As WOW (World of Watches) embarks on an thrilling journey into 2025, it reaffirms its legacy of horological storytelling whereas charting daring new paths to captivate the trendy watch fanatic. The potential launch of its standalone digital platform, watchwow.com, deepens its connection to a rising viewers throughout Southeast Asia and past. With a distinguished historical past of mixing in-depth evaluation, compelling narratives, and a ardour for timeless craftsmanship, WOW evolves whereas staying true to its mission.
From celebrating the artwork of traditional watchmaking to championing daring improvements, WOW is poised to interact seasoned collectors and rising fans alike, weaving collectively the previous, current, and way forward for tremendous timepieces. Because it navigates the dynamic panorama of the watch trade — spotlighting regional traits, main occasions like Watches & Wonders, Geneva Watch Days, and Dubai Watch Week — WOW stays an indispensable information for its viewers. Ashok Soman — the editor-in-chief and visionary at its helm — shares insights on what lies forward for WOW in 2025 and his predictions for the trade at giant.
What defines this new period of WOW as a publication, and what can audiences anticipate from the 2025 editions?
Anticipate one of the best after all! Severely although, WOW is deeply related with its personal previous so it’s all actually one story, simply with new chapters. Our mission in 2001 was to offer sensible details about watches whereas weaving compelling tales about the identical for an viewers that wished extra depth than vogue, life-style, and design magazines may handle. This has not modified. In reality, with the “something goes free-for-all” web guidelines of engagement, there’s a function for accountable actors to set the document straight. For instance, we would do common tales about pundits on the web who’re improper!
How do the six points deliberate for WOW 2025 tie right into a cohesive narrative?
Effectively, it’s actually necessary to notice that six is only a quantity — we now have our common 4 quarterly points and two particular editions which might be annuals. WOW is unquestionably not going bi-monthly, in different phrases. For instance, WOW Legacy stays devoted to extra traditional and dressy watches from watchmakers with a grand custom. It will stay related since we expect watchmakers will solely lean extra closely into the sporty aesthetic as a result of that is what most patrons need, globally. Meaning our regular quarterly points will ply these routes, leaving our Legacy difficulty to discover the paths much less taken. As for the sixth difficulty, WOW Imaginative and prescient will chart its personal course however I’m certain we will talk about specifics on that since that is one thing completely new for 2025.
The sixth difficulty of WOW will likely be dubbed “WOW Imaginative and prescient”. How does “WOW Imaginative and prescient” purpose to draw and resonate with a youthful demographic?
It’s frustratingly true that critical watchmakers consider that watches ought to are available in all shapes — so long as these shapes are spherical. If nothing else, the Apple watch demonstrates that there’s nothing superior about being spherical. Not for nothing, the seminal designs of Gerald Genta for Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet present that collectors usually are not shy about totally different shapes and kinds. Our imaginative and prescient for WOW Imaginative and prescient is to offer kind watches their very own area to shine, simply as we do with gown watches in Legacy.
How is “WOW Imaginative and prescient” addressing the shifting pursuits and values of youthful audiences, resembling sustainability, AI and digital innovation?
There’s an attention-grabbing examine by Watchfinder & Co. that reveals {that a} new era of watch fans are eager on the extra attention-grabbing designs of the previous. This is identical viewers that makes Cartier such a strong power in watchmaking, to quote simply essentially the most outstanding instance. On the flipside, the identical examine additionally confirmed that unbiased watchmakers are a lot sought-after by all generations — such watchmakers are sometimes fairly daring of their design sensibilities. Mixed with our personal insights into what watch patrons need, the details dropped at mild by the examine gave us an enormous confidence enhance in launching WOW Imaginative and prescient presently!
How do you see the preferences of youthful watch collectors — notably with accessible and sensible watches — influencing the long run path of WOW as a publication?
Effectively, I’ve by no means been shy in saying that smartwatches usually are not watches — they’re wearable computer systems. The businesses that make them don’t name themselves watchmakers and they don’t seem to be offered as timekeepers. There’s a robust crossover between the smartwatch and the device watch, and we hope that conventional watchmaking can present tech corporations the right way to make nigh indestructible merchandise actually collectible, just like the peerless G-Shock for instance.
What future plans or improvements can readers look ahead to in WOW’s upcoming editorial method?
The obvious factor is the WOW web site, watchwow.com, which has been a very long time coming! As you already know, WOW and LUXUO are companions, and the outcomes have been nice for us each. Readers who might by no means have heard of, nor have entry to, WOW may have learn our tales. This offers our content material much-needed publicity and lets readers in markets past Singapore uncover our voice. I feel we will say mission achieved on that entrance, and we hope to proceed. However, WOW itself — that’s to say the model — wants its personal platform. Consider it this fashion: Chances are you’ll know the YouTuber Johnny Harris from his eponymous channel on the video-sharing platform. Arguably, that is how he acquired well-known as a result of he actually earned his views right here. He additionally has a web site, which capabilities as a container of kinds for his content material. That’s a technique wherein the connection between WOW and LUXUO can proceed, however actually not the one method.
How do the regional editions of WOW collaborate, and what strengths do they carry to one another?
One attention-grabbing factor to notice right here is that WOW — or extra exactly World of Watches Malaysia — will likely be main the way in which with watchwow.com. On this method, WOW Singapore will get to look at and be taught from the expertise of the Malaysia version in creating and beginning this solo journey. After all, the totally different editions of WOW may also meet extra comfortably on watchwow.com, the place we’d like not fear about being too watch-heavy as a result of no one visiting the web site will likely be focused on something apart from watches!
What are the challenges and alternatives in sustaining a regional community for a specialist publication like WOW?
It’s extra like a world community to be trustworthy, which emerges from our regional community of editors and writers. For instance, we’re individually related with native markets however all editions are one way or the other related with Singapore. By the identical token, we’re all related with Geneva; our varied connections assist us to raised perceive the trade and provides us a shot at dealing with watches and getting access to tales that may be in any other case unattainable. Our in-depth take a look at the Rolex 1908 was solely potential as a result of our contributor in Paris had entry to the watch, to quote only one instance. It’s the identical watch in all places on this planet however not each market has entry to it. The Patek Philippe Cubitus is yet one more instance, lined right here on LUXUO first, due to the partnership we mentioned earlier.
What function does the digital platform play in complementing WOW’s print editions, particularly for Singaporean audiences?
The reply to this, which we’ll see extra of in 2025, just isn’t actually the web site however social media. Singapore is clearly small but it surely packs fairly an enormous horological punch, being persistently within the high 10 export markets for Swiss watchmakers. The wanting it’s this: what watches are worn right here, and make an look on social media, rival and even eclipse what exhibits up in different main metropolitan cities. Social media provides us the prospect to be related in an outsized method, and doubtlessly in a short time.
Coronary heart Media goes by a motto of “elevating want”. Southeast Asia has distinctive preferences in terms of luxurious watches. How does WOW cater to those nuances?
There are actually nuances and our long-running sequence of panel discussions between the totally different editors addresses these. Certainly one of our hottest reads, that is one of the best place to see how the totally different editions view points associated to look at gathering in addition to native preferences, as you famous, and the relevance of general traits. We had been amongst the primary teams of editors to handle watches as a possible different funding class and the rising tide of dive watches and sports activities fashions with built-in bracelets. I’m all the time shocked to find how many individuals learn this quite prolonged piece — perhaps at some point it should really make it to YouTube (or one thing).
You might have been vocal about your opinion of trendspotting. Might you clue us in on what capability you discover worth in partaking with traits, notably on this area?
Are you aware what’s not trending? Chasing standing. People are obsessive about standing, and watches are sometimes symbols of this. No matter era you come from and wherever you end up, standing is prone to be of some significance and thus watches too. A very fashionable watch won’t be uncommon, however having the ability to really purchase it’s the problem. I suppose you possibly can say it is a comparatively latest phenomenon, however manufacturers do make restricted editions that may solely be out there to a handful of individuals. Being one of many choose few is price a worth above rubies.
With so many occasions like Geneva Watch Days, Dubai Watch Week, and Watches & Wonders, how do you resolve on occasions to prioritise notably in terms of protection?
There’s no query that Watches and Wonders Geneva (WWG) is a should. Not solely is it the most important honest of its type, however it’s also early sufficient within the 12 months that we will use it to reliably plan the remainder of the 12 months. Whilst 2024 involves a detailed, we’re nonetheless working tales that we developed there. That was in April, and I’m already trying ahead to it in 2025. WWG just isn’t actually a client occasion although and there are only a few days which might be open to the general public. If our readers wished to expertise one thing like this, I’d really suggest Geneva Watch Days, which is rather more like a pageant or nation honest. In Singapore, I be part of a lot of my friends in hoping that we will have one thing like IAMWATCH and SpringSprang usually, maybe as one true watch honest for the area. It’s not usually that individuals who love watches can collect and alternate views, whereas additionally partaking with precise watchmakers who can steer us in the best path and gently right any errors in our considering.
Let’s talk about 2024’s reshuffle of CEOs and management adjustments which have made headlines within the luxurious watch trade. How do you assume these shifts will influence model path and the trade as a complete?
Wanting on the general story of watchmaking, there may be nice worth in consistency. Watches usually are not ephemeral merchandise, in spite of everything, and sometimes survive for a couple of era. Contemplating this, manufacturers ought to all the time take the lengthy view. Coming at it from a unique angle, regardless of the trade does is attention-grabbing to people like me and also you, however if you happen to purchase a TAG Heuer, for instance, it’s unlikely that you just care about who has the highest job there. Let’s look outdoors watchmaking: does a BYD automotive really feel extra thrilling if you happen to just like the CEO? You would possibly say that there’s a counterpoint there with Tesla however Elon Musk is an exception.
However, after all, collectors care about succession for Roger Smith and Kari Voutilainen, however these are watchmakers not manufacturers. A Vianney Halter Trio made with out the watchmaker Vianney Halter feels like a travesty, but it surely doesn’t need to be. The wanting it’s that succession is a matter of biggest consequence for unbiased manufacturers which have but to step out of the shadow of a dwelling master-watchmaker.
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