The 100th Edition of the Baselworld 2017 commenced today on the back of the continuous drop in Global exports of Swiss watches, and a decline in the number of exhibitors from 1500 in 2016 to 1300 this year.
Ms. Sylvie Ritter, Managing director Baselworld said “have been difficult and have compelled some players to leave the watch and jewellery industry. Baselworld transformed to reflect the global market.”  She pointed out that “this process of transformation will always have to favour quality over quantity. The result being that we chose to refuse some exhibitors for this year’s show”.
Global exports of Swiss watches have shrunk in recent years. But exhibitors and traders at the world's largest fair of the watch-making industry, the Baselworld, are confident the hard times will be over soon.
Global exports of Swiss watches slid by 10 percent in February year on year to $1.5 billion (1.4 billion Euros). Shipments to Hong Kong, the biggest market for Swiss watches, slumped by 12.1 percent last month, and exports to the US as the second-biggest market even plunged by 26.2 percent.
Most European markets also fell. Only shipments to China rose by 6.7 percent in February on the year as Chinese consumers' thirst for luxury goods appeared strong despite the market suffering a severe hit when Beijing started cracking down on corruption by banning extravagant gifts like expensive watches to public officials.
Mr. François Thiebaud, President of the Swiss Exhibitors Committee commented on the results of the Swiss watch exports, and reminded that in terms of value the Swiss Watch industry remains the World’s largest exporter. He noted that the last quarter of 2016   saw a light of improvement and recalled that the political and economical context remained difficult and that watch exports had also been penalized by the valuation of the Swiss Franc.
Mr. Eric Bertrand, President of the Exhibitors addressed the current economic and geopolitical situation and is of the opinion that these times offer an opportunity for those who have done their job properly in the recent years and have a solid foundation on the market.
Mr. Bertrand is confident that when the industry recovery happens the best-armed players will gain market share and be more successful than ever”.
The Baselworld offered this year the independent watchmaker, previously in the “Palace” a space of choice in Hall1 that also has now another novelty called the “Design Lab” dedicated to designers, mainly jewellery, featuring unique innovative pieces and avant-garde creations.

Patek Philippe celebrates the 20th birthday of the sporty & dynamic Aquanaut line that was first introduced in Basel 1997, by introducing several premiers among them is the Aquanaut Ref 5168G the first Aquanaut wristwatch in white gold. The design of the gently rounded octagonal bezel with vertically satin finished flats and chamfered polished flanks remains unchanged, moreover with a diameter of 42 mm it is the largest model in this line. The case accommodates the self –winding caliber 324 S C movement .merely 3.3 mm in height, the movement is so flat that even with its elaborate seals and gaskets, the complete watch is still only 8.25 mm thick overall. The Aquanaut collection celebrates another debut embedded in a prestigious “Patek Philippe Advanced Research Limited Editions” Family, this year it is the 500 watch edition of the Ref 5650 Aquanaut Travel Time with an innovative Spiromax balance spring made of Silinvar.

The Chopard L.U.C Lunar in platinum framing a deep blue sunray-patterned dial. The 43 mm-diameter case is adorned with vertical satin-brushed sides along with a polished bezel and lugs, thereby creating pleasing textured effects that further enhance its visual depth and interest. Calibre 96.13-L is a gem in the crown of Chopard Manufacture. Its perpetual calendar always gives the correct date, whatever the length of the month and including February with its exceptions. It is distinguished by its unique moon-phase display. The latter is not merely a disc rotating beneath the dial, but instead a complex set of components indicating the exact appearance of the moon. This orbital moon imitates the path of the evening star. The L.U.C Lunar One is one of the very rare perpetual self-winding calendars, as well as part of an even smaller number to be equipped with a micro-rotor.

Chanel celebrates 30 years since its journey of watchmaking excellence started beginning with the Premiere timepiece. Inspired by both Place Vendome and the bottle stopper of the iconic N°5 fragrance, the watch represented the epitome of feminine horology thanks to its clean minimalistic design that's devoid of any markers. To celebrate its watchmaking history Chanel unveiled two exceptional new timepieces: the Premiere Camelia Skeleton and the Decor Aubazine from the Mademoiselle Prive collection The Premiere Camelia Skeleton is fitted with the maison's in-house movement which uniquely takes the shape of a Camellia flower. Limited to only five pieces, the Decor Aubazine features a 37.5mm white gold case that's bedecked with 552 brilliant-cut diamonds along with a dial that's also covered with similar gemstones of various cuts.

Crafted entirely in-house, the Hermes Slim Quantieme Perpetuel inherits the sleek, minimalist lines of other Hermes Slim watches. The easily readable dial has silver-toned transferred numerals in a typography specially designed for the Slim series. It also has several subdials, giving the watch plenty of character, and is housed in a 39.5mm circular platinum case. The "Slim Quantieme Perpetuel Platinum" uses the extra-slim H1950 in-house movement. This mechanical automatic movement features a perpetual calendar function, an exceptional watchmaking complication that adjusts automatically for the varying length of the average 12 months (30 or 31 days), as well as leap years. The movement also has hours and minutes functions, a day/night indicator, a second time zone hour indicator and a moon phase window at three o' clock, featuring a mother-of-pearl moon on an aventurine sky.

The new Faberge Visionnaire Chronograph available in 3versions: rose gold and titanium, and in black ceramic and titanium. The Case size is a fairly large 43mm and water-resistance is rated at 50m. The Faberge Visionnaire Chronograph places the complication in the center. The elapsed time is read just like the hours, minutes, and seconds of a standard three-handed watch. The actual time is read off the hour and minute hands which are positioned on the periphery of the center chronograph dial. Enabling this is the self-winding caliber AGH 6361, a revolutionary new chronograph movement designed by the movement designer Agenhor, which was founded by legendary watchmaker Jean-Marc Wiederrecht. The AgenGraph consists of 477 parts, 67 jewels, and beats at 3Hz. Power reserve is a very adequate 60 hours.

As the latest addition to the family of Greubel Forsey timepieces, the “Balancier” perfectly embodies the watchmakers’ fundamental principles. It is a timepiece that crystallises all the unique qualities of Greubel Forsey with remarkable understatement. The watchmaking Maison’s values are manifest in the refinement and purity of its lines and dial, the inventive architecture of its balance wheel, the sharp profile of its hands and the engraving on the reverse of the timepiece. It was entirely developed and made at the Atelier, with its six gold mean-time screws, and it boasts remarkable aerody-namic qualities. The technical nature of this balance wheel generates exceptional regulating power, a mark of great chronometric stability. The hand-countersunk and polished centres of the flame-blued steel hands offer another example of mastery in the craft, while the engraved gold plates on the back of the timepiece are also a pure master- piece of hand-finishing skills. The “Balancier” is available in a limited edition of 33 pieces in its white gold version.

Louis Vuitton presents a blue version of the Escale Spin TimeThree shades of cyan can be found at the centre of the movement, which was developed in-house, as well as on its singular dial, for a free and contemporary reinterpretation of time display. Hypnotic, the Escale Spin Time incorporates the ingenious hour display principle of the Spin Time movement in an Escale case. At 41 mm in diameter and 11.2 mm thick, the Escale Spin Time Blue’s case is made of brushed titanium with a bezel, lugs and crown in 18 carat white gold. Its delicate bezel frames the dial beautifully, giving the hour display and the ballet of rotating cubes optimal visibility. The sapphire back reveals an aluminium disc paired  with an oscillating weight that turns with precision around a large, boldly outlined “LV“.

Lang & Heyne the Artisanal German watchmaker firm’s output is just 40 watches a year introduced the Georg is the brand’s first rectangular wristwatch, equipped with the admirably rectangular Calibre VIII. Though simple in function, the Calibre VIII is intriguingly constructed. The Calibre VIII is hand-wound, with a 55-hour power reserve. The case is 32mm wide and 40mm long without the lugs, which is medium sized by the standards of most rectangular watches.