Michel Loris-Melikoff Archives

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

First steps for the new Baselworld

Published on August 31, 2021

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Incontro a Ginevra per la nuova Baselworld

First steps of Baselworld II. Its first pop-up event was held in Geneva, therefore far from its original location, but at the same time as the Geneva Watch Days, that is a press conference to present the new spirit of Baselworld, with ten independent brands and a program. The event is part of the preparations for Baselworld 2022, which will take place in Basel from 31 March to 4 April 2022.
Ten watch brands are collected (Claude Meylan, IceWatch, AHCI represented by Ludovic Ballouard and David Candaux, BA111OD Watch Concept, Bomberg, Furlan Marri, Ikepod, Riskers and Sinn Spezialuhren) all chosen for their independent profile, size and their distinctive placement under the new Baselworld banner, and participating in the new concept to showcase their novelties.

The idea of the new Baselworld, developed by the managing director, Michel Loris-Melikoff, includes both physical and online presence. The idea is to animate the community all year round 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The first meeting should be the debut of a multitude of live and virtual events that will take place on the new digital platform, which will be activated in the autumn of 2021. Original contents, events, networking, connections are new tools for the industry that have been developed and will be made available to brands to optimize their audience and business, all year round, in addition to physical meeting points.

L'evento di Ginevra preparatorio per Baselworld — L’evento di Ginevra preparatorio per Baselworld

Meanwhile, in Geneva, the program included an opening party, happy hour cocktail, aftershow and closing party. There was also a streaming of the interview between the director Loris-Melikoff and Jean-Christophe Babin, CEO of Bvlgari, as well as with Aurel Bacs, senior consultant of Phillips in association with Bacs & Russo, as well as a series of round tables on topical issues. such as the demystified blockchain with Gaetano Cavalieri, President of Cibjo, the World Confederation of Jewelery, whose member associations in more than 45 countries include more than 7 million people involved in the global sectors of jewelery and precious stones, the increase of Cpo (Certified Used, Watchmaking and Jewelery), Women in watchmaking and the art of collecting. Much of it will be replicated on a large scale at Baselworld 2022.

Baselworld returns in 2022. But will be different

Published on June 23, 2021

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

Baselworld is back. The largest jewelry and watch fair, however, will be different. How different? The point is precisely this: there are still, inevitably, many undefined aspects, as explained in an online meeting Michel Loris-Melikoff, CEO of the event, which is managed by the Swiss company Mch.

The last edition of Baselworld was that of 2019. But it was a smaller-scale event than in the past, after a long series of goodbyes by the big brands. The reason? Above all, the costs that have now become unsustainable: for a company, the presence at Baselworld could mean an expense of over 1 million euros, as the manager himself admitted. To the exorbitant costs has been added a lot of competition and, above all, the spread of communication via the internet. Ok, it is not the same as having direct contact with the manufacturer or viewing the object. But it facilitates contacts and, above all, it costs almost nothing. Above all, a physical space at the fair can now be obtained for about 20 thousand euros/dollars, which goes down to 5 thousand to participate in the digital platform alone.

Reasons that led Baselworld to a deep reflection, which has also lengthened due to the covid. So much so that at some point Mch had decided to eliminate the Baselworld brand altogether. Fortunately, the decision was changed. Now the fair returns. When? Between 31 March and 4 April 2022: but essentially there is still an agreement with Watches and Wonders, as it is now called Fhh, an event held in Geneva and reserved for haute horlogerie. The idea is to coordinate the two events, as was already planned for 2020. The uncertainty also testifies to how long and tiring the work of convincing companies to return to Baselworld will be long and tiring. According to Loris-Melikoff, the new Baselworld will primarily be a B2B platform in the mid-range luxury segment. A concept that profoundly changes the philosophy followed up to here, which favored brands such as Chopard, Rolex or Bulgari. All companies that have decided to leave the event in the Swiss city.

Business a Baselworld. Copyright: gioiellis.com

As explained, the future concept combines market trends of experience marketing with the needs of the entire community in the middle and upper segment of the watch, jewelry and gemstone industry.

After the coronavirus pandemic has stalled Baselworld in the past two years, we have taken a long time to speak with our partners and exhibitors. One thing has become very clear: the brand must remain, but it must radically change.
Michel Loris-Melikoff

The intention is that the new Baselworld will be less glamorous and more of a platform on which small watch and jewelry manufacturers and gemstone dealers will be able to showcase their products and retailers will have efficient and easy access to diversity of manufacturers. Not only that: it will also become a digital platform, complemented by live events, which will be available to the jewelery, watch and gem industry 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, around the world.

Il talk show di apertura di Baselworld 2019

The digital platform will be launched in the autumn, and is expected to be a forum for exchange between all relevant representatives of industry, the public and the media at Baselworld 2022. The goal is to use new tools for content creation, to enable maximum experience providing the opportunity to expand your network and exchange information on the latest trends. It will be the first independent platform that combines digital and live events.

According to Loris-Melikoff, everyone will meet on the platform: brands, manufacturers, retailers, fans and the media. “We will offer attractive conditions and prices for all brands that want to benefit from this unique platform”, assures the manager. Finally, the new orientation of Baselworld is in line with the strategy of the Mch Group, “confirmed by the new board of directors. on community platforms in selected ecosystems (international or national), the provision of experiential marketing solutions with holistic support for customers around the world and the management of the group’s infrastructure in Basel and Zurich ».

Baselworld changes its name and format

Published on May 15, 2020

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The rise and fall of Baselworld. And now even the Mch group itself takes the flag and admits: Baselworld is definitively defunct. But it will come back under another name, perhaps with a different format. The world’s largest jewelery and watch fair, until three or four years ago, was canceled not only for 2021, but forever. It is a name that irritates, which however no longer attracts. This was revealed by a spokesperson for the fair at the WatchPro online magazine. An intention that emerged from the statements forwarded to the Australian Jeweler magazine by Michel Loris-Melikoff, managing director of the event.

Modelle di Jacob & co con i gioielli della Maison, a Baselworld 2018

Things have changed dramatically in the past weeks, especially in the event organisation industries. We were among the first to face the hard impact of the pandemic, and we will probably be the last ones to recover.
Michel Loris-Melikoff, CEO of Baselworld

The Baselworld name will therefore be abandoned. But the company does not give up and has anticipated a consultation with 600 potential exhibitors to launch a completely new event already next year. At the moment there are no known dates, formats and even the name of Baselworld 2 or what it will be called.

Meanwhile, the operation continues to reimburse exhibitors who had paid deposits for this year’s fair. It’s not easy. Despite the reassurances, in fact, it seems that the terms of the matter have not yet been completely settled. Exhibitors have until 31 May to request refunds, which will be paid, Mch promises, within ten working days.

How much is the postponement of Baselworld

Published on April 4, 2020

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The postponement of an exhibition costs: in Baselworld they have made the budget and determined how much the loss will be for the organization and how much will be borne by the exhibiting companies. Here is the breakdown: the Swiss organizing company offers to postpone 85% of the cost for Baselworld 2020 to Baselworld 2021. The remaining 15% will remain to Mch Group, the company that controls the exhibition, to partially offset the costs already accrued) . Alternatively, exhibitors can request a cash refund of up to 30% of commissions, while 40% will be allocated to Baselworld 2021.

The clarification solves the doubts of many exhibitors, but certainly it will not be a pleasure to lose from 15% to 30%, according to which option will be chosen by the jewelery and watchmaking companies. On the other hand, the damage is also considerable for the company that promotes the fair. The Baselworld organization, specifies a release, involves a team of 25 people who work all year round, together with internal and external partners for planning, coordination, construction, marketing. And this translates into a financial commitment before the event itself. In addition, the suspension of the event was decided when most of the preparation costs for Baselworld 2020 had already been made. Finally, the fair company announced the launch of a new global digital platform, which is expected to be online before summer.

Nel booth di Alessio Boschi a Baselworld

We are all together and for this reason we are committed to supporting our exhibitors in the best possible way in these turbulent times. We offer unprecedented conditions, which go far beyond contractual obligations (general terms and conditions) and are much more generous than the vast majority of similar European programs that have had to be canceled or postponed. It seemed essential to make these significant financial efforts. I wish all of us a return as soon as possible.
Michel Loris-Melikoff, CEO of Baselworld

Bulgari skips Baselworld, but technical enterprises are back

Published on February 14, 2020

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The sector of jewelery and watch fairs, and in particular Baselworld, continues to change. Evolution or involution? The final answer is probably postponed to the next two years. Meanwhile, good and bad news is coming for the Swiss city fair. And if the virus does not get down like a scourge also on Switzerland (the fair dedicated to the Barcelona telephony, for example, has been suspended).

The latest negative news, in particular, is the decision by Bulgari, of the LVMH group, to desert the next appointment (April 30 – May 5). Although other brands of the French luxury giant, such as TAG Heuer, Hublot and Zenith, continue to participate in Baselworld. And for 2021, the CEO of Bulgari, Jean-Christophe Babin said it’s all to be decided.

To balance this negative news, Baselworld makes it known that, instead, the technical sector returns to appear at the fair. In 2018 he was completely absent. These are companies active in the production of components and movements, manufacture of machines and tools, suppliers of professional equipment, suppliers of after-sales services, research and development. 30 large companies will return, which will from now on be grouped together in Hall 2.0.

The technical sector is back at Baselworld. I am very pleased to rebuild bonds of trust with companies in a professional sector that is vital to watchmaking and jewellery. The work is not over. Baselworld is the world’s leading industry gathering, and it is crucial to enhance the role of all its players. I intend to restore the technical sector to its rightful place, accompanied by a long-term vision of its presence and the promotion of its activities to the entire community.
Michel Loris-Melikoff, CEO of Baselworld

Among the companies that will be present at Baselworld are Witschi Electronic, Le Temps Manufactures, Centagora, ALCO, Studex of Europe, Lampert Werktechnik, Komet Jewelery, Niqua, Town Talk Polish, Badeco, Geneva Prod. A pavilion of the Watch Part of association Germany will see Bauer-Walser and Aristo Vollmer, Bates Techno Polisage, the TBRP group with the companies and brands Tena Butty, Robur, Schwartzmann Fisseau-Cochot and Pouget-Pellerin, Bijoutil, Ernst & Friends, Petitpierre, BECO Technic, Benchalist, Ferdinand Eisele xextra4 Labeling systems, Technofinish, SSP Politool ASIC-SA and Eitan Industries.

Baselworld starts again with gems and pearls

Published on November 7, 2019

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Baselworld goes up with gems and pearls: a 50% increase in exhibitors is expected ♦ ︎

Baselworld, the big fair dedicated to watchmaking and the world of jewelry, starts with precious stones and pearls. Perhaps with a bit of surprise, in fact, the organizers announced a 50% increase in gem and pearl exhibitors for the next edition, in 2020, which will take place from April 30th to May 5th.

The increase, explains the company led by Michel Loris-Melikoff, managing director of Baselworld, is the result of the measures taken after consultation with interested parties in the sector, as well as the decision to move from hall 3 to pavilion 2. The new headquarters is more central and allows all exhibitors to be grouped in a single circular space on the same level, on the ground floor, with secure access to natural light through its rotunda. Thanks to a more central integration in the general exhibition plan, direct access from Messeplatz and Hall 1, is optimized for visitor flows: industry professionals, end customers and media.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the largest international confederation of the jewellery, gemstones and pearls industry (CIBJO) and in particular its president Dr. Gaetano Cavalieri, for actively supporting us in the reorganization of the sector and for allowing us to redeploy the presence of its members to Baselworld.
Michel Loris-Melikoff, managing director of Baselworld

The organizers explain that Baselworld has redeveloped these areas to make them much more spacious, at the same time integrating the hospitality areas and reception with bar and lounge ideal for networking. For the next edition of 2020, exhibitors in this sector now have the opportunity to choose whether to build turnkey constructions or build their own stands. A new offer that meets the expectations of exhibitors, combined with pragmatic cost control, now allows a more competitive positioning, for a better return on investment.

A Community District for Baselworld

Published on October 11, 2019

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Baselworld introduces the Community District, multiple spaces for brands. And convinces Maurice Lacroix to return ♦ ︎

The idea to re-launch Baselworld is called the Community District. This was announced by Michel Loris-Melikoff, managing director of the great fair dedicated to watch and jewelery that will be held next year from April 30th to May 5th 2020. The Community District is presented as a space located in the heart of the great Hall 1.0 and which will bring together different brands, presumably watchmaking. The large booths will welcome two or three brands together: a solution that should help keep costs down.

2020 TheCommunityDistrict — Il rendering del nuovo Community District

The first brand to welcome the opportunity of the new common space is the Swiss brand Maurice Lacroix, who will then return to Baselword after a year of absence. Will the new space be enough to convince companies? And what will change for jewelry brands? These are questions that must be answered.

The transformation of Baselworld will not be undertaken solely by us. Together with all our exhibitors, whether they’re from the world of watchmaking, jewellery, stones and pearls, regardless of their size, we will conceive adapted solutions and initiate change. 2020 is a first step. With the creation of the “Community District”, having listened to and initiated with the brands, we have set the change from the traditional B-to-B model to a platform of experiences for the whole community in motion. A community that encompasses everyone, from retailers and distributors, media, but also collectors, to end customers and aficionados. Attentive to the needs of brands, we wanted to come up with customisable turnkey proposals that meet their requirements and needs, especially for those who have extensive distribution networks, while developing large experience areas for the general public.
Michel Loris-Melikoff, managing director of Baselworld

La consegna del Guinness a Baselworld. Al centro, Aaron Shum e il direttore generale di Baselworld, Il direttore generale Michel Loris-Melikoff

Baselworld moved to early April

Published on October 8, 2019

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Baselworld changes date again: from 2021 it will be held the first week of April, anticipates Michel Loris-Melikoff ♦ ︎

The watch hands in 2021 will be moved back three weeks. However, this is not an original interpretation of summer time. Instead, it’s a turnaround at Baselworld, the big watch and jewelery fair held in the spring in Basel. Baselworld is a point of reference for the great companies of timepieces, but also of jewels. The fair, however, has been experiencing a crisis for years that has reduced the number of participants. To try to reverse the trend, last year the managing director, Michel Loris-Melikoff, announced that by 2020 the date of the exhibition would be postponed to 30 April (closing on 5 May), more than a month after the usual period in which the event takes place, that is in mid-March.

Uno degli allestimenti a Baselworld 2019

The change of date was decided to create a synergy with Sihh, the watchmaking fair that until 2019 took place in late January. In 2020, in fact, the Sihh will be held from 27 to 29 April, with the stated objective of concentrating the trip for buyers in a single trip to Switzerland. However, the slippage has created discontent and problems especially at many Italian jewelery houses, as noted by gioiellis.com.

Orologi in esposizione a Baselworld 2019. Copyright: gioiellis.com

Also read: Will you go to Baselworld? Mini survey

Many jewelers believe that the date set for Baselworld creates several problems: it is too close to the summer holidays and creates delays between the receipt of orders and the production of the collections. And even among the watch manufacturers there was no shortage of protests: Breitling, one of those members of the Baselworld committee, left Basel, while the LVMH group, which was present in Geneva alongside the Sihh, moved its event to Dubai .

That is why, therefore, Michel Loris-Melikoff confided to the specialized magazine WatchPro that from 2021 the Baselworld fair will be moved again, this time three weeks before. So presumably in 2021 it will be held in the first week of April. A convincing date for jewelery companies? “It’s all very complicated,” the manager confessed. And if it is for the fair, let alone the participating companies.

Find the original interview by clicking here.

Foto con modelle. Copyright: gioiellis.com

Il booth di Coronet. Copyright: gioiellis.com

At Baselworld a hub for start-ups

Published on October 5, 2019

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Baselworld signs an agreement with Luxury Venture to favor innovative jewelery and watchmaking companies ♦

Looking for new ideas for jewelery fairs. If the short texts for the search for personnel or others things would still to be published in the newspapers (some there are again, but few) the companies that organize events related to the world of jewelry could try this route. Without it, the great jewelry fairs look for different ways. VicenzaOro, for example, has decided to expand the field of action to jewelery and collectible watches with the experiment of Vo Vintage. Baselworld, on the other hand, takes a different path and looks at the world of innovation.

The big Basel fair, in fact, announced that it is partner with the Luxury Venture group. The goal: to jointly develop an international ecosystem for start-ups in the watch, jewelery and related industries to shape the future of luxury through innovation, digitalisation, sustainability and entrepreneurship.
Indeed, the Luxury Venture Group is an incubator, an accelerator and a venture capital platform based in Switzerland. The mission is to help luxury start-ups that combine impact and profit with innovation, creativity, sustainability and social responsibility.

The aim of Luxury Venture is to select, promote and invest in luxury start-ups anywhere in the world. For example, through a competition, the Luxury Venture Innovation Awards, and then with acceleration programs of up to three months for selected start-ups. An exciting program for jewelery companies? Time will tell.

Meanwhile, according to Baselworld CEO Michel Loris-Melikoff, the partnership “fills an important gap and fits perfectly with the new positioning of Baselworld 2020 as a platform of experience”. How is the agreement materialized? In next year’s programs at Baselworld, Luxury Venture Day will bring together luxury start-ups, investors, destroyers and universities, creating a new dynamic ecosystem in the luxury sector with a focus on watches and jewelery. And the fair will present numerous innovations and areas of experience that will accelerate start-ups and provide new impetus to the sector.
Appointment at Baselworld from 30 April to 5 May 2020.

Will you go to Baselworld? Mini survey

Published on September 15, 2019

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Il booth di Jacob & co a Baselworld. Copyright: gioiellis.com

Will you participate in Baselworld? Here is the result of the mini survey by gioiellis.com among the companies at VicenzaOro ♦ ︎

Will you participate in Baselworld? We have asked the question to about thirty companies present at VicenzaOro, with a mini survey that certainly does not have the ambition to be exhaustive, but at the same time it can indicate which are the moods among the protagonists of the jewelry. The result? The reading is positive or negative according to which point of view the answers are considered. If we were to summarize the general sense, it is that a sense of uncertainty prevails: well, maybe, we are thinking about it, we’ll see, we haven’t decided yet. A good part of the answers were of this tone, even if the yes and no decisions were not lacking.

For example, there are those who, like Yoko London or Fope, have assured that they will be present at the next Basel fair. But others preferred to postpone the decision. One of the factors that make uncertain, explained several industry players at Gioiellis.com (with the promise of anonymity), is the shift of the date by over a month. Indeed, by 2020 Baselworld has postponed the start of the fair to 30 April to coordinate with the Sihh in Geneva. And doesn’t like this change to somebody. Other jewelers, on the other hand, said they were waiting to understand what the changes announced by Michel Loris-Melikoff, managing director of Baselworld, will be at the closing press conference of the last edition.
Of course, the news that another big jeweler, Jacob & co, decided to desert the Basel jewelry fair did not contribute to stimulating the desire to participate.
Poll Results
Number of respondents: 29
Yes, we will definitely return to Baselworld: 7 (24.1%)
We have no intention of participating in Baselworld: 10 (34.5%)
Perhaps, we are undecided: 12 (41.4%)

Baselworld 2019, booth nella grande hall. Copyright: gioiellis.com

Il booth di Palmiero a Baselworld. Copyright: gioiellis.com

Il booth di Verdi Gioielli a Baselworld. Copyright: gioiellis.com

Nel booth di Yoko London a Baselworld. Copyright: gioiellis.com

LVMH book Baselworld 2020

Published on April 30, 2019

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The LVMH group will participate in the upcoming Baselworld fair, as well as Rolex ♦︎

An important news for the 81,200 visitors who went to Baselworld in 2019, but above all for the undecided exhibitors whether to return to the great watch and jewelery fair. The LVMH group, in fact, has confirmed that it will be present at the next edition, that of 2020. The French luxury giant will therefore be on the track with the Bulgari, Hublot, Tag Heuer and Zenith brands, which will still be in the four huge stands at entrance to hall 1. It is likely that the director of the fair, Michel Loris-Melikoff, breathed a sigh of relief, given that most of the attendance at Baselworld is influenced by the big brands. Rolex also confirmed its presence at Baselworld 2020 and, indeed, will also occupy the space left free by Breitling with Tudor, who has instead chosen to change air.
But the Swiss fair looks further ahead and is studying new concepts and formats for 20121.

We support Michel Loris-Melikoff and his team in their project to redefine and renew the concept of this great event for the Swiss watch industry
Stéphane Bianchi, Ceo Lvmh Watchmaking Division and CEO of Tag Heuer

For its part, Loris-Melikoffl said it will support each LVMH brand in designing innovative display formats for their presence in 2021 and beyond. The goal is “to let each Maison express its creativity and offer an exceptional brand immersion”. It seems, in short, that in exchange for confirmation, the large groups have achieved greater weight in the choice of exhibition formats. Will this also be the case for jewelers?

Visitatori a Baelworld 2019. Copyright: gioielli.com

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

Baselworld is back

Published on March 21, 2019

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Baselworld is back: six days of jewelry, watches and a bit of suspense ♦ ︎

The hour of truth is started for Baselworld 2019 (March 21-26). It is considered a step in the transition that will bring the largest ex jewelery and watch fair to align with the former rival Suite de la Haute Horlogerie (Sihh) held in Geneva. The two events, in fact, in 2020 will be held almost simultaneously: the Sihh from April 26th to April 29th and Baselworld from April 30th to May 5th.

Meanwhile, however, Baselworld has to deal with the downsizing that has been going on for some years now. In 2014 the brands present in Basel were 1500. In 2019 they stop at an altitude of 468, less than the 650 of last year. From de Grisogono to the Swatch group: there are many prestigious names that have decided not to return to Baselworld even though, of course, there are other great value Maison.

The general manager Michel Loris-Melikoff, who inaugurated the new edition on the evening of Wednesday, admitted that the number of exhibitors present is lower than expected: “We have hit the bottom,” he said. But he also said he was optimistic that the new reorganization of the spaces and a greater visibility to the present brands are the keys to the rebirth: “What is important is that those who are present have the opportunity to do business. We address the entire jewelery and watchmaking community: customers, collectors, retailers. Our goal is to involve everyone “.

The new life that provides two days less than the fair, compared to a time, the ticket dropped from 60 to 45 Swiss francs, agreements with hotels and restaurants to control prices and, of course, a different distribution of space.

For the first time the jewelery will move to the main hall, the 1st, but on the second floor, where the Show Plaza, an area that will host presentations of the brands, has been placed, near the Les Ateliers area, reserved for independent manufacturers. In short, many aspects to check. And it will be one of the tasks of Bernd Stadlwieser, who after 20 years of experience in the watch, jewelery and art sector will take over the interim CEO Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard. Monica Battistoni

Il cielo dal piazza che collega i padiglioni di Baselworld

Exhibitors will return to Baselworld?

Published on October 6, 2018

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Reservations for Baselworld are slightly increasing. The fair will offer much more space to jewelry. There will be a Jewelery Hall and … ♦ ︎

Encouraging signs. Especially for the many uncertain jewellers if you attend the next edition of Baselworld. The most prestigious watch and jewelery fair, after the crisis of the last few years, announces a small but important inversion of trend. Not only that: it begins to explain what the largest space dedicated to jewelry will consists of.
In a statement Baselworld anticipates that in the next edition there will be room for a newly created “show plaza”. It will be located in the heart of Hall 1.2, where jewelers will be housed that were previously in Hall 2. Translated: more jewelry at the center of the fair, also because the defection of a watchmaking group like Swatch (and its 18 brands) has left the sign.

The ground floor space will be called now Jewelery Hall.

“We are bringing brands closer to the main events of Hall 1, shortening the path for all visitors and ensuring greater attendance at the stands”, says Baselworld’s new CEO, Michel Loris-Melikoff. He also announcing an important element: “Reservations are slightly above last year’s level, which is a positive and encouraging sign”. In short, the decrease (halving) of exhibitors seems to be stopped and, indeed, there is a sign of a trend reversal. Everything to check, of course, but it could be the beginning of turn around.

A 240-degree catwalk will host three live shows every day.

Modella con i gioielli di Pasquale Bruni

Other news: seven giant LED walls will show close-up images of the jewels on display. The event area will also be the venue for the opening press conference. The new features were presented to various jewelery brands during a road show in Germany, Italy, Hong Kong and other countries. Baselworld ensures that the answer was “really overwhelming”.
“I met representatives of many brands who would like to come to Baselworld, some for the first time, others after a few years of absence. I think that a turning point in the trend has certainly been reached in the jewelery area, “explains the manager. “More visibility, greater frequency of visitors and totally new forms of presentation: those were our goals for improving the jewelery area at Baselworld 2019. I am convinced that these goals will be achieved with our new concept”.

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

More jewelry at Baselworld says the CEO

Published on September 7, 2018

news

Lo Show Plaza nella Hall 1.2, riservata alla gioielleria

The new CEO of Baselworld, Michel Loris-Melikoff speaks in an interview. And he announces news for the jewelry too. For example … ♦ ︎

The last alarm has the name of Swatch Group. In July, the Swiss watchmaker’s CEO, Nick Hayek, announced that the 18 bands that are part of the group will not participate in Baselworld 2019. The Swatch group was the latest in a series of farewells. Or, perhaps, a see you later. The fact is that, after having halved the exhibitors in the last two years and after having revolutionized the management, the Basel Fair is waiting at the final test. Many are the pessimists. But there are also those who consider the Baselworld appointment as indispensable. It is interesting, therefore, to listen to the words of the new CEO, Michel Loris-Melikoff, which offers a preview of the promised innovations for 2019. For correctness: the interview is the result of the work of the Baselworld press office. In short, there are no “bad” questions. Despite this, the interview offers an insight into the intentions of what remains the most important jewelery and watch fair, at least in the European area. And there is no lack of news.

We will strengthen the jewelry area

Question. Mr Loris-Melikoff, you are quite new as the head of Baselworld. Are the concepts for Baselworld 2019 equally new and fresh?
Answer. I certainly hope so! The feedback that my team and I have received from the industry about our ideas for the coming year has been very positive and bookings are likewise developing better than last year.
Q. What specific items will be new at Baselworld 2019?
A. Plenty! An important goal is to strengthen the jewellery area. That’s why it will be much more centrally positioned in Hall 1.2, where it will also have a genuine visitor magnet: a Show Plaza with a spectacular 240° catwalk. There will be three live shows per day on the catwalk, which can also be used for events in the evenings. “The Loop“ will offer several new catering options directly in Hall 1.1. The independent watchmakers of “Les Ateliers” likewise get a new stage: they can now be found in Hall 1.0 South. We are also developing events for dealers. And Baselworld will open for journalists already one day prior to its official opening… The objective is to strengthen the fair’s event, communication and marketing character. Baselworld must be a unique experience that’s newly surprising and different each year. We still have some time ahead of us before Baselworld 2019, so several additional concepts will also be added. We’ll provide more details about them in the coming weeks and months.

Q. How are these concepts developed?
A. In close coordination with our exhibitors. Three or four visits with customers each day are not unusual at the moment. I want the people to get to know me as a person and I want to get to know them personally too. Moreover, there are committees and events for exhibitors in Germany, France and Italy, where we present and candidly discuss our concepts – as peers and equal partners. We listen very carefully to learn exactly what exhibitors and dealers desire, what would be good, what they felt was missing and, of course, we also have our own ideas and we want to try things out. What’s very important for me is: we want to design Baselworld not only for the global watch and jewellery industry, but also and above all with the industry. And here I mean the whole industry, not just the luxury sector.
Q. How are you responding to the digitization of the markets?
A. Today’s market needs a totally different Baselworld than it needed ten years ago. Some companies nowadays “tick” almost exclusively digitally. The topic of digitization is accordingly at the top of our list. Among other things, we are also developing a new communications strategy that works with innovative formats such as digital chatbots to provide the brands with a year-round stage for their products. But digitization will and must take place and show itself in many other areas as well. We are in the process of developing new ideas here too.
Q. Catering, overnight stays, stand fees, admission prices: these have long been a bone of contention for many people.
A. That’s true. Expenses crossed the pain threshold for many people in past years. That’s why we intend to sit down at a table with all participants and find a satisfactory solution. Our negotiations with hoteliers and restaurateurs make it clear that this will succeed. With regard to stand rentals, we have already modified the fees in past years and we’ll continue to modify them selectively in 2019 to reduce expenses for our exhibitors. We’ll likewise rethink the admission prices and adjust them downward, if possible.

The Loop: offrirà diverse nuove opzioni di ristorazione direttamente nel padiglione 1.1

Baselworld loses a piece

Published on August 7, 2018

Orologi/news

A new question mark on Baselworld: René Kamm, CEO of Mch Group, leaves ♦

Baselworld loses another piece. After the resignation of the managing director, Sylvie Ritter, the time has come for the CEO of Mch Group, René Kamm. The Comité Mondial of the Basel trade fair organizer has chosen a new drastic change. Ulrich Vischer, chairman of the board of directors, will assume responsibility for the group’s operational leadership in close cooperation with the members of the executive committee during the transition period until the appointment of a successor to René Kamm.
This is not a little news, because René Kamm was at the helm of the fair for almost 20 years. He and Sylvie Ritter have led Baselworld to grow to become the worldwide benchmark for watchmaking and jewelery. But Baselworld has experienced a drastic downsizing as last three years. Just in July, Swatch Group, which includes 17 brands, including Omega, announced its decision not to participate in Baselworld 2019. A news that has cast a new shadow on what will be the next edition of Baselworld.
The Mch Group is engaged in a process of transformation, which should be carried out by the new managing director, Michel Loris-Melikoff. Forfait like the Swatch group, however, will not be easily replaced. Federico Graglia

Il management: al centro, Sylvie Ritter, managing director di Baselworld e il ceo, René Kamm — L’ex management di Mch: al centro, Sylvie Ritter, ex managing director di Baselworld e il ceo uscente, René Kamm

L'area di Crivelli a Baselworld — L’area di Crivelli a Baselworld

Sono stati 104.000 i buyer a Baselworld 2017

svarowsky baselworld — Lo stand Swarovski a Baselworld

Baselworld changes manager and skin

Published on May 25, 2018

news

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