Belgium, WorldChronos and More
October 6, 2006 -- I was in Belgium on assignment for PenWorld on Monday of this week. It was fun to just run to Belgium for a day, though it ended up being a very long day. I finished early with my interview of Dubois Vutera, a high end pen manufacturer and distributor, but when I got to the airport, SN Brussels Airlines wouldn't let me stand by on an earlier flight! Seems "stand by" hasn't caught on in Europe yet.
I am heading to Interlaken for the weekend on my motorcycle. Should be a great ride, and Interlaken looks like an absolutely beautiful place, between two lakes in the middle of the Alps. I'm looking forward to just relaxing with Sophie after a hectic month.
Keith Herbert of WorldChronos, who was on the InSync ride in Vegas, is in Neuchatel right now. He is going to rent a motorcycle there and meet me on Monday for a ride in the Jura (I think we'll run up to Le Brassus), then we'll have lunch and talk about his watch. I am hoping that I will also meet his watchmaker, Mr. Bapic at that lunch. Keith will be giving me a sample of his new world time watch to test.
On another motorcycle-related note, I spoke with Thomas Morf from Carl F. Bucherer and his motorcycle got stolen and wrecked while it was at his mechanic waiting for service! Seems the thieves stole it, took it to a gas station and stole gas (Thomas was called by the police about that, as they had his license plate!) then wrecked it and left it. He had a beautiful '70s CB750 Honda which he bought in great condition and did some restoration on. What a shame!
I have a Patek Philippe event next week, the introduction of the new Nautilus collection, then lunch on Friday with Juan Carlos Torres, head of Vacheron. On the 19th, I have a motorcycle ride and lunch with the new head of Baume et Mercier. Then, on the 20th, I am going to London for a week. I may get together with Tom Bolt, who designed watches for Dunhill, for lunch or a tennis match.
After London, I might go to Moscow for the Moscow Watch Show. Might be interesting to cover it for InSync, do a story on the market for watches in Russia.
My son Kalen is coming over here on the 17th for a few days with me, then he and a friend are going to travel around Europe for a week while we are in London, using our place in Geneva as a base. Oh, to be young and carefree again.