The Watchmaking Rendez-Vous 2026
Foire du Valais - Friday, 9 October at 10:10, Salle Bonne de Bourbon
Watchmaking in Valais?
Instinctively, you wouldn’t think so!
Eppure! Non è soltanto a La Chaux-de-Fonds, nella Vallée de Joux o all’altra estremità del Lago Lemano che si producono splendidi orologi. Il Vallese contribuisce attivamente alla produzione di alcuni dei più prestigiosi segnatempo svizzeri. Nell’ambito di un evento specificamente dedicato all’orologeria vallesana, il marchio di Sion Norton Peak intende puntare i riflettori su questa realtà ancora troppo poco conosciuta.
Questo Rendez-vous dell’orologeria riunirà rappresentanti di aziende, esperti del settore e professionisti della formazione. Sia durante la tavola rotonda sia nel corso delle interviste condotte sul palco, il nostro obiettivo rimane lo stesso: valorizzare le competenze vallesane nell’orologeria e rafforzare la visibilità del settore nel nostro Cantone.
| Date | Friday, 9 October at 10:10 |
| Location | Salle Bonne de Bourbon Foire du Valais Martigny |
| Admission to the Foire du Valais | Complimentary with your registration |
Programme
Hosted by
Valère Gogniat
Journalist, entrepreneur and former Head of the Economy and Finance section at Le Temps.
10:10 am
Welcome & opening remarks
10:15 am
The watchmaking industry in Valais. Historical context.
Pierre-Yves Donzé (live from Osaka)
Swiss historian and professor at Osaka University in Japan, recognised as one of the world’s leading specialists in the economic and global history of the watchmaking industry. He is notably the author of the reference works «Rattraper et dépasser la Suisse : Histoire de l’industrie horlogère japonaise de 1850 à nos jours» and «La fabrique de l'excellence - Histoire de Rolex», which have received international acclaim.
10:30 am
A fireside chat with Jean-Claude Biver
Jean-Claude Biver
An iconic figure in Swiss watchmaking. A visionary and passionate entrepreneur, he has left his mark on the industry by leading and developing several prestigious brands, including Blancpain, Omega, Hublot and TAG Heuer. Jean-Claude Biver has a very special relationship with Swiss heritage, from cheese and mountains to cows. And what about the Foire du Valais? We’ll ask him.
11:00 am
Round table «Building watches in Valais – an incongruity?»
Yves Bugmann
President of the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FH)
Eric Bianco
Head of the Office for Economy, Tourism and Innovation of the State of Valais
Nicola Thibaudeau
Vice-President of Banque Cantonale du Jura (BCJ), municipal councillor in Orsières, member of the Foundation Board of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG), and holder of various mandates on boards of directors and foundation boards
Lucas Cucinotta
Founder of Norton Peak and iomedia, the digital agency he founded 25 years ago
11:30 am
Discussion with the audience
12:00 pm
Networking lunch reception
