switzerland

Historical Timepieces of the Swiss Watch and Clock Museum

Having always been fascinated by clockwork, on my recent trip to Zürich, I made certain to visit the Watch and Clock Museum Beyer Zürich. The museum, located in the basement of the exclusive Beyer watch shop, has approximately 500 timepieces, each more fascinating than the last. Some date back as far as 1400 B.C., while others are more modern -- and often quite strange. Ever tried to tell the time by checking which direction a couple of birds are facing (above right)? I hadn't before, but it's just the kind of thing I get excited about.

In the Watch and Clock Museum, you'll find rare and precious chronometry items like shadow sticks, intricate sundials, water clocks, oil-lamp clocks, grandfather clocks and marine navigation instruments. Some of the more fragile and complicated pieces which are too old to run all the time have adjacent video screens showing their mechanical capabilities.

The basement museum itself is somewhat unceremonious, with only the historical Beyer pieces carefully lit and resting on velvet, but the staff was warm and welcoming, and they provided me with all the English information they had available. Unfortunately, it wasn't much, so brush up either your German or your horology history -- or book a guided tour in advance -- before your visit. Even if there's no time for that (no pun intended), fertile minds will be titillated by the complicated, creative and mysterious artifacts on display.

With no further ado, here are some of the most intriguing and delightful watches and clocks:

Gallery: Highlights from the Watch and Clock Museum Beyer Zurich collection

The Watch and Clock Museum Beyer Zürich is located just off Paradeplatz and open from Monday - Friday from 2pm - 6pm. Entry is free if you have a ZürichCARD, otherwise there is a small fee.

My trip to Zürich was sponsored by Zürich Tourism and Switzerland Tourism, but the ideas and opinions expressed in this article are 100 percent my own.

Tags: clock, clock museum, museum, switzerland, watch, watch museum, WatchMuseum, zurich

Fabric Frontline, Buy Next Year's Fabrics by the Meter in Switzerland

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Luxury Travel & Hotels

Sometimes, a fabric can sell a whole outfit. Whether it's a simple dress in an enchanting blue-green or a necktie with a labyrinthine print, designers know that the right fabric makes all the difference. They scour the globe for the perfect shades and patterns and weights, and we found one of their secret weapons: Fabric Frontline, a small, family-owned business in Zürich which curates and designs some of the best -- and most expensive -- luxury fabrics in the universe, specializing in silk and cashmere.

You have to be in-the-know to find it. The little shop's window, near the culturally diverse (and sex shop ridden) Langstrasse, seemingly leads nowhere; you have to go through a small courtyard to get to the showroom. Inside, you'll find a dazzling assortment of colors and prints which will take your breath away -- and which you'll see the following season from designers like Vivienne Westwood (who I'm told is a particular friend of the shop), Nina Ricci and Helmut Lang, just to name a few. In fact, according to our hostess, the fabric Isabel Toledo used to make Michelle Obama's inauguration ensemble came from here. Naturally, the fabrics travel to the most exclusive trade shows around the world, which is where the elite designers tend to shop. The public aren't typically allowed into such events, but they are allowed to shop at Fabric Frontline.

Gallery: Fabric Frontline - Zurich, Switzerland

Fabric Frontline gets their silk yarn from China and has it woven in northern Italy with all-natural dyes. A clerk was kind enough to show us how printed silks are screened, involving layers of stencils and meticulous craftsmanship -- and a lot of patience. Sometimes designers buy the fabrics right off the roll, while others will approach them with drawings like these:

Tags: cashmere, fabric, Fabric Frontline, silk, Switzerland, Zurich

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Beyond Luxury: Du Parc Kempinski

by Ariston Anderson (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Real Estate Developments

Let the celebs take the lead, young and old starlets who rent out the Chauteau Marmont nightly, who'd rather pay for hotel service than sign a lease. For the busiest of the busiest, there's a certain satisfaction in knowing that anything you could ever need is just a bells call away. So what if you're looking for the five-star experience, but your tastes are more refined than the typical celebutante?

Say you want Swiss chocolate delivered on a silver platter at 2 AM? Or the latest in Davidoff cigars, custom-designed for you and your closest mates? Or a Givenchy oil massage in your own living room? A programmable bathtub filled with hot water waiting for you when you come home from the slopes? In-house private trainer? Curated wine collection, from surrounding vineyards and beyond? The list goes on. What if I told you, there's not one, but three concierge services at your beck and call? And this isn't a hotel, but a private residence, located at one of the most gorgeous sites on the planet? The trend has picked up on luxury private residences from New York to Dubai, and now the five-star home is coming to the heart of Europe.

Meet the Du Parc Kempinski, a new private residence building encompassing 21 apartments and three penthouses at the top of Mont-Pèlerin, Chardonne, that aims to meet luxury expectations above and beyond the call of duty. It's a new renovation of a 1906 Belle Epoque hotel that has welcomed guests like Victor Hugo or Pierre Cardin over the century. I was part of a recent tour of international journalists, all brought to the Lake Geneva region to experience the amazing location. While the famed hotel was in its initial stages of regutting, with planned balcony expansion and an axing of the annex ballroom, there was a faux model apartment set up for prospective buyers to peruse, showcasing state-of-the-art technology and a lush purple color scheme. Our group was brought to the high mountaintops of Vaud to see this amazing spot on planet Earth, overlooking the largest lake in Europe, majestic snowy mountain tops, and UNESCO-recognized vineyards. It's a place completely secluded yet quickly and easily accessible to Geneva. At the Du Parc Kempinski, we witnessed a way of life apart from any other.

Gallery: Du Parc Kempinski

Tags: du parc kempinski, geneva, lake geneva, switzerland, vaud

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Rare Aston Martins & More at British Classic Car Meeting in St. Moritz

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Luxury Cars & Autos, Events

On July 9 – 11 some of the world's finest Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Aston Martin and Jaguar motor cars will converge on the chic Swiss resort of St. Moritz for the 17th annual British Classic Car Meeting. The ultra-stylish event features a series of outings, a rally and concours d'elégance. Set against the breathtaking Alpine scenery 5,900 ft. above sea level in the elegant environs favored by the likes of Prince Charles, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Hugh Grant, Elizabeth Hurley and George Clooney, it's an elegant showcase for the UK's famed marques mentioned above as well as some historical makes like Lagonda, Daimler and Austin-Healey. Museum pieces like pre-war Rolls-Royce open tourers compete against rarities like this Aston Martin DB6 shooting brake, fully kitted out for skiing and picnicking, with prizes for different classes and periods. On July 10 there will be a gala dinner with entertainment and dancing at the luxurious 5-star Suvretta House hotel.

[via JustLuxe]

Gallery: Classic British Cars in St. Moritz

Tags: Alps, Aston Martin, Bentley, classic cars, concours delegance, Jaguar, Prince Charles, Rolls-Royce, shooting brake, St. Moritz, Suvretta House, Swiss Alps, Switzerland

Inside Europe's Largest and Grandest Hotel Suite

by Ariston Anderson (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

If you're looking for a world-class hotel experience in the heart of Europe, you'd have trouble finding any experience that rivals the Geneva Suite. The crown jewel of the Grand Hotel Kempinski, at 11,690 square feet, boasts the reputation of being the largest free-standing hotel suite on the continent.

So what do you get for the price of 50,000 Swiss francs (approximately U$S 45,000) a night? To start with, corner views that look out onto the gorgeous Lake Geneva with a prime view of the Old Town and the famous Jet d'Eau, sparkling over the water at sunrise. The duplex is comprised of two living rooms, three master bedrooms, four bathrooms, one with a private steam bath, and a full-service kitchen, complete with a personal chef to cater to any culinary whims guests may have. Additional rooms include an office, a state-of-the-art gym, and a billiards room. Private butlers are on hand to attend to any guests' needs.

I toured the Geneva Suite at a recent presentation for the Du Parc Kempinski private residences. Overlooking the lake, and the majestic buildings across the water, it's a perfect setting for either business or pleasure. "With the Geneva Suite, we wanted something unique, down to the last details. I believe we have succeeded in creating an exclusive suite on a truly grand scale," said Michael Henssler, General Manager of the Grand Hotel Kempinski.

Gallery: The Geneva Suite

Tags: du parc kempinski, grand hotel kempinski, lake geneva, largest hotel suite in europe, switzerland

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Vacheron Constantin Overseas Dual Time in Titanium

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Men's Style

Swiss watchmaker Vacheron Constantin has come out with a new version of its stylish Overseas model in rugged steel and titanium. Priced at $13,900, the new Overseas Dual Time Steel and Titanium model is equipped with a dual time-zone display powered by a mechanical self-winding Calibre 1222. The sporty watch is finished in a monochromatic palette with shades of grey created by the steel base, the titanium bezel and the slate grey dial. It features the Overseas collection's hefty 42 mm case, bezel with a cut-out inspired by the Maltese Cross, water resistance to a depth of 150 meters, and the emblematic Overseas motif depicting a two-masted sailboat engraved on the solid case-back. The watch comes with two straps, one in anthracite grey alligator leather and the other in black rubber. An extremely light metal that is resistant to corrosion, erosion and fire, titanium was initially developed for use in the aeronautical, aerospace, chemical and medical industries.

Tags: alligator, steel, Switzerland, titanium, Vacheron Constantin, watch

Ladurée in Geneva

by Ariston Anderson (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels

Geneva is such a fashion-forward and international city that nearly everything is in walking distance. Staying at the Grand Hotel Kempinski Geneva, in less than ten minutes walking distance, I could easily access Rolex headquarters, the Patek Philippe museum, a Pathé cinema, and shopping boutiques from Hermes to Hervé Léger. On one morning stroll across the lovely pedestrian bridges crossing Lake Geneva, I happened upon the world famous Ladurée shop.

It makes perfect sense that Geneva, the French capital of Switzerland would have a 19th century-decorated outpost, in the style of the Paris original (founded in 1862) that put macaroons back on the map. The small boutique has the macaroons shipped fresh several times a week from the Monaco Ladurée laboratory. Having tried numerous examples of New York's macaroon forays, I was excited to finally try the real thing. These small round crisp cakes, filled with a soft creme center were available in a myriad of delicate flavors, including mimose, figure datte, black currant violet, rose petals and lily of the valley.

Tags: geneva, laduree, macaron, macarons, switzerland

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The World's First Watch Butler

by McLean Robbins (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets, Jewelry, Timepieces / Watches

Connoisseurs of luxury timepieces have long flocked to Geneva for their purchases. The Swiss city is home to the finest watch manufacturers in the world, including Patek Philippe, Rolex and more. The Rocco Forte Collection's Le Richemond Hotel has capitalized on the desires of their discerning clientele and instituted the world's first "Watch Butler" service, a part buying and part educational concierge benefit available at no charge for hotel guests.

Pierre Jacques, the hotels' on-call Watch Butler, heads the luxury watch boutique Les Ambassadeurs, located on Geneva's prime shopping street, the rue du Rhone. He is the previous editor of the industry leading luxury publication, GMT Magazine, and specializes in "Haute Horlongerie." Jacques possesses unprecedented access to 24 elite luxury brands, most Swiss-made, and also rare collector's timepieces.

The service itself is tailored to the guest's desires and can take place at the hotel or by specially-arranged limousine visit to Les Ambassadeurs. Consults begin by inviting the prospective buyers to peruse a brand list so that they may narrow down their preferred brands. If desired, private tours of manufacturing sites are also available.

Tags: geneva, Le Richemond, les ambassadeurs, pierre jacques, switzerland, watch butler, watches

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The Spa Givenchy at Le Mirador Kempinski

by Ariston Anderson (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spas

When visiting the Lake Geneva region of Switzerland, the first feelings you get are an overwhelming sense of relaxation and calmness. Surrounded by such gorgeous mountains and an expansive pristine lake, it's a feeling that can't quite be replicated anywhere else in the world. Taking advantage of this prime location, Le Mirador Kempinski has set up one of the world's leading tranquility centers, the Spa Givenchy to truly maximize their of their renown offerings of de-stressing and beautification. Facing a one-of-a-kind view of the Swiss Alps and Vaud coast, spa visitors are treated to a double dose of well-being.

The Givenchy Spa features a huge 90 square meter suite, as well as jacuzzi, sauna, steam bath, and massage rooms, all accompanied by premier Givenchy treatments and products.

Tags: givenchy spa, Lake Geneva, le mirador kempinski, spa treatments, switzerland

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Reopening Of Omega Watch Museum In Switzerland

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

May 3rd, 2010, in Biel, Switzerland the Omega watch museum officially reopened after extensive renovations. Originally opened in 1984, the museum showcases important pieces in the history of the timepiece brand. In addition to being the watch worn on the moon and the official time keeper of the Olympics games for many decades, Omega watches have also captured the hearts of many, and have been worn/owned by a number of celebrities. Each of this topics and more (including interesting concept watches) are on display at the museum. Getting into the museum is free, and you can have guided tours in English, French, or German. Sound good? Well the point is to get you excited about Omega watches - so the price in what you may end up spending in the watch store later. For more information visit the Omega Museum website here.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: museum, Omega, switzerland, watch, watches

The Classicist: Celebrating TAG Heuer's 150th Anniversary

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Books, The Classicist

Swiss watchmaker TAG Heuer celebrates its 150th anniversary making horological history this year, marked by the publication of a brilliant new book by Nick Foulkes from Assouline. TAG Heuer begins in the middle years of the 19th century when a Swiss shoemaker's son called Edouard Heuer made the decision to "turn his life over to the conquest and calibration of the passing hours, minutes, seconds and fractions of seconds; marking their passage with the tiny incremental movements of the blued steel hand of a chronograph against the crisp white enamel dial of the pocket watch." From childhood Edouard was "dazzled by the dream of conquering time and imprisoning it in ever more precise and advanced mechanical timepieces," Foulkes writes. In 1882 Heuer introduced his first chronograph, setting a benchmark for extreme accuracy that continues today, and by the early 20th century he had moved the chronograph from the pocket onto the wrist.

TAG Heuer was the first watchmaker to master chronographs with an unsurpassed precision of 1/10th, 1/100th and 1/1,000th of a second. From the Olympic Games in the 1920s to its role as official timekeeper for the legendary Indy 500 and involvement in actor Steve McQueen's racing film Le Mans, to its quarter-century partnership with Formula 1 team Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, it has a long established connection to the world of sports. However, Foulkes notes, the brand's identity has also "always been influenced by the biggest names in architecture, art, and avant garde design of each generation." Organized by year, each page of the book offers a stunning view of a TAG Heuer timepiece and its historic counterpart interspersed with vintage photographs of the founding and making of the famed brand.

Gallery: 150 Years of TAG Heuer

Tags: Assouline, chronograph, Formula 1, LVMH, motor racing, Nick Foulkes, Switzerland, TAG Heuer, watches, watchmaker

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Tour the Alps in the New Mercedes SLS AMG

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Luxury Cars & Autos

For about bout $21,000 you can now take an incredible week-long tour from the French Alps to the Cote d'Azur at the wheel of a brand new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. The tariff, about $14,000 for the car and $7,000 for accommodations and meals (excluding essential incidentals like wine and gas), is fairly reasonable considering what Loeven SportwagenTouren, Europe's premier supercar touring company, includes in its amazing Tour des Niveaux: the 7-day journey begins in Zurich and traverses breathtaking alpine roads from Mont Blanc to the famous seaside Grande Corniche between Nice and Menton. The tour also includes stopovers at boutique luxury hotels, many of them historically significant, as well as incredible cuisine at Michelin-starred eateries en route. The SLS AMG is just one of the supercar options with everything from Ferraris to Bugattis available at a price. There's also a classic car version for old-school enthusiasts. The classic car dates are June 5th - June 11th, and the SLS and others are available from June 12th - June 18th. Space is of course very limited.

Tags: Alps, Cote dAzur, CoteDazur, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-benzSlsAmg, supercar, Switzerland

Cartier Captures Snow Polo World Cup in St. Moritz

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Events, Sports, Wealth

The team fielded by famed French jeweler Cartier beat back rivals Brioni, Maserati and Swiss banking house Julius Baer to capture the 26th World Polo Cup on Snow in St. Moritz the other day. 15,000 well-heeled spectators cheered on during the four-day event, culminating in a nail-biting finale where Cartier and Julius Baer were tied 3 - 3 up until the very last minute when Cartier won a penalty shot with only 8 seconds remaining on the clock. A team of seven well-known Swiss star chefs with a combined total of 118 Gault-Millau points catered to the guests on the chic resort's frozen lake where the matches are staged. In snow polo the ponies are shod with special cleated shoes to provide better traction, and the ball is larger, lighter, and painted bright red to accommodate winter conditions.

Tags: Cartier, equestrian, Maserati, polo, snow polo, SnowPolo, sporting, St. Moritz, St.Moritz, Switzerland, winter sports, WinterSports

St. Moritz: On Top of the World

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Skiing in the Swiss Alps is a favorite pastime of moneyed Europeans, and there are few glitzier locales than the town of St. Moritz. Packed with thrills on and off the slopes, the mile-high village, which is one of the best-known holiday resorts in the world. St. Moritz, a nominee for a Readers' Choice Award in the Best International Ski Destination category, is known for its beauty, culture, great shopping, dining and, of course, its world-class skiing.

Located at an altitude of 1,856 meters above sea level, St. Moritz is considered Switzerland's cradle of winter tourism. St. Moritz offers three different ski resorts: Corvatsch, Corviglia and Diavolezza and 350 kilometers of pistes. St. Moritz's "house mountain", the Corviglia, boasts the steepest start slope in Switzerland with the Piz Nair Wall's 100% vertiginous drop. For winter hikers, there are 150 kilometers of winter walking trails while cross-country skiers enjoy a track network of about 180 kilometers.

The town hosted the 1928 Winter Olympic Games and the stadium is still standing. Those who are adventurous may want to visit the Olympic bobsledding run, which is also the oldest bob run still in operation, which is located in St. Moritz-Celerina. There, visitors have the opportunity to have a one-to-one experience schussing down the run at speeds up to 84 miles per hour. The Fun Park for snowboarders features a permanently operational half-pipe, tandem parachute jumps as well as altitude training.

Though the town of St. Moritz dates back to the 12th Century at least, it didn't start to become a tourist destination until the middle of the 19th Century. According to local lore, in 1864 a man named Johannes Badrutt challenged a band of Brits visiting for the summer to return in winter. If they didn't like it, he'd pay for their roundtrip journey; if they did, they could stay as long as they liked. Pleased with the win-win wager, the Brits came back for Christmas – and ended up staying until Easter.

Today, Badrutt's Palace Hotel (a Readers' Choice Nominee for Best Ski Hotel) is a legend in St. Moritz and throughout the rest of the world. The century-old lodge boasts a spa, a fitness center, and the elegant French eatery Le Restaurant, among others. Those with more of an avant garde sensibility might prefer the nearby modern Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains.

Both Badrutt's and Kempinski can give travelers a taste of the finest the Alps have to offer, but be prepared to pay. Given the current exchange rates, Americans will be lucky to land a room for two at either locale for less than $800 a night.

Vote now for what you believe is the best of breed for each of the Winter Travel categories. Readers' Choice Awards for the Best in Winter Travel will be announced on January 31st.

Gallery: More from St. Moritz

Tags: awards-main, Badrutts palace, BadruttsPalace, kempenski grand hotel des bains, KempenskiGrandHotelDesBains, kempinski, luxist-awards, ski resorts, skiing, SkiResorts, snowboarding, st. moritz, St.Moritz, swiss alps, SwissAlps, switzerland, winter-travel-awards, winter-travel-main

Gstaad: "The Place" for World Class Skiing

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Nestled in the southwestern Swiss Alps, Gstaad is one of the planet's most decadent getaways. Its world-class slopes, fine boutiques and constant stream of well-heeled visitors make it a Luxist Awards Readers' Choice nominee for Best International Ski Destination.

Gstaad first gained its reputation as a winter haven for celebrities when Time labeled it simply "The Place" in the 1960s, thanks to frequent appearances by the likes of Roger Moore and Grace Kelly. More recently, luminaries of all walks – from George Soros to Prince Charles – are sometimes seen roaming the streets of the tony mountain town.

Gstaad is known for its luxury hotels and shopping. The center of the village is traffic-free and is a harmonious mix of restaurants, shops, hotels and bars. The ski and winter walking areas surrounding the village are accessed by three mountain railways.

Three ski areas are accessible from the village. The ski areas, which range from 1,000 to 3,000 meters above sea level, include 250 km of pistes, 28 ski lifts, 11 gondola lifts, 18 chairlifts and 4 aerial cable ways. Approximately 49% of the slopes are blue, 29% red and 22% black. There are 10 different ski schools and four snow parks. The Gstaad Mountain is considered to be one of the safest and largest areas for skiing in Switzerland. If skiing during the daylight hours isn't enough for you, Gstaad also offers night-time skiing with flood lights on several slopes for skiers and snowboarding enthusiasts alike.

For those without their own chalet, there are more than 40 different hotels, including the Grand Hotel Park, which offers luxurious lodging. Perched in a park overlooking Gstaad, the venerable lodge is a mere five-minute walk from the village and the slopes. No need to leave, as there are five restaurants and bars on the premises – Le Grand Restaurant, Le Marco Polo, Le Greenhouse and Le Bar – all of which boast the finest French food and sometimes live piano performances in the evening.

Thanks to both high demand and a declining dollar, prices for a room in the Grand Hotel Park often exceed $1,000 per night. The hotel offers 88 rooms, including 11 suites and two luxurious apartments, but hurry if you want to book a room this winter: the hotel will be closed for renovations from March 7 until mid-December 2010.

Vote now for what you believe is the best of breed for each of the Best in Winter Travel categories. Readers' Choice Awards for the Best in Winter Travel will be announced on January 31st.

Tags: awards-main, Grand Park Hotel, GrandParkHotel, gstaad, luxist-awards, ski resorts, skiing, SkiResorts, snowboarding, switzerland, winter-travel-awards, winter-travel-main

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