Coronavirus: HourUniverse, Successor to Baselworld, is Postponed
January 25, 21
(IDEX Online) - The show that was due to replace the ill-fated Baselworld has been postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
HourUniverse had been scheduled for 8 to 12 April In Basel, Switzerland, but a notice on the organizers' website simply says: "Due to the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, we are assessing new dates to hold a live HourUniverse show in Basel in 2021."
MCH Group announced last May that it was axing Baselworld after an exodus of big-name exhibitors and the launch of a rival event by Rolex, Patek Philippe, and others.
In a letter to exhibitors it says: "Given the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, we have decided to simply postpone it by a few months. Currently we are targeting mid-June as the earliest possible date, but we will continue to monitor the evolving situation closely and assess all alternatives, potentially even later in the year, should the hosting conditions warrant further changes."
It canceled the May 2020 show because of the pandemic, re-scheduled it for January 2021, then axed the brand altogether.
It describes the new show as as "a hybrid platform that serves the watch, jewellery and gemstone community with a year-round, modern digital offer combined with a lively exchange independent of physical encounters".
Pic shows publicity pic of HourUniverse