Safaris Interview

Through community support and momentous acquisitions – such as the 1774 – professors of the school created a library and built a collection before founding the museum in 1902. Having survived two World was inaugurated next to the Other specialised libraries Wars and The Great Depression, city’s Historical Museum and around the world include the it celebrated a 50th anniversary Fine Arts Museum. It featured Royal Greenwich Observatory with reparations and the addition a restoration centre for antique and the Clockmakers’ Museum of a new room in 1952. It was pieces and a centre for inter- in , and the Deutsches there that Syndicat patronal disciplinary studies, with Uhrenmuseum in Furtwangen im des producteurs de la montre a library containing periodicals, Schwarzwald in Germany’s Black (SPPM) and Bureau de contrôle original works, auction catalogues, Forest. There is a National des ouvrages en métaux précieux advertisements, iconographic and and Museum in Columbia, both promised 5,000CHF for a many other documents. Frescoes Pennsylvania, and the American period of five , in addition to by Hans Erni, painted for the 1958 Clock and Watch Museum in 3,000CHF from the community. Universal Exhibition in Brussels, Bristol, Connecticut. The museum went from were donated by the Swiss In March every , the whole strength to strength and made Chamber of . industry descends upon Basel in some notable acquisitions – In 1980, as the final stages Switzerland for Baselworld Watch including a pair-cased watch, of construction were taking place, and Jewellery Show, ‘where made for King George III which the monumental carillon that passion, precision and perfection was dated circa 1768. It boasted a completes the museum’s exterior preside’. The show, that dates gold and enamel outer case and a architecture was installed. Both back to 1917, comprises of more temperature compensation system a kinetic clock and a musical than 1,500 exhibitors from over – light years ahead of its . instrument, the impressive piece 45 countries, including the leading In 1974 a new avant-garde sounds seasonal tunes through- watch and jewellery brands, as Musée international d’horlogerie out the year. well as companies specialising in precious gems. It attracts more in 1912. Today, of course, than 145,000 visitors. the city is inundated with luxury Baselworld exclusively exhibits horological dealers and fine new creations and innovations fashion emporiums. in the global watch and jewellery While many consider industry – an unmissable show Time immemorial Blancpain (est. 1735) the for this multifaceted industry. ➤ In order to mark 100 years since the inaugural Baselworld watch and jewellery show, oldest watchmaker in the Upward Curve delves deep into Switzerland’s love affair with the time piece, starting world, Vacheron Constantin Pictured: Various timepieces with the prestigious Musée international d’horlogerie at La Chaux-de-Fonds (est. 1755) claims to be ‘the on display at the Musée oldest watchmaker in the world international d’horlogerie at – that has been in production La Chaux-de-Fonds, including rom tally-sticks and Since 1865, the Swiss city of Louis Chevrolet, La Chaux-de- without interruption’. Montre à (below) to candle , water La Chaux-de-Fonds, a renowned Fonds was awarded UNESCO Regardless, it is largely Fclocks and the hourglass; centre for Art Noveau, has been World Heritage status in 2009 thanks to the opening of humankind has always found the the centre-piece of this marvellous for its exceptional universal value. a horological school in La Chaux- need to measure time. evolution. A few kilometres south Popular for walking, de-Fonds (Ecole d’horlogerie) in The first mechanical clocks of the French border, the city is cycling and skiing, the city is 1865, that these watchmakers are are believed to have been created home to less than 40,000 people characterised by its chessboard still able to tell their historic tale. in Europe, (circa 1300), using and sits at 1,000m altitude in the design, which was created at the Today, the Musée international oscillating such as Jura Mountains. beginning of the 19th d’horlogerie is entirely dedicated balance wheels. Spring-driven Birthplace of modernist after a catastrophic fire. One to the of time measurement clocks and started to architect, Le Corbusier, writer, of Le Corbusier’s early works, and houses more than 4,500 appear in the 1500s, and the Blaise Cendrars, and racing ‘Maison Blanche’, is located here exhibits, including 2,700 watches pendulum was first used in 1657. car driver-turned-manufacturer, – a house he built for his parents and 700 wall clocks.

24 Upward Curve April-June 2017 April-June 2017 Upward Curve 25 Horology

Pictured: Baselworld in Switzerland celebrated 100 years of shows in March 2017, featuring the most ornate of timepieces with brands including Tissot, Movado and Balmain Bottom: Luxury brand Rolex unveiled new models in its home town of Baselworld in 2017

With key players, prestigious worn and most talked about (including six diamonds that weigh It is serendipity that Basel, the buyers and international press in the coming year. more than three carats each). city in which ‘passion, precision present, Baselworld brings Indeed, in 2012, the $5m The show prides itself on its and perfection preside’, also together emerging design talent, Hublot watch was unveiled at market focus and an ability to raised Roger Federer, an ideal the finest retailers and the biggest Baselworld. This remarkable piece adapt to the needs thereof with fit for Rolex. brands on the planet – to set is set in white gold with 1,282 world-renowned dealers, suppliers The luxury brand (est.1905 in trends and determine what will be diamonds weighing 140 carats of diamonds, gemstones, La Chaux-de-Fonds) first bought pearls and machinery, and the the 35-year-old’s allegiance in most successful independent 2006 for a substantial £10 million watchmakers. Building on in what is thought to be the most its success and keen to meet lucrative watch deal ever signed the increased demand for – and by an athlete. by – independent watchmaking Federer, who won the 2017 brands, Baselworld has developed Australian Open, seems not to a new concept for the be phased by the passing of time. most successful independent He has committed to play the watchmakers appropriately named Swiss Indoor Championships ‘Les Ateliers’ (workshops). in Basel until 2019. ■

April-June 2017 Upward Curve 27