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Prathap Nair

Despite the withdrawal of manufacturers Swatch – whose brands include Omega, Longines and Blancpain – Corum and Raymond Weil, citing higher costs, Baselworld 2019 finished with measured excitement. As the curtain came down on the luxury event, there was much to ponder, even as new additions were made to the format to entice visitors.
SIHH and Baselworld unite behind April 2020 dates – making life easier for visitors

Fashion shows and augmented reality
A snazzy stage called Show Plaza, framed by large screens, played host to fashion shows every hour around the clock with new collections by jewellery brands Picchiotti, Gellner, Leo Pizzo, Hans D. Krieger, Tirisi, Stenzhorn, Nanis, Kimberlite Diamond, Al Coro and Niessing presented by slick models.

A new press lounge greeted journalists and allowed luxury bloggers and influencers to upload their impressions instantly on social media.
Some luxury jewellers even offered an augmented reality (AR) experience for visitors to try on their sparkling new offerings using their smartphones.
In tune with the digitisation tone adapted at the fair, the Baselworld app started offering AR-related experiences this year. An enhanced chatbot provided updated information about exhibitors every two hours, in addition to providing services such as a personal concierge.
The good, the great and the wacky: three of Baselworld 2019’s best watches

Monochrome
Brands treated Baselworld with the seriousness it deserved with exciting new releases and product announcements. With two new complications and 50 new and unique limited-edition timepieces, Patek Philippe’s pavilion thronged with patrons admiring the new designs.
For brands such as Patek Philippe, Baselworld is the solitary annual rendezvous with retailers from around the world. Rolex was a major drawcard with seven new watches, including a different look for the much-admired Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 42 sailing watch.

While refined lines combined distinctive originality with Chopard, Kari Voutilainen, Frederique Constant, Breitling and TAG Heuer some brands personified playfulness and added an extra splash of colour to their creations.
Hublot’s eye-catching Big Bang yellow sapphire is designed to be a collector’s edition, with only 100 watches being produced. Danish watchmaker Bering brought its red series to the fair, inspired by Arctic sunsets. However, monochrome was the order of the day for Groupe Achor / Yunik, Zenith and Chanel.
SIHH and Baselworld present united front with April 2020 dates




















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The #ChopardLUC Collection welcomes the L.U.C Flying T Twin, its first flying tourbillon. This remarkable #timepiece certified by the "Poinçon de Genève" quality hallmark is sure to steal #gentlemen connoisseurs' hearts with its rare stop-seconds device feature. #Baselworld2019 #ChopardManufacture
A post shared by Chopard Official (@chopard) on Mar 21, 2019 at 4:10am PDT



Jewellery makers Gellner, Ruppenthal, Picchiotti, Scheffel, Sutra and Gucci shunned the shine and went monochromatic with their bracelets, earrings, pendants and rings.
There were enough diamonds to go around too. Bvlgari’s ultra-thin Diva’s Dream Finissima Minute Repeater came encrusted with diamonds on its bezel and on the subsidiary dials.
So was Marie-Olga’s timepiece which was set with diamonds on PVD yellow gold and mother-of-pearl dial. Gucci’s G-Timeless collection featured gorgeous golden bees on its exotic hard stone dial.




















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Unveiling the new GyroGraff Endangered Species • Five rare species brought to life with sensational diamond mosaics; an extraordinary métiers d’art technique. . #baselworld2019 #luxurywatches #watchesofinstagram #graffdiamonds
A post shared by Graff (@graff) on Mar 20, 2019 at 3:58am PDT



Sustainability
Sustainability and the environment were key themes among many watchmakers. Czapek & CIE’s new Faubourg Cracovie Faubourg Cracovie salmon collection watches were named after the famous salmon species from the Pacific Ocean. With five endangered species – elephant, tiger, panda, rhino and a gorilla – in its GyroGraff collection debuted at the event, Graff showed its care for the environment.
Baselworld 2019: from elegant to funky, here are 5 timepieces to watch out this year
For its limited-edition Clean Ocean series (only 2,000 watches), Oris collected ocean plastic, shredded it and compressed it into chromatic medallion for the back case of the watch. The medallion is 100 per cent recyclable.

Smaller fair
Despite the dwindling market, luxury watchmakers and jewellery manufacturers have not lost hope in Baselworld. There was a 20 per cent drop in visitors and 22 per cent drop in brands.
Following a decline in exhibitors, from 2,000 a few years ago to 520 this year, visitors complained that it took only half a day to cover the exhibition halls this year. The decline was reflected in a 12 per cent fall in media representatives.




















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When visiting the trending show, enjoy the unique arty atmosphere highlighting the passion, innovation and creativity of the industry. #Baselworld2019 #OnlyAtBaselworld
A post shared by Baselworld (@baselworldofficial) on Mar 26, 2019 at 10:57am PDT



The only respite may have been a 12 per cent increase in media outreach. “What we lost in physical presence, we managed in digital presence,” said Michel Loris-Melikoff, managing director of Baselworld, adding that the show received a significant digital media boost from Weibo and WeChat in Chinese social media.
Baselworld 2019: Patek Philippe and Rolex confirm watchmaking’s green tide
Despite the Chinese fondness for luxury Swiss watches, they have been more cautious of late in splurging on their favourites and this has led to reduced demand for the timepieces. Loris-Melikoff said he was unsure whether Patek Philippe and Rolex would return next year.


Baselworld 2019 was much smaller, but with the 2020 event scheduled closer to SIHH and with innovations such as retailer summits and virtual reality experience zones planned, next year promises much hope.
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Baselworld

Baselworld made changes to its format to enhance its appeal to visitors. Photo: Xinhua

(190322) -- BASEL, March 22, 2019 (Xinhua) -- A model presents jewellery during a fashion show at the 2019 edition of BaselWorld in Basel, Switzerland, March 21, 2019. The 2019 edition of BaselWorld, the world's biggest annual watch and jewelry fair, opened its doors to the public on Thursday, with exhibitors, show managers and industry experts looking forward to a future-oriented transformation of the show in the digital world. (Xinhua/Xu Jinquan)

(190322) -- BASEL, March 22, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Models present jewellery during a fashion show at the 2019 edition of BaselWorld in Basel, Switzerland, March 21, 2019. The 2019 edition of BaselWorld, the world's biggest annual watch and jewelry fair, opened its doors to the public on Thursday, with exhibitors, show managers and industry experts looking forward to a future-oriented transformation of the show in the digital world. (Xinhua/Xu Jinquan)

ROLEX YACHT-MASTER 42 | FOR STYLE USE ONLY

Baselworld 2019: from elegant to funky, here are 5 timepieces to watch out this year

Hublot watch

Chanel. The limited-edition Boy.Friend Tweed Art features an 18ct beige gold crown and a satin strap. Inspired by the brand’s first feminine creation, The Premiere, the refined octagon design adda a masculine touch. Price on request

Rolex. The new Oyster Perpetual Datejust 31 is a stylish addition to the brand’s time-honoured collection with a combination of the yellow Rolesor and an olive-green dial, HKD90,100

Bell & Ross. The limited-edition BR 03-92 Bi-Compass features a pioneering display inspired by aeronautical instrumentation of aircraft cockpits. The two colours on the display bring out the functionality of the watch. Price on request

H. Moser & Cie. The new limited edition of the Endeavour Flying Hours takes inspiration from the planetary system. It is reminiscent of cosmic changes through the juxtaposition of the phosphorescent blue main disc which displays the minutes and three smaller discs showing the hour numerals. Price on request --

Baselworld 2019: Patek Philippe and Rolex confirm watchmaking’s green tide

Rolex’s new Day-Date 36 has a green ombre sunray dial.

IWC's Pilot's Watch Chronograph Spitfire

Rolex Dayjust 31.

Montblanc's bronze and green 1858 collection.

Panerai's Submersible Marina Militare Carbotech with green indexes, hands and rubber strap.

Patek Philippe and Rolex are among the exhibiting brands at this year's Baselworld.

Patek Philippe's Aquanaut in khaki green.

Rolex Day-Date 36

Piaget's Polo with a green dial and leather strap.

7 new Rolex watches hit Baselworld 2019

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona

ROLEX GMT-MASTER II | FOR STYLE USE ONLY

ROLEX COSMOGRAPH DAYTONA | FOR STYLE USE ONLY

ROLEX DATEJUST 31 | FOR STYLE USE ONLY

ROLEX DAY-DATE 36 | FOR STYLE USE ONLY

ROLEX SEA-DWELLER - YELLOW ROLESOR | FOR STYLE USE ONLY

Rolex Sea Dweller

ROLEX DATEJUST 36 | FOR STYLE USE ONLY

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Interest from Chinese social media giants cited for 12 per cent increase in media outreach at annual event for luxury watchmakers and jewellery manufacturers


Interest from Chinese social media giants cited for 12 per cent increase in media outreach at annual event for luxury watchmakers and jewellery manufacturers.


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Baselworld: Weibo and WeChat’s digital boost offers hope to ailing luxury event

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Interest from Chinese social media giants cited for 12 per cent increase in media outreach at annual event for luxury watchmakers and jewellery manufacturers

Interest from Chinese social media giants cited for 12 per cent increase in media outreach at annual event for luxury watchmakers and jewellery manufacturers