Sunday, March 22, 2009

Basel Diamond Jewelry and Watches Show Gets Mixed Reviews


Business at this years Basel World watch and jewelry show has been getting some mixed reviews.

According to the show organizers, it was an awesome show..and the best one ever!

Problem is, they say that every year.

In the diamond pavilion, IDEX reports that the assessment was a bit more subdued. "Business has been good," said Alain Shapira of New York-based A.S. Diamonds. "However, it has certainly not been as good as last year. Last year the buyers were a lot more serious," he observed.

Shapira indicated that pear shaped diamonds were moving well, as were oversizes. He indicated a demand for cushion cut diamonds.


By Monday afternoon however, Shapira said that he felt that trading activity had already peaked.


Avi Paz, of Avi Paz Diamonds agreed that the show had been successful. "It has been been a good show," he said. "We have had a lot of customers. The only thing missing has been the U.S. buyers."


Paz gave a number of reasons to explain the absence of the U.S buyers from Switzerland this year. The slow down in the American economy, the timing of the show, which comes barely a month before JCK Las Vegas, and the expense involved in exhibiting in Europe.


In general, the consensus is that luxury watches seems to have fared better than diamonds and jewelry.

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