Patek Philippe Factory Tour Day 3

Day 3 saw us with an extra early start. We had a 2 ½ hour drive to the dial factory at St Imier in the Canton of Jura. Under grey skies and a light shower we boarded our bus and headed out of Geneva along the lake. Once we were out of the city we drove through beautiful green countryside with the occasional rainbow. 

Cadrans Flückiger S.A. is a subsidiary company of Patek Philippe. They specialize in the manufacture and finishing of dials. Not only do they make dials for Patek Philippe, they also do dials for companies suchas Audemars Piguet and IWC amongst others. It was fascinating to learn that a dial can have anywhere from 40 to 70 processes applied to it. Sadly we were unable to take photos inside the factory areas, but it was really interesting to have the processes explained and to see them in action.

Enamelling and engraving are also carried out at Cadrans Flückiger and we were fortunate to be able to see the artisans working at both techniques. Enameling is very pretty but the amount of work involved explains why the pricing can be quite a bit more for a watch. The engraving studio also had several guilloché machines dating back to the 1800’s still being used.

Lunch was at a hotel we stayed at several years ago, the Beau Rivage Neuchatel. Not associated with the Beau Rivage Geneva, this stately hotel is also situated by a lake, Lake Neuchatel to be precise. It was nice to return even if for a little while.

Memories of our dinner on our last visit had us anticipating the wonderful lunch that awaited us.

The wild mushrooms in puff pastry were really tasty and the freshness of the mushrooms was evident in the level of flavor.

Main course was a simple prepared chicken supreme, with vegetables and a chorizo cream sauce. The sauce had a nice spiciness to it.

Dessert was an apple tart tatin, beautifully presented and very delicious!

After lunch we had time for a quick walk outside.

Views of the beautiful town of Neuchatel.

After our fantastic lunch it was back on to the bus. Our next destination was to a visit to the chocolate factory of a  Maison Cailler, located in Broc, up in to the mountains of La Gruyere. Part of the Nestle Group, Maison Cailler was founded in the early 1800’s by Francois-Lois Cailler. Over the next 100 or so years the manufacturing of chocolate was perfected with the ultimate secret to creaminess being the use of condensed milk made from the high quality milk from the cows of the region.

We took part in a tour of the factory which started with a series of rooms, each depicting a different period in the history of chocolate. From the Aztecs to the Conquisatadors, the arrival of chocolate in Europe, right up to the founding of Maison Cailler and the 20^th century. Very interesting and well done.

After the history rooms you start in to the factory proper. Glass walls separate the factory from the tour area where displays and samples of ingredients are arranged. An audio device is given to each tour member at the start and when held to an icon at each display you learn more about the ingredients and where they are from. There is also information on the farmers/growers and their locations in the world.

And of course you can’t finish a chocolate factory tour without trying some freshly made chocolate.

We also had time for a bit of chocolate retail therapy.

This ends part 1 of Day 3 part two will see us head to the historic for town of Gruyeres for dinner.

De Bethune Debate – Are six figure watches necessary?

As a watch collector with somewhat of a rose colored perspective in relation to anything horological,  being invited to a watch event ‘Are Six Figure watches necessary?’ proved to be possibly confronting.

Ironically the event was held at the State Library of NSW, another potentially archaic institution.

Maybe I’m quixotic but the idea of reading an actual book within a library such as this, is enriching on so many levels that you just cannot compare it with an e-book.

What was of greater interest was that the watch company hosting the event together with the Hourglass was no other than De Bethune. If there is one current brand that has a strong independence aura it is definitely De Bethune.

This is even apparent on the watches which speak for themselves by having no brand signature or logo.

The brand has its own unique design DNA not only from an aesthetic but more importantly in terms of movement architecture and a passion for genuine innovation.

De Bethune almost operates in a different universe to the rest of the industry. It has taken just eleven short years for two watchmaking devotees to build what history will doubtless view as the foundations of 21st century horology.  In 2002, when David Zanetta, a collector with a passion for art, history and timepieces, decided to join forces in founding De Bethune with Denis Flageollet, the son, grandson and great-grandson of watchmakers, they were both keenly aware of sharing the same vision of tomorrow's watchmaking. Their no compromise approach is finally receiving well deserved accolades amongst the industry and collectors.

In a tech driven, globalised world, the rational mind would certainly paint traditional watchmaking as on a path of eventual obsolescence. Luckily the human race is not entirely rational and there will always be a lure to own objects of irrational desire that spark inexpressible feelings deep inside of us.

Are these watches necessary? No! Are they an investment? No, as we will find out in due course! These questions are not just about watches but all things of human passion. To the crazy collector these creative works that symbolize beauty, romance, and exclusivity are not a desire but a necessity.  

A Perpetual Legacy

Unless you are an individual that does not need to be connected to the rest of the planet, the isolation of Australia, from the rest of the world, has its challenges. One positive is that the tyranny of distance makes the degree of commitment to this market rather obvious.

Most watch brands just pass by hoping for a quick uplift in sales, others have been here for many years with quite successful per capita sales (remember the tourist bonus given the weak $A) but do very little in terms  of reaching out to actual collectors. By inviting the media and rent a crowd, large stage showmanship whilst impressive, may get them a short flurry of headlines but no real connection with the actual end buyer. An experienced player knows this is not how lasting business is done down under.

Luckily there are a few what brands such as MB&F can sense the relatively restrained but deep passion for watches that this country possesses.

True to style it is great to see that this pioneering brand is not only walking a different path in terms of product design but also in terms of marketing strategy.

We have had the pleasure of Max Busser visiting our shores previously and this year Charris Yadigarolou made the special effort for what is to be one of the strategically most important launches for the brand this year (and they have had so many).

Great watch brands are created by a differentiated uncompromised end product that in my view endures and is nurtured by the passionate drive and connected vision of the people.  Upon reflection I have also come to the realisation that a brand is not just about the product but the journey it took to reach its elevated status.  

For a brand to become truly great it has to have been tested at its core. The easy road whilst tempting is never the path to great success. It is this point that makes the launch of the Legacy Machine Perpetual such a compelling story. 

I will spare the technical details of this ground breaking watch and rather remark on the fact that throughout the presentation one gained a very strong sense of the drive of Stephen McDonnell and his trails in pursuit of the unconventional that ultimately proved ground breaking.

Legacy Machine Perpetual is the watch that puts MB&F on the map even with the most dismissive traditionalist.

Patek Philippe Tour Day 2

After breakfast in the hotel we hopped on to our coach for a short trip to Plan Les Ouates, an industrial area on the southern side of Geneva. I know what you are thinking, luxury watches in an industrial area? Plan Les Ouates is no ordinary industrial area. Locals give it the nickname Plan Les Watches as it is home to many Swiss watch brands (Rolex, Vacheron Constantin, Patek Philippe, Piaget, amongst others). It is also home to several Swiss beauty/cosmetic brands like Clarins.

Upon arriving we had a quick coffee, met our guides and then headed in to the lecture room auditorium for a presentation about the Patek Philippe brand.  After the presentation we were broken in to two smaller groups to begin our tour of the factory. 

Sadly we were not able to take photos inside the factory areas, but it was fascinating to see how the parts are manufactured and machined. 

The tour is really well planned and nearly every area of the factory has large picture windows where you can see in to the machining areas. Alongside the windows or doors are large illustrations of what components are made in that particular area, along with a photo of the actual size of the piece being made and the steps involved in finishing each piece. It is amazing to see a piece of metal go in one end and the finished piece at the other. 

When you see the tiny size of some of the pieces and then are told that they all get polished, you really have to marvel at the skill of the polishers.

After the tour it was time for lunch which was in the private dining salon. Mr. Philippe Stern was our host for lunch. What a lunch it was! Prepared by a chef poached from a Michelin star restaurant, we were informed that he also prepared the meus for the 2 staff cafeterias.

Lasagne style Zita pasta # 18, eggplant confit,poultry and Pata Negra ham.

 Brittany lobster, cauliflower and curry foam.

 Lemon cheese cake, thin vanilla crepes.

 Coffee and chocolates ended our meal.

After our fabulous lunch it was back on the bus for the short journey back in to Geneva central for our tour of the Patek Philippe Watch Museum. WOW what a museum! The Patek Philippe Watch museum houses thousands of watches and pocket watches, and has examples of  clock and watch making from the 1500’s right up to the year 2000. Mr Henry Stern has built up a fabulous collection and continues to add to it. The museum is broken in to tow sections, Antique watches 1500’s to 1800’s and the Patek Philippe collection 1839 to present. There is so much to see that we will definitely be going back for another visit, you could spend a whole day looking at these masterpieces of horlogerie.

http://www.patekmuseum.com/

After a wonderful short tour of this fascinating museum it was back to the Beau Rivage for a quick freshen up and then to dinner at L’Observatoire Restaurant. We knew it was close to our hotel but didn’t realise it was in the hotel next to ours, Hotel D’Angleterre. The hotel is very old school British in style, very elegant and sophisticated. 

Nothing quite like a unique butter presentation!

Mille-feuille of crispy potatoes, vegetable puree flavoured with truffles and crispy chips.

Veal medallion Gamay jus, stuffed vegetables and mushroom filled potatoes.

Caramel pear, pink praline custard and orchid ice cream.

After our second three course meal of the day we were very glad it wasn’t too far back to our hotel and another good night of sleep.