Jeweller - March 2020

Baselworld and Watches & Wonders
Geneva cancelled amid virus fears
Baselworld followed several other international events in cancelling its 2020 edition.
Following the Swiss government’s
decision to ban large-scale
events due to the spread of
coronavirus, Baselworld 2020
has been cancelled.
The next edition of the luxury
trade fair will take place from 28
January–2 February 2021, earlier
than its traditional March dates
and in line with the product launch
schedules of major watch brands.
As recently as late February,
organisers were insisting the
show would proceed as planned,
from 30 April–5 May – even when
coronavirus concerns forced the
cancellation of the other ‘Swiss
show’, Watches & Wonders Geneva.
That event – formerly known as
SIHH – had been scheduled to
take place immediately before
Baselworld. However, the Swiss
Federal Council issued a total ban
on gatherings of more than 1,000
people on 28 February, effective
until 15 March.
As a result, Baselworld and its
parent company, MCH Group,
made the unprecedented decision
to cancel the event – just days
before construction was due to
begin on exhibitor stands.
Michel Loris-Melikoff, managing
director Baselworld, said, “We
deeply regret having had to
postpone the event as planned
due to the coronavirus, in full
consideration of the needs of the
watch and jewellery industry to be
able to benefit from the platform
to develop their business.”
He said the decision to hold
the next Baselworld in January
2021 would enable “the industry
and all our customers to... reset
their calendars for the beginning
of the year, a period that is
conducive to the presentation of
their new products, new trends
and order taking”.
Several watch manufacturers
including Bulgari, Breitling, Girard-
Perregaux and Ulysse Nardin have
since announced a product launch
event, called Geneva Watch Days, for
‘primarily’ European retailers and
media. At the time of publication,
it was scheduled for 26–29 April.
Coronavirus concerns have
recently forced the cancellation
or postponement of a number of
other watch and jewellery industry
events, including:
4Hong Kong International
Jewellery Show and Gem & Pearl
Show: scheduled 2-8 March,
postponed to 18-21 May
4Swatch Group ‘Time To Move’
product launch event: scheduled
28 February-6 March, cancelled
4Seiko ‘Grand Seiko Summit’:
scheduled 4-6 March, cancelled
4Movado Group ‘Movado Group
Summit’: scheduled late March,
cancelled
4Watches & Wonders Geneva:
scheduled 25-29 April, cancelled
4ICA Congress 2020: scheduled
20-23 September, cancelled and
rescheduled for March 2021.
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