Published on March 21, 2024 at 5:42 p.m. / Modified on March 21, 2024 at 6:45 p.m.
The Swatch Group annual press conference is always an important event. Less for the figures (they have been known for several weeks) than for the declarations of Nick Hayek, at the head of the group. The session was held on Thursday in Bienne in the Cité du Temps space, between the headquarters of Swatch and Omega. And the master of the house threw a few well-aimed barbs, as he usually does. Anthology.
Let’s start with a first point: the absence of Swatch Group at the Watches & Wonders watch fair. The next edition opens its doors in Geneva in two and a half weeks. Most of the industry will be there, but not the Bienne group, which has not participated in any major industry gathering since leaving Baselworld in 2019. Questioned by The weather, Nick Hayek shut down any prospect of a return: “We are very happy to have left Basel.” Specifying that if the group does not participate in these “beauty contests”, it does however maintain certain partnerships with the industry (such as the agreement on the silicon hairspring linking Swatch Group, Rolex and Patek Philippe). And added: “Today, the world is more direct [sa manière de rappeler l’importance d’être sur les marchés, l’Inde en particulier a été évoquée hier lors de la conférence de presse, ndlr]. There is no added value in being able to get together for a few days to drink champagne and go from one stand to another. But I don’t criticize those who do it.”
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