Citizen Watch UK’s managing director has described the designs and innovations he saw at this year’s Baselworld as “safe”.
Writing in the April edition of WatchPro magazine, he reviews the annual trade show with an eye on key trends including the increasing use of bold colours, and the increasing importance of smart features.
“While the hype of the smartwatch is apparent, this Basel seemed safe in comparison to other years. The polar opposites of design continued to reign; as super tech pushes the boundaries, the return to a traditional aesthetic closes the circle,” Robinson suggests.
“I was interested to see examples of vintage-inspired pieces that effectively mixed natural materials, such as leather, with modern casings housing new-age technology, and the extensive use of titanium, something Citizen is synonymous,” he continues.
The key design trend was the continuing importance of colour to watchmakers. “Colour was everywhere again. Even brands that are known for producing more classic steel and black leather timepieces where experimenting with blues and purples. As with last year, blue in every shade was a major trend, but we also saw green and black dials with red accents creeping in,” Robinson concludes.
Read Mark Robinson’s comprehensive views of this year’s Baselworld in the April edition of WatchPro. The monthly magazine is free to professionals (manufacturers, designers, retailers and wholesalers) working in the UK watch industry. Click here to subscribe.
