2019 Baselworld - March 20th to 26th - has been reinvented says organiser

As the world is increasingly concerned about climate change and the impact of plastics pollution in our seas, water and the earth's oceans are very much sources of inspiration for many watch brands from Switzerland launching to the trade this Spring.

The Nethuns Colorum II collection is water resistant to 200 metres, thanks to a unique construction that includes a sculpted outer case in either 925 silver or a special bronze alloy made of copper and tin. This outer case is fitted over a watertight inner case that holds the movement. The dial is made in a choice of bold colours, including red, blue, turquoise and orange, which are the best colours for readability under water. Each dial colour has a rubber strap to match. A sturdy screw-locked crown at the 9 o’clock position operates an internal bezel that times dives without being susceptible to inadvertent adjustments. An eternal renewal, like the life which flows through us.

One example is Strom's Nethuns II Colorum collection inspired by the Etruscan god of the sea.  Nethuns symbolises the perpetual cycle of water flowing from sources to streams, rivers to oceans, before evaporating into the sky to be reborn as rain.

Another example is the  Faubourg de Cracovie Salmon SOCKEYE collection of CZAPEK & CIE which has been named after famous salmon species from the Pacific Ocean.

The dial of the Sockeye - part of CZAPEK & CIE’s new Faubourg Cracovie salmon collection  - is made of alloy 401, a combination of 55% gold and a mixture of platinum, palladium and silver with an electroplated salmon finish. It was made by the craftspeople at Metalem, Czapek’s partner in Le Locle. The steel case houses a high frequency (36,000 vph) automatic movement, the calibre SXH3, an outstanding integrated column-wheel chronograph movement, bearing the COSC Chronometer certification and made by Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier. Limited edition to 18 pieces.

The dial design of the Sockeye was inspired by a bespoke piece created for a collector who requested a watch from the Quai des Bergues line with a salmon-coloured guilloché dial and blue hands and numerals.

While visitors to the 2019 Baselworld will be on the look-out for new creations from Swiss brands exhibitinng at the prestigious fair from March 20th to 26th, all eyes will be on new changes that the organisers had promised since last December that the 2019 event “will be reinvented and more appealing to all.”

Michel Loris-Melikoff, the new director of Baselworld, supported by the Swiss Exhibitors' Committee, was determined to give the show a complete makeover, in addition to the synchronisation of exhibition dates between the world’s two largest watch fairs – SIHH and Baselworld -  which will come into operation in 2020 (SIHH from April 26th to 29th and Baselworld from April 30th to May 5th), among other changes.

On a practical level, the Show is rearranging the exhibition areas, resulting in a more compact event that will take place mainly in Halls 1.0, 1.1, 1.2 and 3, as well as a new press centre strategically located in the heart of the main hall, directly linked to the "Central Plaza" with its many restaurants. Not to mention the new "Best of Les Ateliers" located in Hall 1.0 (south); "The Loop" in Hall 1.1 with restaurants and lounge bar; and "The Show Plaza" in Hall 1.2, with runway shows worthy of New York salons. A range of new options with a wide choice of friendly places to work, chat, eat, drink or simply have a good time.

For 2019, a new partnership is being established with hotels in Basel and the surrounding area, with the aim of ensuring that hotel room rates are respected during the exhibition in an entirely transparent manner.  Apparently hree-quarters of hotels in Basel and the surrounding region have signed an agreement on compliance with maximum rates. They thus become official partners of the event and ensure that there will be no longer any minimum length of stay and no price increase compared with 2018.