For once, we’re not going to use the “breaking news” title for nothing. What came in this morning is important news, no debate. As reported?by Swiss newspapers NZZ am Sonntag and Le Temps, Swatch Group, the world’s largest watchmaking group, will be leaving Baselworld – Switzerland’s largest watch and jewellery fair – as of next year. After already several departures and complaints, this is another hard blow for the highly?decried show.?In an interview with the Swiss newspaper?NZZ am Sonntag?that was published this morning, Nick Hayek, CEO of the Swatch Group, explains that it is no longer relevant or useful for the group to exhibit at Baselworld – even though the Swatch Group’s brand portfolio was one of the major, if the not the main, exhibiting groups of the show. Mr Hayek explains that the costs of such a fair are extremely high for the group and its brands – in excess of CHF 50 million for the group, including?travel expenses and accommodation – and that the system itself isn’t adapted to today’s needs, regarding retailers and journalists. The market has changed drastically in just a few years, and for this reason, Swatch Group brands (incl. Breguet, Blancpain, Omega, Glashutte Original, Tissot, Hamilton and Longines, among others) won’t exhibit at Baselworld as of 2019. “Such watchmaking fairs are no more relevant for Swatch Group,” said Hayek.Die @Baselworld verliert mit der Swatch Group ihren wichtigsten Aussteller.https://t.co/M4FlMap77W Ad - Scroll to continue with article ¡ª NZZ am Sonntag (@NZZaS) 29 juillet 2018The impact will be immense on the organisation, which already faced major departures in 2017 and 2018 – moving from 1,500 exposing brands in 2015 to less than 700 in 2018. Also, the fair had to face several management crises – since the longstanding Managing Director of Baselworld, Sylvie Ritter, decided to step down from her position at the MCH Group after?suspicions of nepotism – and critics from most brands, which find the running costs of such an event too high. This will have a major impact on the fair’s revenues, as the Swatch Group had the largest exhibition budget of all exposing brands. In his interview, Nick Hayek explains that “the MCH Group is too busy optimizing and amortizing its new building, instead of being brave enough to bring real changes“. Michel Loris Melikoff, the newly appointed Managing Director of the show, reacted in saying that Baselworld 2019 will “be as attractive as possible, in a new style and in a new way of thinking“.Swatch Group brands – credits: https://harriewaasdorp.nl/While it?is known that (including sister brand Tudor) has signed for another 5 years with Baselworld and that Breitling announced being present too in 2019, we’re curious to see what will be the impact of such a massive departure will be on the other brands, such as LVMH brands, Patek Philippe, Chopard and many more mainstream and independent brands. Will this be the beginning of the end for Baselworld? We’ll see the answer to that in a few months.