You will already have heard about what was once the year’s worst kept secret but once again, for the record, IAMWATCH is back for its second edition this year from 12-15 November. It will happen at the same place, the Singapore EDITION, and the programme details have not been published yet, but here is what we know as of today. For some context, IAMWATCH is not a watch fair, as the organisers are unflagging in reminding us, but a gathering of watchmakers, industry professionals and watch enthusiasts like you, dear reader. I like to think of it as a congregation of true believers in the art and science of watchmaking, and The Hour Glass Managing Director Michael Tay calls it “a gathering of the faithful.” Organised by the retail powerhouse, IAMWATCH made its wildly successful debut in 2024, and there were immediate calls to make it a permanent part of the calendar. On that note, public days are between 13-15 November and entry is free, but registration is required and open now at iamwatch.com.

This website is also where you will find the detailed programme, when it is updated. Where the inaugural fair focussed on the power and appeal of independent watchmakers, the 2026 show examines the strictures that make such freedom possible. Whoever you are in watchmaking, it is an ecosystem and we all depend on each other, to some extent. For anyone curious about how makers can possibly produce tiny volumes and keep going, the opening talk on how to create your own watch brand is just what you need. For our part, we hope one of the many panel discussions and lectures will address the fundamental necessity of the entire supply chain – a watchmaker might be able to orchestrate the creation of a movement in his own workshop but what to do about cases, dials, crowns, and straps? We assure you that no supplier makes just 50 cases a year, unless – maybe – by hand.

Of the lectures, the ones about George Daniels and the co-axial escapement will be a highlight for the technically inclined. As a powerful bonus, the greatest living British watchmaker, Roger Smith, will be leading these discussions. There are three George Daniels-related events, one of which is a short film screening followed by a panel discussion (involving Smith, but with Aurel Bacs and Su Jia Xian too). The remaining two events are lectures delivered by Smith, on Daniels’ life and on the co-axial escapement. In any case, expect changes to the lineup, which we advise you to check on frequently. Not everything will be as it was last time.

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