Happenings: The ‘Time On Show’ Retail Fair In Bologna
There have been a lot of watch events lately, a testament to the strength of the watch community amid all the talk of a market downturn. But vintage watch fairs – where the public can buy some of the truly great and rare stuff – are still not as common. Sure, there’s a circuit of shows that take place worldwide, but they’re largely for dealer-to-dealer transactions and some have become increasingly, well, sketchy, as safety has become a concern. Time on Show in Bologna, from October 24th to 27th, is designed not just to have better vintage watches than most anywhere else, but also do so in a unique environment.
Auro Montanari, Paolo Borgomanero, and Pier Luigi Santi.
The event, conceived by Pier Luigi Santi, alongside Auro Montanari and Paolo Borgomanero, features dealers selected by the trio with the help of with Davide Parmegiani. The whole program is styled as a casual, relaxed atmosphere, but with some of the rarest watches you’ll see in one place. The main sponsoring partner is Riva, the iconic boat manufacturer, with a “Riva Lounge” featuring catering for guests. The Monaco Legend Group is a strategic partner and NetJets and Aon are sponsors as well.
This is Time On Show’s second event, and based on how the first one went, it looks to be incredible. Certainly, nearly everything for sale from the 14 or so selected dealers will be out of my price range, but the Italian crowd is very welcoming to anyone who wants to see great watches and learn. If you can’t make it to Bologna, they will also be at Rétromobile in Paris from February 5th to 9th of next year.
For more information, visit the Time on Show website.
Hodinkee