The March competition included two themes related to Baselworld: watch and architecture photos. The jury has selected the ten photos below, for each theme. You can now vote for your two favourite photos by clicking on the "vote" button.

Just like last year’s announcement by the Swatch Group that it would be leaving Baselworld, the press release announcing Breitling’s absence next year was issued early on a Sunday morning. One might argue that this is the perfect way to attempt to bury bad news. But the news was not entirely bad, since it coincided with a confirmation that the world’s biggest and best-known watch company, Rolex, is extending its presence at the show next year and allocating a brand-new space for its sister brand Tudor. WorldTempus spoke to Baselworld’s Managing Director, Michel Loris-Melikoff, about what this means for the future of the exhibition.

Symbolizing classicism in its purest form, the Blancpain's Villeret collection embodies the brand's profound attachment to the values of traditional watchmaking, notably conveyed through movements with horological complications such as the perpetual calendar. The latter serves to indicate the day of the week, date, month and leap year without requiring any adjustment until 2100.

The contemporary installation treated visitors to a show which subtly unveiled the brand’s latest products. The real timepieces disappeared, reappeared and played with images in a rhythmic animation. This innovation was the fruit of the friendship between Xavier Dietlin and Xavier Perrenoud. At a very early stage, they both agreed that traditional display cases were outdated. So the two companions set out to create a display case that took the form of an animated sculpture rather than a conventional case.

For Oris, the cooperation in the context of Bucherer Blue Editions is a completely natural partnership, firstly because Bucherer and Oris are independent, traditional companies with shared values such as the pursuit of innovation and integrity. Furthermore, Oris has been campaigning for ocean conservation together with leading organisations for many years and therefore associates the colour blue primarily with water. 

The howling wolf against the backdrop of the star-studded night sky with a quarter moon is the second design by Alice Shirley after “Grrrrr!” in 2016 to make it on to an enamel watch dial in the Hermès collection. Like the square scarves where the designs first featured, the watches with these hand-painted enamel dials are strictly limited editions, with just eight being produced.

In 2016, to celebrate its 225th anniversary, Girard-Perregaux presented the pink gold Esmeralda Tourbillon, a wristwatch inspired by the Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges pocket chronometer that won the gold medal at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1889. Winner of the Tourbillon Watch Prize awarded by the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève 2016, La Esmeralda Tourbillon features a timeless design, a unique signature of its kind, and a more contemporary look.

The Montblanc 1858 product line pays tribute to the Minerva Manufacture’s heritage and professionnal watches that were conceived for military use and exploration.

Jean-Claude Biver sang your praises at your Baselworld press conference this year. What have you learned from your longstanding working relationship with him?
We have been working together for 25 years so when he says that he has been successful because of me, I would turn that on its head and say that I’ve been successful thanks to him! Meeting Jean-Claude Biver has allowed me to enjoy the career that I have had. He is my mentor and the partnership has worked very well because we are complementary to each other. If we were the same it wouldn’t work.

The exhibition space which has been split into four main components highlights Hublot’s most successful partnerships in the United Kingdom. Hublot presents the new Ferrari Safety car and six Baselworld Ferrari models launched in celebration of the partnership. Three new Unico Ferrari pieces celebrating the 90th Anniversary of Scuderia Ferrari demonstrate the brand’s unparalleled attention to detail for their collaborative editions.

While Breitling will be relying solely on the summits that already featured at this year's Baselworld for its communication and marketing in 2020, Rolex and its sister brand Tudor will be both extending their presence at the show next year. Tudor will have its own stand in Hall 1.0 at the next edition and Rolex will expand its stand accordingly to include the previous Tudor area.

Tell us the story behind your new Slimline Power Reserve movement…
We always had a focus on innovation. With Peter [Stas, Frédérique Constant’s CEO], we are always looking to create new models and build up a story. We started the development of the Slimline Power Reserve over two years ago. It is based on our existing FC-703 calibre. 

For the past 10 years we have seen more and more watch brands pay attention to the demands of women. Some were slower to rise to the occasion, but luckily by Baselworld 2019, we were seeing some wonderful women’s watches make their way onto the scene. These watches run the gamut from the highly complex, to the ultra beautiful ad even the high jeweled delights. Here we take a look at   five top watches from Baselworld 2019.

While the watchmakers worked on displaying all the information on the same level on the dial of the Virtuoso V, the dial-makers designed a completely original guilloché motif. After decorating the metal base with this guilloché motif, they applied a dozen layers of translucent red lacquer, before finally polishing it to give a perfectly flat surface. In addition to the concentrated technical skill and artistry emanating from the timepiece, its design has become purer and its readability even greater. The original stepped arrangement has given way to greater classicism, which enhances the artistic crafts and exemplary finishes of all the components.