Swiss watchmakers celebrate birthday with Shanghai exhibition

Swiss luxury watch brand Vacheron Constantin launched the Chinese mainland debut of its public exhibition celebrating its 270th birthday in Shanghai on July 7.

China has always been an important market and a growth engine for the Swiss watch industry, which contributes about 4 percent of Switzerland's GDP, said Sacha Bachmann, consul general of Switzerland in Shanghai at the unveiling ceremony on July 4.

According to Bachmann, as this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Switzerland, the frequent exchanges of high-level visits between the two countries have fully demonstrated the depth and breadth of their bilateral ties.

Switzerland exported more than 2 billion Swiss franc ($2.5 billion) worth of watches and clocks to China in 2024, equivalent to more than 18 billion yuan ($2.5 billion), Bachmann added.

The Chinese mainland debut not only presents the brand's values of innovation, craftsmanship, and cultural dialogue, but also displays craftsmanship related to China and its culture dating back 180 years.

"Since our association with China in 1845, Shanghai has always been a special place in our hearts. It is a place where vibrancy meets innovation, culture and the arts," said Laurent Perves, CEO of Vacheron Constantin.

Shanghai is a powerhouse of economy and fashion, as well as an ideal birthplace for brand inspiration and cultural creation, according to Gu Jialin, CEO of Richemont Group China, adding that the exhibition is one of the latest practices in integrating culture and consumption.

"The successful launch of this global touring exhibition in Shanghai owes much to the city's prime business environment, ever-improving policy framework, and its increasingly vibrant atmosphere of cultural exchange," said Gu.

Formally known as "The Quest: 270 years of seeking excellence", the immersive exhibition is travelling around the globe throughout 2025 in celebration of the brand's 270th anniversary.

The exhibition consists of seven immersive chapters, covering its history since 1755, heritage, artistic crafts, its openness to global cultures, and its collaboration with the Louvre in safeguarding civilized heritage.

The Shanghai exhibition, which is being held in Zhangyuan in the city's Jing'an district, will run through July 20.