INSIDE BASEL/GENEVA: West Coast Watch Mania Returns
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WatchTime and watch connoisseur Jeff Kingston kicked off their third year of Inside Basel/Geneva events in grand style in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Offering watch overdose for passionate collectors, all of the Inside Basel/Geneva events are held in the finest private clubs in the country. The San Francisco event was in the historic art deco City Club, and the Los Angeles event, in the legendary Spanish-style Riviera Country Club. Both shows were packed as collectors gathered to see the watches presented by the sponsoring brands, trade watch stories with other collectors, and enjoy an elegant meal accompanied by Jeff’s presentation of the novelties from this year's Baselworld and SIHH watch fairs.
This year’s sponsors for all shows, in alphabetical order, are A. Lange & Söhne, Blancpain, Carl F. Bucherer, Glashütte Original, IWC, Martin Braun, Montblanc, Piaget and Vacheron Constantin. In addition, Omega joined as a sponsor in Los Angeles and Roger Dubuis as a sponsor in New York, Chicago and Dallas. Each of the sponsoring brands brought their Basel/Geneva product introductions for this year as well as a broad swath of their collections. The collectors flocked to the tables to examine the watches and pose questions.
The presentation this year has undergone an enormous transformation. Jeff was accompanied in both Basel and Geneva by a film crew and was able to have private, exclusive interviews with watch industry CEOs and executives. The presentation featured nine interview movie segments with such luminaries as Dr. Frank Müller of Glashütte, Marc A. Hayek of Blancpain, Marc Guten of Vacheron, Fabian Krone of A. Lange & Söhne, Martin Braun of Martin Braun, Guy Bove of IWC, Philippe Metzger of Piaget and Thomas Morf of Carl F. Bucherer. Other spice in the show came in the form of a whirlwind filmed tour of the Basel show and a film segment you have to see to believe, something called “Disco Wrists." And according to tradition, the presentation featured Jeff’s detailed photographs of the watches and movements.
All events have sold out quickly, so prompt registration is recommended to reserve your seat. To view photos from our San Franciso event see our photo gallery below. Los Angeles photos will be coming shortly.
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Photos by Patrick Roddie

The nation's leading watch companies exhibited their latest novelties.
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A representative helps a guest adjust an IWC timepiece.

Piaget's Altiplano Double Jeu has two cases.

Martin Braun's innovative complications

Glashütte Original's fine German craftmanship is popular with attendees.

Julien Tornare from Vacheron Constantin chats with guests.

The IWC table is greeted by an eager crowd.

Watch aficionados mingle with brand representatives and fellow watch collectors.

Classical and innovative describe A. Lange & Söhne's watches

Montblanc's recent dedication to their mechanical movements draws appreciation from guests.

Carl F. Bucherer's Patravi TravelTec Chronograph GMT displays several time zones.

Editor-in-chief Joe Thompson addresses the crowd with introductions.

A filmed interview with Dr. Frank Müller of Glashütte Original.

Jeff Kingston's presentation covers watch highlights from over 40 brands.

Video interviews with watch executives take you behind the scenes of the Swiss fairs.

Jeff discusses DeWitt's latest concept watch.

A quartet of new models from Glashütte Original

Guests speak with Martin Braun (left) of Martin Braun watches.

Carl F. Bucherer's first in-house movement stirs great interest from guests.

Attendees get to ask questions about their favorite timepieces.

A. Lange & Söhne's Marcia Mazzocchi introduces the latest features from the collection.

A fine spectacle of Martin Braun's horological expertise.
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