Historic trains in Geneva 2014

It's a late Sunday morning and I'm bicycling around an industrial area near Geneva airport and come across a poster taped to a light pole. It's announcing an exhibit of historic locomotives this weekend. Figuring it would have to be somewhere with train tracks I cycle around and finally find the place. It's a festive atmosphere with the yummy smell of sausages being barbecued.

What's the story? This railroad siding hadn't been used in years and was recently repaired and reopened so, ABB (a large industrial Swiss company with a warehouse facility to the right of the green train) and several other businesses in the area put this exhibit together as a sort of grand re-opening party.

 I count 12 locomotives with about half French and half Swiss.

I wouldn't be surprised if the French trains were from the huge train museum in Mulhouse, France I visited several years ago.

So, what was really cool about this exhibit was the fact visitors could climb into the train cabs and engine rooms---something that has ALWAYS been forbidden at all the train museums I've ever visited.

Sunday bike ride in Geneva past Swiss watch facilities Part 1

   

For more than 20 years I bicycled around the world visiting the head offices of over 4,000 of the world’s biggest companies (www.corporatetrivia.com). In 2003 and 2004 I visited more than 100 Swiss watch companies. The Swiss watch industry generates something like $20 BILLION in revenues a year. Being a complete watch novice, a great time was had visiting and learning about this somewhat secretive but fascinating business. 

Sunday is my favorite day bicycling in a city as traffic is sparse and nobody’s around—especially in Switzerland with retail stores required to close. So, I thought it would be fun on a Sunday to cycle past some of the watch companies visited 10 years ago to see if buildings were added/subtracted or companies moved to new premises. So, unless you are a watch aficionado you’ll probably find these photos boring. 

Go to my website: www.corporatetrivia.com and click on the "Watches and Chocolate" heading to read the stories from 2003/2004. Following this posting there will be a Part Two featuring more watch companies revisited in the Swiss Jura area.    

I'm in a light industrial area less than a mile from Geneva Airport and since my 2003 visit Chopard had added another connecting building to its head office/factory complex.

 This building stands to the left of the buildings in the previous photo.

 This is the rear of Chopard's property. Watch price category: high-end

This new, not completely finished, unmarked building sits on the edge of Chopard's property. Is it part of Chopard? Being curious, I stop a man walking his dog. The man lives nearby and says it's workspace for independent watchmakers----sort of a cooperative. Hmm makes sense. Plenty of new independent watchmakers have started up. Why? Most have worked for the major watch companies and want to do their own thing. An even more compelling reason: profit margins on watches are huge. I'm still curious as to whether Chopard owned or still owns the property or maybe the land was donated?

A couple blocks from Chopard I see a sign for Montres DeWitt. This is good news as I visited the company back when it was just starting out. Located on a beautiful estate in the Geneva countryside, offices were in the owner's splendid chateau with the watch workshop in an impressive guest cottage.

 This is the side of the building for DeWitt.  Watch price category: high-end.

Also a few blocks for Chopard stands Roger Dubuis. Visited the place when it was brand spanking new.

 Another view of Roger Dubuis--now 60% owned by Richemont Group. Watch price category: high-end.

 From the parking lot of Roger Dubuis I could toss a grapefruit to this complex going up next door.

 Richemont, owner of a slew of luxury watch brands, is building a multi-building campus.

Another view of Richemont construction site. 

In another light industrial park roughly four miles from Geneva one finds Patek Philippe's head office/factory complex. It's tough taking photos as much of it is hidden behind shrubbery. Great memory of an excellent reception. 

 Side street view of Patek Philippe's factory. Watch price category: high-end

The building on the left is part of Patek Philippe and on the right is Rolex. How about that, two of the "big boys" in the watch industry stand side by side.

Another view of the front of connecting Rolex buildings. In the city of Bienne, Rolex has a massive production complex of modern black reflective buildings similar to these which run for several blocks.  Watch price category: high-end.

Several blocks from Patek Philippe/Rolex stands Frederique Constant. Wow, when visiting back in 2003 offices were on the other side of town in an ugly warehouse-type building from the 1960's. Watch price category: low to middle ($500 to $3000).

Harry Winston, known more for jewelry than watches, wasn't on my list to visit back in 2003/2004 probably because they didn't have their own facility/people doing the timepieces. I bet it was contracted out. What do I mean?  Well, guess I'll have to tell you this story:

More than 30 years ago I was bicycling through downtown La Jolla, California and spotted a wallet near the curb. I stopped, checked it out and ended up putting it in an envelope and mailing it back to the owner in New York City. Several weeks later I receive a package in the mail. Turned out to be a Tiffany clock and enclosed was a note from the man's wife thanking me for returning the wallet. So, 10 years ago while visiting a watch company I was being shown around by the CEO and I spotted the exact same Tiffany clock--though without the Tiffany name stamped on it. The CEO said they manufacture all of Tiffany's clocks but, asked me not to mention it. He went on to say that watch companies contracting with other watch companies to put together their timepieces happens quite a bit.

 Side view of Harry Winston across an empty lot. The Swatch Group now owns Harry Winston.

This is Piaget's head office/factory. I visited Piaget back in 1996 when they were located on the other side of Geneva in a former cigarette factory. Nice upgrade.

 Rear view of Piaget complex. Owned by Richemont Group. Watch price category: upper to high-end

Visited Vacheron Constantin back in 2002. Head office was at their flagship store in downtown Geneva. Don't know if this is a production center or also the new head office.

View of Vacheron Constantin from the backside where you can see a new building being added. Watch price category: high-end.

In 2002 I visited Raymond Weil and thanks to its CEO, it gets the prize for the worst reception received at a watch company. If you looked up the word "jerk" in the dictionary you would probably find a picture of CEO Oliver Bernheim. How did he get his job? It probably helps when you marry Founder Raymond Weil's daughter. Watch price category: low to mid-range.

Stockholm, Sweden

With 2.2 million people residing in its metropolitan area, Stockholm ranks as the largest city in Scandinavia. You are never too far from water in Stockholm. It's my first time coming across a lighthouse housed on a boat. The Finngrundet was built in 1903 and until 1969 lay anchored at the Finngrundet banks in the Bothnian Sea warning ships of potential danger. The Finngrundet had a crew of eight and I'd have surely gone bonkers being stuck on the stationary ship for an extended period of time!

You think the British go overboard with their worship of royalty? This is Sweden's Royal Palace. With 1,430 rooms it's one of the largest in the world--though only 660 of the rooms have windows.

Sweden's king only uses this place for state events, business affairs etc..... There's the changing of the guard and all the other events for tourists. I was reprimanded by a guard for cycling in the square. The king doesn't reside here but, hightails it out to the suburbs at the equally palatial Drottningholm Palace.

 The view from a garden area near the Royal Palace.

Stockholm's old town area is home to the Nobel Museum. This is where the Swedish Academy gets together and doles out Nobel Peace Prizes. No wheeling and dealing is done here---even though it was home to Sweden's stock exchange 1773-1778.

 

 Stockholm's old town area is over-rated. This is the only square worth photographing.

I like visiting royal palaces and Ulriksdal Palace dates back to 1643. Located five miles north of Stockholm and set in the midst of a forest. Used as a summer getaway it's now a museum.

This is a backside view of Ulriksdal Palace. Only 40 steps out the door and the royals could skinny dip in the lake.

With temperatures in the low 90's spending the day cruising around in a boat is very popular. 

A waterfront amusement park near downtown.

Rosendal Palace dates from 1823 and sits in a park less than five miles from the Royal Palace.  Now a museum---was used as a summer residence.

 Water, water everywhere. Over 8,000 islands dot the Stockholm landscape.

 Park in downtown Stockholm.