So just what are these two shows? According to the press release from the MCH Group – organizers of the erstwhile Baselworld Fair and the
new HourUniverse – the new "platform will be digitally active
throughout the year and will host an annual live show." Moreover, the
new show will also have a distinct focus on the consumer. "The new
concept is a B2B2C meeting point that places the customer at the heart
of its focus, reversing the order of the past," the statement said. "The
entire platform is thought out and designed around the customer. This
applies to all players of the distribution chain, traditional and online
retailers, including those of the CPO (certified pre-owned)."
The first live incarnation of HourUniverse will take place in April 2021, and the exact dates, which have not yet been disclosed, will be
aligned with those of Watches & Wonders Geneva.Regarding Watches
& Wonders, the new China-based show marks a homecoming of sorts. It
had its start in Hong Kong before moving to the Miami Design District.
Watches & Wonders Shanghai will include exhibitions from A. Lange & Söhne, Baume & Mercier, Cartier, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre,
Panerai, Parmigiani Fleurier, Piaget, Purnell, Roger Dubuis, and
Vacheron Constantin. All but two of these brands, Parmigiani Fleurier
and Purnell, are owned by the Richemont Group. The physical show is by
invitation only. However, all of the watches shown in Shanghai will be
able to be seen on the watchesandwonders.com digital platform.
And, of course, there is another watch show on the calendar. The upcoming Geneva Watch Days, which will see a number of brands show new
releases August 26-29.
Amid today's MCH news, it's worth mentioning that it was reported late last month that the MCH Group, whose trade-show business has been
badly affected by the global COVID-19 pandemic, is in negotiations for a
potential investment from the Murdoch family.
