As Georges Kern, Patrick Pruniaux, Jean-Christophe Babin and a dozen-or-so other watch CEOs stood on stage in a moment of solidarity to pose for a group photo, behind them a big Geneva Watch Days sign went largely unnoticed, obstructed from view by the hussy of wrist-displaying head hunchos. Some smiled, some straightened their ties and some were dressed rather fashionably in smart suits and sneakers. Collectively, they looked a mixture of relieved and underwhelmed to be there. That they were stood in front of no more than 70 people – 80 per cent of which were colleagues – is where the real tale is to be told. This would be the only ‘event’ per se, over within 50 minutes and strictly invite only. Adhering to COVID-19 guidelines, one glass of champagne was allowed to be consumed per person (Moët at least), face masks were mandatory as were temperature checks on arrival. But it was quiet and clinical, bearing stark comparison to a pop-up Coronavirus treatment tent. Indeed, it was far from the size and scale the watch industry is renowned for. But after six months of the world largely locked down, two cancelled watch fairs and a global pandemic still…
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