Globally, organizers are pulling the plug on trade shows over concern of super-spreader coronavirus. From automobile to mobile and watch industries, major exhibitions are being called off. Just a few moments ago, Baselworld, one of the biggest watch and jewellery shows in the world announced that it is going to cancel its 2020 edition.

In its statement, the organisers said for health safety reasons the show will be postponed to Thursday 28th January 2021 to Tuesday 2nd February 2021.

Yesterday, Watches & Wonders Geneva, previously called as Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) cancelled its show scheduled to take place from April 25 – 29. In a statement, the organizers said that ‘in order to protect the health and wellbeing of all our guests, press, partners and teams, the decision has been taken to cancel the upcoming edition of Watches & Wonders Geneva.’ The 4-day show was supposed to host Bovet, Cartier, Vacheron Constantin, Panerai, Piaget, Hermes and the like.
Grand Sieko cancelled its summit in Tokyo which was to be held in the first week of March citing safety of its guests as there is no sign of containing the virus yet. Earlier this month, the Swatch Group cancelled its Time to Move on summit in Zurich, to "guarantee the welfare" of guests, partners and colleagues.

As coronavirus is turning China’s economy upside down impacting industries of other countries along the way, uncertainty looms as the virus is continuing to spread, affecting over 83,000 people across the globe. The big question arises - while shows all the way across Europe are being cancelled, will Hong Kong Gems & Jewelry show, closer to where the dreaded virus first germinated happen in May? We will have to wait and watch.