Baselworld 2012 Closes with Strong Results, Upbeat and Confident

Business was brisk at Baselworld 2012 and the attitude of both exhibitors and buyers was upbeat and confident.

A fractured arm kept me from attending Baselworld this year Fortunately, veteran watch journalist, William George Shuster, kindly agreed to take time from his busy schedule to write a few stories from the tradeshow. Below is his fourth and final report.

By William George Shuster

Baselworld 2012: End of an Era; Baselworld 2013: A new era begins

Inside Hall 1, the Hall of Dreams, where all the major watch brands at Baselworld 2012 are located. There will be changes among the exhibitors.

A fractured arm kept me from attending Baselworld this year. Fortunately, I know some of the best writers and experts in the jewelry and watch industry. One of those folks is William George Shuster who has kindly agreed to take time from his busy

Baselworld 2012 is a Smorgasbord of Horological Delights

Seiko’s Astron GPS Solar watch

A fractured arm kept me from attending Baselworld this year. Fortunately, I know some of the best writers and experts in the jewelry and watch industry. One of those folks is William George Shuster who has kindly agreed to take time from his busy schedule to write a few stories from the tradeshow. Below is his second report.

By William George Shuster

An Up Close View of Hublot's $5 Million Watch

Swiss luxury watch brand Hublot unveiled a diamond-covered $5 million timepiece Wednesday at Baselworld—the world’s largest and most important watch and jewelry fair, in Basel, Switzerland. The company released professionally photographed images of the timepiece Friday.


The watch is covered with 1,282 diamonds, including six square stones that weigh more than three carats each, according to

Cautious Optimism Fills Baselworld Buoyed by Asian Demand for Luxury

By William George Shuster
Special Correspondent

A fractured arm kept me from attending Baselworld this year. Fortunately, I know some of the best writers and experts in the jewelry and watch industry. One of those folks is William George Shuster who has kindly agreed to take time from his busy schedule to write a few stories from the tradeshow. Below is his first report from the event.

BASEL,

The Big Bold Bling of Jacob & Co.

Jacob & Co. Ladybug Cocktail Ring
BASEL, Switzerland – It took an hour for my eyes to adjust to normal light after visiting the Jacob & Co. showroom at Baselworld. The multi-carat, multi-colored diamond and gemstone jewelry was a blinding spectacle of glitter and sparkle. The following is a short and modest list of jewelry selected from the high-bling bauble parade I witnessed.

The Novelty

Jacob & Co. Tourbillon and 5 Timezones Watches

BASEL, Switzerland – U.S.-based Jewelry and timepiece company, Jacob & Co., presented several watches that challenged conventional watchmaking methods in terms of design and technical advancements. Three of the watches that represent a sampling of what was shown to me at the Baselworld trade fair follow.
Cyclone Tourbillon
This unusual watch (pictured above) is receiving a great deal of play in

Milla Jovovich is the Face of Jacob & Co.

Milla Jovovich and Jacob Arabo


BASEL, Switzerland – Jacob & Co. announced that the new face of its global advertising campaign is actress and model, Milla Jovovich. The unveiling was held March 27 during a party at the Jacob & Co. booth during Baselworld, the world’s largest watch and jewelry tradeshow.
I was unable to attend the event but earlier did get a tour of the new high-carat,

A View of Baselworld, Video of Frédérique Constant Press Conference

BASEL, Switzerland – Yes, it's the same photo I used a few days ago when writing about Frédérique Constant's product introductions at Baselworld. But here’s an added bonus. Below is a video of the Swiss watch company's March 24 press event at its showrooms in the back of Hall 1.0. Peter Stas, Frédérique Constant's managing director, led the event, which was followed by lunch on the showroom

TAG Heuer Carrera Heritage Line

One of the many, many things I did not get to see at Baselworld was the introduction of TAG Heuer's Carrera Heritage series to the annual watch and jewelry show. The watch, which actually debuted in October, “evokes the glamor and sophistication that defined the 1960s,” the company said, when the original Carrera was developed.

The timepieces are powered by a modern calibre 6 or calibre 16

Seiko Looks Back to the Future

Seiko officials at Baselworld press conference.

BASEL, Switzerland - Whether it was a sign of defiance, solidarity or necessity it’s difficult to say. But all 12 Japanese companies scheduled to exhibit at Baselworld made the trip. None of them were as big as or more important to the world of timepieces than Seiko Watch Corp. A packed house of reporters attended Seiko’s press conference on

Seiko Officials Address the Crisis in Japan

Seiko officials during press conference at Baselworld.

BASEL, Switzerland - Seiko Holdings Corp. officials said Thursday that one of its factories has been closed and that production has been significantly reduced due to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

“Some of the production has been slowed and a factory has been stopped because of a lack of electricity and gasoline, said Shinji

Thomas Prescher’s Personal Touch

Thomas Prescher's Mysterious double-axis toubillon

BASEL, Switzerland - I had the pleasure to meet independent watchmaker Thomas Prescher and view his entire stock of beautiful and extremely complicated timepieces Thursday at Baselworld, the world's largest watch and jewelry fair. Prescher and one other person produce all of their products from their headquarters in Twann, Switzerland. “We don

Baselworld App

No tradeshow is complete these days without its own smartphone application. Baselworld, the world’s largest watch and jewelry show, isn’t any different. The free app, for the iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry and other smart phones, simplifies the orientation and navigation through the multi-building Messe Basel complex by providing essential information regarding this year's show, being held March 24 –