BaselWorld news and archive

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...

Report

Swiss watch exports tumble ahead of Basel trade fair

The world's biggest watch fair will open in Switzerland this week, even as slumping exports of luxury Swiss timepieces appear to dash hopes of a market rebound. Global exports of Swiss watches slid 10 percent in February to 1.5 billion Swiss francs (1.5 billion dollars, 1.4 billion euros), the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FHS) said...

FairsFeatured

Bad times for watch industry as Basel trade fair opens

The world's biggest watch fair opened in the Swiss city of Basel on Thursday as a slumping luxury market and the soaring popularity of connected timepieces cast gloom over the industry. Baselworld is the highlight of the year for watch and jewellery makers, with retailers flooding in to snap up the latest eye-candy for their showcases. The show...