The Fondation Haute Horlogerie chose culture over commerce in Munich, and it showed. At INHORGENTA 2026 – held 20–23 February at Messe München within a fair of 900 exhibitors and 1,200 brands – the FHH built a three-part path through watchmaking: Discover, Deepen, Share. Not a sales booth in sight, just a gateway to craft and conversation.
Discover – Watches and Culture. The travelling exhibition Watch Makers focused on hands rather than headlines: movement assembly, finishing, engraving, gem-setting. Live demonstrations by Piaget and Oris put the loupe where the mouth is, giving the 2026 theme tangible weight – savoir-faire that breathes, not just decorates.
Deepen – FHH Academy. Benches, tools, and a willing audience. Visitors were invited to disassemble and reassemble a mechanical movement, learning the logic that sits beneath a dial. The Academy underscored its mission to structure and transmit knowledge, pointing to its publicly accessible online Watch Essentials certification for those who prefer homework to hearsay.
Share – FHH Forum & Watch Talks. Curated panels and keynotes turned technique into dialogue: the intersection of watchmaking and jewellery, the rise of digital-native voices, the human value of craft, and the call for brand transparency. The message was clear enough – culture advances when skills are shared, claims are examined, and authenticity is earned.
In a sector fluent in spectacle, this was a quieter register. By opening the bench and inviting debate, the FHH reminded visitors that watchmaking is first a discipline, then a product. Tools before taglines. Patience before polish. A simple lesson, well taught.
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