Time Fest, the Bordeaux-style watch fair

For once, there's no need to go to Switzerland to see watches. That's the initial desire of the co-founders of the Time Fest trade show in Bordeaux: Édouard Daviaud, founder of the Podcast Des Montres & Vous; Jérémy Mauduit, its co-founder; Mavrick Potez, co-owner of the Mona Watches brand; and Aurélien Aram, also co-founder of the YouTube channel Parlons Montres, and co-founder of the Balmont brand. "If we wanted to see watches, we had to go to Switzerland; there was nothing in France. We noticed that there was a real dynamism around watchmaking in Bordeaux," explains Mavrick Potez. "Several brands have set up shop there; Mona Watches has been around for 13 years. We're still small brands, but there's a real microclimate, with the watchmaking school and the Horel boutique." We said to ourselves that we had to capitalize on this."

After a first edition that welcomed 48 brands and 1,500 visitors to the Magrez Institute, this year's event will feature more than 60 brands and at least twice as many visitors, in a new location on May 17 and 18: the Matmut Atlantique Stadium. "We wanted to offer a different experience each time. It's a beautiful setting, designed not only to host matches but also events." On the agenda: conferences, watchmaking workshops, meetings with brand founders and buyers. And not just for Bordeaux residents, far from it. "We knew people would not hesitate to travel to Bordeaux, but we didn't think it would be this much the case. Last year, barely 50% of visitors were from Gironde. This year, it's the same thing!"

On the agenda: conferences led by experts (Jean-Christophe Guyon on adventure watches, Nicolas Amsellem on how to become a watchmaking expert, Marie Pia on the history of French watchmaking, and François-Xavier Overstake on affordable independent and creative watchmaking), a watchmaking workshop with the Dassault watchmaking high school in Mérignac, a leatherwork workshop focusing on bracelets with the Dahu workshop, as well as food trucks and DJ sets for the ambiance. And of course, always free access for registered visitors, and the possibility of purchasing watches on site. "We want to have a different, friendly atmosphere, to be close to home," concludes Mavrick Potez. "We do our best to ensure that the founders or designers of the brands are there to spark discussion with enthusiasts. They can see the watches, but also buy them. It's nice to see a beautiful piece and be able to leave with it?" Price-wise, last year they ranged from €400 to €60,000. This year, I think some houses will also bring us some pretty exclusive pieces..."