It’s official, Bulgari has just sent word out that they are not going to be exhibiting at Baselworld 2020. Bulgari states that it has made the decision largely due to the fact that they’ve already met key press and retailers during the LVMH Watch Week 2020, with major novelties for the year having been already announced in Dubai.

Bulgari will, however, be conducting further regional events to launch novelties slated for the remaining of 2020.

Commenting about the matter, Jean-Christophe Babin, CEO of the Bulgari Group said, “This decision has not been an easy one but we believe that the best option for Bulgari is to go directly to the markets as of March. It does not mean that Bulgari is definitely leaving Baselworld and decision for 2021 and beyond will be made by the end of June. As said in the past, the main criteria to continue participating to watch fairs will be the timing as well as the costs which today are not consistent with commercial requirements and returns of investments”

Baselworld, at the same time, has sent out their own press release confirming Bulgari’s decision, but affirming that TAG Heuer, Hublot and Zenith are still going to be presenting at this year’s installment.

Baselworld has quoted Stéphane Bianchi, President of the Watch Division of the LVMH Group sto have said, “The Watchmaking Division of the LVMH Group with TAG Heuer, Hublot, and Zenith remains committed to Baselworld in 2020. We believe in the importance of a major event for the Swiss watch industry and look forward to a successful fair, both in terms of image and sales, for our three Maisons.”

The fair is of course, further buoyed now by the participation of Phillips Watches.

Phillips has confirmed that they will be in Hall 1, from 30 April to 5 May 2020, showcasing “modern and vintage highlights from its spring auctions, some of which have never been seen by the general public, as well as extraordinary watches lent by private collectors.”

In a joint statement made on Phillips Watches’ participation at the fair, Aurel Bacs, Senior Consultant and Alexandre Ghotbi, Head of Watches, Continental Europe and the Middle-East of Phillips said, “Exhibiting in the heart of the world’s largest watchmaking exhibition is a magnificent opportunity to present to collectors and watch aficionados, exceptional pieces that Phillips has assembled for its spring sales, but also watches from private collections never before exhibited together.

“We believe that our mission is to promote the art and culture of watchmaking, past and present, and we work hand in hand with all manufacturers, large and small, to this end. It is therefore an obvious choice for the world’s leading watch auction house to be present at Baselworld. We are very happy to pave the way at Baselworld, and thank Michel Loris-Melikoff who has shown a visionary openness by giving us a high quality welcome at the exhibition.”