AuctionsApr 29, 2025
‘Golconda Blue’ Diamond Pulled From AuctionThe 23-carat fancy vivid blue diamond, set to headline Christie’s May jewelry auction, was expected to sell for as much as $50 million.
Events & AwardsMar 27, 2019
Coming Off a 22% Slide, Baselworld Outlines Turnaround Plan
The three-year plan starts in 2020, with a 10 to 30 percent price cut for exhibitors and an area dedicated to smartwatches and other wearables.
The 2019 edition of the Baselworld watch and jewelry trade show closed Tuesday in Switzerland with management outlining the details of a three-year turnaround plan for the show, which has seen the number of exhibitors and attendees decline for the past six years.
Basel, Switzerland—The statistics from Baselworld 2019 should not come as a surprise to anyone.
The number of exhibitors was down 20 percent from 2018, to 520 brands.
The watch and jewelry trade show counted 81,200 visitors, a 22 percent year-over-year drop, while media attendance suffered the least, dropping 12 percent to 3,300.
It is the sixth year in a row that Baselworld has seen both the number of exhibitors and attendees shrink.
The message new Managing Director Michel Loris-Melikoff relayed after presenting these figures: Yes, show organizers know both the number of exhibitors and attendees is down.
They are working on turning around the watch and jewelry trade show, but they cannot—and do not have the money to—fix everything at once. 
At the show’s closing press conference held Tuesday afternoon in Basel, Loris-Melikoff shared some details of the three-year turnaround management has crafted for the watch and jewelry trade show, a plan that will begin with the 2020 edition.
To start, Baselworld has changed its tagline from “The Watch and Jewellery Show” to “The Watch and Jewellery Community,” reflecting organizers’ aim to expand the scope of Baselworld from a week-long business-to-business show to a 365-day-a-year resource for the watch and jewelry industries, servicing both the trade and consumers.
Prices for exhibitors will come down 10 to 30 percent next year, depending on the exhibitor’s hall and position, and Baselworld is simplifying its pricing structure, charging a flat fee calculated using hall and booth square footage.
Organizers plan to reopen Hall 2.0 and move both the gemstone and pearl dealers and the national pavilions there.
Also planned for Hall 2.0 in 2020 is an “Innovation and Digital Transformation Zone” that will include space for smart watches and wearables and will be “urban, dynamic and young,” Loris-Melikoff said, designed to appeal to younger people.
RELATED CONTENT: What Is the Future of Jewelry Trade Shows?Future plans floated at Wednesday’s press conference included a retailer summit, an event for CEOs to meet up and discuss current challenges, and education events for consumers that could involve pulling in watch and jewelry schools in Switzerland and France.
Show organizers also will keep the expanded press lounge for 2020, though Loris-Melikoff
noted that it might not be right off the show floor in Hall 1.0, depending on which exhibitors return to the show.
And that seems to be the ultimate question hanging over the once-mighty watch and jewelry trade show as the 2019 edition drew to a close: Which major brands will come back?
Loris-Melikoff said in response to a reporter’s question that while show organizers are in constant conversation with exhibitors, they do not yet know the major brands’ plans for 2020, which mirrors what many exhibitors told National Jeweler during the course of the show—they have not yet made up their minds about 2020.
One exhibitor who attended Tuesday’s closing press conference, Julien Rotstein of Amsterdam-based Tirisi Jewelry, spoke up in defense of the show, saying that exhibitors must be proactive when attending trade shows, reaching out to their clients to encourage them to attend, and arranging on-the-ground hospitality, like airport pickups and dinners.
“We as exhibitors have a role to play,” he said, before issuing a tough truth about business today.
“I don’t know that we’ll ever get back to the number of exhibitors in the past, simply because there are fewer jewelers. Retail has changed and will continue to change.”
Baselworld 2020 is scheduled for April 30-May 5, back-to-back with SIHH in Geneva, which moved its show from January to April 26-29.
The agreement for the two shows to take place consecutively extends through 2024.
And that seems to be the ultimate question hanging over the once-mighty watch and jewelry trade show as the 2019 edition drew to a close: Which major brands will come back?
Loris-Melikoff said in response to a reporter’s question that while show organizers are in constant conversation with exhibitors, they do not yet know the major brands’ plans for 2020, which mirrors what many exhibitors told National Jeweler during the course of the show—they have not yet made up their minds about 2020.
One exhibitor who attended Tuesday’s closing press conference, Julien Rotstein of Amsterdam-based Tirisi Jewelry, spoke up in defense of the show, saying that exhibitors must be proactive when attending trade shows, reaching out to their clients to encourage them to attend, and arranging on-the-ground hospitality, like airport pickups and dinners.
“We as exhibitors have a role to play,” he said, before issuing a tough truth about business today.
“I don’t know that we’ll ever get back to the number of exhibitors in the past, simply because there are fewer jewelers. Retail has changed and will continue to change.”
Baselworld 2020 is scheduled for April 30-May 5, back-to-back with SIHH in Geneva, which moved its show from January to April 26-29.
The agreement for the two shows to take place consecutively extends through 2024.
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
IndependentsApr 29, 2025
Maryland Jeweler to Close After 36 YearsG.B. Heron Jewelers in Salisbury, Maryland, is set to close as its owner, Jeff Cassels, retires.
ColumnistsApr 29, 2025
Google Ads vs. Social Media Ads: Which Are More Effective?Emmanuel Raheb outlines the differences between the two platforms and posits that the most successful jewelers use both.
Brought to you by
Watch: The Winston Red: GIA Examines the Smithsonian’s Newest AdditionSupplier Spotlight Sponsored by GIA
SourcingApr 29, 2025
Gemfields Mini Ruby Auction Achieves $7MThe miner said its April sale featured a mix of commercial-quality primary rubies and secondary rubies of varying quality.
Weekly QuizApr 24, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CrimeApr 28, 2025
Customs Seizes Nearly 2,000 Pieces of Counterfeit Van Cleef & Arpels JewelryU.S. customs agents in El Paso, Texas, intercepted the package, which would have been worth $9 million if the jewelry was genuine.
TrendsApr 28, 2025
Suzanne Kalan Launches Tech Ring Jacket CollectionHealth monitors become statement pieces when paired with the brand’s new collection of stackable diamond-studded bands.
Brought to you by
Emerging Jewelers Accelerator Program Announces Second Cohort of Aspiring Jewelry Entrepreneurs Six new retail businesses were selected for the 2025 program, which began in January.
IndependentsApr 28, 2025
John Atencio Appoints 2 to Wholesale TeamKim Carpenter and Sam Gevisenheit have joined the brand.
CollectionsApr 25, 2025
Sylvie Looks to Water in New Sculptural Bridal Collection“Shell Auranova” is the next generation of the brand’s bridal line, featuring half-bezel engagement rings with bold and fluid designs.
FinancialsApr 25, 2025
Kering’s Jewelry Brands Persevere as Q1 Sales Sink 14%Boucheron and Pomellato performed well in an otherwise bleak quarter for Kering amid struggles at Gucci.
EditorsApr 25, 2025
Piece of the Week: Deborah Meyers Experience’s ‘The Birds’ EarringsDesigner Deborah Meyers created her birds from oxidized sterling silver, rose-cut diamond eyes, and Akoya Keshi pearl feathers.
SourcingApr 25, 2025
De Beers Sales, Production Fall in Q1 Amid UncertaintyThe company said it expects sightholders to remain “cautious” with their purchasing due to all the unknowns around the U.S. tariffs.
Supplier BulletinApr 24, 2025
Protect Your Customers and Your BusinessSponsored by the Gemological Institute of America
EditorsApr 24, 2025
Q&A: Wolf’s CEO Talks U.S. ExpansionSimon Wolf shares why the time was right to open a new office here, what he looks for in a retail partner, and why he loves U.S. consumers.
IndependentsApr 24, 2025
Longtime Iowa Jeweler Herman Ginsberg Dies at 99 A third-generation jeweler, Ginsberg worked at his family’s store, Ginsberg Jewelers, from 1948 until his retirement in 2019.
FinancialsApr 24, 2025
Charles & Colvard Delisted From Nasdaq Due to NoncomplianceThe company failed to file its quarterly reports in a timely manner.
SourcingApr 24, 2025
Young Diamantaires Transition to NonprofitThe organization also announced its board of directors.
TrendsApr 24, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: So CharmingCharms may be tiny but with their small size comes endless layering possibilities, from bracelets to necklaces and earrings.
MajorsApr 23, 2025
Bulgari Doubles Size of Jewelry Factory in ItalyLocated in Valenza, the now 355,000-square-foot facility includes a new jewelry school that’s open to the public, Scuola Bulgari.
AuctionsApr 23, 2025
Rare Custom Rolex Daytona Heads to AuctionA platinum Zenith-powered Daytona commissioned in the late ‘90s will headline Sotheby’s Important Watches sale in Geneva next month.
MajorsApr 23, 2025
David Yurman’s New Campaign Stars Carmelo Anthony, Jaylen BrownThe basketball stars wear men’s jewelry from the “Curb Chain” collection.
MajorsApr 22, 2025
Zales’ Rebrand Takes Playful Approach to Fine JewelryThe Signet Jewelers-owned retailer wants to encourage younger shoppers to wear fine jewelry every day, not just on special occasions.
AuctionsApr 22, 2025
Christie’s to Auction JAR Jewelry CollectionThe 21 pieces, all from a private collector, will be offered at its Magnificent Jewels auction next month.
ColumnistsApr 22, 2025
The PR Adviser: Building Buzz Through Word of MouthLilian Raji answers a question from a reader who is looking to grow her jewelry business but has a limited marketing budget.
GradingApr 22, 2025
Avi Levy Is GCAL By Sarine’s New Chief Growth OfficerGCAL by Sarine created the new role to sharpen the company’s focus on strategic partnerships and scalable expansion.
IndependentsApr 22, 2025
Brinker’s Jewelers Acquires Fellow IndependentThe Indiana jeweler has acquired Scottsdale Fine Jewelers in Scottsdale, Arizona.
