Watches wonders website

Richemont resigned to hosting online launches of 2020 collections

Cartier will have its own platform and others are using a portal created by Watches & Wonders Geneva.

With the world in Covid-19 lock down, watch brands are grappling with how to present the new collections that will go on sale this year.

Patek Philippe has decided not to launch any watches until 2021, Rolex and Tudor have postponed presentation of this year’s models indefinitely.

Last week we had a reasonably successful webcast launch of 2020 watches by Breitling.

And, this weekend — from April 25 — there will be two more attempts to recreate the excitement of a trade fair or live launch as two platforms go live from Watches & Wonders Geneva and Cartier.

Watchesandwonders.com will host launches from the 30 brands that were going to participate at Watches & Wonders Geneva, which was set to have taken place at the end of April.

Watches wonders brands
Watchesandwonders.com will host launches from the 30 brands that were going to participate at Watches & Wonders Geneva.

From this weekend, the Watches & Wonders site will have dedicated pages for each brand that include their timepieces for 2020.

On Saturday, there will be a series of new product launch presentations where executives from participating brands will showcase their novelties through 10-minute streaming videos. These videos will then be permanently accessible on the site.

“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,” says Fabienne Lupo, chairwoman and managing director of the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie. “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.”

Which begs the question, why is Cartier launching its own “international consumer website dedicated to this year’s watchmaking novelties”; also on April 25?

“In the current context, we believe it is important to preserve our interactions with all our clients around the world through various touch points, and thus be able to offer them an experience entirely dedicated to our Maison’s watchmaking creations,” Arnaud Carrez, marketing and communication director at Cartier International, explains.

“The launch of Cartier Watchmaking Encounters is a fully integrated in this approach. By discovering this new platform, our clients will be invited to explore our creations, and our services, and on a broader level, the watchmaking spirit of Cartier,” he adds.

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1 Comment

  1. It appears that Richemont is leading the way in terns of providing an exhibition facility that will allow the industry as a whole to prosper. After the oil crunch and Covid, air fares will no doubt be far too expensive for many for some time. When the present disaster has passed, we will have a far different economy than before, and we have to anticipate that. Mr. Stern, Rolex and others realized they were not being treated fairly by Basel World, so a new venue had to be organized

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