BaselWorld 2007 ended Thursday, with one of its best shows ever—in terms of business by exhibitors, international media exposure, and attendance, which set a new record with more than 100,000 people from around the world visiting the fair. In recent years, the show has averaged about 90,000 people.

“This was a breathtaking show,” said Dr. Marcus O. Mohr, president of Faberge and Victor Mayer jewelry, told JCK. “We were so busy we hardly had time to take a breath. Last year, our business done here was up 30%–but we almost doubled that this year, doing 90 percent over what we did last year.”

Other vendors, especially those of upscale jewelry or watches, echoed that. Officials at Wellendorf had comments similar to Mohr’s, and Armin Feher, sales director of Xemex watches, told the show’s daily publication that the show “has gone brilliantly” for the firm.

“Optimism has permeated the halls from day one,” said an obviously pleased Sylvie Ritter, show director. “People were in exceedingly high spirits [and] animated discussions were underway at stands in all the halls.” BaselWorld 2007 was on its way to being “high successful,” she said a day before it closed.

BaselWorld officials and vendors said the strong results reflect not only BaselWorld’s position as a leading international platform that brings together vendors, wholesalers, and retailer from around the world, but also the current strength of, and consumer demand for, luxury products, “our sweet spot,” as one vendor called it. Propelling that is not only the North American market, but the unexpectedly sharp rise in demand for fine products from China, which not only has a rapidly growing middle class but also at least 300,000 millionaires, according to the statistics of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.

JCK