Swatch cancels Zurich watch event over coronavirus fears
The Swatch Drive-Thru Store at the company's new headquarters in Biel, Switzerland.
Keystone / Peter Klaunzer
Swatch Group has called off its “Time to Move” watch fair in Zurich, due to take place at the end of February, amid fears over the new coronavirus outbreak.
“Considering the uncertainty related to the 2019-nCoV Coronavirus outbreak, and in order to guarantee the welfare of our guests, partners, and colleagues, Swatch Group has decided not to hold the Time to Move event,” Swatch told the AWP news agency on Tuesday.
A presentation to suppliers was due to be held in Zurich from February 28 to March 2, followed by a press event from March 4-6.
The Biel/Bienne-based group said it wanted to “avoid partners having to make international flights during a period of insecurity”.
The World Health Organization (WHO) last week declared the flu-like virus a global emergency. It has spread from China to 23 other countries, with 20,636 confirmed cases and 427 deaths, mostly in China. The Philippines and Hong Kong have reported the first coronavirus death outside of China. No cases have been reported in Switzerland.
In 2018, Swatch Group announced that it would no longer attend the world’s largest watch and jewellery fair Baselworld and decided to organize its own event to present its products.
The Swiss watch manufacturer said on Tuesday that Swatch Group’s “Prestige” brands would still present their new models in regional events. “Prestige” includes brands such as Breguet, Harry Winston, Blancpain, Glashütte Original, Jaquet Droz, Léon Hatot and Omega.
What do you think Switzerland’s Alain Berset can bring to the Council of Europe?
The former interior minister is to become the first Swiss Secretary General of the Council of Europe – which issues should his five-year term focus on?
How is your country dealing with the return of stolen artifacts?
Western nations like Switzerland often have to deal with the process of recovering or returning looted artifacts which have been illegally imported. What’s the situation like in your country?
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss citizens repatriated from Wuhan arrive in France
This content was published on
A plane carrying five Swiss nationals and three of their Chinese family members from Wuhan has arrived near Marseille in France.
Foreign demand remains high for luxury Swiss-made watches
This content was published on
Swiss watch manufacturers exported timepieces worth over CHF21 billion ($21.7 billion) last year – the industry’s third-best result ever.
This content was published on
Swiss watchmakers might have shrugged off the impact of protests in Hong Kong if it hadn't come at a time of industry transformation.
This content was published on
With the departure of its largest exhibitor from 2019, it’s yet another setback for the world’s largest watch and jewellery fair.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.