Some news from the world of watch press events now. Watches & Wonders Miami, the show that has become incredibly popular due to its location (and the scope of the event: luxury watches, designer clothes and pricey flammable sports cars in the Miami sunshine), will not feature on the calendar of significant watch events for 2020 in order to let the new Geneva show take the reigns. You may remember that late last year SIHH (Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie) announced that it would be rebranding itself as Watches & Wonders Geneva.
Back when we revealed the news to you in October 2019, we said it was likely that Watches & Wonders Geneva would be joining the Miami show, rather than replacing it. That is still correct; the Miami show will return for its third run in 2021 alongside the Geneva event. However, the 2020 show, which would typically run in February, has been cancelled so that the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (the company that runs the shows) can focus all of its efforts on Watches & Wonders Geneva, which will take place between the 25th of April and the 29th of April this year.
You might remember that Watches & Wonders Geneva rebranded itself and is now working closely with the MCH Group, the company that runs Baselworld, to provide a more rounded experience for those going to the shows. Over the past two years, we’ve seen quite a few brands, some exceptionally significant, leaving the world of press shows altogether. In fact, it’s occurred so much that it seems to me to be the latest fashion trend, taking over from blue dials.
Watches & Wonders Geneva will take fewer days than Baselworld, which will run from the 30th of April to the 5th of May this year, allowing little time for journalists to get from one place to the other and get set up. Watches & Wonders Miami will be returning in 2021, and the date has been confirmed as the 12th to the 14th of February for that year. There’s still plenty of time for brands to announce their departure, though.
