MCH Group & Informa Markets Join Forces to Create a New International Stage: Basilia Jewellery & Watch Fair
Where Asia comes to meet Europe — a platform aligned with the realities of today’s jewellery, gem, and watch industries.
By Sébastien Aeberli
Design, Content & Social Media
Two of the world’s most influential forces in trade events — MCH Group and Informa Markets — are joining forces for the first time to launch Basilia Jewellery & Watch Fair, a new international platform designed to reshape global sourcing, collaboration, and industry exchange.
Set to debut in April 2027 at Messe Basel, Basilia will position Basel as a central meeting point between Asian manufacturing power, European demand, and global distribution networks.
A New Global Stage for a Changing Industry
Basilia is conceived as more than a traditional trade fair. It is a curated international ecosystem where jewellery, gemstone, and watch professionals converge to build relationships, discover new markets, and respond to the evolving realities of global supply chains.
The inaugural edition will bring together more than 400 exhibitors from across Asia, Europe, and other key international markets, including manufacturers, designers, brands, wholesalers, distributors, and sourcing specialists. By gathering the full value chain in one environment, the event aims to strengthen commercial exchange, enable new partnerships, and support more agile and transparent sourcing pathways across the industry.
Bridging Asia and Europe Through Purpose-Built Design
The launch of Basilia responds directly to a structural shift in the jewellery and watch industries, where sourcing between Asian production hubs and European and Western markets has become increasingly complex. The fair is designed to bridge this gap by offering a dedicated platform where buyers can connect directly with specialised suppliers, manufacturers can expand their international distribution networks, and brands can access new design and production capabilities.
Rather than standardising participation, Basilia is intentionally designed to reflect the diversity of its global community and the distinct ecosystems that define the industry.
A Trade Fair Designed as a Living City
Basilia introduces a new spatial concept by structuring the exhibition as a living city rather than a conventional trade show. The fair will be organised into immersive districts that represent the world’s leading centres of jewellery, gemstone, and watch creation and trade.
These include Jewellery Neighbourhoods, Diamond and Gem Districts, Watch Valleys, Swiss and broader European Districts, a dedicated Tech Hub, and culturally inspired areas reflecting major global hubs such as Hong Kong, Bangkok, Jaipur, Istanbul, Antwerp, Paris, and Milan. Each district is designed to express its own identity, heritage, and commercial focus, creating an environment where visitors experience continuous discovery across the global industry landscape.
Leadership Perspectives
Margaret Ma Connolly, President and CEO of Informa Markets Asia, said that the partnership reflects a natural alignment between two organisations focused on building global platforms for business growth. She emphasised that Basilia is designed to respond to the evolving needs of the industry while celebrating its diversity and dynamism.
Celine Lau, Director of Jewellery Fairs at Informa Markets Jewellery, highlighted that sourcing has never been more complex and that buyers increasingly require trusted partners with deep understanding of regional and industrial challenges. She noted that Basilia directly addresses this need by connecting buyers with specialised suppliers and expanding access across a broader and more diverse global audience.
Andrea Zappia, CEO ad interim of MCH Group, described Basilia as a forward-looking platform designed to reflect the future needs of the jewellery and watch industries. He stated that the collaboration combines Informa Markets’ global reach and expertise in Asian markets with MCH Group’s experience in creating world-class international platforms, establishing a new global stage built to connect supply and demand across continents.
Event Overview
The Basilia Jewellery & Watch Fair will take place in April 2027 at Messe Basel. The exhibition will operate daily from 10:00 to 18:00 and is co-organised by MCH Group and Informa Markets.
The inaugural edition is expected to welcome more than 400 exhibitors, with jewellery representing approximately half of the product offering, gemstones accounting for a quarter, and watches making up the remaining quarter.
For more details, please visit the official website.