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Goodbye Baselworld, Hour Universe arrives

Published on October 15, 2020

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.

Baselworld 2019. Copyright: gioiellis.com

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

Débacle Baselworld, also leaves Lvmh

Published on April 17, 2020

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If anyone ever had doubts, the coup de grace has came to Baselworld. The execution is in the form of a statement from the LVMH group. The Swiss watch manufacturers of the Lvmh Group, which include Tag Heuer, Hublot and Zenith and the Maison Bvlgari, took note of the abandonment of Baselworld by Rolex, Tudor, Patek Philippe, Chanel and Chopard, says the official note of the French group . “In this context of evident weakening of representativeness of the Swiss watch industry, the brands of the Division and the Maison Bvlgari have decided to cancel their participation in the Fair in order to preserve their image and relations with customers and the media. They will therefore not take part in the 2021 edition of Baselworld. The four houses are evaluating different event formats to present their strategies and product innovations to their business partners and the international press in 2021. The LVMH Watches Division on the one hand and Bvlgari on the other will comment on their future plans in the coming weeks, based on their respective objectives”.

La piazza di Baselworld. Copyright: gioiellis.com

We are very sorry to have to abandon this more than centennial event, to which our Maison were faithful. However, it is clear that, in these conditions, we must react quickly and develop other strategies. We have the opportunity to reinvent the format and content of one of the key moments of our watch year, which represented a great commercial challenge and a strategic lever for the influence of our brands. In this perspective, we will make every effort to be present with the other prestigious Maison that will meet in Geneva in April 2021, to meet the needs of our partners and customers and offer them a unique experience.
Stéphane Bianchi, CEO of the LVMH Watches Division

In short, the pillars of what was the largest fair dedicated to jewelry and watchmaking crumble. At the moment, it is difficult to think of a Baselworld devoid of its brands that attracted thousands of visitors and buyers from all over the world. Now the watch business is focused on Geneva. What about jewelry? Will the trend of hand brands follow?

Bringing the entire Swiss watch industry together in one place, Geneva, the historical watchmaking capital and in a single date, is a great opportunity to finally relaunch a sector weakened by too many divisions and divergent interests compared to the rest of the luxury sector of in which Bvlgari is the protagonist and which progresses much more rapidly. We can’t wait to go to Geneva in April 2021, although we have yet to define the modalities of our participation, which we will specify in the coming weeks. We are also pleased not to
having to compensate, as in 2020, for the absence of institutional watch fairs, which this year forced us to take useful initiatives in the short term but not strategic in the medium term.
Jean-Christophe Babin, CEO of the Bvlgari Group

Jean Christophe Babin con Carla Bruni Sarkozy (da Twitter)

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.

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

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

Michel Loris-Melikoff. Copyright: gioiellis.com

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 2019, scale mobili. 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