VirtualBasel: Final Impressions

by Robyn Hawk on March 16, 2012

Ed wraps up this little “Social Media” experiment – as it turns out we weren’t the only ones covering this show long distance – nod to Anthony DeMarco (get well soon)!

Hello one last time from the BaselWorld ether. As Imentioned in my last post, we were barely scratching the surface and it wastime to close. I’d like to offer a final tip of the hat to my friend and fellowjewelry junkie, Robyn Hawk for giving me the opportunity to experiment a littlewith covering the show virtually.
At first, I thought I’d try to give daily reports aboutwatches and brands that caught my eye. Then I decided I needed to give an overviewof the show for those who may not have known much about it. Then it became clearto me that I’d never be able to do anything justice.
I’d simply miss too much if I took that approach. Nearly 1900exhibitors, six halls – most with two or three floors – totaling roughly 1.6million square feet, over 3000 press representatives, over 100,000 visitors(including the Governator himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger).
Credit:Altman Gadi 
And what did we miss?
We missed Hublot’s $5M diamond-encrusted Big Bang.

A friend of mine who’s not into watches but knows I am,couldn’t imagine who would buy or wear such a watch. I responded, “Who knows?But if nothing else, it’s a great buzz piece for Hublot.” Indeed, I’ve beenseeing this watch pop up all over the internet, in social media outlets as wellas the online arms of the conventional media.
We missed the Bell & Ross WW1 Jump Hour series.
Credit:www.clicktempus.com
Ummm… a great look, but WW1? As in World War 1? I guess, ifyou understand that it takes some of its inspiration from the pocket watches of100 years ago. Still…
And we haven’t even mentioned the dozens of other highprofile brands, Breitling, Rolex,  IWC,Vacheron Constantin, Jaeger-LeCoultre (who’s been celebrating the 80thanniversary of the Reverso, the legendary Art Deco watch inspired by the needsof polo players), etc. etc.
I’m overwhelmed just thinking of all I couldn’t cover foryou.
However, here’s a final impression of this year’s show…

Wait! Tools!? Did you see tools in that video? And cars?Race cars?
Yes, we were only able to scratch the surface of thisterrific watch and jewelry – or jewellery – show. Maybe next year VirtualBaselwill turn out to be BaselWorld Live!
A note for those interested in attending – next year’s showis happening a month later. April 25, 2013. The show does float around thespring calendar a bit, but I think the extra month before next year is soconstruction on the new halls has a chance to conclude.
Credit:BaselWorld
Maybe I’ll see you there!

A Little About Ed Estlow:
Guest watch geek – er… blogger Ed Estlow resides in the Northern Time Zone. A self-professed chrono-junkie, he writes compelling story-filled copy for his clients from wherever he happens to be. Contact him at Ed@EdEstlow.com, on Facebook (look for NorthernTimeZone), or check him out atwww.about.me/edestlow.

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