Bangkok Watch Week 2026: Why Singapore watch collectors should make the trip

Singapore watch lovers looking for an excuse to head to Bangkok this September have just been handed a particularly good one.

From September 22 to 27, Siam Paragon Bangkok Watch Week 2026 returns for its second edition with more than 45 watch brands under one roof, right in a shopping mall most familiar to us. That is over 50 per cent more than last year, when the inaugural event attracted more than 20,000 visitors, including over 200 international collectors.

For watch enthusiasts in Singapore, its appeal is simple. Bangkok is barely two-and-a-half hours away by plane, yet the six-day event offers the chance to see a breadth of watchmaking that would ordinarily require considerably more travelling — especially if you regret missing out on the action at Watches and Wonders Geneva.

More than 45 watch brands in one place

The line-up alone makes the trip tempting. Returning names include A. Lange & Söhne, Cartier, Chopard, Grand Seiko, IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Panerai, Piaget, Vacheron Constantin, and Zenith.

More interestingly, the 2026 edition features an impressive roster of new exhibitors. Blancpain, Breguet, Bremont, Tudor, and the recently revived Universal Genève join independents and smaller manufactures including MB&F, Greubel Forsey, Ressence, Gerald Charles, David Candaux, L.Leroy and Speake Marin.

For the serious collector, that boost in participation is arguably Bangkok Watch Week’s biggest draw. Several such independents are not represented in Singapore, and across all participating brands, one can explore highly complicated pieces, limited editions, new releases, and rare collector watches from a remarkably broad cross-section of contemporary watchmaking.

The best thing is that since the fair adopts a consumer-friendly concept and does not take place in a convention hall, visitors get to freely explore the brands within the mall and discover their curated displays.

Some are also offering by-reservation in-boutique experiences, which includes interactive activities and mini masterclasses. For instance, Breguet is hosting a tourbillon discovery workshop, while Franck Muller is presenting a dial painting session led by its in-house artisan. It’s like shopping, but better.

Perfect for all kinds of watch collectors

There is another reason this 2026 edition is worth visiting. The Fondation Haute Horlogerie (FHH) is participating in Thailand for the first time, bringing an expanded edition of The Symposium to Bangkok.

There are 13 sessions across the week, each helmed by representatives of top maisons and held at Parc Paragon on the mezzanine floor. The new FHH Academy Lounge, billed as the first initiative of its kind in Southeast Asia, will also offer hands-on activities.

More than that, expect founders, CEOs, master watchmakers, collectors, and creative figures discussing the craft, heritage, and future of watchmaking. Among those present will be Pascal Ravessoud, the Geneva-based foundation’s vice-president, who is well-known for his highly informative and engaging presentations at the annual Watches & Wonders.

Connoisseurs can take the opportunity to dive deep, while new collectors will be treated to valuable insights directly from the movers and shakers shaping the industry, making the often-intimidating world of high horology that little bit more accessible.

Visitors may even sit for the FHH Watch Advisor Certification, the first level of the foundation’s internationally recognised programme.

That combination of established maisons, rising independents, expert watchmakers, and beginner-friendly education makes Bangkok Watch Week much more than another luxury retail event. And it is now happening practically on our doorstep.