Bulgari 2

Bulgari becomes latest watch and jewellery giant to turn its back on Baselworld

With growing travelling uncertainties of international visitors, and with only two and a half months to come, Bulgari has regretfully decided to cancel its participation, the company says.

At January’s LVMH Watch Week in Dubai, Bulgari chief executive Jean-Christophe Babin said at the opening press conference that 2020 would be the brand’s last appearance at Baselworld.

It appears his patience has run out faster than he thought at that time, because today news has reached WatchPro that the LVMH jewellery and watchmaker will not participate at this year’s show either.

In a statement released this morning, the company says that, “with growing travelling uncertainties of international visitors and with only two and a half months to come, Bulgari has regretfully decided to cancel its participation to Baselworld 2020 and replace it by roadshows in its biggest markets”.

“This decision has not been an easy one but we believe that the best option for Bulgari is to go directly to the markets as of March. It does not mean that Bulgari is definitely leaving Baselworld and a decision for 2021 and beyond will be made by the end of June. As said in the past, the main criteria to continue participating to watch fairs will be the timing as well as the costs which today are not consistent with commercial requirements and returns of investments,” Mr Babin says.

A statement from Bulgari adds that LVMH Watch Week in Dubai in January was a huge success and allowed it to meet key clients and media.

The company now says it introduced its most important 2020 novelties in Dubai including the Serpenti Seduttori Tourbillon, the Diva Finissima Minute Repeater Malachite, the Octo Finissimo Minute Repeater Gold and the sporty Octo Finissimo Automatic 100 meters Steel.

Coronavirus is not mentioned in the Bulgari statement, but it has already been blamed by Swatch Group for its decision to cancel its Time to Move event, scheduled for the first week of March, and by Grand Seiko, which has cancelled its summit from that was due to run from March 4-5 in Tokyo.

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2 Comments

  1. ‘Babin said at the opening press conference that 2020 would be the brand’s last appearance at Baselworld.’

    ‘Bulgari has regretfully decided to cancel its participation to Baselworld 2020 and replace it by roadshows’

    Which one is it?? Strange inconsistencies.

  2. I guess Mr Babin had already made the decision to withdraw from 2021 when he spoke in January, but the Coronoavirus situation has given him the cover to pull that decision forward.

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