In Tortona watchmaking is staged with Watches of Italy

Tortona is preparing to host the second edition of the Watches of Italy (WOI) exhibition / market scheduled for Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 September, inside the “Orsi” Agricultural Machinery Museum (in via Emilia 446). The absolute protagonists of the event are independent watch brands (such as Brera Milano, Memphis Belle Military Watches, Fonderia Lab, Aion Watch and Allemano Watch), but also companies, artisans or designers who work for this sector as accessories suppliers (for example straps or boxes) or for design and creativity (such as design or prototyping) that will reveal their main novelties.

All Italian or foreign companies (but with a strong Italian DNA) that have joined the WOI – Watches of Italy group which was established in 2019 (and currently has about 70 members) to network and give greater prominence to local operators in the world of hands, even through events like this, without requiring the large budgets of the most famous trade fairs in the sector. As Fabrizio Dellachà, founder of WOI explains, last year’s event had registered about “2 thousand accesses, compared to about 400 tickets booked online: a record if compared to the pandemic period and the restrictions in place at the time. This year the number of bookings is very close to the total attendance of 2020 and therefore I expect much higher numbers ».

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Once again, the municipality of Tortona is sponsoring the event. Mayor Federico Chiodi says: «Watches Of Italy can be a useful driving force for growth and development as regards both industrial and food and wine production and tourist accommodation in macro areas. During WOI of 2020 we registered a full house in the city and in the neighboring centers in almost all the accommodation facilities and catering establishments ». Moreover, he anticipates Chiodi: «We are already working on a third edition for next year, hoping that it will become a tradition for Tortona that I would very much like to become the Italian capital of quality watchmaking».

Given the satisfactory results, the pre-registrations already had (necessary for the anti-Covid 19 protocol, while admission remains free) and a new appointment also in 2022, the WOI format seems to have sparked the interest of fans. «Having already welcomed 10 more exhibitors than last year, makes us understand that the path taken is the right one. Each WOI is an opportunity to launch interesting world premieres that show the talent of Italian designers »adds Dellachà. Who continues: «In 2022 we aim to open the exhibition also to vintage watches and we will try to organize some talks with personalities in the sector».

Finally, during the two days there will also be a charity fundraiser for the “Amici del 4 ° Piano” association which supports the activities for the children housed in the pediatric oncohematology department of the San Matteo Polyclinic in Pavia.