IAMWATCH 2026 is The Hour Glass’s second Singapore edition, bringing 45 independent watchmakers and industry friends to The Singapore EDITION from 12–15 November 2026. The public can attend from 13–15 November with complimentary registration. Beyond viewing watches, visitors can join technical masterclasses, historical lectures, films, collector meetups and informal evening socials.
When and where is IAMWATCH 2026?
The event runs at The Singapore EDITION from Thursday 12 November through Sunday 15 November 2026. The first day is reserved for industry and invited guests; public access begins Friday 13 November and continues through Sunday 15 November. Admission on public days is complimentary, but visitors must register.
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| Date | Access | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| 12 November | Industry and invited guests | Opening activity and private meetings |
| 13 November | Public day | Maker encounters, talks, masterclasses and evening social |
| 14 November | Public day | Invention, refinement and George Daniels programming |
| 15 November | Public day | Future-focused panels, collector sessions and masterclasses |
A June preview had described an event of more than 50 watchmakers and friends. The latest full program lists 45 participants, which is the current published count.
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The event presents independent watchmaking as an interdependent enterprise. A watch may carry one maker’s name, but its creation also relies on specialist suppliers, fellow craftsmen, retailers and collectors. That idea shapes both the exhibition and the program: commercial realities sit alongside escapement theory, design history and hands-on work.
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Who will be there?
The program brings together established independents, younger makers, designers, retailers and collectors. Names identified for the 2026 gathering include Rexhep Rexhepi, Roger W. Smith, Kari Voutilainen, Andreas Strehler, Jean-Claude Biver, Urban Jürgensen, Aubert & Ramel, Petermann Bédat, Rémy Cools, Sylvain Pinaud and Reuben Schoots. The lineup also includes the creative collective MB&F.
Michael Tay and The Hour Glass organize the event in a deliberately approachable setting. Hodinkee’s Mark Kauzlarich describes the atmosphere as casual and says visitors do not need to own or wear an independent watch to participate. The suggested dress code is “resort casual and double-wristed,” but that is an invitation to engage with watches rather than a barrier to entry.
Rank #2
- 【Watch repair tool kit】- JOREST watch repair tool kit contains common tools required for repairing watches, suitable for adjusting and replacing watch straps, opening watch covers, replacing watch batteries, gaskets, etc., and has detailed operations Manual to help you solve watch problems at home and save expensive repair costs.
- 【Adjust the strap】- Metal watch band link remover, watch band holder, pin punches, double-headed hammer and spring bar tool with scale are used to replace various watch straps, adjust the length of the strap to fit your wrist.We are equipped with 15PCS spare needle to improve the service life of the tool, suitable for pin punch and metal watch band link remover.
- 【Suitable for different watch covers】- Watch back case opener is used for watch cases with grooves；watch case opening pry is used for the watch case with a pry opening；Screwdriver is used for watch case fixed by screws；tweezer is used to remove the battery.The use range of the watch back case opener is 15-55mm, and the drill bit spacing is set by rolling the adjusting wheel to fit the groove of your watch back.
- 【Five-in-one watch screwdriver】- Five types of screwdriver bits are suitable for many situations: watch battery fixing screws, watch case screws, watchband screws, and can also be used for glasses screws. The cover at the end of the screwdriver can be opened, and the inside is hollow for storing other screwdriver bits.
- 【The purpose of the watch case holder】 - The watch case holder can be used with other tools in the kit to help fix the watch and reduce the risk of sliding and scratching the watch. It is suitable for watches of various sizes, and can be used for watches with a diameter of up to 50mm.
What is on the 2026 program?
Starting a watch brand
Friday’s “I Want to Make My Own Watch. Now What?” addresses the questions that arise before a first watch exists: raising capital, finding suppliers, setting a price and securing initial clients. Alex Rosenfield, Mehmet Korutürk, Pierre Biver and William Massena appear on the panel, moderated by Manuel Emch.
The Morteau Generation
This session examines the education, professional relationships and shared networks behind a group of young independent watchmakers. It places emerging careers in the context of the schools, workshops and mentors that make them possible.
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- 【Wide Applicability】This set of tools can be used for a variety of needs, such as opening the back cover of three types of watches, removing watch bracelets, adjusting watch bands, changing watch batteries, removing watch screws, and more.
- 【Sturdy and Durable】Made of high-quality metal + high-quality plastic, sturdy and durable, used for a variety of watch disassembling and assembling, and many other operations, providing a good experience for you to repair your watch.
- 【Easy to Store and Carry】The organizer bag can not only hold all the maintenance tools, the lanyard design is also easy to store and carry.
- 【Instruction Manual】The instruction manual (in English) describes in detail how to use each tool, so even beginners can get started easily. This watch repair tool set is perfect for professional repairers or watch enthusiasts.
Invention versus refinement
Saturday’s “Who Actually Invents Anything Anymore?” brings Andreas Strehler, Kari Voutilainen, Roger W. Smith and Rexhep Rexhepi together to discuss where genuine invention ends and sophisticated refinement begins. For collectors, it offers a way to evaluate originality beyond a list of complications.
George Daniels centenary sessions
The centenary program includes a Phillips-commissioned short film, a conversation between Aurel Bacs and Roger W. Smith, Smith’s lectures on George Daniels and the co-axial escapement, and a screening of The Watchmaker’s Apprentice. These sessions connect Daniels’s methods and ideas with the watchmaking practices they influenced.
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- 【MULTI FUNCTIONAL】Watchmaker screwdriver set is suitable for daily maintenance of tools, such as the disassembly of watch,computers, glasses, toys, jewelry,etc.
- 【 PREMIUM QUALITY】The precision screwdriver set adopts a hardened blade and anti-rust treatment, and the all-metal blade is not easy to be damaged. Box packaging, sponge storage to prevent damage during transportation.
- 【EASY TO USE】The screwdriver has a groove design, which is convenient for screw fixation and easy installation and disassembly. Grid design, disassembly is not easy to slip. Quickly distinguish models by color.
- 【100% GUARANTEE】High quality precision flat screwdrivers watchmaker repair tools.If you have any question,please feel free to contact us.
Design, independence and scale
Sunday asks what watches made in 2026 and beyond should look like, and whether an independent maker needs the resources of a large group. Speakers include Gautier Massonneau, Ming Thein, Antoine Pin, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele and Matthieu Haverlan. The discussion should be useful to anyone interested in how financing, production capacity and creative control interact.
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Technical and historical lectures
Additional talks cover observatory precision competitions, the work of régleurs, the historical development of innovation, and 18th- and 19th-century French precision horology. The range makes IAMWATCH more than a product presentation: visitors can move from contemporary business questions to the technical and institutional history behind accuracy.
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- 【Wide Applicability】This set of tools can fulfill a variety of needs such as opening and closing three types of watch back covers, adjusting straps, removing watch screws and more.
- 【2024 New Watch Opener & Presser】①The upgraded rotary watch opener is more stable and larger in size for a more comfortable grip; ②The new watch presser is more stable, more accurate and less labor intensive, so even women can do the job easily.
- 【2024 New Metal Watch Link Remover】①The new metal watch pin remover has improved the threaded rod to enhance the stability when rotating; ②The watch lin remover and strap holder are combined into one, saving storage space.
- 【Easy to Store and Carry】①This zipper pouch not only holds all the repair tools, but also has a built-in transparent strap for storing manuals, spare batteries, spare straps, etc.; ②Note: The pouch only shows the items that can be stored, the set does not contain these items: watches, straps, batteries. ③The lanyard design makes it easy to carry.
- 【Instruction Manual】The instruction manual (in English) describes in detail how to use each tool, so even beginners can get started easily. This upgraded watch repair tool set is perfect for professional repairers or watch enthusiasts.
How can visitors meet collectors and independent makers?
The collector meetups “The OGs” and “The Young Guns” are designed for conversation rather than formal presentations. Attendees are encouraged to bring watches for discussion, creating a practical way to compare finishing, movement architecture and personal collecting priorities. The broader event format also allows visitors to speak directly with participating watchmakers instead of relying solely on displays or scheduled sales appointments.
Can you work on a movement at IAMWATCH?
Yes. Swiss Federal Master Watchmaker Michael Dubs leads watchmaking masterclasses on all three public days. Participants work directly on a mechanical movement and may leave with that movement and a participation certificate. Places and booking requirements should be checked during registration, since a hands-on class cannot accommodate the same volume as an open lecture.
What happens after the daytime program?
Each evening ends with a Sunset Social featuring food, drinks and live music. These gatherings extend the event’s central idea of interdependence: collectors, makers, suppliers and retailers can continue conversations informally after the scheduled panels and demonstrations.
Quick Recap
How to plan a useful visit
- Register for a public day. Public access is 13–15 November and admission is complimentary with registration.
- Choose sessions before arriving. The program spans business, design, technical history, films and collector gatherings, so a schedule helps avoid conflicts.
- Reserve a masterclass if available. The movement workshops are the most capacity-limited activity and require more time than a talk.
- Bring a watch only if you want discussion. Collector meetups welcome watches, but wearing an independent piece is not required for entry.
- Leave time for conversations. IAMWATCH is structured around direct access to makers, not just a walk-through display.
