EditorsJun 24, 2025
The Best New Jewelry from Couture 2025, Part 2Associate Editor Natalie Francisco shares 20 additional pieces that stood out to her at the Couture show.
CollectionsAug 09, 2016
In Basel, the shows are about to begin
The trees are in early bloom, the white asparagus is coming in and the small Swiss town of Basel is buzzing once again for the annual Baselworld trade show, which has some company this year.
Brands under the Movado group umbrella are among the 1,500 exhibitors at the 2014 edition of Baselworld, which opens Thursday in Switzerland.
Basel--The trees are in early bloom, the white asparagus is coming in and the small Swiss town of Basel is buzzing once again for the annual Baselworld trade show, which has some company this year.
Baselworld is considered one of the world’s preeminent shows for watch brands, particularly Swiss- made brands, to display their new collections and latest movement innovations.
In an interview with National Jeweler following a pre-show press conference held Wednesday, Baselworld Managing Director Sylvia Ritter said Baselworld has approximately 1,400 exhibitors displaying a total of 1,500 brands this year, “about the same” as it had in 2013.
Last year, the Swiss trade show underwent a $454.9 million makeover that left it with a smaller but more modern space and 24 percent fewer exhibitors as compared with 2012. Show organizers said they were emphasizing “quality over quantity,” and reiterated the same as the 2014 show opened.
“We really tried to stabilize the number of exhibitors,” Ritter said Wednesday.
RELATED CONTENT: After $455M makeover, Baselworld to begin
While it is still a major event in the industry, particularly as a showcase for the latest Swiss-made mechanical watches, Baselworld is not the only show in town this year.
The Rapaport Group is hosting its first trade show in the Swiss city, the Diamond Show, which is taking place Thursday, Friday, Sunday and Monday at the Markthalle building, located near Basel’s SBB train station not far from Baselworld. (The show is closed Saturday for religious observances.)
The Diamond Show is open to the jewelry trade, private investors and collectors, and includes polished stones from 60 manufacturers and dealers as well as a special salon for fancy color diamonds.
RELATED CONENT: Rapaport to host diamond trade show in Basel
In nearby Freiburg, Germany, there is another first: UBM Asia is hosting its inaugural European show, the European Jewellery & Gem Fair. Freiburg is 30 minutes from Basel, and show organizers are providing shuttle bus service between the two cities throughout the fair, which starts Monday and runs for four days.
As Baselworld prepared to open Wednesday, show organizers shared 2013 export data for the Swiss watch industry as a whole, which has seen demand flatline following the massive year-over-year gains posted in 2011 and 2012, as the industry recovered from the global recession.
In 2013, Swiss watch exports increased 2 percent year-over-year in value terms, from CHF 21.4
billion ($24.17 billion) in 2012 to CHF 21.8 billion ($24.62 billion) in 2013, but fell 4 percent in volume terms.
Demand dropped in both Hong Kong and China--markets, show organizers emphasized during Wednesday’s press conference, that will play a major role in the future of the Swiss watch industry--but was up slightly in the United States, rising 2 percent year-over-year.
Asia is the Swiss watch industry’s largest market by far, gobbling up 52 percent of exports in 2013, compared with 31 percent by Europe and 14 percent in the Americas.
The week-long Baselworld show begins Thursday in Switzerland.
More on Collections
The Latest
IndependentsJun 24, 2025
Colorado Bench Jeweler Celebrates 50 Years With Local RetailerLori Tucker started at Williams Jewelers when she was 18 years old.
WatchesJun 24, 2025
Citizen’s New ‘Fantastic Four’ Watch Is Literally Super The “Marvel | Citizen Zenshin” watch is crafted in Super Titanium and has subtle nods to all four “Fantastic Four” superheroes on the dial.
Brought to you by
Investing in the Next Generation of Bench JewelersThe Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.
MajorsJun 24, 2025
Tacori, QVC to Launch Exclusive Lab-Grown Diamond Jewelry CollectionThe “XO Tacori” collection was designed to blend luxury and accessible pricing.
Weekly QuizJun 20, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
GradingJun 23, 2025
GIA Names New President and CEO Pritesh Patel, the lab’s chief operating officer, will take over as president and CEO of GIA.
Recorded WebinarsJun 23, 2025
Watch: Top Trends at Couture, JCK Las Vegas 2025National Jeweler and Jewelers of America discuss the standout jewelry trends and biggest news to emerge from the shows this year.
Brought to you by
Jewelers of America is Headed to Las Vegas for JCK 2025The countdown is on for the JCK Las Vegas Show and JA is pulling out all the stops.
SourcingJun 23, 2025
Diamond Producers, Organizations to Kick in Money to Promote Natural DiamondsSignatories to the “Luanda Accord” committed to allocating 1 percent of annual diamond revenue to the Natural Diamond Council.
Events & AwardsJun 23, 2025
Jose Hess Design Awards Celebrate 6 Jewelry DesignersThe winning designs captured the “Radiance” theme.
Events & AwardsJun 23, 2025
Gem Awards Now Accepting Nominations for 2026Nominations in the categories of Jewelry Design, Media Excellence, and Retail Innovation will be accepted through July 30.
TrendsJun 20, 2025
Dua Lipa Stays On-Trend With Chunky Engagement RingThe singer’s ring ticks off many bridal trends, with a thick band, half-bezel setting, and solitaire diamond.
TrendsJun 20, 2025
Piece of the Week: Yvonne Léon’s ‘Python Gold’ BraceletThe bracelet references vintage high jewelry and snake symbolism as a playful piece where a python’s head becomes a working belt buckle.
CrimeJun 18, 2025
7 Men Indicted in $100M Brinks Jewelry HeistThe heist happened in Lebec, California, in 2022 when a Brinks truck was transporting goods from one show in California to another.
AuctionsJun 18, 2025
Historic ‘Marie-Thérèse Pink’ Diamond Fetches $14M at Christie’sThe 10-carat fancy purple-pink diamond with potential links to Marie Antoinette headlined the white-glove jewelry auction this week.
EditorsJun 18, 2025
Q&A: Caryl Capeci Dives Into Cruise Jewelry ShoppingThe Starboard Cruises SVP discusses who is shopping for jewelry on ships, how much they’re spending, and why brands should get on board.
AuctionsJun 18, 2025
16th-Century ‘Gresham Grasshopper’ Ring Sells for $56KThe historic signet ring exceeded its estimate at Noonans Mayfair’s jewelry auction this week.
SourcingJun 18, 2025
Gemfields Sells 36-Carat Rough RubyThe gemstone is the third most valuable ruby to come out of the Montepuez mine, Gemfields said.
TechnologyJun 18, 2025
Alex Brown Named President of Smithee GroupFounder and longtime CEO Ben Smithee will stay with the agency, transitioning into the role of founding partner and strategic advisor.
EditorsJun 17, 2025
The Best New Jewelry from Couture 2025, Part 1Associate Editor Natalie Francisco shares 20 of her favorite pieces from the jewelry collections that debuted at Couture.
ColumnistsJun 17, 2025
Peter Smith: Is Your Comp Plan a Hiring Hindrance?If you want to attract good salespeople and generate a stream of “sleeping money” for your jewelry store, then you are going to have to pay.
AuctionsJun 17, 2025
Colored Gemstones, Signed Jewels Shine in Sotheby’s High Jewelry SaleThe top lot was a colorless Graff diamond, followed by a Burmese ruby necklace by Marcus & Co.
MajorsJun 17, 2025
Amanda Gizzi Gets a Promotion at JAGizzi, who has been in the industry since 2001, is now Jewelers of America’s senior vice president of corporate affairs.
MajorsJun 17, 2025
Kering Names Automotive Exec as Its New CEOLuca de Meo, a 30-year veteran of the auto industry, will succeed longtime CEO François-Henri Pinault.
EditorsJun 16, 2025
Q&A: Bogolo Joy Kenewendo on Mining, Tariffs, and the Energy of Las VegasFollowing visits to Vegas and New York, Botswana’s minerals minister sat down with Michelle Graff to discuss the state of the diamond market.
IndependentsJun 16, 2025
Greenwich St. Jewelers Launches Commitment Campaign Celebrating LGBTQ+ CouplesThe “Your Love Has the Perfect Ring” campaign showcases the strength of love and need for inclusivity and representation, the jeweler said.
MajorsJun 16, 2025
Ivette Nersesyan-Stephanopoulos Joins Tiffany & Co.The former De Beers executive is the jewelry house’s new director of high jewelry for the Americas.
