26.09.2026
-15.02.2026
Free
all audiences

World Watch Day x Sainte-Croix

Saturday, September 26, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Royal Cinema

World Watch Day is an international initiative led by a group of watchmaking, cultural, and media institutions. Celebrated every October 10—in reference to the symbolic time of 10:10 displayed on watch dials—this day highlights watchmaking as a living heritage, at the intersection of art, science, history, and culture. It brings together institutions and enthusiasts from around the world through a program of events and content designed to promote watchmaking culture to as wide an audience as possible.

The theme for 2026 is: “Time as Living Heritage

Mec-Art and MuMAPS are partnering with World Watch Day to host an international roundtable discussion (in English) on September 26, 2026, at the Cinéma Royal. This event will be filmed and will also be available online starting October 10.

Europe, the United States, and Asia will turn their attention to Sainte-Croix through a number of distinguished guests:

Denis FlageolletDirector of the Institute of Art Mechanics, host of the event
Pierre MaillardEditor-in-Chief ofEuropa Star, event moderator
Su Jia Xianjournalist and founder of SJX Watches, Singapore
Tim Mossowatch critic and director of The 1916 Company, Philadelphia
Karine AlexandrianCollection Curator at the Musée des Arts et Métiers in Paris, France
Vianney Halterwatchmaker and director of the eponymous factory, Sainte-Croix
François Junodmanufacturer and director of the eponymous factory, Sainte-Croix

The purpose of this discussion is to highlight the unique character of our region, which brings together—within a small area—all the expertise, knowledge, and techniques related to watchmaking and artistic mechanics.

These practices, recognized as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, constitute an exceptional legacy, and their preservation, transmission, and promotion are now major challenges. The central question of this debate will therefore be:“How much time do we still have to safely preserve this living heritage?