Basel wants back on the jewellery stage: new fair Basilia launches in April 2027
After the end of Baselworld, MCH Group and Informa Markets are planning a new jewellery and watch fair in Basel. Basilia is due to take place from 8 to 11 April 2027.
Photo: Fred Romero from Paris, France / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Video: YouTube · Basilia Jewellery & Watch Fair · youtube.com
Basel is getting an international trade fair for jewellery and watches again. The Basilia Jewellery & Watch Fair is due to take place from 8 to 11 April 2027 in Messe Basel's historic Hall 2, watch magazine Watchonista reports. The organisers are MCH Group, which is also behind Art Basel, and Informa Markets, which runs Jewellery & Gem WORLD in Hong Kong. Some events are to extend into the city. On its YouTube channel, the new fair introduces itself with the short video “Let Me Introduce Myself.”
The plan is a mix of around 80 per cent jewellery and gemstones and 20 per cent watches. Initial commitments come mainly from Swiss watch brands; the first exhibitors are to be named before the end of 2026. According to Watchonista, emerging watch brands can exhibit with an entry-level package for less than 10,000 francs. The fair overlaps with the final days of Watches and Wonders in Geneva, from 5 to 11 April.
Since Baselworld ended, jewellery companies and independent watchmakers have lacked a meeting place, Watchonista writes; the old fair, however, was also known for high stand and hotel costs. Around 2,500 hotel rooms have already been secured. Roman Imgrüth, chief executive of MCH Exhibitions & Events, said: “We will have to re-earn that trust.” He describes building the fair as at least a three-year mission.