Luxury Watches Go Online

AFTER DRAGGING THEIR feet to enter the digital world, it took a pandemic to tip luxury watch brands over the threshold into the realm of e-commerce.

Last month, as Covid-19-related lockdowns continued to curb foot traffic to physical stores, IWC unveiled its "virtual reality boutique" in Singapore, while Bulgari also introduced its online store here and in eight other countries.

In April, after the forced postponement of the mega Watches and Wonders exhibition in Geneva to 2021, its organisers awoke to the fact that the show could still go on virtually.