Located in Valenza, the now 355,000-square-foot facility includes a new jewelry school that’s open to the public, Scuola Bulgari.
Coronavirus Forces Cancellation of Watches & Wonders Geneva
The show formerly known as SIHH was scheduled to take place in two months.

Geneva—The Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie has canceled the show formerly known as SIHH due to COVID-19 coronavirus after the World Health Organization reported the disease has spread to Switzerland.
FHH announced the cancellation of Watches & Wonders Geneva, which was scheduled for April 25-29, in a statement released Thursday.
“In order to protect the health and well-being of all our guests, press, partners and teams, the decision has been taken to cancel the upcoming edition of Watches & Wonders Geneva and its ‘In the City’ program,” the statement reads.
FHH said it “remains at the disposal of its partners and guests for any queries they may have” regarding the show’s cancellation and is already working on organizing Watches & Wonders Geneva 2021.
This was the first year for the revamped show.
FHH announced in the fall it was changing the show’s name from Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, or SIHH, to Watches & Wonders Geneva and, for the first time, opening the once trade-only affair to the public.
The show’s timing also had shifted.
SIHH typically took place in January and Baselworld in March, but show organizers agreed to move the shows so they were back-to-back, freeing exhibitors and attendees from having to travel to Switzerland twice in a few months’ time.
Watches & Wonders Geneva was scheduled to end April 29, with Baselworld starting April 30.
In a statement issued last week, Baselworld organizers said the 2020 show would go on as scheduled, a stance they reiterated Thursday, noting their “great regret” over FHH’s decision to cancel Watches & Wonders Geneva.
“A dedicated team is closely monitoring the situation on an hourly basis and following the guidance of the respective state, national and international health authorities,” the statement reads.
“To date, there are no specific requirements from the authorities regarding the organization of Baselworld Switzerland, and the show management is in close consultation with exhibitors.”
RELATED CONTENT: How the Coronavirus Is Impacting the Jewelry IndustryThe coronavirus originated in December in Wuhan, China, and has since spread to 37 countries.
In its update on the virus issued Wednesday, the World Health Organization said four new countries had reported cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours: Switzerland, Algeria, Austria and Croatia.
WHO said for the first time since the virus was identified, there are now more new cases surfacing outside of China than in China.
Globally,
FHH joins a growing number of organizations in the watch and jewelry industry to cancel or postpone events due to the spread of the disease.
The Hong Kong jewelry shows that normally take place in early March were pushed back to mid-May.
Swatch Group canceled its “Time to Move” event scheduled for late February/early March in Zurich, Switzerland, and Bonhams postponed its March 12 jewelry auction in Hong Kong.
The Latest

A platinum Zenith-powered Daytona commissioned in the late ‘90s will headline Sotheby’s Important Watches sale in Geneva next month.

The basketball stars wear men’s jewelry from the “Curb Chain” collection.

The risk of laboratory-grown diamonds being falsely presented as natural diamonds presents a very significant danger to consumer trust.

The Signet Jewelers-owned retailer wants to encourage younger shoppers to wear fine jewelry every day, not just on special occasions.


The 21 pieces, all from a private collector, will be offered at its Magnificent Jewels auction next month.

Lilian Raji answers a question from a reader who is looking to grow her jewelry business but has a limited marketing budget.

GCAL by Sarine created the new role to sharpen the company’s focus on strategic partnerships and scalable expansion.

The Indiana jeweler has acquired Scottsdale Fine Jewelers in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Van Cott Jewelers in Vestal, New York, is hosting a going-out-of-business sale.

Industry veteran Samantha Larson has held leadership roles at Borsheims, McTeigue & McClelland, Stuller, and Long’s Jewelers.
The two organizations will hold the educational event together this fall in Mississippi.

The entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” star will share his top tips for success.

The Ukrainian brand’s new pendant is modeled after a traditional paska, a pastry often baked for Easter in Eastern European cultures.

The jeweler has announced a grand reopening for its recently remodeled location in Peoria, Illinois.

The “Strong Like Mom” campaign features moms who work at Tiffany & Co. and their children.

Interior designer Athena Calderone looked to decor from the 1920s and 1930s when crafting her first fine jewelry collection.

During a call about its full-year results, CEO Efraim Grinberg discussed how the company is approaching the uncertainty surrounding tariffs.

The free program provides educational content for jewelry salespeople and enthusiasts to learn or refresh their diamond knowledge.

The feedback will be used to prepare other jewelers for the challenges ahead, the organization said.

The online sessions are designed to teach jewelers to use AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude to grow their business.

The opening marks the jewelry retailer’s first location in the Midwest.

The “United in Love” collection offers tangible mementos of hearts entwined with traditional and non-traditional commitment heirlooms.

Robert Goodman Jewelers will hold a “Black Jewelry Designers and Makers” event on April 27.

The announcements follow a tumultuous start to 2025 for WJA, which saw a wave of resignations following controversial statements about DEI.

Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff answers questions about how the new taxes levied on countries like India and China will impact the industry.