BaselWorld news and archive

Baselworld cancels 2022 tradeshow

Troubled Swiss tradeshow Baselworld has cancelled its 2022 edition, which was to take place next spring. The international watch fair said the launch of a new concept is taking longer than expected. The fair’s managing director, Michel Loris-Melikoff, who took over the management of Baselworld in 2018, also announced his departure. Baselworld,...

Fairs

LVMH quits Baselworld

Luxury watch brands appear to be quitting Baselworld left and right. LVMH, the parent company of many luxury watch brands including Hublot, Tag Heuer, and Bulgari, will be quitting baselworld. This follows the announcement that Rolex, Chanel, and Patek Phillipe would all be quitting Baselworld. “We are facing an opportunity to reinvent the...

Fairs

Rolex, Patek Philippe ditch Baselworld to create new watch fair

Five of the world's biggest luxury watchmakers, including Rolex, Patek Philippe and Chanel, announced Tuesday they would withdraw from Baselworld to create a new watch fair. Joined by jeweller Chopard and Rolex subsidiary Tudor, the brands that for decades were considered pillars of the iconic fair in the northern Swiss city of Basel have...

Fairs

Baselworld watch fair cancelled over coronavirus fears

Zurich - The organisers of Baselworld, one of the world's biggest watch fairs, said Friday they would cancel the 2020 event after the Swiss government banned mass assemblies over the spread of the deadly new coronavirus. "For health safety reasons and in accordance with the precautionary principle following the bans of large-scale public and...

Fairs

Swiss watch fair struggles to remain relevant in digital age

With several high profile brands leaving, watch trade show Baselworld has had to adapt to a changing timepiece market. Key to its future success will be how it remains relevant to attract a global audience of brands and buyers. Luxury makers are pivoting their conversations to build direct to consumer relationships via their own stores and...

Business

Luxury watchmakers plan for Brexit, cope with French protests

Luxury watchmakers have joined the list of businesses implementing Brexit contingency plans by stockpiling inventory in Britain before it leaves the EU, industry leaders said. Brands are seeking to guard against "practical problems" that may emerge, including new customs procedures or import backlogs following Brexit, the head of the Federation...

Business

Chanel acquires minority stake in watchmaker Kenissi

Chanel is looking to strengthen its position in the watchmaking market. The French fashion house has acquired a 20 percent stake in Kenissi, a Swiss company making small timepiece parts, Reuters reports. Kenissi joins a number of other watch companies in Chanel’s investment portfolio, which also includes Bell & Ross, Romain Gauthier, G&F...

Fairs

Baselworld and SIHH synchronize their calendars

Baselworld and SIHH, two major trade fairs in the watch industry, are joining forces -- something that would be unthinkable years ago. The two events announced they will synchronize their calendars from 2020: SIHH will be held from April 26-29 in Geneva, followed immediately by Baselworld from April 30 to May 5 in Basel. This scheme will be...

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Baselworld reacts to Swatch Group’s departure, announces changes

“Annual watch fairs, as they exist today, no longer make much sense. This does not mean that they should disappear. But it is necessary that they reinvent themselves”. With this harsh comment, Swatch Group, one of the world’s largest watchmakers, announced its departure from the Baselworld trade show yesterday. But the show’s organizers did not...

Fairs

The Swatch Group quits Baselworld trade fair

Swiss watchmaker Swatch Group announced that it will no longer take part in the Baselworld watch and jewelry fair. The company, which owns brands Tissot, Longines and Omega, will be leaving the fair as of 2019. “Annual watch fairs don’t make sense anymore”, said The Swatch Group in a statement. “Everything has become faster, more transparent and...

FairsFeatured

Baselworld: “The 2018 Event was a success”

Baselworld is, and remains the world's leading trade fair for watches and fine jewellery. This assessment was confirmed by its 2018 event, which recently closed its doors after seven intense days of activity. Luxury watchmaking has experienced somewhat of a crisis in recent years, with the fall in demand from China, a strong Swiss franc and...

Fairs

Baselworld sees decline in exhibitors, brands and visitors

Baselworld, the international luxury watch and jewellery fair, held in Basel, Switzerland, saw 106,000 visitors for its latest showcase this week, 500 less than the show in 2017. More notable was the drop in its exhibiting brands, which fell nearly 50 percent from 1,300 last year to 700 in 2018. This allowed for ample booth space for an...