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Inside
Basel & Geneva
San Francisco, 2008
By Mike
Disher
Photos by Patrick Roddie, Kohei Saito, Mike Disher, and Joe Thompson
This past Thursday June 19, a sell-out crowd of more than 170 collectors and enthusiasts gathered
for the first of Jeff Kingston‘s 2008 Inside Basel & Geneva programs,
presented in association with WatchTime Magazine. This marks the fifth
year Jeff and WatchTime have transported us to Switzerland, and this year
Jeff takes his presentation to a new level, incorporating a series of
videos in which top executives from 9 leading manufacturers discuss their
new models and the stories behind them. Included in the video presentations are
Dr. Frank Müller
of Glashütte Original, Marc Hayek of
Blancpain, Fabian Krone of Lange, Marc Guten of Vacheron, Guy Bove of IWC,
and more.
San Francisco’s elegant City Club
served as the backdrop for the event. Located in the heart of the
financial district next to the Pacific Stock Exchange, the City Club
provided the perfect venue. Large windows offered stunning views of the
city, though the eyes of most enthusiasts were directed toward the tables
filled with spectacular timepieces. Behind the tables were representatives
of 9 leading manufacturers: A. Lange & Söhne, Blancpain, Carl F. Bucherer,
Glashütte Original, IWC, Martin Braun, Montblanc, Piaget, and Vacheron
Constantin. The event provided a unique opportunity for collectors and
enthusiasts to see the latest models and to speak directly with
the manufacturers about them. Also on hand to meet attendees were WatchTime Magazine’s Editor in Chief Joe Thompson and Publisher Wolfgang
Blum.
As Jeff likes to say, these events
are part Basel/SIHH presentation, part cocktail reception with top
manufacturers, and part WIS GTG (Watch Idiot Savant Get Together). The
last part is perhaps the most fun. The events present a rare opportunity
to meet a large number of fellow enthusiasts in an elegant setting. There
is nothing else like it.
The San Francisco event got under way at 6 p.m. with a cocktail reception. I met many old friends and made new
ones. Some of the attendees brought special pieces from their collections to
share, adding to the smorgasbord of timekeeping treats. Guests had plenty
of time to mingle, enjoy a glass of wine or Pellegrino, and try on some amazing watches.
At about 7:30 the bell announcing dinner sounded, though as in Las Vegas,
no one wanted to leave the tables. Before long however, everyone found
their way to the dining room where a delicious meal was served. Soon after
the meal began, the show got under way. Joe Thompson introduced Jeff, and
we were off to Switzerland.
Jeff's presentation covers more
than 40 brands. To prepare, Jeff
visits leading and up-and-coming manufacturers and independent watchmakers
in Basel and Geneva for special one-on-one meetings. Jeff is not only a
knowledgeable collector, but he is also fluent in French, so he is able to
capture each nuance as he speaks with executives, designers, and
watchmakers. After the shows, Jeff spends weeks with hundreds of photos, hours of video, and a stack of notes, and he distills
all of this down to a presentation that includes new trends, technical
analysis, personal insight, and behind-the-scenes info that no one else
has.
This year Jeff adds a new
dimension to the shows via video. For the first time, the audience can
hear directly from leading industry figures as they discuss their new
developments and the stories behind them. The videos also include a short
whirlwind tour of the Basel and Geneva shows that
take you inside so you can see and feel what it’s like to be at the fairs.
If you love watches and you did not make it to Switzerland this year, let
Jeff be your personal guide. Even if you saw Basel/Geneva pictures online, nothing
beats the real world experience of seeing the watches in person and trying
them on, meeting
the manufacturers, and enjoying an evening with a group of fellow enthusiasts.
There's something for everyone.
Here are the remaining dates on
the tour:
September 9, New York
September 11, Philadelphia
September 23, Chicago
September 25, Dallas
Click here to
register, or call 646.742.0740. You can also e-mail event coordinator
Amy Bernstein at
abernstein@watchtime.com.
And now, some images from the
evening. You may click the images to view larger versions.
The Venue
People...
Below left, Jeff Kingston (center)
meets guests. Below right, Event Coordinator Amy Bernstein
WatchTime's Wolfgang Blum
(left) and Joe Thompson (right)...
Your humble
reporter...
Guests meet eachother
and the manufacturers...
The Watches...
Appreciation...
The Show...
Joe Thompson introduces Jeff...
The show begins...
Below left, Glashütte
Original's Dr.
Frank Müller
appears via video to tell the story behind the Pano Inverse...
Below left, Jeff
explains an amazing timepiece from DeWitt.
The audience soaks it
up...
The evening was
wonderful, and it ended too soon. I would like to extend personal thanks
to Jeff, to Joe, Wolfgang, Amy and the rest of the WatchTime crew, to
Patrick Roddie and Kohei Saito for their superb photos, to the supporting
manufacturers, and to everyone who helps put these shows
together. They require a huge effort, and they represent a unique
opportunity for collectors and enthusiasts to get an inside look at the
most important events of the watchmaking year. Don't forget the
remaining dates:
September 9, New York
September 11, Philadelphia
September 23, Chicago
September 25, Dallas
Click here to
register
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