The top eight includes Bvlgari, Breitling, Ulysse Nardin, Girard-Perregaux, MB&F, De Bethune, and Urwerk. The "Hour Days" organized by them will be held in Geneva from April 26 to April 29, that is, on the dates of the Watches & Wonders Salon (formerly SIHH) canceled last week. However, instead of the Palexpo exhibition complex, the companies will invite buyers and watch press to Geneva hotels and boutiques, where they will present new products. Obviously, the event will not be massive, so the organizers did not encounter any obstacles from the local authorities (recall that the Swiss Federal Council officially canceled all events of more than 1,000 people). On the contrary, the administration of the Geneva canton strongly supports the initiative that will help the city in the difficult economic situation,developed after the cancellation of global international exhibitions of the automotive and watch industry.
Bvlgari CEO Jean-Christophe Babin announced the initiative to hold Geneva Watch Days in a television interview yesterday: “Given the cancellation of two leading watch salons, this format will allow retailers and the press to get acquainted with new collections, prepare publications and place orders”. Babin listed all the participants in the impromptu show - so far there are eight of them: Bvlgari, Breitling, Ulysse Nardin, Girard-Perregaux, MB&F, De Bethune and Urwerk. Chopard and H. Moser & Cie., With whom they are currently negotiating, were named as potential candidates.
“The Geneva Watch Days is not intended to replace the long-standing historical watch shows in Geneva and Basel, but is an effective alternative given the current situation,” the partner brands said in a joint communique. It is emphasized that the event will help bring a positive attitude to the watch industry, which has recently experienced a significant recession, amplified many times over due to the COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic.
The eight have already formed a Steering Committee, which will interact on all issues with the leadership of the Canton of Geneva. Brands will organize their own sites on their own. The house of Bvlgari has already announced the presentation of the next hour record. Its premiere was to take place at Baselworld. However, before the news of the postponement of the Basel exhibition to early 2021 came, the Roman house itself announced its withdrawal from the show, circulating an official release on February 12, 2020.>
