Watches & Wonders Cancels April Show in Geneva Citing Coronavirus

PARIS — Watches & Wonders, the Geneva watch fair slated for April, has been cancelled, adding to the fast-growing list of events scuttled in the wake of the widening coronavirus outbreak.  “In view of the latest developments concerning the worldwide spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, it is the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie’s duty, as organizer of Watches & Wonders Geneva, to anticipate the potential risks that travels and important international gatherings could entail,” organizers said in a statement. They are cancelling the April 25 to 29 fair as well as its In the City program. The show, which is dominated by labels belonging to Compagnie Financière Richemont, including Cartier and Vacheron Constantin, also features Kering labels Ulysse Nardin and Girard Perregaux, plus Hermès International. Hermès executives Wednesday had still been planning to attend the event. The move casts uncertainty on rival event Baselworld, which was scheduled to take place after the Geneva event. Earlier this month, Swatch Group cancelled its separate watch event for press and clients.

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