Baselworld has cancelled its exhibition from April 30th to May 5th, 2021. The Geneva Museum of Watches and Miracles (formerly known as SIHH) announced that its 2021 show will not be held this year, and just one day later, Baselworld 2021 was cancelled. Both events (representing the world’s two largest trade shows for luxury watches) have raised concerns about COVID-19 coronavirus and its rapid spread across Europe. 
The Swiss Federal and State authorities officially banned all large public and private parties on the same day that Baselworld 2021 was cancelled. Continued holding the event not only puts nearly 150,000 attendees and 1,500 exhibitors at risk of contracting the virus, but also means serious legal consequences.
“For health and safety reasons and in accordance with the precautionary principles following the ban on large public and private events issued by the Swiss federal and state authorities today, Baselworld Watch & Jewellery Show announced that it has decided to postpone the show until Thursday, January 28, 2021) Until Tuesday, February 2, 2021 (press conference on Wednesday, January 27), it is related to COVID-19.
Managing Director Michel Loris-Melikoff stated that he hopes to postpone the exhibition until January next year, and exhibitors and attendees will not lose a full year and can still display new products in accordance with industry practice early next year.
He also said: “This delay will also allow Baselworld to continue to develop and bring in new formats and solutions, as well as improve our new concepts.”
The history of Baselworld dates back to 1917, when the Mustermesse of Basel was founded. At the time, the show included several industries in Switzerland, including the replica watch and jewelry industry. In 1931, the number of jewelry and watch exhibitors grew so fast that they hosted their own “Swiss Watch Fair” at the muba exhibition.
In the 1970s, other European countries were invited to participate in the Swiss Watch Fair, which was later renamed “Basel” to celebrate that other countries (not just Swiss companies) also joined the lineup. This also marks the expo’s independence from Muba.
The exhibition is now known as the “Basel World Watch and Jewellery Show”, with about 150,000 attendees and 1,500 exhibitors each year, becoming the largest and most important exhibition in the fake watch and jewelry industry.
The show introduced a new concept in 2019, centering around what they call “annual marketing and communication platform”, and we can only imagine that this will play a big role in making up for the cancellation this year.
Cancel Basel World Amid Coronavirus Worries
