In Conversation With: Daniel Aellig, Chief Commercial Officer At NORQAIN On The Adventurous Element Off Watchmaking
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Watches And Wonders Geneva 2021 Another Virtual Experience

THM Desk
20 Nov 2020 |
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As much as most watch enthusiasts and “experts” were looking forward to Watches and Wonders 2021, the pandemic has further pushed the realm of this horological platform to the digital space yet again. As we face uncertain times with the pandemic having caused a lot of disruption, the digital world ensures that the clock stays ticking! Watches and Wonders Geneva 2021 will be a 100% digital salon. 

The physical Salon would have been held at Palexpo from April 7 to 13, 2021. However, in keeping with the uncertainty of the times amid the current health crisis, the Watches and Wonders Geneva Exhibitor Committee has proposed a digital salon on the same dates. Earlier this year, just as the world began to grapple with uncertainty, which sadly continues till date, Watches & Wonders introduced their digital experience in April, a platform that was much appreciated and quite successful.

Needless to say that the digital world could never take away from the precious moments and experiences that an actual salon offers, the 2020 experience of the digital platform has paved the way to continuity of the horological business so to say. With enhanced user experiences, one can indeed bring the best of the watchmaking world to the stakeholders. 

Judging my the 2020 initiative, besides facilitating the exploration of the novelties of 2021 in a very detailed and cohesive manner, the digital salon would be a highly interactive experience too. By using the best of technology available, clients, media and retailers will have the watchmaking world literally at their fingertips. Additional services and features will be introduced, including live chats and streaming, hence making it a wholesome global experience. Upto 50 Fine Watchmaking Maisons will exhibit their latest collections. These are major players in the horological world, as befits an exhibition of this stature. 

The 2022 physical Salon, however will welcome more major players, in line with modalities set out by the Exhibitor Committee upholding shared vision and values. This 2022 edition will be the biggest watch event ever held in Geneva. In the meantime, the Exhibitor Committee looks forward to making a date for the digital edition of Watches and Wonders Geneva, from April 7 to 13, 2021! 

My thoughts? I am a tad bit disappointed. However, given the current health crisis and uncertainties as to how the situation may evolve, it is the most responsible course of action. As much as I will miss meeting my friends and colleagues from the world of watches, I am looking forward to witnessing the unfurling of this new concept that promises to bring the watch world together, well virtually! 

THE PARTICIPATING BRANDS EXHIBITING BRANDS | A. LANGE & SÖHNE | ARMIN STROM ARNOLD & SON | BAUME & MERCIER | BOVET | CARTIER | CHANEL CHOPARD | FABERGÉ | FERDINAND BERTHOUD | GIRARD-PERREGAUX GRÖNEFELD | H. MOSER & CIE. | HERMES | HYT | IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN JAEGER-LECOULTRE | LAURENT FERRIER | MB&F | MONTBLANC | PANERAI PARMIGIANI | PATEK PHILIPPE | PIAGET | PURNELL | REBELLION TIMEPIECES RESSENCE | ROLEX | ROGER DUBUIS | RUDIS SYLVA | SPEAKE-MARIN TUDOR | ULYSSE NARDIN | VACHERON CONSTANTIN