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Baselworld, SIHH Synchronize 2020 Dates
Dec 19, 2018 5:40 AM
By Rapaport News
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RAPAPORT... Baselworld and Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in
Geneva (SIHH) will take place back-to-back from 2020 in an attempt by their
organizers to reinvigorate interest in the shows.
SIHH, which is usually a January event, will instead run
from April 26 to 29 in Geneva, while Baselworld will begin immediately
afterward, from April 30 to May 5. That show is usually scheduled for March.
The two will conduct consecutive fairs until at least 2024, they said Tuesday.
The move follows industry discontent with the watch
and jewelry fairs, with critics calling them too expensive and outdated. Baselworld lost
several large exhibitors, including Swatch Group, Maurice Lacroix, Corum and
Raymond Weil, while Audemars Piguet and Richard Mille plan to pull
out of SIHH from 2020.
Baselworld has attempted to make changes to its
program, including reducing exhibitor prices and negotiating cheaper deals with hotels and restaurants in the area. The new arrangement between the two fairs could potentially help visitors further, as exhibitors would now only need
to travel to Switzerland once to attend both events.
“Baselworld and the SIHH are working for the industry and
its clients,” said Michel Loris-Melikoff, managing director of Baselworld. “We
have sought dialogue with the SIHH and together have found a solution [that] benefits visitors, the media and the entire watchmaking industry enormously.”
Earlier this week, Kim-Eva Wempe, CEO of watch company Wempe, told industry
news website WatchPro she favored an alignment between the two fairs.
“I would like to have one single trade show, and not two or
even more,” she said.
Patek Philippe chairman Thierry Stern told Reuters
that while the company would not be leaving Baselworld, the
timing needed to be coordinated with SIHH.
“That is the key to the show’s future success,” he added.
In 2019, the dates for both fairs will remain separate, with
SIHH running from January 14 to 17, while Baselworld will take place from March 21
to 26.
“Our two events have always been different, yet
complementary,” said Fabienne Lupo, president and managing director of
Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie, which organizes SIHH. “Re-synching with
Baselworld will further confirm Switzerland as the foremost destination for
watchmaking in the world. This is something we welcome wholeheartedly, as it is
in the interests of all.”
Image: A Rolex watch. (Pixabay)
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Tags:
Audemars Piguet, Baselworld, corum, Fabienne Lupo, Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie, Kim-Eva Wempe, Maurice Lacroix, Michel Loris-Melikoff, patek philippe, Rapaport News, Raymond weil, Richard Mille, Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in Geneva, SIHH, swatch group, WatchPro, Wempe
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