Written by Ehren Bragg

I’ve spent the past seven years of my career in the luxury watch business, first as Managing Director of Devon, the American maker of belt-driven timepieces, and the past two years as a distributor for independent watch brands. Over that time, I’ve learned that many of the industry’s most innovative and interesting products are produced by smaller, independent companies whose marketing budgets can’t hold a candle to the brute strength of their much larger competitors. Thus, the most fascinating and disruptive segment of the market never seems to get its fair share of the spotlight – or consumers’ attention.

This is the reason my friend Glen Bowen, founding publisher of Watch Journal magazine, and I decided to establish a new show that gives the public unfettered access to executives, designers, and engineers from their favorite brands. The show will take place in Las Vegas the weekend of June 4th and 5th, 2016.

Our mission is to showcase brands rarely seen in the U.S. at local retailers. We all love to read about these watches; however, now by special invitation, members of aBlogtoWatch are invited to come and browse among the many exotic watch and pen brands from Switzerland, Italy, and beyond. Many of these pieces were recently introduced at the worldwide fair known as Baselworld, in Switzerland. Moreover, several brands will introduce even newer models at the World Watch Market show in June.

For decades, there have been trade shows in Las Vegas for the watch industry, but none have ever been open to the public. These shows were developed to bring watch brands together with the watch and jewelry retailers and with the watch-oriented press. Consumers simply aren’t allowed. But as a registered guest of World Watch Market, you will get to see, touch, and caress hundreds of amazing watches at the luxurious presidential suite of Trump International Hotel this June.

The list of brands participating is impressive and runs the gamut between affordable and mind-blowing pieces of horological mastery. In addition to an amazing array of watches, American fans will also find several high-end writing instruments that can only be defined as fine art.

Here is some of what you can expect to find at World Watch Market:

·     Mr. Yvan Arpa of Artya will demonstrate his newly launched high complication pieces, including the incredible double-axis tourbillon with minute repeater.

·     Rebellion will show off its new 540 Magnum tourbillon with its entire case made of sapphire crystal. Price? $4,000,000! But don’t fret, that’s not all you get… this amazing watch offers a bonus gift with purchase: Rebellion’s 2015 championship race car!

·     Christophe Claret will show its remarkable complications including the Baccarat and Poker pieces which are actual working mechanical wonders allowing the owners to play the games anytime the mood strikes.

·     Vortic watches plans to unveil its affordable collections of classicly-styled yet edgy-looking wristwatches that run refurbished movements from antique American pocket watches.

A full list of participating brands is available at our website worldwatchmarket.com.

The Trump International Hotel affords breathtaking views of the Las Vegas strip and surrounding city, and the Presidential Suite will be open to the public from 9am to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday, June 4-5, 2016.

Tickets are available at the door. A one-day pass is $25 and it is $40 for the weekend. However, aBlogtoWatch readers can register for complimentary admission by entering “ablogtowatch” in the discount code when visiting this link. Please register as soon as possible because ticket quantities are strictly limited. Once these tickets are taken by the lucky few, all others will have to wait until next year!

Thanks,
Ehren Bragg
Partner, World Watch Market