Rolex, Patek, Tudor etc leaves Baselworld

[planemad]

I feel this is a good thing. My hope is that ADs do more mini shows at AD level (lock in’s) where fans at our level can see the new product whether it be Rolex, PP or any other brand and have some nice sandwiches and drinks.

[RJG]

If very new to all of these things like : Baselworld - and I've never been. I'd really have liked to, though !

Baselworld just isnt the only platform for showcasing these luxury pieces.

Rolex and Tudor just got burned from the hard line NO refund answer from the management @ Baselworld though. They got stung badly.

" However, there has been a great deal of contention between Baselworld fair management (MCH Group) and the big brands, with some of it surrounding refund policies for the canceled 2020 show. The head of the Baselworld Exhibitors Committee, Hubert du Plessix, also a Rolex executive wrote a letter last week asking for refunds to be issued to exhibitors and indicating that if they were not, “we fear this will be the end, pure and simple, of Baselworld.”

[N2theCAPE]

Originally Posted by planemad

I feel this is a good thing. My hope is that ADs do more mini shows at AD level (lock in’s) where fans at our level can see the new product whether it be Rolex, PP or any other brand and have some nice sandwiches and drinks.

I've always loved this idea, I know from time to time AD's do buying events or just events but it would be nice to have them available to more people. I've always wanted to go to Baselworld but it's crazy expensive with everything involved.

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[N2theCAPE]

Originally Posted by Major69

Since the release goes out its way to mention that the new event will be geared to "retailers and VIP customers", in all likelihood that means less public access to watches.

Wasn't it really geared to this target market before anyway? I'm sure Baselworld saw more repeat visitors than new one's every year so don't you see it also redundant from that perspective as well?

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[Kirsty87]

One step closer to brands bypassing AD's

[tyngshen]

Originally Posted by Kirsty87

One step closer to brands bypassing AD's

Wrong, Rolex and Patek have repeatedly stated their commitment to ADs.

Don't see them going in AP's direction anytime soon.

[Jona]

I was always irritated that Rolex would introduce new watches at Basel but they were hard to get, and stayed that way for a very long time. In another hobby of mine, the AD's have a bunch of stock in advance which they cannot sell until "The XXXX Show" and then they are instantly available. I fail to see why Rolex couldn't do the same.

[worldofoyster]

it's the right thing to do

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by Swaye

But I do sort of feel like the brand is leaving people like me, who helped build the brand, behind in a rush toward exclusivity.

Your comment above, and others like it, is a fair conclusion. Yet if i pretty please with sugar on top may say...


WARNING: You Might Not Like Hearing The Below

Have been to well over 150 luxury events / shows over the years in many different countries. Yes, most are open to the public, with perhaps a single day ONLY for the industry/retailers/distributors/press/etc. Other events, for example, what was once the wonderful CES, was/is open only to those within the industry.

If i may say, perhaps the timepiece and luxury jewelry industry wants to have an event to focus on their business and press members, plus a splash of VIP (to glad-hand them and of course to grab headlines in publications as so-and-so attended _____ wearing the latest from ______).

IF a show allows the public, you have not only added security issues, there's also the time/effort/human resources towards the public. This is not a judgement mind you for or against anyone, it is that an INDUSTRY EVENT allows manufacturers / distributors / exhibitors the time to focus on business.... whereas a PUBLIC EVENT must also bring in resources to handle that.

So yeah, i get it. What was once a nice show also open to the public went ka-plooey. We're sad, shit happens. We'll get over it.


GOOD NEWS (possibly)
Perhaps one day there may be a variety of public timepiece and luxury jewelry shows at different locations worldwide each year. High fashion, luxury home audio, and many other consumer goods industries have multiple events each year at different locations worldwide.

The world is filled with possibilities. Now comes the goal of who has the firepower to put on multiple shows worldwide for the public.... and how they can gain the trust of the industry to support such events.

jmho ymmv
objects in mirror are losing

[dchernikoff]

From their website I see that "Watches and Wonders" has two shows, one in Geneva and one in Miami. I wonder if Rolex and PP will participate in the Miami show as well, now?

-Dan

[Swaye]

Originally Posted by enjoythemusic

Your comment above, and others like it, is a fair conclusion. Yet if i pretty please with sugar on top may say...


WARNING: You Might Not Like Hearing The Below

Have been to well over 150 luxury events / shows over the years in many different countries. Yes, most are open to the public, with perhaps a single day ONLY for the industry/retailers/distributors/press/etc. Other events, for example, what was once the wonderful CES, was/is open only to those within the industry.

If i may say, perhaps the timepiece and luxury jewelry industry wants to have an event to focus on their business and press members, plus a splash of VIP (to glad-hand them and of course to grab headlines in publications as so-and-so attended _____ wearing the latest from ______).

IF a show allows the public, you have not only added security issues, there's also the time/effort/human resources towards the public. This is not a judgement mind you for or against anyone, it is that an INDUSTRY EVENT allows manufacturers / distributors / exhibitors the time to focus on business.... whereas a PUBLIC EVENT must also bring in resources to handle that.

So yeah, i get it. What was once a nice show also open to the public went ka-plooey. We're sad, shit happens. We'll get over it.


GOOD NEWS (possibly)
Perhaps one day there may be a variety of public timepiece and luxury jewelry shows at different locations worldwide each year. High fashion, luxury home audio, and many other consumer goods industries have multiple events each year at different locations worldwide.

The world is filled with possibilities. Now comes the goal of who has the firepower to put on multiple shows worldwide for the public.... and how they can gain the trust of the industry to support such events.

jmho ymmv
objects in mirror are losing

Not a bad way to look at things. I appreciate you sharing that.

[Wck88]

Is this the end of Baselworld?

[Ntoz]

Can't blame them really.

[eurofunk]

Baselworld responds

[GreatScott]

Have you ever noticed that with each parting brand the heads at Basel always say they communicated about every decision with the brands but the brands claim otherwise.

They confuse talking to with talking at. That is not a partnership.

Just another sign that if you don’t change your business, then business will change for you.

Sorry Basel, I liked visiting, but hated getting gouged.

[Oystersteel92]

Originally Posted by Mystro

The “New watch show” by Rolex and PP is designed to be a lot more exclusive and more VIP in who attends. This just confirms Rolex is indeed targeting a more upscale image with their watches. Considering PP and Rolex are using the same targeted demographic with this new joint show, it’s easy to read the direction Rolex is moving their watches.

Maybe, but it also strikes me that Rolex/Tudor, PP, Chanel and Chopard are all fully independent companies. Luxury conglomerates need not apply, it seems.

I like it.

[Flyfisher]

If Rolex continues to be unable to supply inventory to retailers, who cares when, where or how they display their new watches.

Its all vaporware.

[dchernikoff]

Originally Posted by enjoythemusic

Your comment above, and others like it, is a fair conclusion. Yet if i pretty please with sugar on top may say...


WARNING: You Might Not Like Hearing The Below

...

GOOD NEWS (possibly)
Perhaps one day there may be a variety of public timepiece and luxury jewelry shows at different locations worldwide each year. High fashion, luxury home audio, and many other consumer goods industries have multiple events each year at different locations worldwide.

The world is filled with possibilities. Now comes the goal of who has the firepower to put on multiple shows worldwide for the public.... and how they can gain the trust of the industry to support such events.

jmho ymmv
objects in mirror are losing

Nice way to look at it, but it seems unlikely. The reason I say this is that I used to go to the "International Motorcycle Show" every year -- a similar type of show as what you are suggesting -- but they have consistently been reducing the number of shows/locations per year, and now there isn't one in my area. And frankly, I'll bet the customer base for Motorcycles is bigger that that for luxury watches. Same with Audio shows -- there used to be several in my area every year, 10 years ago, and now there are none. That, plus I suspect in the aftermath of COVID-19, many people will reevaluate these big everyone-welcome gatherings and they will become much less popular. At least for the next several years. I think the big shows like that are a thing of the past for every industry.

-Dan

[dchernikoff]

Originally Posted by eurofunk

Baselworld responds

I like this quote from their response:

More than ever before, it sees an opportunity to develop a modern platform in the watch and jewellery industry for brands that do not rely primarily on tradition, but above all on innovation.

Is that a dig at Rolex???

-Dan

[Theoffice]

Rolex was standing up for the smaller watch brands, good for them , Baselworld wouldn’t refund anyone on a technicality
Basel thought they were bluffing, I hope they get shut down for good

[gtnator]

They should do it in person and live stream too, like an Apple iPhone release event.


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[Gee2789]

While Basel has been taking about “innovation” going forwards it’s likely too little too late. The show was already heading towards life support and large brands do not like negative associations.

My wild conjecture is that Rolex and Co had a contingency plan in case Basel’s reformat and restart was a dud. By developing a separate option in parallel it would allow them to quickly transition if need be.

[enjoythemusic]

"...discussions concerning the financial arrangements for the cancellation of Baselworld 2020 are now being put forward as an argument." -- Baselworld

i look forward to Baselword explaining their reasoning behind not proving a full refund to exhibitors as MANY shows are doing. As a journalist, I just sent an e-mail to Baselword asking for their reasoning.

[descartes]

Well I am a bit disappointed because Basel is much more convenient to get to from my city than Geneva, and I have been able to combine the trip to Baselworld with business in Zurich (which is close to Basel) in the past.

Also, as a point of information, the Messe Basel is about 50% larger than the new Geneva venue which makes sense given that the show will no longer be consumer oriented and a smaller size venue will therefore be more appropriate.

Whether the show will be open at all to the general public is a big question. It will be a shame if it’s not.


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[ejj]

Rolex and Patek have said that they support the dealers, and this move proves it. They are continuing a Trade Show. Dealers and Press, for the most part.

Basel kept saying they were going to be a public portal for year-round watch events and news. How is that not competing with the dealers and the press? The internet has become the public watch platform, with Hodinkee and Friends leading the way. The local dealers need to add value as well.

[illiguy]

Rolex led the charge (Tudor as a byproduct), and Patek, Chanel and Chopard followed. Make no mistake, this is a press, dealer and VIP commitment that brings back “order” and predictability to a conservative Swiss watch industry. The downstream impact is less access to the everyday watch enthusiast, with downward obligation on AD networks to cocktail hour and put on in-store “reveal” events several months later as production ramps up to make new models available to ... VIPs. Rolex et al. left Baselworld because they were put in the rare position where they did not have ability to call the shots. The hubris of Baselworld MCH Group was thinking that they were bigger than the Swiss watchmaking giants they depend on (and survive because). They died on the hill of their hubris. RIP April 2020.

[dtwer]

Originally Posted by illiguy

Rolex led the charge (Tudor as a byproduct), and Patek, Chanel and Chopard followed. Make no mistake, this is a press, dealer and VIP commitment that brings back “order” and predictability to a conservative Swiss watch industry. The downstream impact is less access to the everyday watch enthusiast, with downward obligation on AD networks to cocktail hour and put on in-store “reveal” events several months later as production ramps up to make new models available to ... VIPs. Rolex et al. left Baselworld because they were put in the rare position where they did not have ability to call the shots. The hubris of Baselworld MCH Group was thinking that they were bigger than the Swiss watchmaking giants they depend on (and survive because). They died on the hill of their hubris. RIP April 2020.

Very good point. Baselworld grossly overvalued their own worth.

[eurofunk]

LVMH Brands, Hublot etc leaves Baselworld as well

[sgwatchguy]

Breaking news




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[spoon-turbo]

Originally Posted by eurofunk

LVMH Brands, Hublot etc leaves Baselworld as well

Rip to Baselworld.