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Farewell Baselworld

Published on November 12, 2021

Baselworld 2019. Copyright: gioiellis.com

It was easy to predict. But now there is official confirmation: Baselworld is officially a defunct fair. Even if the organizers simply communicate that it is a pause for reflection. A very long pause, though. A press release from the Mch Group, the company that organizes (or rather organized) the great watch and jewelery fair, explains that «the organizers of Baselworld have decided to dedicate more time to the launch of the new concept. Baselworld, scheduled for spring 2022, will therefore not take place ». The decision also marks the failure of the project of the managing director Michel Loris-Melikoff, who therefore decided to leave the company.

The decision, which must not have been easy, “is based on the one hand on the experience gained from the Pop Up Event at the Geneva Watch Days and on intense discussions with manufacturers and retailers. On the other hand, it takes into account the fact that it is particularly difficult to launch a new concept for a new target segment due to the renewed worsening of the covid situation and the related uncertainty among customers “. The truth, however, is more painful: Watches and Wonders will be held regularly in Geneva from March 30 to April 5, with the big brands in the sector, as well as a selection of jewelry brands that have organized themselves for a parallel event that takes place calls Haute Jewels Geneva.

Over the past few months we have studied our ecosystem of watches, jewelry and gems in detail and gained important insights from discussions with key industry representatives. The bottom line is that the market exists for a B: B: C platform, bringing together mid-sized and specialty manufacturers with independent resellers. But their needs need to be analyzed in more detail. This means that we need to have much more time to reach it.
Beat Zwahlen, CEO of the MCH Group

Ingresso a Baselworld 2019. Copyright: gioiellis.com

The Swiss company therefore anticipates that «in the coming months an interdisciplinary team of the Mch Group will analyze the target segments and, in close exchange with manufacturers and retailers, will deepen their marketing and transaction needs. In this context, particular attention will be paid to the latest trends in marketing and distribution in view of the post-pandemic period, in particular internationalization and digitization. The goal remains to create added value for the community’s business in its reference markets with the internationally anchored Baselworld brand and innovative platforms ».

Baselworld 2019, scale mobili. Copyright: gioiellis.com

La piazza di Baselworld. Copyright: gioiellis.com

The ex Baselworld (perhaps) returns in June

Published on January 27, 2021

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La cupola aperta che sovrasta la piazza che unisce i padiglioni della Fiera di Basilea

While Vicenzaoro has canceled the March date to postpone it to September, the ex Baselworld is aiming for June. But with many question marks. The MCH Group, the company that organizes the Basel event, which was canceled after the forfeit of the most important brands and cornered by the covid, are back on track and and now plan the heir of Baselworld for June. In reality, the event will no longer be called Baselworld, but HourUniverse, and hopes to attract at least the world of watchmaking that does not participate in Watches & Wonders (ex SIHH), a Geneva event dedicated to the top of the watch market and which was scheduled from 8 to 12 April, but which has in turn been canceled. HourUniverse was originally scheduled in Basel, alongside Watches & Wonders, but the persistence of the epidemic convinced the organizers of the former Baselworld to postpone the event.

At the moment the new date has not yet been determined, but the idea is to set the appointment for HourUniverse in mid-June, although it is not excluded that yet another postponement will occur. On the other hand, the Reed Jewelry Group has also decided to postpone the JCK Las Vegas. The last Baselworld took place in 2019, amidst abandonments and controversy after the farewell of Rolex, Tudor, Patek Philippe, Chanel and Chopard: the big names had announced the idea of creating their own event, but no decision followed .

Baselworld, visitatore avvinghiato a due modelle

Goodbye Baselworld, Hour Universe arrives

Published on October 15, 2020

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Hour Universe. The after Baselworld is (also) a play on words. Hour, an English word that indicates the time span of 60 minutes, also resembles to ours. In short, a universe that alludes to the concept of time, that measured by watches. After the sensational suicide of Baselworld, the most famous fair dedicated to jewelery and watches, the organizing company Mch has changed everything.

Hour Universe will take place in Basel from 8 to 12 April 2021, covid permitting. The new initiative is described as a hybrid platform for the watch, jewelry and gemstone community with a modern digital offering throughout the year, combined with physical meetings at the show. The planned and inclusive live event aims to facilitate networking and provide an experience based on the needs of exhibitors and visitors.
Mch also promises a new hospitality concept based on fair prices and supported by the local hotel industry. The exorbitant costs for participating in Baselworld were the deterrent that put the fair in crisis.

Uno degli allestimenti a Baselworld 2019. Copyright: gioiellis.com

Will Hour Universe be able to convince the big groups that have left Baselworld? It will not be easy. The big names in the luxury sector not only said goodbye, but also organized other events. Companies such as the LVMH Group greeted Baselworld, with brands that include Tag Heuer, Hublot and Zenith and the Maison Bvlgari, as well as Rolex, Tudor, Patek Philippe, Chanel and Chopard, Swatch and many others, including major jewelry brands. Many will participate in Watches & Wonders Geneva, an event that also brought the format to China. Other brands will organize events on their own. In short, the road to Hour Universe seems to be uphill.

Il booth di Jacob a Baselworld — Il booth di Jacob & Co a Baselworld

Baselworld in the hands of Murdoch jr.

Published on July 22, 2020

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Baselworld, the former queen of jewelery and watch fairs, could be saved by Murdoch jr. Lupa Systems, an investment company managed by James Murdoch, son of media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, has in fact offered about 100 million Swiss francs (equal to about 93 million euros or 106 million US dollars) to acquire a stake in Mch Group, the company that owns the Baselworld brand. According to rumors, it would be a purchase offer between 30% and 40% of company: the offer could save the Swiss company, which after the Baselworld debacle, canceled definitively, risks survival.

Indeed, the Bloomberg news agency predicts a decrease in Mch’s turnover of around 180 million by 2020, since Art Basel has also been canceled due to covid-19. Not all Mch members, however, agree to accept the proposal by Murdoch jr. The top of the fair company, on the other hand, seems in favor of accepting the entry of the Shark’s son (as his father Rupert was nicknamed on Wall Street). According to the Basel company summit, Murdoch jr. it could be the last train “before it’s too late”.

Baselworld, the numbers of uncertainty

Published on March 27, 2019

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Baselworld closed with a predictable drop in attendance. But next year it changes and raises. Meanwhile gioiellis.com conducted a survey. The result is… ♦︎

Baselworld: beginning of the end or beginning of a new beginning? Judging by the numbers, the 2019 budget could indicate the first hypothesis. But the words of Michel Loris-Melikoff, director of the fair dedicated to watches and jewelery, point towards the second direction. One thing is certain: the next edition of Baselworld will be decisive. Taking over from Sylvie Ritter, Loris-Melikoff managed a transitional Baselworld in nine months. But the decisive test will be that of 2020.
And it won’t be easy: the survey on the field of gioiellis.com sees disgruntled operators prevail. But even this was predictable.

The numbers of Baselworld

The numbers of Baselworld 2019 are merciless: 520 exhibitors (-20%, and a few years ago were almost 2,000), visitors 81,200 (-22%). A lower decrease, however, for journalists: 3,300 (-12%). It is clear that a further contraction could be the thank-you for a fair that is at a loss, as admitted by the organizing company itself. Also because companies that have been the cornerstones, like the Swatch Group, which has brands like Omega, Longines or Blancpain, have already said that they do not plan to return to Basel. And great jewelery houses like de Grisogono and Pasquale Bruni, have decided to follow other communication strategies.

Visitatori a Baselworld 2019. Copyright gioiellis.com

The world changes

Let’s be clear: the main criticisms of companies to the company that organizes Baselworld, Mch Group, are the high costs associated with the exhibition aspect. But the crisis of the Swiss fair cannot be attributed to this alone. There are aspects that Baselworld is not responsible for: the overwhelming transformation of the economy following digitization, for example. Internet, with websites, e-commerce, Instagram, is a simple way for companies to get in touch with their references, buyers and end customers. Geopolitical tensions, such as the war between the US and China, the Brexit, the wars in the Middle East, do not depend on Baselworld, but affect the strategies of companies, even those of jewelry. In short, the market has changed in just a few years. And we must learn to accept the new reality.

Il booth di Jacob & Co. Copyright-gioiellis.com

Melikoff-Megaloff

How will Baselworld react to all this? Loris-Melikoff explained at the final press conference. His is a vision of great breadth, so much so that with a play on words someone started jokingly to call him Megaloff. If he succeeds, though, Loris-Melikoff will have had the merit of reviving an event that has a dangerous high fever.

Digital platform

As mentioned, the internet (and gioiellis.com is a perfect testimony), is a great sea in which to fish content, even commercial. This is why management wants to transform Baselworld into a digital communication platform that serves to interact with dealers, collectors and journalists throughout the year. In short, a perennial Baselworld, which is added to the week of the fair. A service, via app, of e-concierge for the week of the fair will also be introduced.

L'area Media a Baselworld 2019 — L’area Media a Baselworld 2019

Hall 2 returns

Next year the new layout will be repeated, with the expansion of the catering offer and a wider multimedia center, the stage for presentations and fashion shows, as well as a better hospitality program in agreement with hotels in Basel. Objective: to convince them to lower prices. Not only: Hall 2 will be restored, which remained closed this year. It will also host a section dedicated to smartwatches: a market segment that Baselworld can no longer afford to ignore.

Prices

The most criticized aspect by companies is the excessive cost of booths. Loris-Melikoff promised a 10-20% reduction. In addition, a service will be made available for the construction of the exhibition areas.

Visitatori a Baelworld 2019. Copyright: gioielli.com

Dates

Next year Baselworld will take place from April 30th to May 5th, immediately after the Geneva watch fair: the idea of the two fairs is to team up (Switzerland) and help those who have to make a long journey. But there are no perfect dates, admitted the director of Baselworld, when they pointed out that this period overlaps with the Ramadan of the Muslims.

The poll by gioiellis.com

What do the operators of the new Baselworld think in a reduced format? We turned the question to 47 exhibitors from the jewelery world (most preferred to remain anonymous). In short: a mixture of dissatisfaction and frustration prevailed, with so much nostalgia for Baselworld a few years ago. Judgments divided on the fashion shows: many criticized the models’ clothing, which did not enhance the jewels worn.
But not everyone expressed a negative opinion: some brands, like Sutra and Yoko London, to name just two, expressed satisfaction.

Survey result

Total jewelers questioned 47
Very dissatisfied 13
Partially dissatisfied 20
Uncertain judgment 2
Positive judgment 12

Nel booth di Tamara Comolli. Copyright: gioiellis.com — Nel booth di Tamara Comolli.
Copyright: gioiellis.com

Il booth di Tirisi. Copyright: gioiellis.com

Poll: will you go to Baselworld? The result is…

Published on October 3, 2018

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Will you participate in Baselworld? Survey of Gioiellis.com among the jewelers of VicenzaOro. Here is the result ♦ ︎

In short, will you go to Baselworld 2019? The question was asked about thirty jewelers present in VicenzaOro. The responses to this mini-survey, which has a narrow but qualified base, was not unanimous. Almost a chorus, however, the postillion that followed the answer: “No names, please”. In short, anonymity in exchange for a frank comment of the record.

Perhaps jewelers fear that an uncertain response may contain a negative message?

Type: the market is difficult and we are not in the mood for spending? Maybe. Or the desire not to expose oneself in first person could mean the will not to let the competitors know their moves. Everything is possible. How could it also be the intent of not letting their intentions know to Mch, the company that manages Baselworld. “In fact, beyond the good intentions announced by Michel Loris-Melikoff, the new CEO of Basleworld, we have not received concrete proposals”, explains the manager of a brand that has been present for many years at the Basel fair. “For this reason we do not say no, but neither yes. We’ll see”. “Of course if they do not hurry up to explain what are the announced news, at the ends we up taking other decisions,” mutters the owner of a Piedmontese brand, also a veteran of Baselworld. Which, however, finally admits that it will probably come back.

Others, on the other hand, are more hard: some have made the irrevocable decision to desert the Masses, but others, in spite of everything, consider it an indispensable appointment.

Although we have sworn not to attribute the votes of the mini-survey to names and surnames, we can generally say that the biggest brands are more likely to re-present themselves at Baselworld, while the greater uncertainty or even the security of not attending the watch and jewelery fair is the prerogative of the little ones. To be precise, it must be added, finally, that some of the participants in the survey were not present even at the latest edition of Baselworld.

And here we are, then to the results of the survey.

Number of respondents: 32
Yes, we will definitely come back to Baselworld: 18 (56.2%)
No, for sure we will not participate in Baselworld: 7 (21.9%)
Perhaps, we are undecided: 7 (21.9%)

Sala stampa a Baselworld — Area stampa a Baselworld

Anello con grande smeraldo di Picchiotti

Baselworld changes manager and skin

Published on May 25, 2018

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Baselworld renews itself: Sylvie Ritter leaves and a new number one arrives, Michel Loris-Melikoff. Here are the first initiatives announced ♦ ︎
Earthquake in Switzerland, epicenter in Basel. Only one victim, fortunately, but without damage to health: the former managing director of Baselworld, Sylvie Ritter. The manager after 26 years at the top of the Mch Group, the company that organizes the fair dedicated to jewelry and watches, gives way to Michel Loris-Melikoff, who until yesterday held the position of director of Mch Beaulieu Lausanne.
Here are the official statements: “After 26 years with the Mch Group, 15 of which as managing director of Baselworld, it is time for me to start something new and face new challenges”, says Sylvie Ritter, who received the usual thanks from of the Comité Consultatif of Baselworld. “Sylvie Ritter has left its mark on Baselworld for decades and has been the most important personal contact for exhibitors,” says François Thiébaud, president of the Swiss Exhibitors’ Committee.
Michel Loris-Melikoff is, therefore, the new operative number one. The manager joined the Mch Group three years ago as director of Mch Beaulieu Lausann, an exhibition company that has been part of the Basel group since 2010. Loris-Melikoff is a lawyer, 53, and started his career in private banking, before entering the event industry 20 years ago. After six years as president of the Zurich Street Parade, he took over the management of an event agency that developed and implemented concepts for national and international events organized by international sports associations, public bodies and private companies. He later became CEO of St. Jakobshalle in Basel before joining the Mch group.

What changes for Baselworld?

“We are expanding the Baselworld team and further developing the event to continue on the road to quality improvement and to face the challenges of the future”, are the first words of Michel Loris-Melikoff. “We want to place Baselworld as the main marketing and communication platform for the sector: we are tackling this task with a large number of new ideas and valuable input from exhibitors, visitors and the media”.
And here’s the first news: an change is coming, especially for the jewelery segment. New concepts will also be developed for the watchmaking and precious stones sectors. They will be presented shortly. Further innovations will be introduced in the catering, hospitality and events sectors “so as to meet the needs of exhibitors and visitors even more”. Baselworld 2019 will open a whole day for media representatives. The newspaper Baselworld Daily News will be back in print and with a new concept. At the same time, the digital information and communication offers launched in 2018 will be intensified and supplemented by new services for exhibitors, visitors and the media.

Che cosa cambia per Baselworld?

«Ampliamo il team di Baselworld e sviluppiamo ulteriormente l’evento per continuare sulla strada del miglioramento della qualità e per affrontare le sfide del futuro», sono le prime parole di Michel Loris-Melikoff. «Vogliamo posizionare Baselworld come la principale piattaforma di marketing e comunicazione per il settore: stiamo affrontando questo compito con un gran numero di nuove idee e con preziosi input da parte di espositori, visitatori e media».

Ed ecco la prima novità: è in arrivo un’iniziativa soprattutto per il segmento dei gioielli. Nuovi concetti saranno elaborati anche per i settori dell’orologeria e delle pietre preziose. Saranno presentati a breve. Ulteriori innovazioni saranno introdotte nei settori della ristorazione, dell’ospitalità e degli eventi «in modo tale da soddisfare le esigenze di espositori e visitatori in misura ancora maggiore». Baselworld 2019 sarà aperta un’intera giornata per i rappresentanti dei media. Il giornale della fiera Baselworld Daily News tornerà in forma stampata e con un nuovo concept. Parallelamente, le offerte di informazione e comunicazione digitale lanciate nel 2018 saranno intensificate e integrate da nuovi servizi per espositori, visitatori e media.

Modella con choker di diamanti di Jacob & co

Tra gli stand di Baselworld — Tra i booth di Baselworld

Ingresso principale allo spazio espositivo di Baselworld

Baselworld 2018, selection and news

Published on March 21, 2018

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Baselworld 2018 starts with the selection. But news jewelry are not lacking ♦ ︎
“The world is changing fast. Faced with this challenge, there are only two alternatives: to grow larger or to concentrate. We have chosen to concentrate”. The words of Sylvie Ritter, managing director of Baselworld, have opened the new edition, the number 101, of the great fair dedicated to luxury watches and jewelery. Indeed, more and more luxury, because if Baselworld 2017 counted 135,000 total visitors, down from 145,000 in 2016, in November the Mch group, which organizes the fair, announced that it would have halved the list of exhibitors and reduced the duration of the event, two day less, in response to the difficult phase recorded by the Swiss watchmaking players (the export of Swiss watches, however, after two years of crisis started to rise again at + 12.6% in the first few months of 2018). Baselworld also reduced the rental fee for the stands by 10%.
The result is that in Basel there are about 700 exhibitors, almost halved compared to 1,300 in 2017, when they had already fallen by 200 compared to 2016, but still the past year attracted 106 thousand buyers and 4,400 journalists (including those of gioiellis.com). And yet, if there are no more brands like Movado or Eberhard in watchmaking, there are always leading names like Rolex, Patek Philippe, the Swatch group with its many brands, some of which, like Omega. There is also the Lvmh group with Maison like Bulgari and Tag Heuer. And there are many top brands of jewelry, from fashion like Swarovski, or haute joaillerie with Graff, de Grisogono or Harry Winston, up to small Maison but with great creativity like Alessio Boschi, and the classic brands of Italian jewelry, Nanis, Giovanni Ferraris , Annamaria Cammilli, Picchiotti, Fope, Leo Pizzo, Casato, just to name a few. In short, Baselworld has lost weight, but still retains a lot of charm: the 101 years brings them well. We will tell the news in the next few days.