Baselworld postponed to january 2021

[shlomom]

Insane.

[aleeboy]

There are several lead indicators that this was going to happen.

Firstly, press launch kits were very very slow to come out this year.

The watch industry has been slaughtered thanks to the grafts probe in China.

The Apple Watch has continued to take market share.

Only Rolex is generating headlines on the internet with a little ripple IRL.

I have a feeling the watch industry's future is not looking good.

[Dlong]

I called that one.

[avega357]

Originally Posted by beshannon

We have really reached a strange time when a manufacturer of high end luxury jewelry is being expected to talk about new products in light of what is happening in the world.

Companies have social responsibilities, especially Rolex that has the highest Trust quotient of any Company in the world

Rolex cannot ignore the situation until it goes away,

They have shown leadership by postponing but they need to continue to lead



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[beshannon]

Originally Posted by avega357

Companies have social responsibilities, especially Rolex that has the high Trust quotient of any country in the world

Rolex cannot ignore the situation until it goes away, the world is being affected

They have shown leadership by postponing but they need to continue to lead



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Ok

Rolex is not a company and pursues their own goals. Rolex not talking about new products is not ignoring anything. Rolex did not cancel the BaselWorld show.

It is jewelry. It is not necessary. It is not a concern of the majority of the worlds population.

[mykii]

Right thing to do IMO, but will be interested to know if watches will still be released/announced online.

[Danny83]

Maybe they have a contract with Baselworld to release there only?

[gtnator]

Online Baselworld!!


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[Coolex]

If you buy tickets to 3 lame shows they offer, they will bundle an exclusive pass to basel 2020 They know the market you have created for yourselves.

[HONDABBQ]

Baselworld Twitter page says its the same dates for this year.

Edit: as noted the website says its cancelled.

[ras47]

Couldn't they just stock up on Lysol?

[bp1000]

I doubt it will continue.

This might be the death of it. I'm sure Patek and Rolex will eventually realise they can do a better job of showcasing their new models with their own events.

[So Chic]

It is certainly a strange time and this could definitely affect the way things will be done in the future.

[Oxfordian]

It looks as though this virus is going to have a major impact on a lot of things this year, already major sporting events have been cancelled in Europe (Ireland v Italy in rugby), the Chinese F1 GP has been postponed and there is a big question mark about the viability of starting the F1 season due to some of the teams base being Italy and possibly being quarantined. Cycling's Tour of the UAE has been cancelled following participants testing positive for the virus.

Trade shows as mentioned have been postponed in Switzerland, the Japanese are contemplating the potential postponement of the Olympics, there is also a question mark against the UEFA European football championships this summer.

Venice's famous festival was closed early, ski resorts in northern Italy are closing early, the border between Italy, Switzerland and Austria is being closing monitored, and I believe that at least one train was refused access to Austria from Italy.

The virus would appear to be spreading fairly quickly so it is likely that there will be further disruption to our lives including the possibility of factories across the world having to close to stop the spread of the virus.

Not sure if the Swiss watchmaking elves will be affected by Covid-19 but I suspect that they could and as a result we may see shutdowns of the factories, so getting hold of a Rolex may well become even more difficult than it already is.

[alphadweller]

I don't see how the cancellation of BaselWorld would stop Rolex from announcing their new releases at some point this year. They have a business to run.

They might wisely wait until COVID-19 fears abate though to show some consideration towards the general public. Luxury watches are probably not a priority in people's minds at the moment.

[joeflipperhead]

Originally Posted by whatsthetime?

Not too many humanitarians here, more people concerned about a show and new watch releases. Really show how shallow people are. What a shame.

are they mutually exclusive? Why can't people feel compassionate about what's going on, while being disappointed that the show, which is tantamount to the Superbowl for the brand that we all love, is cancelled?

[JBowen2]

I can’t see brands not releasing watches due to not having the show. This could be the continuation of brands holding separate events I.e. Bremont, to release their watches

If brands like Rolex, Patek, Seiko etc start to do that, this may be the end of big watch release fairs as we know it


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[Alan111]

Originally Posted by AAP8

COVID-19 -> the possible start of the death of Baselworld and SIHH - these shows were on their last leg - and now if Rolex, Patek, etc do a digital launch of their products for 2020 - it would start to match the trend in other industries. Apple, Samsung, Google, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti - are all launching outside of the larger shows - I guess its time for Rolex, AP, Patek to follow suit. In a world where the top tier brands dont need the shows - it makes it really tough to justify these shows for the smaller brands as well.

This.

[eco8gator]

Well maybe Rolex can use the time and saved money to turn up the tap or go on a GM vendor hunting spree:).

Regarding the cause of the delay....I do hope our world leaders can get their heads out of their asses and work together to efficiently resolve this issue.

[Ravager135]

Rolex has released models outside of the traditional Baselworld announcements before. The Deep Blue DSSD was released in this fashion. I suspect brands will likely individually hold media gatherings or just announce things on their own for new releases. This happens all the time with Panerai, IWC, etc. I can't see why "Baselworld specific" brands would do anything differently.

Rolex certainly has a time table on products which was set in motion long before this cancellation.

[Swiss Mad!]

Originally Posted by avega357

Rolex will need to make an announcement on what they will do


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With all due respect Rolex don’t ‘Need’ to do anything.




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[Swiss Mad!]

Originally Posted by samson66

Well how am I going to get a look at all the watches I won't be able to buy for the next few years?

Instagram


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[Bizcut1]

Originally Posted by samson66

Well how am I going to get a look at all the watches I won't be able to buy for the next few years?

[m j b]

Originally Posted by samson66

Well how am I going to get a look at all the watches I won't be able to buy for the next few years?

LOL, thanks for the perspective.

[WhiteAMEX]

Please note: it’s not possible to postpone an annual show to the following year. Call it straight. The show was cancelled.

[GMT Aviator]

There goes the GMT Coke release for another year!
Joking aside, absolutely the right thing to do to cancel the event under the circumstances.
I'm currently in Istanbul....have been for the last month. All the hotels have been filling up with asians at an astonishing rate because they can't get back into their native homelands because of the virus.
I dont hold much hope this place will fair any better and soon may be on some form of restricted lock down before long. Tehran is off he menu flight wise as are many middle eastern destinations as those nations are closing down to try and get a handle on it spreading.

Interesting times for sure but I'd still like to know how what the mortality rate is for this virus compared to the regular strains of flu we've had with for decades.

[superstarmar]

Originally Posted by beshannon

Brands do not need a show to change their product lineup and never have

yup...

[Cooper33]

It's super low, talking about less than 0.5% for pretty much everyone below 60.

Originally Posted by GMT Aviator

There goes the GMT Coke release for another year!
Joking aside, absolutely the right thing to do to cancel the event under the circumstances.
I'm currently in Istanbul....have been for the last month. All the hotels have been filling up with asians at an astonishing rate because they can't get back into their native homelands because of the virus.
I dont hold much hope this place will fair any better and soon may be on some form of restricted lock down before long. Tehran is off he menu flight wise as are many middle eastern destinations as those nations are closing down to try and get a handle on it spreading.

Interesting times for sure but I'd still like to know how what the mortality rate is for this virus compared to the regular strains of flu we've had with for decades.

[Bozack90]

Originally Posted by avega357

Companies have social responsibilities

why?

this sounds like a very recent trend and tailored to millennial's and younger, I for one miss the days when companies just focused on producing a product and left it at that.

Regardless this seems to have more to do with the show producers, modified policy in Switzerland around gatherings and not so much Rolex

[Loevhagen]

Does this means that the 116610LV is not discontinued until later this year?