F.P. Journe Won’t Hold Salon in 2009

As a small watchmaking firm owner - and located halfway round the world, going to Baselworld this year is going to be harder for us after the economic downturn. And Messe seems to have raised rates this year as well. Still again we will go - Hall 5 here we come. Seeing someone like FP Journe decide to take a \"pass\" in Geneva is a little alarming. Makes one wonder how SIHH will go after being split from Basel Fair. In the current state of things, I would expect most US Journalists won\'t want to go to SIHH in late Jan and turn around go to Basel in March. I personally think we need to tone down the snob-factor in this industry and pull together. Having SIHH separate from Basel would seem to do more to divide than to unite. The \"top\" of the market needs the \"middle\" - and the \"middle\" needs the lower segment. We\'re really all in this as one. That\'s my 2 cents.

As a small watchmaking firm owner - and located halfway round the world, going to Baselworld this year is going to be harder for us after the economic downturn. And Messe seems to have raised rates this year as well. Still again we will go - Hall 5 here we come.

Seeing someone like FP Journe decide to take a "pass" in Geneva is a little alarming. Makes one wonder how SIHH will go after being split from Basel Fair. In the current state of things, I would expect most US Journalists won't want to go to SIHH in late Jan and turn around go to Basel in March.
I personally think we need to tone down the snob-factor in this industry and pull together. Having SIHH separate from Basel would seem to do more to divide than to unite. The "top" of the market needs the "middle" - and the "middle" needs the lower segment. We're really all in this as one.
That's my 2 cents.