The Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie celebrates 20 years

The Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie 2010 officially opened for business in the Palexpo, Geneva on the 18th January, running until the 22nd of the month. This year's proceedings mark the 20th anniversary of the event and is the second consecutive year in it's new slot in January, a move (from springtime) which has been hailed all round as a masterstroke - enabling the exhibiting manufacturers of fine watches to showcase their new season collections at the start of the year.

Although not completely banished, the massing grey clouds of global recession which were prevalent twelve months ago would appear to have thinned somewhat recently and have been replaced by a cautious optimism as the industry picks itself up and gets moving again following a stark 2009.

The SIHH has truly forged it's place in the horologic calendar, attracting this year 19 manufacturers - including newcomers Richard Mille and Greubel Forsey - as well as presenting a collection of antique timepieces, sympathetically restored by Parmigiani Fleurier and another collection of conceptual watch photography in two exclusive exhibitions.