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BREAKING NEWS: SIHH shake-up – in with nine independent brands, out with Ralph Lauren BREAKING NEWS: SIHH shake-up – in with nine independent brands, out with Ralph Lauren

BREAKING NEWS: SIHH shake-up – in with nine independent brands, out with Ralph Lauren

Felix Scholz
SIHH Ralph Lauren booth 1
Image by Kristian Dowling.

The Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) is the first big watch event of the year, and has an important role in setting the tone for the months to come. And even though it’s four months out big changes are afoot at SIHH.

SIHH Ralph Lauren Booth 2
Ralph Lauren’s genteel hunting lodge/man-cave will be replaced by a watchmakers square. Image by Kristian Dowling.

In news so fresh it hasn’t even made the SIHH website there are some important changes for the salon. Ralph Lauren will not be appearing at SIHH 2016, with the fashion house instead focussing its horological efforts on the United States. But don’t think for a minute that the 1500 square-metre space previously occupied by the flamboyant American is going to be empty – nine of the most respected names in independent horology will be forming a ‘Watchmaker Square.’ This “salon within a salon” will see  Christophe Claret, De Bethune, H. Moser & Cie, Hautlence, HYT, Kari Voulilainen, Laurent Ferrier, MB&F and Urwerk join the other 15 (predominantly Richemont) brands exhibiting at the salon, bringing the total to 24.

MB&F-HM4-Double-Trouble
MB&F will be one of the many new independent exhibitors at SIHH 2016.

While having independent brand representation at SIHH isn’t unprecedented it is a clear indicator that the industry is adapting in the face of a slowing market. Ralph Lauren have clearly decided that a presence at the prestigious salon is not a worthwhile investment, while for the niche and high-end independent brands it allows greater exposure to retailers outside of the noise of Baselworld.