The 9 brands of the Group: Franck Muller Genève, Pierre Kunz, ECW, Rodolphe, Barthelay, Backes & Strauss, Martin Braun, Pierre Michel Golay and Christian Huygens unveiled their new collections on a surface of over 4’500m2, especially built on the Watchland main site for the occasion.

During 7 days, the exhibition welcomed over 6'800 visitors, which represent’s a growth of over 15% compared to 2007, and 600 international journalists. In addition, the WPHH is the only Geneva-based watch show open to the public.

The location is unique for a watch show, almost fairytale-like with its castle, gorgeous park and breathtaking view of Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc.

The exclusive novelties presented at the WPHH have once again proved the horological know-how of the brands of the Franck Muller Group both in terms of complications and unmatched prestige.


Left to right: Alexis Barthelay, Vartkess Knadjian, Rodolphe Cattin'>Cattin, Vartan Sirmakes, Franck Muller, Pierre Michel Golay, Pierre Kunz, Roger Dubuis, Claude Burkhalter, Martin Braun, Gianni Pensabene

A remarkable business review

Sales for the Franck Muller brand increased by double digits; it has doubled for the Rodolphe brand, which has beaten all records. Pierre Michel Golay and Christian Huygens, two brands which recently joined the Group and participated for the first time in the WPHH, were both well-received. Pierre Kunz’s sales have also grown and ECW and Barthelay pursue their development.

The show reached its climax on Wednesday April 18th with a gala dinner. More than 1'400 VIP guests were welcomed by the Vieux Grenadiers to a grand evening. El Salsero Yuri Buenaventura gave a private and exclusive Caliente evening and sang his best repertoire. All guests including Stephen Baldwin (Actor), Pascal Zuberbuhler (Neuchâtel Xamax - Swiss Football Goal Keeper), Nadine Thalmann (Miss Beauté romande), Pierre-François Unger (Geneva State Councillor in charge of the Department of Economic Affairs & Health), Dr. Christian Luscher (Geneva University Hospital - Department of Basic Neurosciences), Dr. Charles Poncet (Law Firm of Ziegler Poncet Grumbach Carrard Lüscher) and many others danced until 2 o’clock in the morning.

Multiple editions for the 2009 watchmaking year

Continuing its tradition established 11 years ago, the Groupe Franck Muller will
organise in 2009 its very own Haute Horlogerie exhibition, the World Presentation of Haute Horlogerie, on its Watchland site in Genthod, Switzerland.

Since its creation, the WPHH’s aim has been to welcome its guests in the prestigious Franck Muller manufacture and in the most pleasant and friendly setting.

In this spirit, for 2009, the Groupe Franck Muller will challenge its neighbouring shows’desynchronised schedules by organising three shows of its own:


 A first edition of the WPHH from January 18 to January 25, 2009


 A trade-only event from March 24 to April 4,2009


 A second edition of the WPHH will take place from August 18 to August 23, 2009.

This will allow all of the Group’s clients, journalists from the world media and the public to optimally co-ordinate their visits with those of the other watch salons without suffering from their diverging schedules. Thus visitors will be able to discover on their own free terms the new collections presented by the Groupe Franck Muller.

As a result, the Groupe Franck Muller will offer Geneva a near- watchmaking year for 2009.

Source: WPHH The World Presentation of Haute Horlogerie

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