Grand reopening of the Cartier boutique at 35 rue du Rhône, Geneva

Posted on November 9, 2013 by admin

– UK Replica Watches Sotre

Cartier boutique, 35 Rue du Rhône, Geneva (photo: Justin Hession © Cartier 2013)

Exclusive jewellery and grand Omega Replica watchmaking tradition come together at this cosmopolitan address housing the Cartier boutique, Cartier Tradition restoration workshop and “Poinçon de Genève” workshops in a single prestigious location.

For the past four decades, the Maison Cartier has occupied Number 35 on Geneva’s most prestigious avenue, overlooking Lake Geneva’s western shore. The 1960s structure featuring a fully-glazed historic facade has been redesigned by Bruno Moinard, the architect and interior designer behind the new-look Cartier boutiques across the globe.

As the largest boutique in Europe after Moscow, with 1,000 m2 of floor space, the project was an ambitious one. The result is a truly cosmopolitan destination, which cultivates the Maison’s identity as jeweller through the refined touches of a unique, welcoming interior. The ennobling presence of the “Poinçon de Genève” workshops on site makes for a venue where fine Replica Omega watchmaking comes into its own. An unconventional approach for this boutique equally devoted to preserving the Maison’s heritage through the Cartier Tradition restoration workshop.

Historic facade

Cartier boutique, 35 Rue du Rhône, Geneva (photo : Justin Hession © Cartier 2013)

The building designed by Swiss architect Pierre Braillard between 1961 and 1969 has been home to Cartier since 1970. Nestled at the heart of Geneva’s exclusive luxury shopping district, the glass cube with honeycombed windows has become an architectural staple of the cityscape, a modern-day ship looking out on Lake Geneva. The only visible structural change made by Bruno Moinard has been to bring the entrance in line with the facade.

Red, the iconic shade of the Maison

The tone is set from the first step through the door. The grand entrance hall is paved with carved stone bordered with red cabochons in Languedoc marble. A spectacular spiral staircase swathed in Cartier red ascends to the two upper floors of the Maison. This striking work of art, accentuated by a bronze railing, is intersected by an enormous chandelier, and the floor openings have been decorated by artist Pierre Bonnefille. Designed to be viewed from below, the delicately corrugated underside of the staircase has been carved to a miniscule scale to produce a guillochage effect. A majestic central display case glitters with a selection of pieces from the boutique’s high jewellery.

Adjoining salons: a joy to peruse

A stroll through the adjoining salons of the 35 rue du Rhône boutique offers a surprise around every corner. The curved walls of the jewellery showroom give way to the tan leather upholstered world of men’s watchmaking. The layout recalls an 18th-century curiosity shop, and the visitor is drawn in by the welcoming decor throughout, with comfortable seating arranged as in a private apartment.

Everything here is refined detail. The boutique’s bridal offerings are enswathed in the subdued hues of a bejewelled boudoir. The high jewellery salon presents pieces in curved blown-glass display cases. Selected timepieces are displayed in glass wall cases or carefully laid out in specially designed drawers like an entomologist’s butterfly collection. These exclusive furnishings are designed to reflect the precious, refined ambience of the boutique.

Cartier Tradition restoration workshop

The Geneva-based Cartier Tradition department handles commercial activity for Cartier items produced before 1970, offering an exclusive service to clientele seeking to purchase or sell a Cartier piece. Since Cartier is the only true guarantor of the authenticity, quality and condition of its creations, every Cartier Tradition piece comes with a certificate of authenticity, having been carefully identified and restored in accordance with indications from the Maison archives. These collectors’ items are restored by Cartier craftsmen at 35 rue du Rhône. Clientele may be admitted to the boutique’s first-floor restoration workshop through a remote-controlled sliding door for special, highly exclusive tours.

Watchmakers of yore: “Poinçon de Genève” workshops at 35 rue du Rhône

Cartier’s “Poinçon de Genève” workshops are also located at 35 rue du Rhône in keeping with the 18th-century Genevese tradition of cabinotiers, or watchmaking workers who would ply their trade in a workshop above the boutique, often on view to the public.

The workshop here assembles timepieces in the Cartier fine watchmaking collection that bear the “Poinçon de Genève” seal, such as the Ballon Bleu de Cartier, flying tourbillon and Rotonde de Cartier double tourbillon mystery Replica Watches UK. The “Poinçon de Genève” is a prestigious seal of quality, awarded on compliance with requirements relating to aesthetics, technique (design of the movements), and chronometry (level of precision). To be eligible the watch must be assembled and regulated within the Canton of Geneva.

These timepieces are produced by master watchmakers whose craft demands the experience and savoir-faire acquired through many years of training. These craftsmen are dedicated to the art of fine watchmaking. It can take weeks or months to assemble and regulate a single Rolex replica watch with complications.

Chronicle The Swiss watchmakers’ official drink

Posted on November 7, 2013 by admin

— Replica Watches UK sHOW

What if Swiss makers began drinking Rivella rather than a glass of white wine after work – would that change the face of Omega Replica watchmaking?

Rivella, boisson officielle des horlogers suisses?

The other day I was having a lengthy discussion with Fabienne Lupo who I had just bumped into in the street in Geneva. The extremely pleasant chairwoman and managing director of the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie had just come back from Hong Kong where her Foundation had organised the first Replica Watches UK & Wonders event. She was telling me what a brilliant success it had been and describing the logistical details that she and her team had had to deal with. One of these, and not the least by any means, was to plan the F&B which included management of free drinks provided for visitors in open-bar mode, in the same way as during the SIHH – whereas in this instance their numbers and attendance were a complete unknown. Would there be a crowd dying of hunger and thirst at this first such event on Hong Kong soil, of should they expect or fewer numbers including mostly green tea drinkers…

At this precise moment, a car passed right close to us and parked not far away. It was an advertising car, painted in glaring colours and we had time to read a surprising message on the side: RIVELLA, LA BOISSON OFFICIELLE DES HORLOGERS SUISSES (OFFICIAL DRINK OF SWISS WATCHMAKERS).

I asked her if her Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie had signed a contract with this typical Swiss drink. It seemed to me however that a vintage champagne or wine from Cahors from the estates of d’Alain-Dominique Perrin, Cartier’s former “must” would be better contestants for this title. She denied any agreement with Rivella and we went to interrogate the two salespeople who climbed out of their heavily branded car.

We asked them what “official drink of watchmakers” meant and if, by chance, it happened to be Jean-Claude Biver who was sponsoring them.

No, no, they said, they did not have a contract – and had simply decided all by themselves that they were the “official drink of Swiss watchmakers”. In Geneva they hesitated between watchmakers and bankers, but “official drink of Swiss bankers” might perhaps be counterproductive, from an advertising point of view… So they picked the watchmakers, feeling that it simply works better.

Fabienne Lupo revealed her position as the organiser of the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie and asked if they might consider delivering a few cases of Rivella free of charge to the next SIHH. “Oh”, said one of the sales reps, “I don’t think we can do that for nothing; but I can give you a bottle!”

He was about to dive into the boot of his car but we refused his kind offer. Personally Rivella – with its highly confidential recipe featuring natural whey and herbal extracts – gives me heartburn.

After exchanging business cards, they went off to continue their prospecting. I began to daydream. What if all the Swiss replica Omega UK watchmakers were to seriously begin drinking Rivella rather than their glass of white wine after work – would that change the face of watchmaking? Maybe in the morning their hands would be a bit less shaky in the workshops and the adjustment of our chronometers would improve.

After the rowers, the watchmakers? © Rivella

Official drink of Swiss watchmakers … here’s a niche that nobody prior to Rivella has ever really explored. One might multiply similar initiatives that would reinforce the Swissness of our products. “Cenovis, official spread of Swiss watchmakers”. “Toblerone, official chocolate of Swiss watchmakers”. “Vacherin Mont d’Or, official cheese of Swiss watchmakers”. “Papet vaudois, official dish of Swiss watchmakers “. “Gerber, official fondue of Swiss watchmakers “. “Calida, official underwear of Swiss watchmakers”. “Freitag, official bags of Swiss watchmakers. “Migros, official grocery store of Swiss watchmakers “. “UBS, official bank of Swiss watchmakers “. “Zurich, official insurance of Swiss watchmakers “. “Switzerland, official country of Swiss watchmakers”… Ok, so perhaps I’m taking it too far there. The exact wording would instead be: “Switzerland, 60% official country of Swiss watchmakers”. Thank you Rivella for this great idea.

Roger Dubuis Adventure in the Manufacture

Posted on November 6, 2013 by admin

— Omega Replica Watches UK

A subjective account of a memorably transparent and impressive factory tour that proved to be a rare treat.

David Chokron à la Manufacture Roger Dubuis

Generally speaking, I avoid writing in the first person, but sometimes the kind of ties that are woven by a factory tour cannot be expressed otherwise. I especially enjoyed visiting Roger Dubuis’ production facilities in Meyrin near Geneva, and the rare sense of pleasure derived from the experience was largely due to the warm welcome I received. This is not just a matter of gracious manners, since all the great Manufactures take good care of visitors, especially professionals in my category. At Roger Dubuis, the premises are pervaded by a distinctive atmosphere featuring legitimate pride, considerable competence, along with an authentically modest and open-minded approach – an array of qualities not necessarily often associated with the brand image. The way the product is staged in its marketing package stems from entirely different motivations.

Even the pinions are produced in the Manfuacture. © David Chokron
To begin with, it’s important to point out that the Manufacture Roger Dubuis is oversized – and that this is a good thing. It houses as many machines, tools, skills and workstations as one would expect from a brand three times bigger. While it continues to produce certain components for other brands also belonging to the Richemont group, this is less and less the case. Most of the production capacity is indeed dedicated to creating its five collections: Excalibur, Pulsion, Monégasque, Velvet and the newly revitalised Hommage range. While the brand emphasises the fact that its entire production is certified by the Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark, that commitment alone is not enough to explain these generous dimensions.

A diagnostic robot robot examines the dimensions of a mainplate after machining / David Chokron

Circular-graining the mainplate of a skeleton double tourbillon movement. David Chokron

The size of this Manufacture stems from the following choice. Apart from jewels, levers and pallet-wheels (made according to a highly technical outsourced process), all parts of every movement are produced in-house. They are made in very small series to within very narrow tolerances, before being decorated with a degree of meticulous care rarely seen in a brand that produces Omega Replica watches in their thousands. The polishing and decoration workshops where the parts are sandblasted, grained, trued and given a shiny or matt finish are spacious and humming with activity. An entire workshop with around 12 occupants is entirely devoted to producing regulating organs. The balance-springs are made here from an inert material that will thus become the beating heart of Roger Dubuis Replica Watches. The levers, jewels, balance-wheels, balance-springs, collets, studs, rollers and other parts of the escapement are then assembled, rather than being purchased as kits for a few dozen francs from specialised suppliers, however upscale they might be.

An Excalibur Skeleton Double Tourbillon: mechanical lacework bearing the Poinçon de Genève. / David Chokron

This discrepancy of scale between Roger Dubuis’ actual needs and the reality of its facilities is typical of the brand: it does everything, on its own and with fastidious care. This attitude also governs the development of its movements – of which the sheer diversity and complexity is apparent from a glance at the Manufacture catalogue. Double tourbillons, minute repeaters, perpetual calendars, flyback or split-second chronographs: Roger Dubuis masters the entire range of complications. A substantial portion of its energy has been devoted in recent years to redeveloping its existing movements and reintegrating their production within the Manufacture in order to bring them up to scratch. During the watch industry’s wild boom years, Roger Dubuis like so many others sold too many insufficiently tested products too quickly. A sweeping recall campaign has virtually solved this issue and the final level of quality is now on a par with the brand’s ambitions. This is a topic that is willingly discussed and not at all taboo – contrary to the details of balance-spring production.

Driven by a concern to ensure transparency, to enhance my enjoyment and to make this visit truly memorable, Roger Dubuis treated me to a great horological moment. On the workbench of the Customer Service workshop, an RD02SQ calibre awaited me. It was barely prepared with just the jewels driven in and the winding-stem in place, meaning that the entire assembly of this skeleton tourbillon movement remained to be done. As intensely focused as a child doing his first 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle, trembling with the strain of keeping my arms in the air, struggling to show a sure hand, wheezing like an asthma sufferer in my effort to hold my breath, it took me a full hour and a half to assemble this Fine Watchmaking movement. Fair enough, it is unlikely to wind up in a fake Omega watch, since this training calibre started off scratched and only barely presentable in terms of its finishing. But just try for yourself to screw a tourbillon carriage in “blind” from beneath, without making a single scratch on a mirror-polished screw! In comparison with the real work of the Swiss Replica Watches makers, these steps that may seem simple or customary take on their full dimension. This is an authentic profession that is anything but simple and truly beautiful.

Roger-Dubuis-David-Chokron-assemblage-tourbillon

Chopard Video. Mille Miglia Zagato

Posted on November 5, 2013 by admin

— The limited series Mille Miglia Zagato stems from the partnership between Chopard and a design legend: the Milan-based bodywork specialist Zagato.

Chopard handles the execution, the ‘engine’ part and the chassis, while Zagato participates in creating the bodywork, the ‘passenger compartment’ and the upholstery.

Chopard’s enduring commitment as sponsor and official timekeeper of the Mille Miglia is now into its 25th year and is underwritten by the actual participation in the race of Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, co-president of the Geneva-based firm and a keen driver himself and collector of classic cars. It was indeed along the route of the legendary Italian car rally that he met Andrea Zagato, owner of the Italian bodywork specialist bearing the family name, and his wife Marella Rivolta.

Chopard and Zagato are both independent family businesses dedicated to creating intensely desirable technical objects crafted by qualified artisans. The entire process is governed by a constant concern for details and the pursuit of excellence conducted in keeping with a modern, sporty and refined spirit.

Since 1919, the atelier founded by Ugo Zagato in Milan has strived to create distinctively designed bodywork. It has worked with some of the greatest car manufacturers including Ferrari, Lancia, Maserati – an impressive roster more recently joined by Aston Martin, Bentley and the brand that has most powerfully contributed to its reputation, Alfa Romeo (Zagato bodied Alfas won 4 Mille Miglias: 1928, 1929, 1930, 1933). Zagato has remained an independent and family-owned company that cultivates a unique aesthetic philosophy: functional, sleek, rationalist, a typical “Milanese” design approach. Nonetheless, Zagato’s main specialist has always been that of Grand Tourer cars. It is this vocation, at the crossroads between luxury and sports-driven mechanical engineering, that inspired the first collaborative endeavour between the Geneva and Milan-based companies: the Mille Miglia Zagato.

This is a Chopard Mille Miglia Replica Watches UK that has undergone the exclusive Zagato personalisation process. The ‘engine’ is a self-winding chronograph movement with date and dual-time displays. Chosen by Chopard for its reliability and sturdiness, this is the calibre that generally drives the Mille Miglia Omega Replica watches. It is officially certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute, the COSC, a sure token of its high-precision rating. The chassis is also Chopard’s responsibility: in this particular instance, a 42.5 mm steel case with a DLC coating – a technical treatment chosen for its extreme scratch-resistance. It comes in two variations: one all-black and the other fitted with a rose gold bezel featuring a red insert bearing the 24-hour dual-time graduation.

The all-of-a-piece start/stop chronograph pusher matches the colour of the bezel – either black or in rose gold. In both versions, it has a red-lacquered tip, a nod to the symbolic colour of both Zagato and the Mille Miglia. The upholstery (the strap) typically evokes the work of Zagato. Its lines featuring a distinctive central groove echo the architecture of its ‘double bubble’ roof, while the bright red stitching on the leather is a classic Zagato signature feature. Its triumphant Z logo composes the motif adorning the crown and also forms the fine grey technical grid pattern occupying the entire surface of the ‘passenger compartment’ – meaning the dial. The fonts on the latter as well as on the bezel were also specially designed for the occasion. Sharper and more angular, they epitomise the sporting and design-focused spirit of this cooperative effort.

The Mille Miglia Zagato is issued in a 500-piece limited series for the black DLC-coated steel version and the same number for the two-tone version with an 18-carat rose gold finish. It is available in Chopard boutiques around the world.

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