Peter Smith pulls back the curtain on the often misinterpreted, and sometimes maligned, world of sales training.
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
Pantone’s 2025 Color of the Year takes the form of jewelry through gemstones and enamel that look just as delicious as mocha mousse.
From raffles to auctions to donations, the industry is working to aid charities in Los Angeles amid the raging wildfires.
The new year feels like a clean slate, inspiring reflection, hope, and the motivation to become better versions of ourselves.
Julia Hackman Chafé and Monica Elias have joined the organization’s board of directors.
The company, which owns Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, had a record Q3, with sales topping $6 billion.
The necklace features a sapphire drop weighing more than 9 carats that detaches to transform into a ring.
A Diamond is Forever hosted a holiday celebration in honor of their new marketing campaign, ‘Forever Present.’
Jameel Mohammed, founder of Afrofuturist brand Khiry, will receive a cash prize and a one-year paid fellowship with Tiffany & Co.
The 127-year-old jeweler is planning to open a new store in Mystic, Connecticut.
The watches’ dials feature artwork celebrating the vibrant energy and unique landscapes of six of America’s national parks.
Offered by U.K. auction house Woolley & Wallis, the yellow diamond bracelet was a gift from Taylor’s good friend Michael Jackson.
Associate Editor Natalie Francisco highlights her favorite fashion jewelry pieces from the upcoming “Unapologetically Iris” auction.
The closures are part of the retailer’s plan to close 150 locations over a three-year period.
The online guide is available for free and written with the jewelry industry in mind.
The grading lab said the search for her successor is underway.
In this special op-ed, designer Jules Kim calls on big brands to collaborate with independent creators instead of copying their designs.
A pioneering figure in gemology, he is remembered for his spirit of generosity, curiosity, and joy.
The peak selling days leading up to Christmas did not meet the jewelry retailer’s expectations.
Schneider brings over 20 years of luxury and fashion industry experience to his role as a key member of the brand’s global leadership team.
Gemfields said the Zambian government revoked the 2019 suspension of the tax with no warning.
With versions in 18-karat gold and platinum, the wearables company is blending health technology and fine jewelry.
The executive brings more than two decades of industry experience to the role.
The New York City-based retailer is bringing its curation of jewels to a pop-up shop at Love Binetti in Palm Beach, Florida.
Created by JA and DCA, the fund is collecting money for jewelry businesses damaged by the wildfires in Los Angeles County.
Adrien Brody received his first Golden Globe while wearing the “Mozi” brooch, which depicts a spill of traditional Chinese calligraphy ink.
The pair will work together to support independent retailers in India with marketing assets, training materials, and other tools.