SourcingMay 14, 2024
Anglo American Confirms It Is Looking to Sell De Beers The mining giant also wants to offload its platinum business as part of an overhaul designed to “unlock significant value.”
Events & AwardsJul 30, 2018
Swatch Group Pulls Out of Baselworld
The exit is a major blow to the flailing watch and jewelry trade show.
A shot from the 2018 edition of Baselworld taken inside the Swatch Group pavilion. The Swiss watch giant announced that it won’t be exhibiting at the watch and jewelry trade show “from 2019 onwards,” meaning the show will lose 17 brands. Image courtesy of Baselworld.
Biel/Bienne, Switzerland—Swatch Group is leaving Baselworld indefinitely, dealing another blow to a watch and jewelry trade show already facing an uncertain future.
The Swiss watch company made the announcement over the weekend, calling out Baselworld organizer The MCH Group for putting profit above innovation despite the need for watch and jewelry trade shows to change to adapt to the market today.
“Today everything has become more transparent, fast-moving, and instantaneous … In this new context, annual watch fairs, as they exist today, no longer make much sense,” Swatch Group said in a statement emailed to National Jeweler Monday morning. “This does not mean that they should disappear. But it is necessary that they reinvent themselves, responding appropriately to the current situation and demonstrating more dynamism and creativity. At the moment, the trade fairs are failing to do so.
“The MCH Group, which organizes Baselworld, is clearly more concerned with optimizing and amortizing its new building—which, incidentally, is largely financed by the watch industry during the fairs—than it is in having the courage to make real progress and to bring about true and profound changes. For all these reasons, Swatch Group has decided that from 2019 onwards, it will no longer be present at Baselworld.”
Swatch Group has a total of 18 watch brands, ranging from high-end labels like Breguet and Blancpain to its Swatch watches, which retail for as little as $50.
Seventeen of its 18 brands exhibit at the show each year (Swatch is the only one that doesn’t) in a pavilion that serves as the centerpiece of Hall 1.0.
The brands leaving Baselworld are: Breguet, Harry Winston, Blancpain, Glashütte Original, Jaquet Droz, Léon Hatot, Omega, Longines, Rado, Union Glashütte, Tissot, Balmain, Certina, Mido, Hamilton, Calvin Klein and Flik Flak.
In addition, Swatch Group had another booth at Baselworld 2018 that was shared by two of its production units, ETA and Renata.
MCH Group CEO Rene Kamm issued a statement Monday afternoon that the company “extraordinarily regrets” Swatch Group’s decision and that the cancellation is “surprising” given the new team—Baselworld apppointed a new managing director in May after Sylvie Ritter resigned—and new ideas, which it says have been presented to the show’s exhibitors.
Swatch Group’s exit comes at a difficult time for Baselworld. The 2018 edition of the watch and jewelry trade show was smaller by half and two days shorter. Key exhibitors lost for
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
2018 included Movado Group, which skipped the trade show in favor of holding its own summit in Davos, Switzerland.
Immediately following Baselworld 2018, veteran watch journalist Joe Thompson wrote an article for Hodinkee.com questioning if the show would survive past 2019.
Swatch Group’s assertions about the show—that organizers put making money above doing what’s best for exhibitors—are similar to those expressed by designer Stephen Webster, who pulled his eponymous brand from the show a few years ago.
Interviewed by National Jeweler earlier this year for a story on the future of jewelry trade shows, Webster talked about the skyrocketing costs of exhibiting at Baselworld, but said when he took his concerns to show organizers, “they made it very clear Baselworld was no longer a place for me. I think now that would be quite different, but I would never go back.”
Citing similar concerns, this year a pair of fine jewelry exhibitors who had showed at Baselworld for decades partnered to create a new trade show called GemGenève, touting themselves as an exhibitor-led effort.
One of the GemGenève founders, Thomas Färber of Faerber Collection, told National Jeweler, “We thought that we know better what our sector of the industry needs than the big organizers.”
Editor’s note: This story was updated post-publication to add a statement from The MCH Group, the company that runs Baselworld.
Immediately following Baselworld 2018, veteran watch journalist Joe Thompson wrote an article for Hodinkee.com questioning if the show would survive past 2019.
Swatch Group’s assertions about the show—that organizers put making money above doing what’s best for exhibitors—are similar to those expressed by designer Stephen Webster, who pulled his eponymous brand from the show a few years ago.
Interviewed by National Jeweler earlier this year for a story on the future of jewelry trade shows, Webster talked about the skyrocketing costs of exhibiting at Baselworld, but said when he took his concerns to show organizers, “they made it very clear Baselworld was no longer a place for me. I think now that would be quite different, but I would never go back.”
Citing similar concerns, this year a pair of fine jewelry exhibitors who had showed at Baselworld for decades partnered to create a new trade show called GemGenève, touting themselves as an exhibitor-led effort.
One of the GemGenève founders, Thomas Färber of Faerber Collection, told National Jeweler, “We thought that we know better what our sector of the industry needs than the big organizers.”
Editor’s note: This story was updated post-publication to add a statement from The MCH Group, the company that runs Baselworld.
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
AuctionsMay 14, 2024
2 Huge Yellow Diamonds Are Heading to AuctionChristie's is selling one of the diamonds, moving forward with its Geneva jewelry auction despite the cyberattack that took down its website.
MajorsMay 14, 2024
Platinum Born Taps ‘Born Leaders’ for New CampaignThe ad aims to position platinum jewelry as ideal for everyday wear.
Brought to you by
Record Gold Prices Have Consumers Undeterred. Here’s Why.Despite the rising prices, consumers continue to seek out the precious metal.
GradingMay 14, 2024
Instappraise Adds Trifold Brochure to Appraisal OfferingsRetailers can customize and print the appraisal brochures from their store.
Weekly QuizMay 09, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these seven questions.
Lab-GrownMay 13, 2024
Lab-Grown Diamond Brand Lightbox Cuts Prices by 25 to 40%The move follows a price-drop test run in Q4 and comes with the addition of a “quality assurance card” from GIA for some loose diamonds.
TechnologyMay 13, 2024
Christie’s Website Brought Down by Hackers, Watch Auction Postponed The site has been down since Thursday evening, just ahead of its spring auctions.
Brought to you by
From Registration to Return: 10 Tips to Protect You Before, During and After a TradeshowTradeshow risks are real. Get tips to protect yourself before, during and after and gain safety and security awareness for your business.
AuctionsMay 13, 2024
Madeleine Albright’s Jewelry, Pins a White-Glove Sale at Freeman’s | HindmanThe late former U.S. Secretary’s collection went for quadruple the sale’s pre-sale estimate.
IndependentsMay 13, 2024
Zachary’s Jewelers Names Mother’s Day Jewelry Contest WinnersThree fifth graders’ winning designs were turned into custom jewelry pieces in time for Mother’s Day.
IndependentsMay 10, 2024
Frank Adams Jewelers Names New CEOKimberly Adams Russell is taking over the role from her father, David Adams, marking the third generation to hold the title.
CollectionsMay 10, 2024
Piece of the Week: Carina Hardy’s ‘Birth of Venus’ NecklaceAs a token of womanhood, this necklace depicts when Venus was born from the sea.
MajorsMay 09, 2024
Watches of Switzerland Pays $130M for Roberto Coin Inc.The deal gives the retailer control over the distribution of Roberto Coin jewelry in the U.S., Canada, Caribbean, and Central America.
TrendsMay 09, 2024
Amanda’s Style File: Shine Bright, Moms Show your mother some love with a piece of fine jewelry.
IndependentsMay 09, 2024
Kyle Edward Fine Jewelry to Close Salisbury StoreThe company’s Easton location will remain open.
MajorsMay 09, 2024
JBT Elects New ChairmanBrian D. Fleming of Carla Corporation was elected to serve a one-year term in the role.
Supplier BulletinMay 08, 2024
Fusing Past and Present at the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch ShowSponsored by the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry and Watch Show
EditorsMay 07, 2024
Q&A: Author Vikki Tobak on the ‘Ice-Cold’ ExhibitionTobak, author of “Ice Cold: A Hip-Hop Jewelry History,” shares how the exhibition came to be, and the pieces people may be surprised to see.
EditorsMay 07, 2024
10 On-Theme Looks from the 2024 Met GalaStars adorned themselves in emeralds, platinum, and myriad bird motifs, writes Associate Editor Natalie Francisco.
IndependentsMay 07, 2024
112-Year-Old New Orleans Business Popping Up in Aspen M.S. Rau is set to open a seasonal gallery in the high-end resort town early next month.
MajorsMay 07, 2024
Richemont Acquires Italian Jeweler VhernierThe branded jewelry market is thriving, said Richemont Chairman Johann Rupert.
CollectionsMay 07, 2024
These ‘Luminaries’ Are Set to Light Up CoutureThe six designers, all participants in the show’s Diversity Action Council mentorship program, will exhibit in Salon 634.
AuctionsMay 07, 2024
Sotheby’s to Auction Sylvester Stallone’s WatchesThe highlight of his collection is the coveted Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime, which could sell for up to $5 million.
CollectionsMay 07, 2024
Phillip Gavriel Pays Tribute to Venice With New CollectionThe “Venetian Link” series modernizes the classic Veneziana box chain in its bracelets and necklaces.
Policies & IssuesMay 06, 2024
Rolex Files Objection to Hallmark’s New Trademark ApplicationThe Swiss watchmaker said the company’s plans to use a new version of the Hallmark crown on jewelry would confuse consumers.
EditorsMay 06, 2024
Q&A: 8 Questions With Anglo American’s Benny Oeyen The executive talked about the importance of self-purchasers and how fuel cell electric vehicles are going to fuel demand for platinum.
MajorsMay 06, 2024
Malabar Gold & Diamonds Opens 4th U.S. ShowroomThe Indian jeweler’s new store in Naperville, Illinois marks its 350th location, part of its ongoing global expansion plans.
