To celebrate the 50th anniversary of INHORGENTA, the WatchGecko Magazine team visited Munich to discover its extensive programme. As first-time visitors, our expectations were quickly met and then surpassed beyond anything we could have imagined.
INHORGENTA 2024. Credit: WatchGecko.
Held at the Messe Munchen Trade Fair Centre, with more than 900 exhibiting companies from over 40 countries in attendance, the scale of the event was more than we could have grasped without seeing it for ourselves. Set across six halls, INHORGENTA declares itself as the meeting point for the jewelry, watch and gemstone industry.
INHORGENTA 2024. Credit: WatchGecko.
With timepieces being our obvious focus, Hall A1 became our home for the duration and we wracked up thousands of steps circling the wonders that were held within those walls. From CASIO and Citizen to Junghans, Elka Watch Co and Mühle Glashütte, the team were grateful to have abundant hands-on time with some truly impressive timepieces and make connections with industry experts from locations around the globe.
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Award Winners: Porsche Design, INHORGENTA 2024. Credit: WatchGecko.
As someone who is fairly new to the industry, having the opportunity to fully immerse myself in the watch world was invaluable. INHORGENTA opened my eyes not only to the luxury of the industry but also to its immense magnitude and the scale on which it is revered by watch aficionados. Being among the first to hear news of the INHORGENTA Award winners and having the opportunity to talk with the teams involved following their success, gave us precious insight into their journey to the awards and ultimately, their win.
INHORGENTA 2024. Credit: WatchGecko.
We were also able to attend an exciting showcase of conferences, lectures, and panel discussions with industry experts. At the INHORGENTA Trend Factory, speakers from a variety of industries covered topics from the future of watchmaking to the involvement of AI in production.
Yema, Baume & Mercier, and Junghans were amongst the line-up of industry experts involved with Watch Talks throughout the event. With knowledgeable representatives and experts from a variety of companies and countries – all there was for us to do was sit back and soak up as much as possible.
WatchGecko's Sophie Baldwin at Elka Watches stand, INHORGENTA 2024. Credit: WatchGecko.
Writing live from the event, for me, brought to life how thrilling it is to be on the pulse of new releases. We gladly covered news of the CASIO TRN-50, Elka Watches collaboration with Ace Jewelers on the Elka Watch D-Series Essence and Mühle Glashütte’s Sportivo Range. Catching an up-close glimpse of timepieces, in the flesh, in the seconds after the rest of the world becomes aware of them, made me feel as if I had a personal stake in their release and sharing that news with eager-eyed watch enthusiasts.
CASIO TRN-50. INHORGENTA 2024. Credit: WatchGecko.
Likewise, having watches seemingly jump into vivid 3D from the press releases on my screen, into real life gave me a new appreciation of the level of intricacy, luxury and beauty held within a timepiece. It was made clearer than ever that an image, no matter how skilfully photographed, can never do justice to seeing a movement in action or to holding that craftsmanship in the palm of your hand – or even better, on your wrist.
WatchGecko's Safie Agar-Hutton attending INHORGENTA 2024. Credit: WatchGecko.
INHORGENTA was my first ever watch show and I’m keen to ensure that it won’t be my last. The opportunity to attend an event as glamorous and inspiring as INHORGENTA is something I am truly grateful for, but for now all that’s left to say is a very sincere “danke” to all those responsible for making INHORGENTA the success that it was. Hopefully, I’ll see you again sometime!
