he Fondation Haute Horlogerie (FHH) recently celebrated its 20th anniversary at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Geneva and at its headquarters at the city’s landmark Pont de la Machine.

To honour the FHH’s founding members, Ilaria Resta, Chief Executive Officer of Audemars Piguet, Patrick Pruniaux, Chairman & CEO of Girard-Perregaux, and Cyrille Vigneron, Chairman of Culture and Philanthropy at Cartier, representing Richemont, were among the dignitaries in attendance.

At an evening press conference, the FHH announced a new online public training platform called FHH Boutique, and opened ‘Watch Makers’, a new, free-to-enter exhibition dedicated to the art, craft and timeless value of watchmaking.

The FHH was founded in 2005 by Audemars Piguet, Girard-Perregaux and the Richemont Group with a shared vision to conserve watchmaking culture. Over two decades, the non-profit organisation has promoted the cultural, technical and artistic values in watchmaking, protecting its heritage and helping to build a sustainable future.

In its 20th anniversary year, the FHH will reaffirm its mission with a renewed focus on inclusion and universal access, taking the story of watchmaking to dynamic new audiences beyond the watch industry with a wave of compelling new initiatives and partnerships designed to draw in the next generation of watchmakers and enthusiasts.

The FHH was the vision of watch industry luminary Franco Cologni. Twenty years ago, Dr Cologni’s passion for passing on the traditions of watchmaking and securing its future drove him to persuade Audemars Piguet, Girard-Perregaux and Richemont to collaborate around a foundation that would transmit and promote watchmaking culture, protecting and conserving it for future generations. His motto: A Legacy For Tomorrow.

Two decades on, Dr Cologni’s vision is alive and well and many of the foundation’s original ambitions have been realised. Today, the foundation fulfils a pivotal role in the watch industry through events and educational programmes such as Watches and Culture, the FHH Forum and the FHH Academy, which has now trained more than 40,000 people and issued more than 15,000 certificates to students since it was founded in 2014. The FHH’s portfolio of activities has helped secure watchmaking’s future, making it a pillar of the watchmaking community, recognised around the world.

Now, the time has come to launch the FHH into a new phase of expansion as it looks to build bridges beyond the industry to watch consumers. With it, a new motto: Watchmaking Knowledge For All.

In its 20th anniversary year, the FHH’s founders have reaffirmed their long-term commitment to its purpose and programme of activities. The foundation’s future will be built around a promise of inclusivity; the continuing celebration of watchmaking craftsmanship and savoir-faire; and a renewed vision for watchmaking culture as a shared and universal heritage. Yesterday was about transmission. Today is about openness. Tomorrow is about inspiration.

At the announcement, the following comments were made:

Ilaria Resta, Chief Executive Officer, Audemars Piguet

“For 20 years, the FHH has upheld the belief that horology is more than an industry – it’s a living cultural heritage, an art that bridges generations, regions and savoir-faire. By opening doors to watch enthusiasts, collectors and amateurs alike, it ignites curiosity and fosters connections. Audemars Piguet proudly supports this mission, believing in a dynamic, evolving horology dedicated to its future.”

Patrick Pruniaux, Chairman & CEO, Girard-Perregaux

“Over the centuries, the world of watchmaking has continuously been evolving and grow thanks to its talented players : artisans, inventors and watchmakers. It is thus a privilege for our current generation of leaders to preserve skills, protect artisans and promote savoir-faire, and to draw in the next generation of entrepreneurs, innovators and disruptors who will propel this industry into the future. This is what we’re doing and we’re grateful to the FHH for supporting manufactures like ours in this critical mission.”

Cyrille Vigneron, Chairman of Culture and Philanthropy, Cartier

“Culture is a fundamental pillar of our industry; it gives it meaning. And it is essential that we transmit that culture to a world searching for meaning. Together with the FHH and its partners, our vision is to ensure watchmaking remains rooted within the history of art and civilisation. This is a watershed moment for watchmaking and I salute the FHH’s ambitious programme to secure its future.”

Pascal Ravessoud, Vice President, FHH

“The FHH has had 20 wonderful, enormously fruitful years. Now, it’s time to restart the clock and open up to a new generation of truly global watch enthusiasts. The charm in a mechanical watch is timeless and the opportunities to promote it endless: it’s our responsibility as a foundation and as an industry to seize this moment, share the passion for watchmaking and secure the future of watchmaking culture.”

Aurélie Streit, Vice President, FHH

“Our mission to transmit watchmaking culture to the next generation is now entering a critical new phase. Through this series of fresh initiatives, the FHH will engage new audiences, using universal, accessible, inclusive language that excites the passions of tomorrow’s watchmakers and watch enthusiasts. Through exhibitions such as Watch Makers and our upcoming international programme of events, we can be extremely confident that over the next 20 years the FHH will be successful in achieving these grand ambitions.”

Acknowledgments

The FHH would like to thank wholeheartedly its valued partner brands for their vital support of its programmes yesterday, today and tomorrow.

A. Lange & Söhne*, Armin Strom, Audemars Piguet*, Baume & Mercier*, Bovet*, Breitling*, Bvlgari*, Carl F. Bucherer, Cartier*, Chanel, Czapek*, Gerald Charles*, Girard-Perregaux*, Grönefeld, H. Moser & Cie.*, Hautlence*, Hermès*, IWC Schaffhausen*, Jaeger-LeCoultre*, Louis Moinet, Louis Vuitton, MB&F*, Montblanc*, Oris*, Panerai*, Parmigiani, Piaget*, Ressence*, Roger Dubuis*, Romain Gauthier*, Rudis Sylva, Speake Marin*, Tag Heuer*, Trilobe*, Ulysse Nardin*, Vacheron Constantin*, Van Cleef & Arpels*.

Brands with (*) have supported the ‘Watch Makers’ exhibition with content/experiences.