BASEL Glitters… Geneva Sparkles
BASEL 2001
2300 exhibitors from 40 different countries participated in BASEL 2001. The World Watchmaking and Jewellery Fair was held from 22 to 29 March. 86,700 professionals from more than 100 countries visited the Fair (up 2 % on last year). In general, exhibitors reported a satisfactory level of sales. However, client sentiment ranged from “moderate” to “excellent”.
Swiss exhibitors active in the superior segment are absolutely delighted: the event enabled them to generate excellent orders that sometimes even exceeded the exceptional results reported last year.
Although it naturally varied from one company to another, the overall result was less positive for brands active in the intermediate and lower market segments. Fears created by the incipient recession in the United States – the leading market for Swiss watchmaking exports – combined with chronic Japanese gloom and Europe’s nervous disposition affected orders. These orders did not experience last year’s euphoria, but, according to the majority of Swiss exhibitors active on these markets, the level achieved was more than acceptable. Except for a few companies that registered disappointing results, all the other brands left the Basel event, which many regard as a decisive event for the year to come, in a confident mood.
On the component supply and subcontracting side, the weakening of orders in a market under pressure for the last eighteen months is almost welcomed with relief because orders had been exceeding production capacities for some types of component.
Finally, as had been expected, the trade fair management was officially informed of Jaeger-LeCoultre, IWC and Lange & Söhne’s decision not to participate in the 2002 edition, scheduled for 14 to 21 March.
SIHH – GENEVA
The eleventh edition of the International Fair of Fine Luxury Watchmaking (SIHH) closed its doors on 3 April in a serene atmosphere. Since 27 March, around 9000 professional visitors including 600 journalists had thronged Hall 7 at Palexpo in Geneva.
The SIHH ended with “an excellent overall result” indicated the International Committee of Fine Luxury Watchmaking (CIHH). The trends registered in the sector “are clearly positive for the year 2001”. Orders are on the increase and apparently well up on last year in terms of both quality and quantity. According to the first assessments of all the brands, performance reported in Europe was steady. Other markets continued to show regular growth in line with forecasts.
The next edition will be held from 18 to 25 January 2002. Long-term prospects, besides “the arrival of Jaeger-LeCoultre, IWC and Lange & Söhne at the SIHH next year, enable us to envisage various restructuring and development options for the years to come”, the organising committee concludes.