Going to Geneva for my 40th birthday?

If you’re going to Geneva next year, why not go to Watches & Wonders 2024? They finally have public days, so it would be the perfect watch geek trip.

I’m flying into London on the 26th for work. I am SO tempted to head to Geneva for the day to check out the show.

I have no idea, but if you go please share your experience! My 45th is in 2 years and I am thinking of doing the same trip, and would also love to make a purchase while I’m there.

There is certainly interesting watch stuff in Geneva. The Patek gallery is a must. And there are some incredible boutiques that you don't want to miss. But I would also think of Geneva as the hub to make day trips to other areas of Switzerland where other attractions are. It would be great to see the Omega museum in Biel for instance, but I think it would be easier to make Geneva your hub. The good news is that pretty much everything is located in the same long mountain valley and Switzerland has a fantastic train system. It's really beautiful. I was in Geneva last year for a conference and I cannot wait to get back to focus purely on watch stuff at some point.

Wow you guys are bunch of young pups!! My goal is before I hit 50 which’s about 4 years from now !! Japan is the place for me!! Ginza here I come!! Me and @Fieldwalker will meet up and he will be my tour guide to Ginza !! 🍻😂

I guess the pandemic made us all realize how short life can be! I’ll also say he and I are a bit crazy— last year we went to Antarctica together 🤣.

Magnifique 😍👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🍻

Enjoy it!! Live life!! That’s awesome!!

Would love a similar trip to Switzerland (and indeed Japan) one day!

Geneva is certainly worth visiting but don’t expect to pay anything less than full price there, which can vary a little bit in real terms for you due to constant fluctuations in the Swiss Franc vs. US dollar. You’ll get a better deal on a Swiss watch in Asia than you will in Switzerland.

Lucerne is a lovely city with a famous covered bridge in the middle of town and Zurich is worth visiting as it is the financial centre of the country and there is fabulous wealth there, most of it in vaults under your feet as you walk around downtown. Last summer we spent a few days at a “lake house” (what we would call a cottage) on Lake Zurich and it’s a beautiful part of the country.

See as much as you can.

Excellent idea

Great advice!

You should swing through the watch district of Germany also....

I thought we were going to Glashütte so you can get something Lange.

Totally agree - the Patek museum is a must visit. Three floors of sheer wonder with the history of timekeeping and Patek displayed.

If you are a hardcore watch enthusiast and Patek fan, don't miss this 2-volume set just released of the wonders contained within the Patek museum...just received mine yesterday...

Treasures from the Patek Philippe Museum: Vol 1: The Emergence of the Watch (Antique Collection); Vol. 2: The Quest for the Perfect Watch (Patek Philippe Collection)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/3961713707?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

Going to Geneva this year for Watches & Wonders for my 60th birthday with the wonderful folks at Montblanc. In addition to the show, they will be taking us up to Villeret to visit the Minerva maison where we will get a tour and meet the watchmakers.

Definitely will be a highlight of my year and special birthday!

Of course, I will be wearing these during the trip...

I need I’ll need to save until my 50th that.

My one and only recommendation is don't stay in Geneva, stay at the Hotel Royal Evian. The food and service are second to none. It's one of my favourite hotels in the world.

The outdoor spa area is wonderful at this time of year.

You can also travel to Biel from there should you wish.

After this post I'll have to make time for another visit.

I would love to see more book reviews here on WC. Any chance you are going to write those up for us?

Sounds like a good idea! I will plan a series of book reviews as I have added pretty extensively to my library over the past two years. That could be fun. I will try and keep it tight and not boring. Thanks for the suggestion.

Those watches are 🔥. You’ll have to report how it goes!

Thanks!

I'm hoping I can get some nice pictures during the trip and then I'll do a write-up when I'm back.

Dude, I already suggested 2024 W&W to a couple of friends of mine. How cool would it be to do a WC meetup there???

That would be amazing!

Congrats, sounds like a good time. Love the Speedmaster and strap….on that note, where did you get that strap and what brand is it? Love the combo.

Thanks! I think I got this strap from Amazon. Benchmark basics is the brand. I bought it while I was waiting on another strap to come in and ended up liking it more than the one I was waiting on from Europe. 🤣

Good advice. On a sunny summer day, the drive along the south coast of Lac Leman through Ėvian-les-Bains is spectacular.