Announced a month ago, IAMWATCH is a three-day event centred on independent watchmaking that encompasses lectures, classes, and panel discussions.

Taking place in Singapore from October 18 to 20 at the Edition hotel, Iamwatch has just revealed its programme for the event, which promises three full days – from breakfast to sundown drinks – of watches, watchmakers, and watch industry personalities. Entry is free but registration online is required.

Boldface names attending the event include independent watchmakers Felix Baumgartner, Konstantin Chaykin, Kari Voutilainen, and Rexhep Rexhepi; watch entrepreneurs Jean-Claude Biver, Manuel Emch, Maximilian Büsser, and Jean Arnault; and auctioneers Aurel Bacs and Sam Hines.

Konstantin Chaykin, Felix Baumgartner, and Rexhep Rexhepi

Each day begins with a breakfast hosted by industrial notables, including Maximilian Büsser on October 19. The breakfast is followed by a full schedule, including daily lectures about history and horology by historian David Rooney, author of About Time, a history of timekeeping.

Jean Arnault, Aurel Bacs, and Manuel Emch

Afternoons include classes on various topics, including Jean-Claude Biver on being a watchmaking entrepreneur – a pitch perfect match of speaker and subject if there ever was one.

Panel discussions take place daily as well, including one dedicated to independent watchmaking on the final day, October 20, moderated by myself with Felix Baumgartner, Kari Voutilainen, Rexhep Rexhepi as panellists.

Here’s a sample of daily highlights over the course of Iamwatch.

Day 1 – October 18

08:30 am: Breakfast with Felix Baumgartner of Urwerk and Rexhep Rexhepi of AkriviA

02:30 pm: Talk by illustrator Lee Yuen-Rapati on design and typography

03:30 pm: Class on watchmaking entrepreneurship by Maximilian Büsser

05:00 pm: Class on watchmaking entrepreneurship by Jean-Claude Biver

Jean-Claude Biver (centre), with James Marks and Pierre Biver

Day 2 – October 19

08:30 am: Breakfast with Maximilian Büsser of MB&F

10:00 am: Lecture by David Rooney on timekeeping throughout history

11:30 am: Panel discussion on collecting independent watchmaking with collector Firmin Li, Michael Tay of The Hour Glass, and Alexandre Ghotbi and Tiffany To of Phillips

02:00 pm: Panel discussion with young independent watchmakers comprising watchmakers Gaël Petermann, Rémy Cools and Theo Auffret, moderated by Jean Arnault of Louis Vuitton

Maximilian Büsser (left), with Serge Kriknoff of MB&F

Day 3 – October 20

08:30 am: Breakfast with Anton Suhanov, Florian Bédat, Gaël Petermann, Rémy Cools and Theo Auffret

10:00 am: Lecture by David Rooney on timekeepers’ “impact on our survival… long-term thinking and… future.”

02:00 pm: Panel discussion on authenticity in independent watchmaking with Felix Baumgartner, Kari Voutilainen, and Rexhep Rexhepi, moderated by SJX

05:00 pm: Closing party

Both the complete three-day programme and registration are available on Iamwatch.com.

Iamwatch is open daily October 18-20 from 11:00 am-08:00 pm and takes place at the Singapore Edition.

The Singapore Edition Hotel
38 Cuscaden Road
Singapore 249731

This was brought to you in partnership with The Hour Glass.