Yahoo Lifestyle 13 Watch-World Leaders Compare Their Watches to Cars—and More Fun From Geneva
In the past few years, watch fairs and tradeshows have taken new shape. What was once a more centralized and exclusive opportunity for the industry’s elite to gather behind closed doors has blossomed into a variety of gatherings not just for the industry but for the public. Geneva Watch Days, held at the end of August for the past four years, is one such event. Geneva Watch Days is the brainchild of six brands—Breitling, Bulgari, De Bethune, Girard-Perregaux, H. Moser & Cie. and MB&F—and operates with the backing of the city of Geneva.
Since it’s inception, GWD has been perceived as the “fun little brother” to the more serious and large-scale Watches & Wonders held each spring. But we all know, even little brothers grow up. This year, the fair hosted a whopping 53 brands up from 39 the pervious year. The show ran to five days as opposed to the previous four, and it notched a record number of attendees—13,800 to be exact, which was 70% higher than the previous year.
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Facts and figures aside, GWD presented a slew of gorgeous new watches (the whole point really). We saw a total of seven new pieces from Bulgari including a trio of minute repeaters. Daniel Roth presented a rose-gold tourbillon. And in typical fashion, Laurent Ferrier’s new limited edition blew us away with perfect understatement.
But at this year’s GWD, we saw an opportunity to go deeper than the watches themselves. We wondered what would happen if we got a little more playful and personal with some of the coolest, and most influential, leaders in the watch industry. So, we came up with five fun yet simple questions:
Did your father wear a watch and if so, when you close your eyes and picture that watch, what is it?
What watch are you wearing right now, and if that watch was a car, what would it be?
What’s your favorite restaurant in Geneva?
After a big trade show like GWD, what do you like to do to relax and decompress?
Finish this sentence: I never have enough time to—what? What do you wish you had more time for?
What unfolded was a series of unexpected conversations with founders like Mr. Laurent Ferrier himself, Felix Baumgartner and Martin Frei of Urwerk, CEOs from H. Moser & Cie and Greubel Forsey and many others.
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Felix Baumgartner, Master Watchmaker and Cofounder of Urwerk
Did your father wear a watch and if so, when you close your eyes and picture that watch, what is it?
My father is still a clockmaker today, and for as long as I can remember, he’s worn my grandfather’s watch, which is an IWC pilot’s watch. It has a black dial with contrasting white hands and white digits. A very minimalistic design—a very simple, clear, functional piece.
What watch are you wearing right now, and if that watch was a car, what would it be?
Today, I’m wearing the exceptional 112 Aggregat. This is one of the most complicated, three-dimensional complex carousels we’ve ever created. Actually, it’s a double flying carousel with one carousel for the hours and the other for the minutes. The case is absolutely unique because it’s flanged from both sides—normally it would be the top and the back but here, this inspiration comes from the Bugatti Atlantic. So, this watch is inextricably linked to this car.
What’s your favorite restaurant in Geneva?
When it comes to my favorite restaurant here—we are so lucky to be in the most beautiful square in Geneva—Bourg du Four, a very historical place in the middle of Old Town. Here, there is one of the oldest cafes of the same name, Café du Bourg-de-Four. It has a very traditional Swiss menu with dishes like rosti, which is a Swiss hashbrown.
After a big tradeshow like GWD, what do you like to do to relax and decompress?
To relax, there is one thing—this little fishing town near Liguria, Italy, called Varigotti, which is five hours by car from Geneva. It is very small, only Italians are there, almost no hotels—it’s very calm and beautiful.
Finish this sentence: I never have enough time to—what? What do you wish you had more time for?
I will never have enough time to make all the watches we are dreaming of.
Martin Frei, Chief Designer and Cofounder of Urwerk
Did your father wear a watch and if so, when you close your eyes and picture that watch, what is it?
My father, like my grandfather, wore an Omega Seamaster. My grandfather’s was golden from the 1940s, and my father had a steel version from the 1950s.
What watch are you wearing right now, and if that watch was a car, what would it be?
This watch that I’m wearing is the Urwerk 210. This particular version is in stainless steel with a metal bracelet. I like that it has a prototype look to it—so many of our watches never get past the prototype phase and even the ones that do, maintain this energy of the prototype. So, when you ask me what car would this watch be, it would be a prototype car—one where you can actually see the engineering in it, the way the creators wanted it to be seen.
What’s your favorite restaurant in Geneva?
I’m not from Geneva, I’m from Zurich, and I would like to share my favorite restaurant there called Kronenhalle. It’s a traditional restaurant in the Munich beerhouse style, but here they have incredible original artwork by Picasso and Chagall. The original owner used to exchange with the artists, art for food! They have very good food, hearty food, and a nice bar as well, good prices.
After a big tradeshow like GWD, what do you like to do to relax and decompress?
There is a place where I like to relax right here in Geneva: the Bain de Paquis. When you go there, it’s like you’re on holiday immediately, and it is probably the closest place to go to relax in Geneva while feeling as if you are somewhere else
Finish this sentence: I never have enough time to—what? What do you wish you had more time for?
I never have enough time to read. I have a pile of books at home I want to read—there are maybe six books at this time I would like to finish, but it’s not easy to find the time.
William Massena, Founder of Massena LAB
Did your father wear a watch and if so, when you close your eyes and picture that watch, what is it?
My father wore a lot of watches, but the one I remember most was a Baume & Mercier from the 1970s with a Tiger Eye dial.
What watch are you wearing right now, and if that watch was a car, what would it be?
Right now, I’m wearing the new Albishorn x Massena LAB Maxigraph, and if this watch was a car, it would be a Land Rover Defender 90.
What’s your favorite restaurant in Geneva?
My favorite restaurant in Geneva is l’Auberge du Lion d’Or, the Golden Lion in Cologny.
After a big tradeshow like GWD, what do you like to do to relax and decompress?
To relax and unwind after a new release, I like to sit back in a very comfortable chair with my laptop and read all the journalists’ articles about my new watch and laugh at all the mistakes they made!
Finish this sentence: I never have enough time to—what? What do you wish you had more time for?
I never have enough time to see my kids—I always wish I had more time with them.
Rémi Maillat, Founder of Krayon
Did your father wear a watch and if so, when you close your eyes and picture that watch, what is it?
My father actually never wore a watch that I can remember. He worked in the industry, but he was not the type of person to wear a watch.
What watch are you wearing right now, and if that watch was a car, what would it be?
Today, I’m wearing the white gold Anywhere watch, and if this watch was a car, I would try to imagine a car that is at the same time useful and simple to operate and that you could drive daily and be able to drive anywhere.
What’s your favorite restaurant in Geneva?
Every time I come to Geneva, there’s a Chinese restaurant I like to go to near the train station. I’ve had many meetings there over the years. It’s a sentimental place.
After a big tradeshow like GWD, what do you like to do to relax and decompress?
To relax, I like to take a week or two of holiday. The next trip I’m planning is to northern Canada.
Finish this sentence: I never have enough time to—what? What do you wish you had more time for?
I never have enough time to accomplish everything I want for the brand—my biggest challenge is to find balance between the time dedicated to production and delivering pieces on time along with time spent to develop new functions and new calibers and build the future of Krayon.
Clemence Dubois, Chief Marketing and Product Officer of Girard-Perregaux
Did your father wear a watch and if so, when you close your eyes and picture that watch, what is it?
My father wore a lot of different watches, but the one I remember most is a very classic JLC he got from my grandfather. It was yellow gold with an eggshell dial, super thin, 36 mm case, and an alligator strap.
What watch are you wearing right now, and if that watch was a car, what would it be?
Right now, I’m wearing the Casket 2.0 from 2022. I actually got it for my 10-year anniversary at Girard-Perregaux. This model was one of my first and biggest projects as the Chief Product Officer at GP, so it’s pretty special to me. And if it was a car, it would be a Citroen Mehari. This was a very playful car when it was launched in the late 60s, early 70s, so it also has the vibe of that era, which is the same era as the original Casket. This car was something disruptive when industrial design was really establishing itself. And it’s a cool car, an adventurous car but still very elegant and easy to drive around.
What’s your favorite restaurant in Geneva?
Le Thermometre is a great restaurant in Geneva if you love meat and want a very good steak. Izumi is also really nice for Japanese fusion.
After a big tradeshow like GWD, what do you like to do to relax and decompress?
To relax, I love running. I like running fast, short distances. Or boxing—the kind of sports that go quickly and intensely. I also love going to Paris, just walking the streets, going to museums, then having a nice dinner.
Finish this sentence: I never have enough time to—what? What do you wish you had more time for?
I never have enough time for doing collage. I love doing things with my hands, so any chance I can get to do ceramics or drawing or collage, I grab it, but collage in particular is such a long process—you must go through things, collect things, be patient to become inspired.
Arnaud Legeret, Communications Manager of MB&F
Did your father wear a watch and if so, when you close your eyes and picture that watch, what is it?
Growing up, my father worked in the watch industry at Ebel, so he was always wearing an Ebel watch.
What watch are you wearing right now, and if that watch was a car, what would it be?
So, right now I’m wearing the MB&F Legacy Machine 101, which is a more classic MB&F watch than you typically find. The 101 series is basically the expression of the essentials you need to have in a watch: the time, power reserve, and balance wheel. If this watch was a car, it would be the Lotus 11. It has this classic and very cool vibe—it’s small, it’s cute, it’s powerful.
What’s your favorite restaurant in Geneva?
My favorite restaurant in Geneva is a place owned by a friend of mine called Bombar. It’s quite close to where I live, so I go very often. It’s not posh. You can just go there and have a glass of whatever you like to drink, and all dishes that are shared. It’s perfect with friends
After a big tradeshow like GWD, what do you like to do to relax and decompress?
To relax, I like to go to the mountains. In the summer, I’ll go hiking, or in the winter, I’ll go skiing for a full day and just don’t talk to anyone!
Finish this sentence: I never have enough time to—what? What do you wish you had more time for?
I never have enough time to spend with my friends.
Edouard Meylan, CEO of H. Moser & Cie
Did your father wear a watch and if so, when you close your eyes and picture that watch, what is it?
I grew up in the watch industry—when I was born, my father was working at JLC. So, I remember him wearing a lot of watches, but one that sticks out most is this prototype perpetual calendar Royal Oak steel with a platinum bezel—he was extremely proud of that watch.
What watch are you wearing right now, and if that watch was a car, what would it be?
I’m wearing the new Endeavour Perpetual Calendar Passion Fruit, and if this watch was a car, I think it would be a Fiat 500 Electric—it’s both a modern and timeless design.
What’s your favorite restaurant in Geneva?
A tradition since my parents were in the industry has been going to this Spanish tapas restaurant with the most amazing food—squid and garlic shrimp and salt crust sea bass—but please don’t publish the name! Or we will never be able to find a table again!
After a big tradeshow like GWD, what do you like to do to relax and decompress?
For me, I relax by spending time with my family. My daughter will be going away to an exchange program this year, so I want to spend as much time with her as I can before she leaves. We actually just found out she’ll be near the small village where Studio Underd0g assembles its watches, which is really funny.
Finish this sentence: I never have enough time to—what? What do you wish you had more time for?
What I realize lately, is I have less and less time to think. Recently, I decided to put limitations on my phone for emails and social media because I realized my creativity and my ideas get blocked if I don’t have space for my mind to create.
Richard Benc, Founder of Studio Underd0g
Did your father wear a watch and if so, when you close your eyes and picture that watch, what is it?
My dad wore a Victorinox—funny story—I didn’t own a watch until I started working in this industry, and when I interviewed for my first job at a watch company in London, I borrowed this watch for the interview. So, maybe this Victorinox was integral to getting me to where I am today!
What watch are you wearing right now, and if that watch was a car, what would it be?
I’m wearing the new 03SERIES Passi0n Fruit, and if this watch was a car, I think it would be a Brabus—the guys who take luxury cars and put their own spin on them.
What’s your favorite restaurant in Geneva?
I haven’t spent a huge amount of time in Geneva yet, just getting my brand off the ground three years ago, so a lot of the food I’ve eaten here has been at the Beau Rivage, which has been pretty great.
After a big tradeshow like GWD, what do you like to do to relax and decompress?
I’m not quite a one-man band anymore, but there is still little time to relax for me. I will be taking some time to celebrate one of my closest friends getting married. He actually had an important part to play in our pre-launch with some of the animations and content we built.
Finish this sentence: I never have enough time to—what? What do you wish you had more time for?
As cliché as it sounds, I wish I had more time to stop and smell the roses. I just don’t stop. But maybe now is a good moment to do that.
Ming Thein, Founder of Ming
Did your father wear a watch and if so, when you close your eyes and picture that watch, what is it?
I picture my father wearing this ultra-thin Seiko quartz piece on a steel bracelet from the late 80s or early 90s. I remember being quite interested in the way it was both very thin but very elegant at the same time.
What watch are you wearing right now, and if that watch was a car, what would it be?
I’m wearing our latest 20.02 Series 3—it’s an interesting fusion of very classical things like the warm rose gold material and the finishing of the movement with frosted gold plated and anglage, but at the same time, it’s very modern because the borosilicate dial can only be created with a laser. So, all that said, if it was a car, it would be a Pagani Utopia. The Utopia runs a very sort of conventional powertrain. It’s got a large displacement Mercedes V 12 but the body is carbon fiber. The whole thing looks very steampunk retro, yet it has a manual gearbox, which is unusual for something released so recently.
What’s your favorite restaurant in Geneva?
I can’t say I’ve spent enough time in Geneva to know my favorite restaurant here but in another city, it’s easy: a place called Dewakan in Kuala Lumpur.
After a big tradeshow like GWD, what do you like to do to relax and decompress?
To relax, I ride my bike—my bike comes with me everywhere. I have a traveling, packable bike that I had made custom for me. I don’t like folding bikes because they feel a bit weird. So, I worked with this company in Boston to design something that could be disassembled and packed into a standard suitcase that rides more like a normal bike.
Finish this sentence: I never have enough time to—what? What do you wish you had more time for?
I never have enough time to absorb what’s around me rather than rushing from thing to thing. I know that if the ideas aren’t popping, it means I’m not stopping and looking and observing enough. That’s just one of those things that we have to make time for. It feels like it’s downtime. It feels like you’re not doing anything, but actually you are.
Michel Nydegger, CEO of Greubel Forsey
Did your father wear a watch and if so, when you close your eyes and picture that watch, what is it?
My father wore a Tissot was that was quite simple.
What watch are you wearing right now, and if that watch was a car, what would it be?
So, I’m wearing an Apple watch—out of respect for our customers who work so hard to collect our watches at Greubel Forsey, I refuse to buy one until I can do so at retail just like our clients. And if the Apple watch was a car, it would be a Tesla.
What’s your favorite restaurant in Geneva?
My favorite restaurant in Geneva is called La Closerie in Cologny—they have amazing prawns.
After a big tradeshow like GWD, what do you like to do to relax and decompress?
To relax, I like to sit on my couch with a big margarita pizza on my belly and do nothing for hours and hours.
Finish this sentence: I never have enough time to—what? What do you wish you had more time for?
I never have enough time for sleep! I complain about that often.
Niels Eggerding, CEO of Frederique Constant
Did your father wear a watch and if so, when you close your eyes and picture that watch, what is it?
Growing up, my father was not a watch guy. So, the first watch he wore was one I purchased for him, a Certina watch from when I was working at Swatch Group.
What watch are you wearing right now, and if that watch was a car, what would it be?
Today I’m wearing the High Life Perpetual Calendar, and if I were to compare it to a car, it should be a car that’s timeless and design focused—perhaps a Mercedes SL from the 80s.
What’s your favorite restaurant in Geneva?
I love beef, so my favorite restaurant in Geneva is one literally called Beef—they have every kind from Australian Wagyu to Japanese Wagyu.
After a big tradeshow like GWD, what do you like to do to relax and decompress?
It is very difficult for me to relax and unwind—I’m always connected. So, in order to disconnect, I must do something with my hands. I like to do woodwork or garden at my home.
Finish this sentence: I never have enough time to—what? What do you wish you had more time for?
I never have enough time to be with my two boys and my wife, my mother, the rest of my family. There’s never enough time for that.
Laurent Ferrier, Creative Director and Founder of Laurent Ferrier
Did your father wear a watch and if so, when you close your eyes and picture that watch, what is it?
When I was a teenager, I remember my father wearing a Heuer Autavia.
What watch are you wearing right now, and if that watch was a car, what would it be?
I am wearing the Tourbillon Double Spiral, and if this watch was a car, it would be a Bentley, but I am not sure which one!
What’s your favorite restaurant in Geneva?
My favorite restaurant in Geneva is l’Entrecote. It’s a simple menu—a steak and fries and very good sauce.
After a big tradeshow like GWD, what do you like to do to relax and decompress?
To relax, I dream of taking a private jet to Ibiza! Haha! No, I cannot party this much anymore, so in reality, I enjoy quiet time at my home overlooking the lake. The lake is very beautiful.
Finish this sentence: I never have enough time to—what? What do you wish you had more time for?
I have too many ideas I will not be able to start—I will never have enough time to fulfill all the projects I have in mind.
Christian Ferrier, Head of Brand Patrimony of Laurent Ferrier
Did your father wear a watch and if so, when you close your eyes and picture that watch, what is it?
I remember my father wearing Patek Philippe, of course, specifically a Nautilus.
What watch are you wearing right now, and if that watch was a car, what would it be?
Right now, I’m wearing the Square Micro-Rotor in Evergreen. If this watch was a car, it would be a Porsche 911—it is very sporty and sophisticated. When the 911 was first made, cars were more balanced at this time. Now cars must be fast, but then objective was really the beauty of the object.
What’s your favorite restaurant in Geneva?
My favorite restaurant in Geneva is a place of the past—I remember going when I was very young, but this place is still very beautiful—Age d’Or. I believe it was one of the first pizzerias in Geneva, opening back in the 1950s.
After a big tradeshow like GWD, what do you like to do to relax and decompress?
For me to relax, I must go deep in the forest and go fishing on the river.
Finish this sentence: I never have enough time to—what? What do you wish you had more time for?
I never have enough time to discover other hobbies I might like. I always do the same thing—I work, I spend time with my family—I have not had much time to discover new things I could enjoy.
