Today is the first-ever World Watch Day: This is what you need to know

Throughout the year, the watchmaking industry’s calendar is dotted with esteemed events. Devoted groups and communities who share a love of horology are responsible for these magnificent displays as well as an annual schedule that’s filled with fairs, gatherings, and collector meet-ups. But now we're all getting something very unique—a holiday, in appreciation of this common passion.

World Watch Day has been formally created by the global watchmaking community as an annual celebration of horology's craftsmanship and heritage. The announcement was made on Monday, April 7, 2025, during a specially organised panel meeting on horology at Watches and Wonders, Geneva. The founding institutions include Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie, Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, Watch Library Foundation, Horopedia Foundation, Horological Society of New York, Arc Horloger, Hantang Culture, Le Figaro, and Europa Star, who have played a decisive role in launching the initiative.

The announcement instituting World Watch Day, earlier this year at Watches and Wonders, Geneva

The date of this worldwide celebration, October 10, finds its roots in the 10:10 position that is typically shown in watch photographs, which is frequently referred to as a watch's ‘smile’. Not only is it a viewer-friendly way of placing the hands, but it also typically frames the branding of the watch at 12 o’clock. This year will be the first World Watch Day, with celebrations taking place across all time zones as the sun moves from east to west.

October 10 gets its significance from the placement of hands in most watch creatives

To oversee the project, a specialised non-profit organisation has been established, called World Watch Day Association, and in order to encourage involvement from watch media, associations, collectors' groups, and content creators worldwide, there are several events being held both online and offline (you can see the list here), which are intended to be public and accessible. Participants will examine watchmaking from philosophical, scientific, cultural, economic, and artistic lens throughout the day.

The writer double-wristing with watches that show 10:10, on ocassion of World Watch Day

And if you cannot make it to an event, watch enthusiasts and collectors are being encouraged to support the ﬁrst World Watch Day by sharing a story with a watch on social media on Oct 10, using the hashtag #WorldWatchDay. You can check out WatchTime India’s initiative here.

Aashdin Billimoria is an archivist, historian, watch collector, and author of the books A Comprehensive Guide to Vintage Swiss Watches, Nivada Depthmaster, and Nivada Antarctic. He is also one of the nine partner individuals of World Watch Day.

Images: Courtesy Aashdin Billimoria

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