30.03.2021 - News

All the fun of the fair… What to expect at Watches and Wonders 2021

Watches and Wonders 2021  – a major event in the horology calendar – is set for a 10-day online and offline spectacular next week.

The organisers behind the show, which used to be known as ‘SIHH’, announced that this year’s exhibition will be in two halves.   

Media and retailers will be first to enter the Geneva ‘show’ from April 7 to 13, with 40 of the top luxury watch brands gathering to show off their latest offerings. 

Those taking part will digitally exhibit their novelties through a new watchesandwonders.com digital platform. The show will include virtual tours, networking, and intuitive interactive features.

A disagreement over refunds resulted in Baselworld 2020 being cancelled as many of the top world brands walked away including Rolex, Patek Philippe and Hublot. These brands and others then announced they’d be expecting to host a physical event alongside Watches & Wonders in 2021. 

Digital platform

The second stage of Watches and Wonders 2021 will once again take place in Shanghai – following the success of the 2020 event. The West Bund Art Centre will host 19 brands including Chopard, Rolex and Tudor. This will take place from April 14 to 18, at an invitation-only physical event with strict safety measures.

The organisers said that this year’s show will be “more interactive, more functional and focused on services and exchange, this upgraded version is designed to favour synergies, communication and networking. 

“Visitors become actors, not just onlookers, in a robust program that includes multiple opportunities to directly interact with the brands through live chats and streams.”

Who’s not taking part?

So it’s just the Swatch Group and a handful of other top brands – including Audemars Piguet – who won’t take part but they have just announced new watches for 2021.

But brands will be hoping for a return to a physical event in 2022, as it will make Watches and Wonders an event where most established brands, representing a large percentage of the Swiss and German watch industry, will attend. 

New offering

But not to be left in the lurch, Audemars Piguet has just launched some new watches as it is giving some of its contemporary collection watches a refresh. We love the stunning new Jumbo reference with its gradient green dial. 

With a 39mm platinum case and matching bracelet, this is a Royal Oak with a twist. Combined with bright and luminous white-gold markers and hands, the reference is beautiful. Housed inside and wonderfully on view through the display caseback, it’s the incredibly thin calibre 2121 automatic movement.

Want a watch?

If you’d like to browse our latest new and pre-worn watches, you can visit our brands online until our Essex boutique reopens. We offer some excellent finance deals as well as part-exchange. If you need any information, contact us here.