Watch out, Baselworld: Geneva Salon goes from strength to strength

Amid turbulent times for the Swiss luxury watch industry - and the news that the Geneva show is set to synchronise with Basel in 2020 - MARTIN FOSTER reports on the latest from this year's SIHH The Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, known as the 'Geneva Salon', is behind us for another year - but with a difference In 2020, the 30th Geneva Salon will take place 26-29 April, followed immediately by Baselworld to form what some are calling the 'Swiss Shows Week'.

Fabienne Lupo, CEO of the SIHH, explained the choice in her opening address at this year's Salon, saying, "Our one objective must be to serve the greater good of the industry, and this decision is proof of that We and the Baselworld executive agreed on the importance of coordinating our two events, which will be held back-to-back starting in April 2020 and for five editions." Chopard's Karl-Friedrich Scheufele has still publicly backed the Basel show, saying: "I am very happy with Baselworld," adding, "It will not go out of business." Movado, Hermès and Ulysse Nardin left Baselworld in 2018 and the latter two joined the Geneva Salon in 2019 The SIHH itself has had a notable departure, with Audemars Piguet, one of the founding five members, leaving the Salon from next year and eschewing exhibition traditions altogether.

Broadly, the mood at the Geneva Salon was optimism tempered by the political instabilities of the US, China, Russia and the UK Still, the 29th Salon final report revealed it had a highly successful four days with more than 23,000 visitors - up 15 per cent on 2018. . Source