The Inside Basel/Geneva 2009 series launched with a bang on Tuesday June 23 at the elegant City Club in the heart of San Francisco’s financial district. Sponsors Lange, IWC, Vacheron Constantin, Piaget, Carl F. Bucherer and Montblanc displayed their newest timepieces, and Antiquorum’s Charles Tearle presented a collection of watches that will be offered at upcoming auctions. Guests came from as far as Illinois and Washington to share the experience. I was on hand with my camera, and the images I captured are displayed in this three-page photo essay.
The evening began with a reception during which guests tried on watches while enjoying fine wines, champagne and hors d’oeuvres. Old friends were met and now ones made. Following cocktails, everyone adjourned to the upstairs dining room for dinner and Jeff Kingston’s presentation. Each year Jeff and his video crew travel to Basel and Geneva where they have exclusive, behind-the-scenes access. Jeff visits well over 40 brands and along the way he meets, spends time with, and interviews executives, watchmakers, and designers. Jeff presents the best new watches from the Swiss shows using video and still images, experience, insight and humor. It’s a show that is not to be missed.
If you would like to attend our 2010 shows, here are the dates:
San Francisco: June 22
Los Angeles: June 24
Miami: July 14
New York: September 14
Philadelphia: September 16
Chicago September 29
You can get more information and register by clicking here.
And now, we’re off to the Inside Basel/Geneva San Francisco 2009. You may click the images to view larger versions…
The ornate entrance to the City Club building…
The main room fills with guests…
A striking Diego Rivera mural graces the stairway leading up to the dining room…
Guests mingle, enjoying the atmosphere, meeting old friends and making new ones…
WatchTime editor in chief Joe Thompson (left) tells IWC’s Michael Friedberg about the largest watch he saw at Basel this year…
Guests chat with watchmaker Peter Speake-Marin who stopped by…
TimeZone alumni corner: Walt Odets (center) examines a watch movement while Larry Seiden (left) and Michael Friedberg talk watches…
A couple peruse an Antiquorum catalog…
Joe Thompson and WatchTime Publishing Director Wolfgang Blum (center) talk with a guest
WatchTime’s Special Projects Editor Amy Bernstein chats with a guest. Amy organizes the Inside Basel/Geneva shows and we owe her a big debt of gratitude for bringing these events together. Thanks Amy!…
Joe Thompson catches up with an old friend…
Click here to continue to part two of this report: guests visit the manufacturers to see the latest watches…
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