Biel/Bienne is the tenth largest city in Switzerland and the only Swiss city with bilingual signage in German and French. Located in between German and French speaking cities, Biel/Bienne —name in both German and French— is surrounded by the Swiss Alps and magnificent crystal clear water lakes. Home to the Armin Strom Manufacture and also to Swatch Group brands like Omega and Swatch along with one of Rolex’s final assembly facilities, Biel/Bienne will captivate your senses with its Art Deco architecture, Bauhaus landmarks and views of the Swiss Alps for days. Less than two hours away by train from Zürich and only 15 minutes from Neuchâtel, Biel/Bienne is situated alongside the Biel Lake that together with Lake Morat and Lake Neuchâtel, is one of the three large lakes in the Jura region of Switzerland.
Posts filed under Travel
Experience: The Breguet Museum in Paris. A Must When Visiting the City of Light.
One of the few horology museums outside of Switzerland, the Breguet Museum is a must when visiting Paris. Located at the top level of the Breguet Boutique at the Place Vendôme, the museum displays some of the most exquisite timepieces from Breguet. As soon as you get to the boutique, head to the second level where you will be able to see a chronological journey of Breguet timepieces along with the archives safeguarded by a vault. The museum, just like all things related with the history of the brand are carefully curated by Monsieur Emmanuel Breguet a direct descendant of the Breguet family and vicepresident of Montres Breguet S.A.
Experience: Visiting the Breguet Manufacture in L'Orient. Holding the World's Biggest Guillochage Department.
Embarking into a trip to go visit of one of the most important watch manufactures out there is one of the most appealing things when it comes to our watchlife. Breguet is today the second oldest watch brand as it was established 20 years after Vacheron Constantin opened its doors in 1755. Established in 1775 by its founder Abraham-Louis Breguet the father of the tourbillon, Breguet is today owned by the Swatch Group and located in the village of L’Orient in Swtizerland’s Vallée de Joux —considered the cradle of Swiss watchmaking. After a 3-hour train ride from Paris, we arrived at the Vallorbe train station only 15 minutes away from Breguet.
Experience: Art Basel 2018 with the 4th Audemars Piguet Art Commission. When Baselworld is not at the Messeplatz and the Magic from Le Brassus Fills the Air and the Halls.
Two weeks ago, we had the pleasure of joining Audemars Piguet on a once in a lifetime trip that included a visit to the AP Manufacture in Le Brassus —which you can read about it here— and Art Basel 2018 in Switzerland. For those of you not quite familiar with Art Basel, this is one of the most renowned art fairs in the world with three shows staged annually in Basel, Switzerland; Miami Beach, Florida; and Hong Kong. Even as excited as we were about visiting Art Basel in its home city, there was a strange eerie feeling about being there when Baselworld wasn't taking place. It was almost like a 'déjà vu' without the usual crowds, the watch brands and the media people.
Experience: Visiting the Audemars Piguet Manufacture in Le Brassus. A Longtime Dream Becomes a Reality.
Back in 1998, I purchased my first Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, it was a stainless steel ref. 5402ST A-series that I should've never sold. After buying that first AP, the two-tone Royal Oak ref. 5402SA you see in the picture above was the one that followed. For 20 years as an AP collector and 28 years as a watch collector, I've longed to visit the Audemars Piguet manufacture in Le Brassus, Switzerland. In 2013, right around the launch of Watch Collecting Lifestyle, I was able to visit the Audemars Piguet Museum —which you can read about it here— but couldn’t visit the manufacture at that time.
Experience: Visiting the Vacheron Constantin Manufacture. An Incredible Morning at the Oldest Watch Manufacture in the World.
As you all know, Vacheron Constantin is not only one of the three brands that integrate the 'Holy Trinity of Watchmaking' but also the oldest watch manufacture in the world with an uninterrupted history that spans across almost three centuries —263 years to be precise. Therefore, a visit to the Vacheron Constantin Manufacture in Plan-les-Ouates —a municipality in the outskirts of Geneva, Switzerland— is a fascinating experience that as watch collectors and scholars, we will cherish forever.
Experience: The Gastown Steam Clock. The World's First Steam Powered Clock and a Must See When Visiting Vancouver BC Canada.
Designed and built by Canadian horologist Raymond L. Saunders and located in Vancouver BC, Canada, the Gastown Steam Clock is the world's first steam powered clock and a must see for those in love with city clocks and horology. Situated at the northeast corner of Water Street and Cambie Street, this beautiful clock whistles the Westminster chimes every quarter hour and a single whistle every hour. One of the few steam powered clocks in the world, the antique-looking Gastown Steam Clock was inaugurated only 40 years ago on September 24th, 1977.
Experience: Zaha Hadid's Condo at the W South Beach. A $6.5 Million Dollar Modern and Eclectic Space Like No Other.
Here at WCL we are suckers for modern architecture and design and when you get to step into late Zaha Hadid's condo at the W South Beach Residences it is for sure an afternoon to remember. Considered the most prominent and successful female architect of the century, Zaha Hadid was an Iraqi-British architect who was the first woman to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2004 and the UK's Stirling Prize architectural award in 2010 and 2011.
Experience: Art Basel Miami Beach with the Audemars Piguet Art Commission. When Watches, Artwork and Parties Intertwine with Slow Moving Luminaries.
Last week, we had the pleasure to join our friends at Audemars Piguet during their third year in a row as participants of at Art Basel Miami Beach. For those of you not quite familiar with this international event, this is one of the most renowned art fairs in the world with three shows staged annually in Basel, Switzerland; Miami Beach, Florida; and Hong Kong. Art Basel showcases contemporary artworks by established and emerging artists.
Experience: Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series Chicago. A Perfect Weekend with Bremont and the Oracle Team USA.
This past weekend, June 10th, 2016, the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series —LVACWS— a.k.a the 'Auld Mug' took place for the very first time in fresh water. The setting, Chicago's Lake Michigan lakefront and Navy Pier. Since Bremont is the timing partner for the America's Cup and one of the partners for the Oracle Team USA —the defending champion—, we were invited as one of their special guests. The Louis Vuitton America's Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two sailing yachts.
Experience: Visiting the Jaeger-LeCoultre Manufacture in Le Sentier, Switzerland. A Once in a Lifetime Watch Experience.
Visiting the Jaeger-LeCoultre Manufacture is one of those things that every watchlifestyler should do at least once in their lifetime. Jaeger-LeCoultre is one of the most legendary watch brands with a very rich history that dates back to 1833, when in the remote mountains of Jura, inventor Antoine LeCoultre revolutionized the art of horology and turned the Vallée de Joux into the cradle of fine Swiss watchmaking.
Experience: The Audemars Piguet Floral Clock at Singapore's Gardens by The Bay. Celebrating Singapore's 50th Year of Independence.
To celebrate Singapore's 50th Independence anniversary, Audemars Piguet and Gardens by The Bay have come together to commemorate the occasion with the unveiling of Singapore’s only sizable public floral clock. Blending timekeeping precision with botanical artistry, the Floral Clock was unveiled by Minister for National Development, Mr. Khaw Boon Wan, together with Dr. Kiat W. Tan, CEO of Gardens by the Bay, and Mr. Oliviero Bottinelli, Member of the Board of Directors, Audemars Piguet Holding SA. Displayed prominently in the Gardens, at the intersection between the cooled conservatoires and the Supertree Grove, the seven-meter-wide Floral Clock draws inspiration from the signature characteristics of Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak collection and fuses traditional and contemporary landscaping elements in its design. Featuring tropical plants with colored foliage and flowers, its plant palette will be refreshed regularly for the public to enjoy.
Experience: The Patek Philippe Museum. The Most Amazing Horological Museum in the World.
The Patek Philippe Museum is a must see for any watchlifestyler. Located in the heart of Geneva on Rue des Vieux-Grenadiers 7, this museum holds the largest collection of horological pieces and the most fascinating horological exhibit in the world. The Patek Philippe Museum holds more than 2,200 timepieces within their collection divided in two segments, the antique collection dating from 1500-1850 and the Patek Philippe collection that includes not only almost every single reference ever released by Patek Philippe —including commemorative pieces from their various anniversaries as well as unique pieces— but also some of the impressive Henry Graves Jr.'s timepieces, the Supercomplication 'Duke of Regla', the Calibre 89 and a special exhibit with all the pieces commemorating the 175th anniversary amongst others. Once you make yourself into the museum an air of grandeur fills every corner.
Experience: Omega Soirée in Miami's Design District. In Preparation for the Upcoming Boutique Opening.
This past Wednesday December 10th, 2014 we had the pleasure to join our friends at Omega for a very special celebration in lieu of the upcoming opening of its Miami Design District boutique. The Miami Design District and its Aranda/Lasch-Designed space is soon to be the mecca of watch boutiques in the Miami area. This wonderful evening with a red carpet soirée that drew stars and socialites including actress Camilla Belle, along with nearly 400 of Miami's influentials was hosted by Omega's Vice President and Head of International Sales, Raynald Aeschlimann. This tasteful and elegant celebration had its main focus on paying homage to Omega's Master Co-Axial technology —the world’s first industrialized anti-magnetic movements with all non-ferrous components that are more prevalent across a wide variety of Omega timepieces. For sure, an evening filled with delicious hors d'oeuvre, Omega signature cocktails, celebrities, beautiful women and stunning timepieces. As usual, our drink of choice for the evening was our usual Negroni.
Experience: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver in the Cayman Islands. A Perfect Companion.
We just returned from the Cayman Islands after a wonderful week at the Ritz-Carlton. We did plenty of water activities including interacting with stingrays, smoking a handful of Habanos —Montecristo #4— and trying on several Audemars Piguet watches at Grand Cayman's authorized dealer Magnum Jewelers. At Magnum, we perused the new Royal Oak Offshore line in 44mm, the Offshore Legacy, a Jumbo ref. 15202 and a ref. 15400, amongst others. Great friendly service by the way.
Experience: Celebrating with Omega and Buzz Aldrin the 45th Anniversary of the Moon Landing at the Kennedy Space Center.
July 20th, 2014, marks the 45th anniversary of the moon landing and the achievement of the Omega Speedmaster Professional in becoming the only watch to be flight-qualified by NASA for all manned space missions. Additionally, the Speedmaster Professional is the first watch to have been worn on the moon surface on July 21st, 1969 at 02:56 GMT. For this special occasion, we were invited by our friends from Omega to a very special dinner with Omega Ambassador and former astronaut Buzz Aldrin at the Kennedy Space Center a.k.a Cape Canaveral on 'Speedy Tuesday' earlier this week. On this wonderful evening, we were accompanied by our Omega Speedmaster Professional ref. 3570.50 powered by the manual wound calibre 1861.
Experience: Davidoff Cigar Shop at the Paradeplatz in Zürich. A Must for Cigar Aficionados.
Nestled in between Blue Lemon and the Galerie Gmurzynska at Paradeplatz 3 —just across from the Credit Suisse headquarters in Zürich— lies one of Zürich's oldest cigar shops now displaying a huge Davidoff sign. This cozy and intimate cigar shop, is located just a few steps away from the Blancpain boutique and Türler featured in our Zürich Watch Shopping Guide here. The shop opened its doors in the 1800s and offers a wide selection of Davidoff cigars, Habanos, loose tobacco, accessories and some very fine liquors. To get to this shop, just get on the VBZ —Zürich Tram System— from the Bahnhof SBB towards the Paradeplatz and in three minutes you'll be there. Now, if you prefer to walk, just follow the Bahnhofstrasse towards the lake but we aware of the fact that you might end up not getting to the cigar shop as you will be doing some serious watch shopping on your way there.
Experience: Helicopter Ride to the Grand Canyon with the Omega Co-Axial Chronograph Speedmaster 'Lunar Dust'. A Lifetime Experience.
Yesterday we told you everything about our VIP collectors weekend in Las Vegas with Omega here. Today, as discussed in our previous post, we are featuring the adrenaline boosting helicopter ride we took into the Grand Canyon. Riding in a helicopter is definitely one of those things that every watchlifestyler should do at least one in their lifetime. A helicopter ride from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon takes approximately 45-50 minutes of flying time —each way— and the scenery is definitely worth overcoming your fears.
Experience: A VIP Collectors Weekend in Las Vegas with Omega. Just Unforgettable.
They say that "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas", well maybe not this time. Few times experiences like this get shared by collectors or the press online. Last weekend we had the honor to be part of a very exclusive group of VIP watch collectors that were treated to an exhilarating weekend in Las Vegas, all courtesy of our friends from Omega. The fascinating weekend at The Bellagio Hotel, not only included a VIP Penthouse loaded with almost every single reference across the different Omega collections but also with all the novelties presented at Baselworld earlier this year.
Experience: Grand Velas Riviera Maya. Vilebrequin Trunks and Watches are All You'll Need to Bring.
Memorial Day weekend officially marks the beginning of Summer for most watchlifestylers and watch collectors in the U.S., this time we are once again featuring the luxurious Grand Velas Resort in Riviera Maya, which happens to be one of our favorite destinations in that part of the world. Riviera Maya is a tourism paradise located in the eastern side of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. This secluded beach destination is only 25 miles south of Cancun and 5 miles away from Playa del Carmen. Grand Velas is a paradisiac oasis where luxury, fine dining and relaxation are the common denominators. Pack your Vilebrequin trunks and your watches and get ready to experience service at its finest.
