A day before the show officially opened to the trade, members of the press gathered to hear what representatives of the main countries exhibiting at the show had to say about the financial results for 2007. 

 

Overall, despite the increase in precious metal prices and despite existing economic uncertainties, sales figures for watches and jewelry are up. Swiss watch exports last year were up 16.2 percent to almost CHF16 billion ($15.74 billion) with growth to Russia and China shooting up 57.4 percent and 43 percent respectively.

 

In 2007, the French industry saw an unprecedented increase in exports of 10 percent, to reach €2.6 billion ($4.04 billion) (excluding tax). Last year, sales in the French market totaled €5.4 billion ($8.4 billion) (including tax).

 

Looking to increase their strength, and with a move towards increased branding in jewelry, the French jewelry industry has literally branded itself with the launch of the collective brand “Joaillerie de France.”  

 

In the same period, Hong Kong’s exports of watches and clocks increased by 6.3 percent in dollar terms to reach $6.4 billion, with battery-powered wrist watches accounting for more than 60 percent of total exports. In addition, Hong Kong’s precious jewelry exports grew by 16.7 percent to $4.34 billion last year.

 

Germany, however, reported a year of negative growth. With total sales of euro €1.3 billion ($2.02 billion) for the watch and jewelry industry, 2007 figures were virtually unchanged over 2006 while the cumulative export figures for the two industries turned out to be slightly down at €1.7 billion ($2.65 billion) compared to €1.8 billion ($2.8 billion) in 2006.

 

Along with the export figures, Jacques J. Duchene, president of the Exhibitors’ Committee, reported on the work done by the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FHS) regarding the confiscation of imitation and forged watches, an issue that is gaining increased importance in the industry as a whole.

 

Among the seizures he mentioned were the confiscation of around 100,000 watches in Prato, Italy in 2007 and the confiscation of 90,786 forged Swiss watches in Mexico City, Mexico in January of this year. In the same raid, the police also seized weapons and drugs, underlining the direct involvement of organized crime and industrial production in the forgery of goods.

 

Duchene told assembled journalists that one of the main problems currently facing the industry is the escalation in forgeries traded online, the growth of which is increasing at some 30 percent per year.

 

In particular, he mentioned the problem of anonymity of traders on the net, saying, “It is…extremely important to fight the problem on all fronts and to hold responsible those who are technically involved, such as service providers, domain administrators, blog operators etc, as well.”

 

This is an issue sure to attract more attention in the very near future.

 

Baselworld runs from April 3-10.