By Monica Oproiu
Baselworld 2015, the global trendsetting event for the watch and jewellery industry, was held once again in the charming Swiss city of Basel on March 19-26th. After eight intensive days and some record breaking, Baselworld strengthened its leadership position in the industry.
Jewellery highlights
As a major trendsetting event, Baselworld witnesses the launch of new collections each year, which makes a daunting task for any editor who is trying to select a few of them in order to present to the readers. However, the luxury and splendour surrounding these launches make a journalist’s job truly enviable.
London-based Garrard celebrated its 280th anniversary with a luxurious booth in Hall 1 and the launch of its exquisite “Bow” collection featuring elegant signature pieces crafted in rose gold and highlighted in diamonds, as well as full diamond creations with contemporary design. The collection included two high jewellery necklaces too, embodying the traditional artistry of the world’s oldest jewellery house.
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- Garrard - “Bow” collection
And speaking of anniversaries, the Italian brand Nanis celebrated its 25th with the special collection “Transformista”. Its pieces can be transformed into something new with a simple twist. An improved clasp provides greater flexibility and the opportunity to choose between wearing a classical geometrical jewel or the floral explosion of a branch of bougainvillea set in gold and diamonds.
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- Nanis - “Transformista”
Yoko London, the famous pearl jewellery company from the British capital, displayed an impressive diversity of pieces reflecting all tastes, from classical to cutting-edge trends.
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- Yoko London
Jochen Pohl launched its first bracelets as part of a vintage collection featuring rose gold, diamonds and the brand’s signature moonstone.
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- Jochen Pohl
The trend of jewellery houses which start to create watches maintained this year too, with Picchiotti unveiling its debut white-gold jewelled timepiece.
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- Picchiotti
Last but not least, China’s top jadeite jade jewellery brand Zhaoyi made its debut at Baselworld with the astonishing “Imperial Classics” collection featuring filigree inlay haute couture works which reminded the European visitors of the jade robes of ancient China.
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- Zhaoyi - “Imperial Classics” collection
Design directions - all eyes on hands
The multi-finger and full-finger rings craze continues, and they now come in all shapes and sizes.
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- Yoko London
Also, more than ever, rings and bracelets become one. Some brands even went further, creating spectacular ”brings” (bracelet+ring) which prove both the increasing demand for exotic-looking jewellery and the outstanding abilities of their craftsmen. No wonder that the Lebanon-based - but of Armenian background - Yeprem jewellery brand caters to some of the most famous hands in the American show-biz industry, from Rihanna to Oprah Winfrey and Jennifer Lopez.
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- Yeprem
For those preferring less dramatic wristwear, but no less eye-catching, the designers are spoiling them with a wide range of gold bangles set with diamonds or gems. Frank Wu of TTF Haute Joaillerie presented its “Exquisite” collection showcasing elegant pieces in rose gold dotted with diamond lines.
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- Frank Wu Design
Colour-wise, summery bright blue tones dominated the jewellery landscape, as in Meissen Couture’s new Mystery Rivieres collection and its newly launched “must have” Cosmopolitan clutch.
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- Meissen
Blue was the magic word at several other booths too, with sapphires or sapphire and tanzanite profusion stealing the limelight at Sutra and Frank Wu design.
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Facts and figures
As far as figures go, the event once again hosted 1,500 brands which showcased their creations in the usual glamorous setting. Undoubtedly, Baselworld is the place to see and be seen! This year’s edition boasted 150,000 attendees (including representatives from exhibiting companies, buyers, journalists and other visitors) from over 100 countries. There were marginally fewer buyers present (-3% vs 2014), but also an all-time record-setting number of participants from the press: more than 4,300 (+ 7.5% vs 2014) from over 70 countries. The attendance of journalists from the world’s financial press, major dailies, lifestyle publications, trade press, the biggest TV channels and key players in the field of social media proved, once more, the show’s broad appeal across press segments and its truly global impact.
State of the industry
The show was overall positive for watch and jewellery brands, according to the organisers. With resilience, responsiveness and creativity as the new keywords, the industry continues its way forward, while benefiting from a growing public interest. After all, nowhere else are more innovations, creations and new collections revealed than at Baselworld! At the same time, innovation is more and more understood not just in terms of creating products, but also as intensifying the communication with the media and buyers, as François Thiébaud, President of the Swiss Exhibitors’ Committee, remarked. Baselworld continues to be a major milestone in the year for most of the participating brands, giving them the opportunity to meet both clients from around the world and an ever expanding press interested in their products.
Baselworld will return next year from 17-24 March.
