BaselWorld Ends with Mixed Responses, Attendance -12%

Attendees to the BaselWorld show returned with mixed reports. Expectations among jewelry and diamond traders were low before the show, and at best they could report weak business. However, despite the low number of visitors, exhibitors and actual transactions, traders are optimistic.

Diamond deals were often characterized by cash transactions and deep discounts. The sellers in such transactions were often doing so simply to ensure a steady cash flow for their business.

According to an IDEX Online poll, 61 percent of respondents said they not going to the show this year. Show organizers reported that 1,952 exhibitors from 45 countries took part in the show and that 93,900 visitors arrived - a 6.5 percent decline in the number of exhibitors and a 12.1 percent drop in attendance.

The prevailing sentiment among many of the traders is that we have seen the worst, and from here things will start to pick up. Reflecting this, many noted that discounts on large stones shifted to a lower double digit range.

The watch section in Hall 1 was a different story. While business was not as good as last year, foot traffic was still rather high and many companies launched new lines.

All eyes are now on the Las Vegas shows, where organizers are working hard to ensure attendance is high. The organizers of at least one of the shows are traveling around the world to solicit companies to exhibit, actively seeking out firms that have not exhibited in their show in the past.