The digital transformation of the watch industry has begun

Beginning with the decline of trade shows and the emergence of e-commerce, the digital transformation of the watch industry has now been accelerated by the COVID-19 outbreak As it pertains to the watch industry, trade shows were already in a state of disarray prior to the outbreak Dates, formats, and details have been seemingly changing at speeds that are uncharacteristic of an industry long known for slow change.

Not to mention large brands such as Breitling, Seiko, Casio, and the entire multi-billion dollar Swatch Group all left the industry's oldest and most important show, Baselworld, in recent years, choosing instead to exhibit elsewhere Although not terribly surprising considering the general state of economies around the world - it is telling of how things might work in the watch industry going forward A move so noteworthy that well-known Patek Philippe historian, John Reardon, of Collectability commented that "We will look back at the Spring of 2020 as the time the watch industry went digital" Regardless of what Baselworld does next - or whether certain brands sell online or not - a serious transformation has already clearly begun. Source