Rolex, Patek Philippe, Chanel, Chopard and Tudor leave Baselworld to create a new watch trade show in Geneva with the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie. The statement on FHH’s website is crystal clear about what comes next.
‘The show will be held early April 2021 at Palexpo, at the same time as Watches & Wonders. This departure follows a number of unilateral decisions made without consultation by Baselworld management, including the postponement of the watch show until January 2021, as well as its inability to meet the brands’ needs and expectations’.
‘The new show, which will be linked to Watches & Wonders, organized by the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie, is to take place at Palexpo. The aim is to offer partner brands the best possible professional platform, applying a shared vision to successfully meet future challenges in the watchmaking industry. It will also give crucial prominence to the sector’s expertise and innovations, both in Switzerland and internationally’.
This is not only a big blow to Baselworld’s organizer MCH Group but of course also to the city of Basel itself. Not that anyone in the community will be feeling sorry for the city, notorious for massively increasing its hotel and restaurant prices during the fair. While the city of Basel will surely survive this, it is unclear whether MCH Group will be able to say the same.
Baselworld as we once knew it is no more.
RIP Baselworld