It’s official, the first edition of Milan Watch Week had a record turnout.

With more than 3,000 visitors in attendance, the 21 participating maisons welcomed enthusiasts and collectors from 31 different countries.

But for those of you who did not have a chance to attend the event, held at the prestigious Martini Terrace in Milan, here is a brief recap of how it took place and all that went into this fantastic and exciting first edition.

The first Milan Watch Week

Born out of a desire to revolutionize what has always been the concept of the watch fair, Milan Watch Week provided an opportunity for enthusiasts and collectors to get in touch with a highly exclusive world of timepieces.

In fact, 21 of the most prestigious independent fashion houses participated in this first edition, held Oct. 4-6.

Accomplice to the choice of a highly apt location, the 15th and 16th floors of Milan’s prestigious Martini Terrace, the result was a wholly unique event that allowed people to admire stunning watches with a breathtaking view of Italy’s fashion capital.

From the 16th floor penthouse, it was indeed possible to have a 360-degree view of the Italian city along with a fantastic MV Agusta that stood out on the terrace. A two-wheeler made in Italy and highly exclusive, made with the same attention with which the most exclusive timepieces we had the chance to admire at the event are created.

Also on the 16th floor, in the inner part of the terrace, talks and debates surrounded the first edition of Milano Watch Week, including, to name a couple, the talk by Parmigiani Fleurier CEO Guido Terreni and the talk “The Art of Being Italian: Between Haute Horologerie and Creative Geniuses,” featuring Romeo Ferraris, Luca Soprana, Jacopo Corvo, Jacopo Giudici and Michele Mengoli.

A fun team competition with the FHH (Fondation Haute Horlogerie) was also held on Sunday, giving many enthusiasts and collectors a chance to put all their knowledge of the world of hands to the test.

Below the fantastic penthouse on the 15th floor, however, was the entire display of the knockout timepieces that the different maisons showed to the public. I admit that once I opened the elevator door to the 15th floor, I immediately felt a chill inside me at seeing all the major independent brands gathered in the same place.

The excitement was certainly comparable to when, as a child, stepping inside toy stores, I would begin to understand nothing and my curiosity would skyrocket in search of the new and peculiar toys. Then again, as they say, we grow up, but the child in us will always remain present by changing the type of “toys” that can make our hearts flutter (although, to be fair, watches started making my heart flutter from the age of 4).

Returning to the event, after a brief sentimental partenti that allowed me to relive the excitement I felt as I crossed the 15th floor of the Martini Terrace, the fantastic thing was that it gave all the collectors and enthusiasts in attendance the opportunity to touch truly unique watches.

In fact, the 21 Maisons that participated brought a large number of models from their catalogs, including even the most knockout models that, surely, you only get one chance in a lifetime to admire.

At the event, Czapek also presented a fantastic new edition of the Antarctique in collaboration with GMT Boutique in Milan.

From MB&F to De Bethune (just to name my two favorite independent brands present at the event), there were many watches that caught the attention of the audience and, for the first time, allowed everyone to really get in touch with the amazing world of independent watchmaking.

An industry of hands that, for those who have been following us for some time, will have by now realized how extremely fascinating and unique it is for me. An out-of-the-box way of conceiving watches but one that (and this is really the romantic and fascinating part), does not give up the watchmaking traction that has been handed down from the 1700s to the present.

In fact, as much as they may seem like futuristic creations, all of these knockout timepieces start from historical watchmaking concepts and then reinterpret them in a modera key and with their own signature. Creations that, thanks to the excellent organization of the Milano Watch Week spaces, every enthusiast and collector was able to hold and try on their wrist.

After three fiery days at what I believe to have been one of the most interesting modern events in the watchmaking world, I must say that Milan Watch Week was a success. Evidence of this was the enthusiasm among the enthusiasts and the incredulous, stunned eyes of the attendees in front of the knockout timepieces.

It was also an opportunity to chat and exchange views on the world of watchmaking in general and, for the first time in a long time, to bring what I believe to be the true passion behind this amazing world of ticking that punctuates the time of everyone’s life.

After this fantastic and exciting first edition, all that remains for me to do is to give you an appointment for the next Milan Watch Week, with the hope of seeing more and more exciting brands and events related to the fair.

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