Watches & Wonders Geneva Adopts a Hybrid Physical, Digital Format

Geneva—After a digital edition last year, Watches & Wonders Geneva is bringing back its physical presence in 2022.

The luxury watch trade show will host a hybrid physical-digital fair beginning March 30 and concluding April 5 at the Palexpo in Geneva and online.

A total 38 watch brands will be in attendance, including Patek Philippe, Rolex, TAG Heuer, Vacheron Constantin, Cartier, A. Lange & Söhne, and Tudor.

Retailers, guests, and press will have access to a special area of the Watches & Wonders website that will feature product presentations, live broadcasts, and discussion panels.

In person, exhibitors will hold keynote sessions in the auditorium. Watches & Wonders will broadcast announcements and speeches from brands live to the general public on the show’s website and on social media.

Rather than hosting large groups of press in-person, appointments will be limited to 10 journalists, in a format the show has dubbed “Touch & Feel” sessions. Journalists unable to travel to Geneva can access digital presentations.

The show will feature a broadcasting area with two fully equipped studios for exhibitors to showcase their products and create content that will be accessible online.

For the second time, Watches & Wonder Geneva will host its “Morning Show” broadcast live from the salon each morning at 8:30 a.m. covering show highlights and conversations with experts and brand representatives.

Then at 6:30 p.m., the “Late Show” will summarize the day’s keynote sessions and show exceptional pieces from the show floor.

Part of the show’s “Watches and Culture” programming will be six 45-minute panel discussions addressing different aspects of eco-responsibility. The conversations will be broadcast online and on-demand.

“Watches and Culture” will also showcase a special exhibition, called “Time Design,” that shows the wristwatch’s evolution through the years.

Additionally, drawings and timepieces from Gérald Genta will be on display to honor the Swiss watch designer who designed his own line of timepieces and worked for iconic houses like IWC, Omega, and Patek Philippe, among others.