Why is Seiko Exiting Baselworld?

The reality of it is that as Seiko departs from Baselworld the casualty count is not one, but two. Seiko’s exit from Baselworld 2020 means that Seiko itself and Grand Seiko as well are no longer going to be part of the Switzerland-based watch fair.

As word of the development spread last weekend, a spokesperson representing both brands shared with Revolution saying, “The timing of Baselworld 2020 is considerably later than in previous years. The new date is too late for the launch of our Seiko collection and is particularly challenging for Grand Seiko for which we have a special program in celebration of the 60th anniversary of its creation. As a result, we have decided that our two brands will not be present at Baselworld in 2020.”

Seiko and Grand Seiko’s exit from Baselworld comes in the wake of the already departed Swatch Group, Raymond Weil, Corum and, most recently, Breitling who have said that they are only out for 2020.

The Swatch Group has already taken on their own show, called Time to Move, which saw retailers earlier in the year in Geneva over the course of the days of Baselworld 2019. Following which they had a press and media showing in May for six of their larger brands.

Corum has taken to doing their own regional summits; Breitling, of course, has been holding their Breitling Summit regionally for a while now.

In like fashion, Seiko will be showcasing the year’s novelties on their own terms moving forward. Speaking on behalf of the two brands, the above spokesperson shared: “We will hold regional and national events of our own for both Grand Seiko and Seiko at the earliest opportunity so that media representatives and our retail partners can see our new collections and experience the latest developments in the Seiko and Grand Seiko worlds.”

The other Japanese brands who showcase at Baselworld, namely, Casio and Citizen have made no remark on how much longer they will be a part of the Swiss fair for now.

Grand Seiko SBGR319 (Image © Revolution)
Grand Seiko SBGR319 (Image © Revolution)
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