As BASELWORLD 2008 had the ultimate to offer in terms of the newest in timekeeping and jewellery, TIME ’N STYLE takes a look at the finer aspects of the Show — what was showcased and how, and what the future holds for the Show

TIME ’N STYLE TEAM AT BASELWORLD ’08 — ANITA KHATRI, VEYOLEEN MEHROTRA, RANVIJAYSINH JHALA AND ASHOK S. KHEMLANI

The best of the latest in watches and jewellery presented itself to an audience from across the globe at the 36th edition of BASELWORLD at Basel, Switzerland. The show, which took place between April 3 and 10, had 2,087 exhibitors from 45 different countries showcasing their collections to distributors, retailers and the press. The world’s biggest, and most important trade show for the watch and jewellery industry made a mark this year as well, with its setup spread across 1,60,000 square metres of show area distributed over six halls.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Swiss Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard, whose presence underlined the importance of the event. The Swiss watch industry, the third largest commercial sector in Switzerland, accounts for exports of CHF 16 billion (as recorded for 2007). Additionally, the fact that over 90 per cent of this figure is accounted for by the Swiss exhibitors at BASELWORLD makes the show even more crucial for its host nation.

The Show Begins…
On the opening day, Sylvie Ritter, Show Director of BASELWORLD stated that the annual show is a unique opportunity for exhibitors to showcase their brands to visitors. She explained, “Our visitors are guaranteed an opportunity to see the latest collections from watch and jewellery manufacturers, at all price points.” She added, “It is this feature of BASELWORLD that has loyal visitors coming to see the small city of Basel transform into a global capital of the luxury goods industry for a week every year.”

In his speech, Jacques J. Duchêne, President of the Exhibitors’ Committee, drew attention to an issue facing the international watch industry. While addressing the need for intellectual property rights, he stated, “Last year, I had mentioned in my speech that the revised law on the protection of intellectual property would enable the Swiss customs authority to take stronger action against imitation and forgery. Today, I would like to let you know that the revised law will come into power this July. It will prohibit the import into, export out of, and transit through Switzerland of industrially-manufactured products that infringe a protected brand or design.” global reach

Like every year, the exhibition of watch and jewellery brands was spread across several buildings, around the exhibition square that becomes a hub of activity throughout the show. Hall One, with the main entrance to the show, featured one of the most elaborate setups by brands with the biggest booths, each seeming like a virtual boutique in itself. “This is the 10th BASELWORLD since the completion of Hall One in 1999,” said René Kamm, CEO of Swiss Exhibition (Holding) Ltd. He added, “This was a significant improvement to the infrastructure and an important prerequisite for BASELWORLD to become the world’s leading event in the luxury sector.” The booths of watch brands in Halls One, Two and Five incorporated elements of their brand’s principles and personality in them. Through the booths, brands displayed their characteristic traits in a distinguishable fashion. Ritter elucidated, “Our ongoing concept of paying close attention to the exhibiting brands, and to the significance of companies in the international market, while allocating exhibition space, has proved extremely successful.”

trend alert
BASELWORLD is the place where ‘business begins and trends are created’. As such, visitors were treated to a phenomenal assortment of ingenuity and skill. While brands, with their classic collections, found novel ways to include contemporary elements in their creations, others assembled new features in combinations never seen before. A dominant trend was the bold use of black. The evergreen colour was seen as a predominant force in the watches, sometimes resulting in an all-black watch. Brands opted for black dials in black cases supported by black straps. A few brands even used the colour in gold in the form of black or grey gold.

From aesthetics to mechanics, brands expressed their commitment to the art of watchmaking. “It should be noted that mechanical watches have been growing in significance,” stated Duchêne on the opening day, highlighting a fact that became evident over the next few days. Several brands came out with mechanical timepieces for the first time, making their debut as brands of ‘watchmaker’s watches’. Not only were mechanical movements the order of the day, they also became inspiration for, and components of, women’s watches. Although women’s watches have generally been small in size with simple quartz movements, the trend of women wearing bigger-dialled watches has been gaining momentum over the last two years. This BASELWORLD, the now-bigger women’s watches saw an inclusion of mechanics in their movement, with some even flaunting complications.