. Not everyone may be happy with the direction that some product lines are taking, but Mr. Kern has a very definite idea of what direction he wants to go and IWC has an excellent helmsman.
More “touch and feel” followed, and then champagne and an opportunity to mingle with Collectors and IWC staff, to discuss what we had just seen and heard. An a la carte lunch was provide courtesy of SIHH and the afternoon was at our leisure, to chat, to wander around, and dare I say it, to visit other booths.
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