Smith recalls a bit of wisdom the industry leader, who died last week, shared at a diamond conference years ago.
Watches & Wonders 2020 Is Going Digital
Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie will unveil a platform Saturday to bring the watch community and 30 brands together online.

Geneva—Watches & Wonders Geneva might have had to cancel its physical event due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but organizers will still provide a place for the watch community to interact in 2020 by going digital.
Show organizer Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie announced it will take the event virtual starting this week, providing a forum for product releases, brand highlights and watch education.
The new digital platform at WatchesandWonders.com will go live on Saturday, April 25 (what would have been the opening show day in Geneva) at 12 p.m. CET/6 a.m. EST, free for all to access.
It will roll out in phases, FHH said, with phase one featuring dedicated pages for each of the 30 participating brands—including Baume & Mercier, Bovet, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Panerai and Vacheron Constantin—where visitors can learn about each watch brand and see new timepieces for 2020.
For opening day of WatchesandWonders.com, FHH also organized a series of product launch presentations, in which executives will showcase their watches through 10-minute streaming videos.
The clips will be made permanently available on the website.
The site also will provide a range of content, like product analysis, trend forecasts, in-depth looks at design, craft and technical innovations, plus business talks from watch experts.
FHH said it intends for the digital platform to act as a key location for the watch community beyond its launch this month.
This summer, the site will feature more product launches as well as strategic partnerships with maisons and various e-commerce sites.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with the finest watchmaking brands in the world to bring the Watches & Wonders concept to life online at a time when our industry needs it the most,” FHH Chairwoman and Managing Director Fabienne Lupo said.
“This dynamic new platform will allow watch lovers everywhere to discover exciting new products, engage in enriching experiences and connect directly with our participating brands in one place.”
FHH announced the cancellation of Watches & Wonders Geneva, which was scheduled for April 25-29, in late February.
This was to be the first year for the revamped show formerly known as SIHH.
FHH said in fall 2019 it would open the once trade-only affair to the public in 2020 and shift its timing from January so it could be held back-to-back with Baselworld, which also has been canceled this year.
Dates for the 2021 Watches & Wonders Geneva event have yet to be announced.
The Latest

The “Victoria” necklace features a labradorite hugged by diamond accents in 18-karat yellow gold.

Two lower courts have moved to block the import taxes, which will remain in place as the legal battle continues.

Jewelers of America is leading the charge to protect the industry amidst rising economic threats.

The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback shares Hublot’s dedication to pursuing greatness, the Swiss watchmaker said.


The Type IIa stone, recovered from Botswana’s Karowe diamond mine last month, features unique coloration.

As a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.

Breitling is now the NFL’s official timepiece partner, a move that puts the brand in front of the millions of Americans who watch football.

U.S.-based investment company SMG Capital LLC is the new owner of the luxury brand.

A new court filing details the locations of the stores that will close, as well as the 830 that will remain open.

The new catalogs are “Tools, Equipment, & Metals” and “Findings & Metals.”

Sapphire’s variety of colors make it the perfect birthstone for September.

The retailer has raised its guidance after seeing total sales increase 3 percent in the second quarter, beating expectations.

Niccolò Rossi di Montelera, executive chairman of the board, was appointed as interim CEO.

The three-floor space also features the jeweler’s largest VIP salon in Japan and offers an exclusive diamond pendant.

The collection is a collaboration between Stephanie Gottlieb Fine Jewelry and Oak and Luna, focusing on understated essentials.

The highlight of a single-owner jewelry and watch collection, it’s estimated to fetch up to $7 million at auction this December.

CEO Efraim Grinberg noted a resurgence in the fashion watch market.

The “Bullseye” necklace, with vintage bakelite and peridot, August’s birthstone, is the perfect transitional piece as summer turns to fall.

Sponsored by Clientbook

It will classify lab-grown stones into one of two categories, “premium” or “standard,” in lieu of giving specific color and clarity grades.

President Duma Boko addressed the country’s medical supply chain crisis in a recent televised address.

Former Free People buyer Afton Robertson-Kanne recently joined the retailer.

The jeweler teamed up with two local organizations for its inaugural “Back to School and Bling” event.

The singer’s new bling, reportedly a natural old mine-cut diamond, is no paper ring.

Dubbed the “Imboo,” or “buffalo,” emerald, the rough gemstone is part of Gemfields’ latest emerald auction, which is taking place now.