Australia’s watch community is gathering in Sydney this week for Watchfest 6!
Time+TideSix years running. That’s the legacy Paxton Wong has built with Watchfest, and this week marks the return of Australia’s largest enthusiast-run watch and horology convention to Sydney with Watchfest 6. What began in 2019 as a simple idea — put Australia on the horological map — has survived a pandemic, adapted to adversity, and emerged as a must-attend fixture for dyed-in-the-wool Aussie watch lovers.
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The festivities kick off this Thursday, October 30th, at 5 pm with the now-legendary “Watch Crawl”: part pub crawl, part pilgrimage through Sydney’s lavish roster of watch boutiques. Meet outside the Breitling boutique on Market Street, then wind your way through the CBD discovering novelties, rare pieces, and the kind of spontaneous conversations that only happen when enthusiasts gather in the wild.
Saturday, November 1st, shifts to the Sydney Masonic Centre (a new venue for this year’s edition) for the convention day proper. Expect live Q&As, hands-on sessions with collections most collectors only see behind glass, and the kind of industry access that makes Watchfest what it is: community-driven, enthusiast-focused, and refreshingly free of corporate polish.
The roster reflects Watchfest’s evolution from scrappy upstart to established tradition. Franck Muller, Longines, Omega, Oris, Panerai, Roger Dubuis, TAG Heuer, plus both Seiko and Grand Seiko — the heavyweights are here. But so are the independents, the microbrands, and especially the local brands that’ve supported this thing from day one. It’s that mix that defines the Australian watch scene: egalitarian, curious, and genuinely welcoming, whether you’re wearing a F-91W or a perpetual calendar.
Tickets remain free this year, a decision made possible by long-term supporters who understand what Watchfest represents. It’s not just another fair or cocktail party: it’s a gathering point for a community that weathered lockdowns via Zoom sessions and boutique crawls in masks, that shows up for local businesses when times get tough, and that believes watches are meant to be shared, discussed, and celebrated together.
Time+Tide will be there too, naturally, exhibiting a curated selection of brands from our Melbourne Discovery Studio, which are hard to come by in Sydney. Come say g’day, talk watches, and remind yourself why this community matters. Because six years in, Watchfest isn’t just surviving — it’s proof that Australian watch culture is real, growing and has earned its place on the map. Register at the Watchfest Eventbrite page here, and we’ll see you in Sydney!