New Prestige Brands at BASEL 2003

BASEL, the world's leading Watch and Jewellery Show, announces that the prestige brands Bulgari, Gerald Genta and Daniel Roth will be exhibiting at the 2003 event. All of these brands have previously exhibited in Geneva. The decision by these companies further reinforces and supports the Show's new concept of `One Show - Two Locations,' a proposition which is designed to enhance the business environment for exhibitors, buyers and visitors alike.

The strategy of creating a clear segmentation is already bearing fruit for BASEL. The realignment of the sectors and the extension of the Show to Zurich meets the growing requirement from exhibitors for additional premium space. In Zurich the Country Pavilions profit from state-of-the-art exhibition halls whilst at the same time, the extension to Zurich enables BASEL to create a further prestige watch and jewellery sector in Hall 4 - the Hall of Inspirations. The ability to offer new and existing exhibitors an even more exclusive environment reflects the global position of the participating brands.

Francesco Trapani, CEO of the Bulgari Group, states: “This decision was taken following the reinforced position of the BASEL Show as the world's premier luxury goods exhibition, which therefore provides the ideal location for Bulgari. By leaving the Espace SÉcheron in Geneva and choosing to display in the BASEL Show, -+Bulgari emphasises its strong commitment towards the watch industry and its wholesale network.”

Commenting on the arrival of the new exhibitors, RenÉ Kamm, designated CEO of MCH Swiss Exhibition Ltd. stated, “I am delighted to welcome Bulgari, Gerald Genta and Daniel Roth. This is a great success for us and clearly shows that the reorganisation of the sectors works very well. The new concept of the Show reinforces BASEL's position as number one worldwide”.

An Overview of BASEL 2003
The 2003 Show will see the new concept of `One Show - Two Locations' in action - in Basel and Zurich - as follows:

Hall of Dreams (Hall 1.0), Hall of Desires (Hall 1.1)
The world's best known prestigious watch brand groups are located in the appropriately named Hall of Dreams and Hall of Desires, exclusively bringing together the widest spectrum of premium brands and manufacturers form the leading luxury goods companies.
Hall of Inspirations (Hall 4)
The arrival of the new brands have enabled the BASEL Show Management to create a new prestige watch and jewellery sector in this hall.
Hall of Emotions (Hall 5.0)
Visitors will found here branded watches in the lower to middle price ranges. This recently re-designed exhibition space will now boast an upper gallery housing `The Boutiques' where very specialist (including limited edition) watch designers and manufacturers will have their stands.
Hall of Visions (Hall 2.2), Hall of Feelings (Hall 2.1 and 2.0) and
Hall of Fantasies (Hall 2.0)
Prestige jewellery exhibitors will be found in these halls offering buyers the opportunity to meet with premium quality, world-renowned jewellery brands and manufacturers, showing their very latest collections and unique pieces.
Hall of Elements (Hall 3.0)
This hall will hold the world's leading specialist dealers in stones and pearls, offering the largest selection of precious and semi-precious stones and pearls sourced from around the world.
Hall of Innovations (Hall 3.u, 3.1, 3.2)
This hall brings together the widest range of international exhibitors involved in related industries for buyers wishing to meet the world's leading experts and suppliers in this sector.

Hall of Universe - Zurich
The Country Pavilions will be located here in a state of the art exhibition venue in Zurich. The exhibitors will offer non-branded watches, jewellery and other products. Registered exhibitors include Brazil, China, France, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Korea, Lebanon, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United States of America.

BASEL 2003 - World Watch and Jewellery Show
Dates:Thursday, 3 April to Thursday, 10 April 2003
Location:Basel Exhibition and Zurich Exhibition halls
Organiser:MCH Basel Exhibition Ltd., a subsidiary of
MCH Swiss Exhibition Ltd.
Openings hours:Daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Last day: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Internet:www.baselshow.com
e-mail:[email protected]

Expected number of visitors> 80'000
Expected number of exhibitors2'200
Basel1'500
Zurich700

Gross exhibition area167'000m2
Basel 135'000 m2
Zurich32'000 m2

Expected net exhibition area110'000m2
Basel 96'000 m2
Zurich14'000 m2

www.baselshow.com
Contact: [email protected]
(please credit europastar.com)

Source: Basel Show press release
October 2002