Wrist Couture

As the news of Baselworld Fair and SIHH coordinating their dates came around, there were reactions flying thick. We get to the bottom of it.

Michel Loris-Melikoff, Managing Director from Baselworld says that In so doing, we are accommodating exhibitors, visitors and journalists. By merging the dates, customers will save themselves a trip and, of course, costs. This is particularly interesting for visitors travelling from America or Asia. Another advantage is that business can be concluded conveniently within a concentrated period of time.

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The alignment means a strengthening of the entire Swiss watch industry because it has the opportunity to present itself in a concentrated manner within a common time frame. It was good news for the whole industry. Since quite a lot brands or exhibitors requested the synchronisation, of course they welcomed the decision. And according to what was said above, they are happy to have one instead of two dates where they can make arrangements, show new products and do major business.

Participants have two very different and important events one right after the other. It is a huge possibility to meet everyone that is important to your business. The collaboration is one further step into the future, a win-win for the media and visitors. The major transformation will be that the whole watch and jewellery community grows and increases working hand in hand.

I believe that taking part to international watch fairs remains a key point for a brand like Frederique Constant, it allows us to meet a maximum of clients and press all at the same time, presenting our novelties creating new relationships and reinforcing the existing ones. We believe that Baselworld and SIHH joining hands is a great way to share a maximum of customers and showing the world how the Swiss watchmaking industry is uniting to keep the business alive.

The brands reaction is quite positive, although the dates will be quite late and some brands will unveil some novelties a bit earlier in the year in order to have some product preview launches in the first trimester.

The major changes will be how to split the product launches and communicate on our pre-Basel products since the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie will be held later than usual, i.e. on April 26th and Baselworld will start on April 30th. We will have to make sure we will manage to profit from the SIHH visitors in Basel and keep all our appointments in a more limited time (Baselworld will be held from April 30th to May 5th)

Anil Madan, Managing Director at Johnson Watch Co. (Connaught Place) says that since Swatch Group which constituted almost 40% of BaselWorld has moved out, this is something which could majorly affect the foot fall at BaselWorld. I feel BaselWorld and SIHH joining hands is a good move. This move will ensure more visitors to both the fairs.