This is my 18th year at Baselworld. Still each time I wonder what new designs or innovations will I get to discover? This intrigues me. I wonder how 1500 watch brands each year create new designs, new innovations. Sheer creation year after year is a challenge in itself. But Baselworld never disappoints you. It meets the expectation keeping in line with the global environment. No wonder it qualifies for its appropriate positioning of being the world’s most important meeting place for the industry related to watches and jewellery.
Sylvie Ritter, Managing Director of Baselworld, reiterated the importance of the show, by stating that as the one unmissable event for the watch and jewellery sector, the attraction for consumers and the interest of the media are unceasing. “This year the beginning was disturbing as we got the news that Mr. Jacques J. Duchêne passed away on the eve of the opening of Baselworld. This year would have marked Mr Duchêne's 60th attendance at Baselworld and his 20th anniversary as President of the Exhibitor's Committee,” she adds.
This year the Apple watch has been the discussion point or conversation starter. Everyone is talking about the revolution set to unfold in the world of watches. With this on my mind, I was happy to discover many innovations with different materials being used. What is impressive is a clear trend of watches with small dials. I saw H. Moser & Cie’s new collection of Pioneer watches with rubber straps. H. Moser & Cie takes pride in being one of a handful of Swiss watch brands that can be called a manufacture.
I can predict a new business category in watches emerging – of high-tech watches Besides this, the trend is moving towards smaller watches surely.
As Mrs. Ritter aptly summed it up, Baselworld might have experienced openings where the conditions were more favourable and the mood accordingly optimistic but fortunately there were never occasions when we had the impression that the watch and jewellery industry was running out of innovative ideas. I second that completely.
My picks from the new and impressive offering at Baselworld 2015:
Raymond Weil Nabucco: The luxury Swiss watchmaker joined hands with the music company Gibson Brands, on a limited edition Nabucco watch, inspired by the self-tuning Gibson SG Standard. It features a black galvanic dial encircled by six grooves symbolizing the strings of the Gibson SG Standard guitar.
Dior Grand Bal Cancan: Since 2010, Dior Timepieces has been paying homage to the Dior House’s haute couture heritage and its infinite palette of colours through a collection of one-of-a-kind or reproducible pieces.
Zenith Academy Christophe Colomb Hurricane: The exterior of the watch and its dial is a marvel that gives pride of place to the movement. While two of its subdials – the small seconds at 9 o’clock and the (50-hour) power-reserve display at 4 o’clock – are crafted from gold and adorned with a fine guilloché motif, all three subdials are screwed to the mainplate and bear blued steel hands in keeping with the finest horological traditions.
Gucci Horsebit: The horsebit motif is one of the most recognizable designs. This collection is now extended with six new models, including three with soft colored leather straps. The curved stainless steel horsebit case replicates the iconic equestrian motif and a stylish white-lacquered dial. This watch comes in the two steel variants with a polished stainless steel bracelet. Three other models in a special soft Âgrand prix leather. The color of these straps ranges from red, brown to brick red.
TAG Heuer Carrera - Heuer 01: A Manufacture chronograph represents the horological development of the calibre 1887, on which the backbone of the new collection is based.
Its new design reveals the chronograph controls and the openworked date disc on the dial side. On the case-back, its red column wheel - a bold visual anchor - the skeleton chronograph bridge and the black weight also draw the eye into the mechanism.
Chopard Happy Fish: A timepiece with dazzling maritime sights which are enlivened by the whirling dance of Happy Diamonds. The new Happy Fish celebrates the magic of the underwater world, a delightfully harmonious vision in turquoise and gold, the graceful movements and flowing curves of a majestic fish that is visible by night come to life through delicate engraving on the shimmering mother-of-pearl.
