Editor’s Note
The departure of five major luxury brands from Baselworld 2021 signals a significant shift for the iconic watch fair. Their collective statement highlights growing dissatisfaction with event management and raises questions about the future format of industry gatherings.
On April 14, five major brands — Rolex, Patek Philippe, Chanel, Chopard, and Tudor — announced through the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH) that they would not participate in Baselworld 2021, the world’s largest watch fair scheduled to be held in Basel, Switzerland, from January 28 to February 2, 2021. These brands have historically been key exhibitors with large booths in the main hall. They cited reasons such as management’s failure to meet brand needs and expectations, and the unilateral decision to postpone the event due to the COVID-19 pandemic without consulting exhibitors.
The five brands will instead exhibit at a new fair to be established by the FHH. While the name of the new fair is undecided, it is planned to be held concurrently with Watches & Wonders Geneva (formerly S.I.H.H.) at the same venue. Watches & Wonders Geneva itself separated from Baselworld in 1991 and is held in Geneva.
MCH Group, the organizer of Baselworld, sent an email to stakeholders on the evening of the 14th titled “Statement of Surprise.” The group stated it would “continue negotiations with exhibitors on financial matters” and “make efforts and additional investments to continue Baselworld.” Other Swiss watch brands that had exhibited at Baselworld, particularly those affiliated with the FHH, may also switch to the “new Geneva fair.” Baselworld is now facing a genuine risk of dissolution.
Baselworld started in 1917. At its peak, it hosted over 1,700 watch and jewelry brands. However, dissatisfaction began to emerge around 2010 regarding high exhibition fees and hospitality deemed unsuitable for a luxury business venue. In 2018, the world’s largest watch company, the Swatch Group, withdrew.