Rendez-vous de l’Horlogerie: A Successful First Edition
More than 300 people attended the first Rendez-vous de l’Horlogerie, organised by Norton Peak on 9 October at the Foire du Valais. An event filled with discoveries, inspiring conversations and memorable moments, highlighting the richness and diversity of watchmaking expertise in Valais.
Following a brief visual overview of the companies contributing to the canton’s watchmaking ecosystem, Professor Pierre-Yves Donzé, joining live from Osaka, offered a fascinating historical perspective on the emergence and development of the watchmaking industry in Valais.
The morning continued with one of its most memorable highlights: a heartfelt and engaging conversation between Jean-Claude Biver and Valère Cogniat. Through personal reflections, anecdotes and thoughts on the future of watchmaking, this leading figure in the Swiss watch industry notably emphasised that “Valais plays an important role in watchmaking.”
A roundtable discussion continued the conversation, bringing together different perspectives on the expertise, strengths and future prospects of the watchmaking industry in Valais. Participants included Yves Bugmann, President of the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry, Eric Bianco, Head of the Valais Economic Development Department, Nicola Thibaudeau, Municipal Councillor of Orsières and member of the Foundation Board of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, and Lucas Cucinotta, founder of Norton Peak.
This first edition fully achieved its objective: raising awareness of an industry that has a strong presence in Valais, yet whose importance remains largely unrecognised.
Norton Peak extends its warmest thanks to all the speakers, to Valère Cogniat for hosting the event, and to the partners who contributed to the success of this first gathering… and, of course, to the more than 300 participants who joined us!
A look back in pictures at this wonderful first edition.
