By the point I write this, we’ve got completed one other digital version of LVMH Watch Week. Whereas it’s nice that we reside in a time and age the place it’s potential to convey high-quality content material to folks across the globe, I want the state of affairs was completely different. There may be merely no substitute for holding a model new watch in your fingers, making an attempt it in your wrist, and discussing it in-depth with model representatives and colleagues. It means that you can not solely soak up all its particulars but in addition see how they work together, how the watch performs with the sunshine, what the sporting consolation of the strap or bracelet is, and if the size are pleasing.
For writers and journalists, this hands-on have a look at watches gives important info, with what’s gained leading to higher articles for you— our readers and the manufacturers’ (potential) clients. However whereas the data gained from hands-on experiences is important, it now hardly ever happens. As a substitute, after an embargo expires, the web is straight away flooded with articles a few watch only a few have skilled within the metallic, every that includes the identical press footage, and in-turn yielding one other draw back of not having bodily festivals.
To me, this lack of in-person, hands-on experiences underscores the significance of nonetheless having commerce exhibits within the watch business. They don’t seem to be a factor of the previous however a part of the longer term, though maybe not of their pre-Covid kind. I feel now’s the time for manufacturers to reevaluate and revamp their market strategy on this area.
LVMH, with Bulgari main the cost, has been fairly artistic in seeing what works and what doesn’t prior to now two years, however most significantly, they’re shifting ahead. And whereas I’ve excessive expectations of the upcoming version of Watches & Wonders— if the pandemic doesn’t intervene— I doubt if we see one other version of Baselworld. With the main manufacturers all leaving, I really feel that Covid-19 was merely the final nail within the coffin. Nonetheless, this does nonetheless depart fairly an enormous opening out there. There is no such thing as a honest anymore for smaller, unbiased manufacturers energetic within the extra modestly priced areas that get world consideration. Moreover, the place is the Swatch Group in all this? After fairly a profitable, pre-Covid, occasion known as “Time to Transfer,” it has been quite quiet.
So, the place does that depart us for the longer term? Whereas that’s primarily as much as the manufacturers, I nonetheless really feel the added worth of a bigger honest like LVMH Watch Week and Watches & Wonders, which have a world enchantment. Nonetheless, launching the overwhelming majority of your new fashions at exactly the identical time as your competitors and sister manufacturers doesn’t appear to make a lot sense. Moreover, whereas the world has by no means been smaller, I really feel that proper now’s once we must also honor native markets, making smaller festivals aimed toward a particular area equally important to nurture. The Salón Internacional Alta Relojería (SIAR) in Mexico Metropolis is an ideal instance of this, as are the varied festivals in China. Dubai Watch Week can be instance, though it’s shortly turning right into a extra world occasion even for its regional focus and site.
In all this, one other side that deserves a highlight is you, as a watch fanatic, collector, and shopper of the manufacturers. The main target of most festivals are nonetheless journalists and sellers, however how nice would it not be if we may rub shoulders with you, the individual for who these working within the business do what what we do?
There may be some motion on this area, and we at WatchTime completely get pleasure from enjoying our half on this as properly. With WatchTime occasions, for instance, we convey collectively manufacturers, giant and small, with journalists and most of the people. To me, that is nonetheless a mixture that can’t be crushed, because it represents the watch world in all its sides.
To be taught extra about WatchTime’s upcoming occasions, you may be taught extra, right here.
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