Following the unfortunate exclusion of the Hong Kong contingent and certain other Asian brands from last April's 'Zurich location' of the BaselWorld fair because of the perceived SARS threat, it is refreshing to see a rapprochement between these companies and the fair management. It is also a relief to see that the controversial 'One Show, Two Locations' idea has been put definitively to rest as René Kamm, CEO of MCH Swiss Exhibitions, frankly explains in the interview on the following pages.

As the saying goes, 'Hindsight is 20/20', and it is sometimes only through hard experience that solutions are found to difficult problems. In this case, the solution to accommodating all those companies wishing to exhibit at BaselWorld is still a 'temporary' one, albeit one lasting six years, but hopefully a definitive answer will be found over time.

We can certainly hope so, since one of the undeniable advantages of the BaselWorld fair is its universality. It welcomes jewellery and watch exhibitors from all over the world and in all categories. The fair features up-and-coming individual jewellery designers as well as famous global brands. It allows jewellers from countries around the world to get international exposure and to try introduce new designs while building their brands.

BaselWorld – in Basel – offers a grand forum for exhibitors and buyers to meet, to talk, and of course to buy and sell. It provides a practical and convenient platform for exchanging ideas and, very importantly too, for seeing what the competition is doing. In short, the annual fair held every April in Basel provides one of the world's most important meeting points for the jewellery trade and its related industries.

On the following pages, we take a look at the return to Basel of the Hong Kong jewellery exhibitors as well as a look at some of the other important Asian brands that are present at the cosmopolitan fair. Our colleagues at Europa Star also examine the major watch brands that participate in the spring show. Lastly, we provide an overview of the major brands by region that are expected at the next edition of BaselWorld along with some of their products that marked the last fair.

Couture International Jeweler will be at BaselWorld next Spring, along with its Special Basel Edition featuring the new trends and new products that will see the light of day in the lovely Swiss city by the Rhine. Please stop by and see us. We look forward to meeting you.