The definitive platform for the global watch and jewellery industry has opened its doors. For the next eight days, Basel will be the nerve center for an industry in need of a boost.

Baselworld is the global launching pad for trends and innovations in the watch and jewellery worlds. The fair is unequalled in providing a unique platform for the biggest global key players to convene in one place, and set the tone for the new year(s) to come.

Sylvie Ritter, Managing Director of Baselworld, emphasized the importance of the annual fair:

“For eight days a year, Baselworld is the nerve centre for an entire industry that unites here to take the pulse of the business and discover trends.”

Proving her point, here are some of the most impressive facts and figures about Baselworld 2016:

• Around 150,000 professionals from over 100 countries will attend

• 1,500 of the world’s most famous and prestigious brands are present

• Their latest collections are showcased across 141,000 m2 of space

• The show generates 2 billion Swiss Francs of economic revenue
• Some 13,000 jobs are directly related to it

Despite all those positives, the opening ceremony couldn’t avoid reference to the current economic climate. René Kamm, CEO of the MCH Group stressed that keeping Baselworld at the forefront of the industry is hard fought for in a challenging environment. Alas, he remained optimistic:

“Where passion presides, the will to overcome challenges will always succeed. And the watch and jewellery industry has the passion and resilience to deal with these challenges.”