Baselworld 2022 shelved due to Covid-19 and customer ‘uncertainty’
The organisers of the annual Baselworld watch fair, which was cancelled the past two years due to the pandemic, have again postponed the 2022 spring edition.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/sb
Português
pt
Feira de joias e relógios Baselworld suspende edição 2022
The relaunch of Baselworld, the world’s largest and oldest watch and jewellery trade fair “needs more time”, the MCH Group said in a statementExternal link on Friday. It was due to take place in the Swiss city of Basel from March 31 to April 4, physically and online.
The current Covid-19 situation has again played a major role.
“It is particularly difficult to launch a new concept for a new target segment due to the renewed aggravation of the Covid situation and the associated uncertainty among customers,” MCH Group said.
Their decision follows experience gained from a Baselworld pop up event at the Geneva Watch Days fair, which took place from August 30 to September 3, and after intensive discussions with manufacturers and retailers.
MCH Group said that due to the cancellation of Baselworld 2022, Managing Director Michel Loris-Melikoff had decided to leave the company and take on a new challenge. He has been in charge of the fair since 2018.
Before the pandemic, Swiss watchmakers held two big watch fairs annually, the SIHH in Geneva and Baselworld. Both fairs were cancelled in 2021 due to the pandemic, but the SIHH, rebaptised Watches & Wonders, took place online.
In recent months Baselworld lost several major exhibitors to Watches & Wonders, including Rolex, Patek Philippe, Chanel, Chopard, Tudor, Hublot, Zenith, TAG Heuer, Grand Seiko and Oris. Watches and Wonders Geneva will take place from March 30 to April 5, 2022.
More
Can Swiss watchmakers survive another century of disruption?
You no longer need a watch to know what time it is. Where does that leave the Swiss watch industry?
Swiss skiers nab top spots in iconic Lauberhorn race
This content was published on
Swiss skier Marco Odermatt has won the Lauberhorn downhill ski race in Wengen, Switzerland, for the third time, just ahead of compatriot Franjo von Allmen.
Switzerland’s neighbours are ‘not role models’ in fiscal policy, says finance minister
This content was published on
Swiss finance minister Karin Keller-Sutter defended the country's compliance with the debt brake at a meeting of her party, the Radical-Liberals, on Saturday.
Pope Francis praises Swiss Guards’ patience with pilgrims
This content was published on
During a private audience on Saturday, Pope Francis praised the Swiss Guards for their "great patience" with pilgrims who visit the Vatican.
Swiss designer Kevin Germanier to design outfits for Eurovision presenters
This content was published on
Designer Kevin Germanier will dress the team of presenters at the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest, which takes place in May in Basel.
Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter makes official visit to Austria
This content was published on
Karin Keller-Sutter, who took over the rotating Swiss presidency this year, has made her first official visit abroad as president to Austria.
This content was published on
The boss of Swiss Post, Roberto Cirillo, is stepping down at the end of March after six years in the job, the company announced on Friday.
This content was published on
The name and logo of the former Credit Suisse headquarters at Paradeplatz 8 in Zurich's financial centre were officially replaced by those of UBS on Friday.
Outgoing Swiss federal police chief warns of insufficient resources
This content was published on
The outgoing director of the Federal Office of Police (Fedpol), Nicoletta della Valle, has warned that officers, prosecutors and investigators in Switzerland have insufficient resources to do their work.
Swiss university inaugurates Europe’s most powerful centrifuge
This content was published on
The federal technology institute ETH Zurich has inaugurated Europe's most powerful geotechnical centrifuge. Researchers use the instrument to simulate the effects of natural hazards.
Swiss film industry reports successful year in 2024
This content was published on
Swiss films did well in cinemas in 2024, recording over 907,000 admissions, the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) reports. They accounted for almost 9% of all films shown last year in Switzerland.
Plans for Baselworld 2021 watch fair up in the air
This content was published on
The organisers of the world’s biggest watch and jewellery fair have decided to temporarily shelve the event for 2021 following the exodus of major brands.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.