GradingNov 12, 2025
It’s Time: GIA’s Express Holiday Service Is Back GIA is offering next-day services for natural, colorless diamonds submitted to its labs in New York and Carlsbad.
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
MajorsNov 10, 2025
Jewelers Focus on Love, Joy In 2025 Holiday Campaigns Tiffany & Co., David Yurman, and Pandora have launched holiday campaigns depicting their jewelry as symbols of affection and happiness.
SurveysNov 10, 2025
5 Things Retailers Should Know About Holiday Shoppers This YearThe National Retail Federation is bullish on the holidays, forecasting retail sales to exceed $1 trillion this year.
Brought to you by
Roseco Releases New Full-Line CatalogRoseco’s 704-page catalog showcases new lab-grown diamonds, findings, tools & more—available in print or interactive digital editions.
AuctionsNov 10, 2025
300+ Colored Diamonds Up for Auction at Christie’sLate collector Eddy Elzas assembled “The Rainbow Collection,” which is offered as a single lot and estimated to fetch up to $3 million.
Weekly QuizNov 06, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
EditorsNov 07, 2025
Piece of the Week: An MVP’s Sapphire Tennis Necklace At the 2025 World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto sported a custom necklace made by California retailer Happy Jewelers.
IndependentsNov 07, 2025
Foundrae’s New Palm Beach Location Is a ‘Golden Solarium’The brand’s seventh location combines Foundrae’s symbolic vocabulary with motifs from Florida’s natural surroundings.
Brought to you by
Jewelers of America Aligns New Mission to Create Meaningful Impact for MembersFrom educational programs, advocacy, and recent MJSA affiliation, Jewelers of America drives progress that elevates businesses of all sizes.
FinancialsNov 07, 2025
Watches of Switzerland’s H1 Sales Up 8%The retailer also shared an update on the impact of tariffs on watch customers.
SourcingNov 06, 2025
Pink Tourmaline Bracelet, Emerald Suite Take Top Spectrum Honors Pink and purple stones were popular in the AGTA’s design competition this year, as were cameos and ocean themes.
IndependentsNov 06, 2025
Greenwich St. Jewelers Hosts Raffle Supporting Food RescueAll proceeds from the G. St x Jewel Boxing raffle will go to City Harvest, which works to end hunger in New York City.
IndependentsNov 06, 2025
Cornell’s Jewelers Names New PresidentCourtney Cornell is part of the third generation to lead the Rochester, New York-based jeweler.
SourcingNov 06, 2025
De Beers’ Production, Sales Increase in Q3 De Beers also announced more changes in its upper ranks ahead of parent company Anglo American’s pending sale of the company.
WatchesNov 05, 2025
Shinola President Steps Down Just as He Starts Former Signet CEO Mark Light will remain president of Shinola until a replacement for Ulrich Wohn is found.
AuctionsNov 05, 2025
Taylor Swift’s Engagement Ring Designer Makes Her Auction DebutKindred Lubeck of Artifex has three rings she designed with Anup Jogani in Sotheby’s upcoming Gem Drop sale.
FinancialsNov 05, 2025
Pandora Posts Modest Q3 Sales Growth Amid ‘Weak’ Consumer Sentiment The company focused on marketing in the third quarter and introduced two new charm collections, “Pandora Talisman” and “Pandora Minis.”
FinancialsNov 05, 2025
Brilliant Earth’s Q3 Sales Climb 10%The jewelry retailer raised its full-year guidance, with CFO Jeff Kuo describing the company as “very well positioned” for the holidays.
Policies & IssuesNov 04, 2025
Supreme Court to Hear Tariffs Case WednesdayAhead of the hearing, two industry organizations co-signed an amicus brief urging the court to declare Trump’s tariffs unlawful.
MajorsNov 04, 2025
Danny Clark to Become Stuller CEO, Succeeding Matt StullerStuller COO Belit Myers will take on the additional role of president, with all changes effective at the start of 2026.
ColumnistsNov 04, 2025
Peter Smith: What Do Birds Have to Do With the Price of Gold? Smith cautions retailers against expending too much energy on things they can’t control, like the rising price of gold.
TrendsNov 04, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Fall Colors for November BirthdaysCitrine and topaz are birthstones fit for fall as the leaves change color and the holiday season approaches.
IndependentsNov 04, 2025
Weston Jewelers Heads to Fort LauderdaleThe family-owned jeweler will open its fourth store in Florida in late 2027.
CrimeNov 03, 2025
Men Dressed as Construction Workers Burglarize Jeweler’s Home The NYPD is looking for three men who stole a safe and jewelry valued at $3.2 million from the home of a jeweler in Jamaica Hills, Queens.
MajorsNov 03, 2025
Matthew Rosenheim Takes Over as JA Board ChairThe trade organization also announced its executive committee and five new directors.
CollectionsNov 03, 2025
Muse’s ‘Have a Heart’ Collab Returns, Now With DDGThe “Have a Heart x Diamonds Do Good” collection is championed by model and humanitarian Flaviana Matata and will benefit her foundation.
AuctionsNov 03, 2025
Kashmir Sapphire Ring Tops Christie's Online AuctionThe ring, set with a nearly 17-carat Kashmir cabochon sapphire, sold for $1 million.
TrendsOct 31, 2025
Piece of the Week: A Spinner Fit for ‘Frankenstein’This “Mother Father” spinner necklace from Heavenly Vices Fine Jewelry draws inspiration from Victorian Era jewelry.
