#helvet magazine Verbier | Winter 2017-2018 | EN

living the high life

Verbier

Verbier / Winter 2017-2018

Beneath the swirling snowflakes, a vibrant resort sits contentedly at the heart of one of the most beautiful freeride areas in the world.

Living the high life

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S TA R O F S H A M B A L L A

| P I LO U A S B Æ K B Y C O O P E R

& GORFER

This may be the only time you ever see an H.Moser.

Ref: 1341-0207

Editorial The jagged, snowy peaks form a heartbeat line. The village breathes gently beneath its large downy coat. Smoke drifts out of chimneys.

Time stands still. And light twinkles, like a child’s eyes.

This winter, like every winter in Verbier, Switzerland breathes a contented sigh as it returns to its beloved mountains, revelling in the intense pleasure of hurtling down slopes and runs without a care in the world, all in a superb ski area that has established itself as one of the best in the Alps. Verbier is a resort that welcomes the whole world, a resort that is both Swiss and cosmopolitan and expresses a duality that embodies the country as a whole. It is a place of luxury superchalets and timeless mountain huts.

More than any other country, without question, Switzerland has drawn on its past to better embrace the future. Innovative but without losing sight of its values, proud of its traditions but always ready to reinvent and enhance what it has, it is a country that knows where it is going. Its horizons are broad and encompass the whole planet, where the Swiss conquer peaks and markets before returning home refreshed to savour the timeless joys of their valleys, which offer shelter to the soul. This is Switzerland, a crossroads of history and well-trodden paths, a leader of the world and its trends, forever mapping out possibilities, forever striking a balance.

A new Swiss brand, Helvet is very much in keeping with that dynamic.

You are all familiar with the luxury special edition of 30° magazine devoted to Verbier, a high-quality bumper issue that explored the resort and its seductive appeal in greater depth. Well, Helvet is but the latest essential compendium of contemporary Swissness, finding expression through one of our country’s most iconic locations.

Welcome to our little white paradise.

Christian Bugnon

Publisher & Editor-in-chief

A C C O M M O D AT I O N O N LY S E L F - C AT E R E D BED AND BRE AKFAST F U L LY C AT E R E D LIMITLESS SERVICE

S U P E R- LU X U R Y C H A L E T H O L I DAYS FRANCE, AUSTRIA, SWITZERLAND

REDEFINING THE LUXURY CHALE T E XPERIENCE

brambleski.com

Contents 14

74

News

High Jewellery Watches

Winter 2017-2018

Time at its most precious, by the great watchmakers

20

Sport Freeride country 28

La Cordée des Alpes An ode to the mountains 32

Héli-Alpes A fairy tale in Sion 36

Portfolio David Carlier Paying homage to the mountains 46

Interview Eric Balet The secrets of Verbier’s success 50

Les Étrennes A chalet for the festive season 58

Chalet Aline Alpine timelessness 66

High Jewellery, liberated

80

Bramble Ski Occupation: superchalet landlord 84

Verbier Festival 25 years of great music 90

Val de Bagnes A ski touring paradise 98

Verbier Charity Night The unmissable 102

W

A blend of the urban and the Alpine at the ultimate lifestyle hotel 106

Trends Watches 111

Fairs and Wonders SIHH and Baselworld 112

Trends Luxury

Editing, administration and adversiting CB Communication sàrl I Place de l’Hôtel de Ville 2 – 1110 Morges - Suisse I info@ cbcommunication.swiss I www.cbcommunication.swiss I Tel : +41 21 312 41 41, Fax : +41 21 312 41 11 | 30° degrees magazine special issue Editor-in-chief Christian Bugnon : christian@cbcommunication.swiss Assistant Mélissa Hertzeisen : melissa@ cbcommunication.swiss Writers (in order of appearance) Daniel Bauchervez, Laurent Grabet, Claude Hervé-Bazin, Nathalie Cobos, Marie de Pimodan-Bugnon Photographers (in order of appearance) Grant Gunderson, Yves Garneau, Melody Sky, Ned Dawson, David Carlier, Christian Hofmann, Aline Paley, Mark Shapiro, Nicolas Brodard, PPR Media Relations / Dominic Steinmann, La Cordée des Alpes Branding Alexandre Henriques Graphic design Sandy Chanel : sandy@ cbcommunication.swiss, Sophie Cattin : sophie@cbcommunication.swiss, Christian Bugnon (DA) : christian@cbcommunication. swiss English translation Simon Till, Paul Subrenat, Laurène Cabaret Photo-offset printing Images 3 Publicity info@ cbcommunication.swiss Copyright © 2017-2018 helvet magazine, Unauthorized duplication/copying of all or any part of this magazine is strictly prohibited without the express prior permission of the rightful owners. Cover : Yves Garneau | Next issue: winter 2018 I www.helvet.swiss Living the high life

Eating out

news

Mountain life:

1 x 3 = 3

Opened in September 2017 at 15

A pioneer in the field of skin

rue de Médran, Vie Montagne

care and anti-ageing treat-

combines three establishments

ments, L.Raphael has opened

in one, in an outstanding con-

an ultra-luxurious “Temple of

temporary chalet. Its micro-

Beauty” in Verbier. Located in a

heli-picnic?

brewery, the first in the town,

280m2 chalet-spa (available for

brews pilsner, IPA, lager and

rent in its entirety), it includes

a coffee stout under its V Bier

nine treatment rooms, a 15m

dreams

Kando Events delights in ful-

brand, to be enjoyed with light

pool, a steam room, a Finnish

From groomed runs to powder

filling the most outlandish

dishes, salads and wood-fired

sauna, a sports room, as well as

slopes, from tree slaloms to the

dreams, whether it be a mar-

artisanal pizzas in the cosy

a home theatre, a hair salon, a

steepest chutes, the 4 Vallées (4

riage proposal, anniversary

and trendy atmosphere of its

discotheque, and a vodka bar!

Valleys) offers everything you

celebration, a honeymoon

Bier Haus. On the first floor,

You can even enjoy sushi there!

could wish for when it comes to

escapade deep in the moun-

the Club Room plays host to an

www.l-raphael.com/fr/verbier-Cha

ski sports. Start the adventure by

tains, an authentic meal with

extravagant gourmet kitchen

let-beauty-spa.html

heading to the Ruinettes (2200 m)

butlers in livery, or a picnic on

(with a chef’s tasting menu) that

a glacier. Just imagine getting

serves the best of local produce,

out of a helicopter and sitting

including Valais wines.

down on snow-carved benches

www.viemontagne.com

Event

How

about a

Competition

High Five:

you name it! Champagne is a staple of the occasion, while the amazing panoramic view is guaranteed! www.kandoverbier.com

A Temple of

beauty at Verbier

white gold. From there, let the snow carry you to the wild dell of Arbi, or swing over towards Nendaz or Siviez. Or better yet: take the cable car to Mont-Fort (3330 m) and greet the majestic trio of the Combins range, the Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn. www.4vallees.ch

On April 7, 2018, the 19 th un-

Dom

er snow-loving pros, famous

fondue, sushi, barbecue ...

sparkling world blanketed with

Exceptional

competition will bring togeth-

Wellness

land of

competition

missable High Five friendly

and cushions! On the menu:

4 Vallées:

and the Attelas (2727m) to enter a

an easy-going

covered with animal skins

Ski area

personalities, and the general public, for a series of easy-going, good-natured contests of skills. Four events are on the agenda: giant slalom, speed skiing, ski cross, and ski jump. www.verbierhighfivebycarlsberg. com

Party Time

Pérignon

P2

Mountain restaurant

Alpine fashion

There’s champagne and there’s

hours of walking on tails and

champagne. This particular one

tips, hikers with some expe-

combines winemaking know-

rience can discover and enjoy

how at its very best and the many

truly unique sensations in a

attributes of the 2009 vintage. It

pure and unspoiled setting.

was a brilliantly sunny year that

However, it is recommended

delivered champagne with an ex-

not to throw oneself headlong

ceptional bouquet and complex-

into the beckoning powder wit-

ity, qualities that are showcased

hout first securing the services

Swiss Stop quality for

here in a bottle and case especial-

of a knowledgeable guide.

Strategically located on the

ly created by Japanese designer

www.guideverbier.com

Mont-Fort area, the Gentianes

Tokujin Yoshioka. www.domperignon.com

Les Gentianes: the indispensable

restaurant is, at 2950m, the

Hanro

133 years

highest in the 4 Vallées area,

Founded in 1884 in Switzer-

with the exception of the Igloo

land, Hanro makes lingerie,

du Mont-Fort. Designed in the

nightdresses, slips, dresses

form of an igloo with a splendid

and tops of understated ele-

extra-large terrace that extends

gance and style. Drawing on

out into the snow, it includes a

its time-honoured expertise,

self-service restaurant, a bar,

the finest materials and the lat-

and a lounge on the first floor.

est technology, the company’s

in Châble

The establishment, open daily

designs are resolutely contem-

from 9am to 4pm, is especially

porary. Putting the emphasis

Located at the start of the Châ-

known for its breakfast—a great

on detail and comfort, they are

ble ski lifts, the Üna Lodge,

reason to get your skis on as

made to last and a joy to wear.

which opened its doors in the

soon as the lifts open!

Available exclusively in Ver-

autumn of 2017, offers four ul-

www.verbier.ch/fr/fppoi-les-gen

bier at Fellay Mode & Sport.

tra-comfortable double rooms

tianes-198-8114.html

www.hanro.com

Hotels

A new

B & B and one family room (with kitchenette); each one enjoys a balcony or patio facing the mountains. On the menu: chic

Winter sports

Ski

touring:

an enchanting

getaway

100% mountain-themed décor with light wood, down-padded bed and quilts, and refined, sleek furnishings. The outdoor sauna and jacuzzi are perfect for relaxing after ski, and in the mornings a continental breakfast is served made up of produce from the local terroir and the lodge itself. The perfect option for your next ski holiday? Why not the Üna Lodge... www.unalodge.com

Rosablanche, Parrain, Fenêtre d’Allèves, Méteiller, Pierre Avoi, Fou, Rogneux, Tête de la Payanne ... the 4 Vallées ski area abounds with peaks that can be reached with seal skins.

After one, two, or up to five

15

Les Ruinettes, 2200 m. Looking out on a bevy of alpine peaks,

news

the two huge outdoor terraces on the south side of the Mouton Noir double as a dance floor.

Ground zero for the highly popular Polaris electronic music festival (held December 7-10), this establishment, perfectly located

Ski area

next to the runs, includes a crêpe

A new

cable car at

Mont

Gelé

Freeriders are no doubt well acquainted with the old cable car built in the 1960s that would take them to the Mont Gelé peak. Now it can become

corner, a self-service restaurant

www.freerideworldtour.com

free- Frédéric ride Favre and the Cinema

The Verbier Xtreme was at the beginning of it all. For over 20

homage to mountain produce.

years, this incredible competition

Encordés

And when the runs close down,

has brought together the most

Who are the thrill-seekers who

the after-ski takes off.

audacious freeriders, those who

dare throw themselves into the

www.lemoutonverbier.com

spend their time at the top of the

Patrouille des Glaciers adventure

Freeride World Tour rankings,

And why do they do it? These are

of which the Xtreme event

the questions asked by filmma-

marks the grand finale. This

ker Frédéric Favre from Sion,

year, you’ll find them on the diz-

who tackles the subject of this

zying face of the Bec des Rosses

legendary ski mountaineering

between March 31 and April 8.

race through the eyes of three

As for young aspiring competi-

participants: a woman taking in

tors, they will meet from Janua-

the mountain as part of a spiritual

ry 8 to 14 for Freeride Week, the

experience, a hard-core compe-

first stage of the Freeride World

titor, and an atypical “oddball”.

Qualifier, open to amateurs who

It’s a psychoanalytical piece that

Verbier by night

The Farm

Club

invested 5.2 million francs to

Bono and James Blunt have

renovate it from top to bottom,

danced there. The Farm Club

going as far as demolishing and

is to Verbier what the Moulin

rebuilding the old departure

Rouge is to Paris: elementary!

station at the bottom. The new

It was around this establish-

station, which is due to begin

ment that the resort’s cosmo-

operations on December 15,

politan night life slowly grew,

2017, will transport a total of

starting in 1971. Forty-seven

45 people in 9 round trips per

years later, it remains the un-

hour. Guaranteed to get you to

disputed pillar of Verbier’s

the slopes without the crowds!

nights and its glamour! A word

www.4vallees.ch

of advice: To avoid having to queue on freezing nights, take

Mountain restaurant

a room at the adjoining Hotel

Food and fiesta

guests directly to the club.

Noir

chasm riders.

and an excellent menu that pays

Diana Ross, David Bowie,

Mouton

100%

dream of joining the club of the

that won’t deplete your wallet,

a memory. Téléverbier has just

at the

Competition

Nevaï, where a VIP door leads www.hotelnevai.com/fr/nightclub. html

Ski area

Snow at every

Stop To ensure the best possible snow “blends fiction with reality”—the

summer holiday camps for child-

favourite playground of its crea-

ren ages 7 to 18 years. From early

tor, who himself has participated

December to the end of August,

in the Patrouille des Glaciers

over 70 nationalities rub shoul-

three times.

ders in a highly international environment while enjoying sports

Winter sports

The longest sled

run in French speaking Switerland

activities, language courses, personal development sessions, and group outings. It’s the perfect

Mountain restaurant

La Tzoumaz ski areas, Téléver-

Chalet

bier is investing 7.5 million

Time

chanical snowmakers. Global

Carlsberg:

and linguistic abilities while ha-

for break

ving fun and making new friends!

Perched on the Attelas, the

www.leselfes.com

Chalet Carslberg will enchant

opportunity to improve in sports

conditions in the Savoleyres and

francs over three years to equip the Taillay (blue) and Cœur & Etablons (red) runs with mewarming had best behave! www.4vallees.ch

Ski area

On the

up to a terrace. On a clear

Bruson side

day, the panoramic views are

Facing Verbier Bruson is enjoy-

breathtaking. This restaurant

ing an ever-increasing populari-

specializes in Italian cuisine

ty. It’s a great place for morning ski rides, and powdered forest

the Petit Carlsberg outdoor

escapades. Freeriders love it,

bar offers snacks at a moder-

and meet there each year on the

ate price, to be enjoyed with a

faces of Six-Blanc and Pointe de

good beer while the eyes feast

Sésal for a competition that at-

on the surrounding peaks. The

tracts over a hundred of them.

establishment is open daily

This year, that special day will

fore setting off down the slope.

come back

(with excellent pizzas!), while

Some were afraid it would be

from 9:30am (the Petit Carls-

be February 18, and will con-

www.latzoumaz.ch/fr/fppoi-piste

struck from mountain maps due

berg opens at 11:30) to 4:30pm,

tinue through the night with

de-luge-90.html

to cost cutbacks at the Federal

until the end of April.

the Yeti Party.

Defence Department. Whew! The

www.verbier.ch/fr/fppoi-chalet-car

www.4vallees.ch I www.brusonfre-

ultimate Swiss ski mountaineer-

lsberg-200.html

eride.ch

In Verbier, sled riding is a sport for everyone. With 834 m of vertical descent down a run nearly 10km long, the sled track that links Savoleyres to La Tzoumaz never fails to attract young and old, families and sports enthusiasts alike. No need for heavy loads. Simply rent your sled upon arrival at Savoleyres be-

Holiday camp

smart

vacations at Les

all those who like to ski right

Competition

Patrouille des Glaciers: the

ing competition is safe—at least until 2022. The 32nd Patrouille des Glaciers will be held from

Elfes

April 17-21, 2018. Roughly 1700

Based in Verbier, with satellites

above sea level. The time to beat?

at La Tzoumaz and Crans-Mon-

5 hours 52 minutes for 53km with

tana, Les Elfes have for the past

4000 m of vertical gain.

30 years been holding winter and

www.pdg.ch

teams of three will be at the starting lines in Arolla and Zermatt, The race’s highest point? 3800m

17

Hotels

news

On the

move at La Tzoumaz

Mountain restaurant

Mountain nostalgia at the

Mont-Fort

Téléverbier is launching its first large-scale real estate development in La Tzoumaz.

The tourism-oriented lodging, simply named after the resort itself, will include 85 apart-

Igloos are apparently all

Jewellery

Hut

ments in two large chalets, and

the rage in Verbier! From its

180 car park spaces. This will

tiny perched terrace, docked

add roughly 500 beds to the

alongside the upper station of

town’s current offerings, plus

the Mont Fort cable car, one

a supermarket, a ski school, a

can gaze on over a hundred

Bijouterie Michaud,

The hut at Mont-Fort is a bit like

sports store, a wine bar, and

mountain peaks including the

a catchy tune: once it’s stuck

several other shops. The first

Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn,

in your head, you can’t stop

set of 45 apartments has al-

Jungfrau, Weisshorn ... tru-

humming it. Since 1983, Daniel

ready been delivered.

ly spoiled for choices! And

Bruchez and his wife Frances

www.tzoumaz.net

when a sea of clouds invades

have played host to this lovely place perched at 2547m, halfway up the cable car between La Chaux and Col des Gentianes. Skiers will always find a warm welcome from December to mid-May, where they can savour a selection of splendid house specialties, including the unmissable fondue, röstis, sausages, pizza, and more. www.cabanemontfort.ch

the valley, up here at 3300m,

time never

looked so

good

Mountain restaurant

the sun still shines. To come

Panoramic view

al highs, one can enjoy a light

The setting establishes the one:

at the Igloo

snack or a toast of Swiss rock

subdued lighting, warm wood

coffee with apricot liquor, cane

panelling, deep luxurious couch-

sugar and whipped cream.

es and thick carpets. A standard

Never been to an igloo before?

bearer of Neuchatel jewellery

This might be the right time to

and watchmaking for four gen-

try one!

erations, Bijouterie Michaud

www.verbier.ch/fr/fppoi-igloo-du

opened the doors to its world in

mont-fort-199-8114.html

Verbier in 2011. Expertise and the

du Mont-

Fort

back down after such emotion-

very best advice are the order of the day in a store in which every detail recalls the ambiance of a fine chalet, which is all the better for showcasing the elegance of pieces designed by Rolex, Cartier, Hublot, Breitling, Panerai, H. Moser, Zenith, Tudor, Messika and Shamballa Jewels, to name but a few of the finest brands. Step into the luxurious world of Bijouterie Michaud and you’ll almost forget about the skiing altogether. www.michaud.ch

Verbier freeride country Text: Daniel Bauchervez

1

2

Previous page: When fresh snow falls, the white blanket enveloping the slopes around Verbier gives itself over to trailblazing freeriders, who take great pleasure in whipping up a powder storm.

Photo: Grant Gunderson

1. Surrounded by snow-capped peaks, Canadian freerider Felix Tanguay makes his way through the Arolla sector, east of Verbier.

Photo: Yves Garneau 2. Verbier is not exactly short of virgin slopes to explore.

Photo: Yves Garneau

23

The Freeride World Tour has made the dizzying runs of the Bec des Rosses famous around the globe. Attracting riders of all descriptions, Verbier offers them a liberating combination of powdery snow, steep slopes and tricky ravines.

There is more to Verbier than Les 4 Vallées ski area and its 410 kilometres of marked runs. The resort is also a paradise for freeriders, thanks to a beguiling collection of untouched peaks with spurs that stretch up into the sky and snowy slopes that tumble invitingly downwards. As if that were not enough, a fair few of the most beautiful runs are within relatively easy ski-lift access. We bring you a selection of the best.

After picking up the requisite safety equipment from the DVA Park at La Chaux and taking the precaution of hiring a guide, novice freeriders can get a feel for the terrain next to the Creublet corridor. Easily reached from Les Attelas, it’s a run that guarantees excitement and plentiful snow.

The cradle of freeride A ski instructor on three continents, Swedish freerider Anders Fritzon is a big-mountain lover who knows his stuff. Here he is, leaving his mark in the heart of the wild open spaces of Verbier’s off-piste domain.

Photo: Yves Garneau

Taking things up a level, in both physical and technical terms, is Mont Gelé, nicknamed “Lhotse” for its resemblance to the Himalayan pyramid. Freeride came to Bagnes in 1966, following the opening of the gondola lift (which has recently been rebuilt). The term itself hadn’t been coined back then though – people only spoke about off-piste skiing.

25

PURE ENERGY LIVES HERE.

Come. Live. Share. #verbier | verbier.ch

Jeremy Migliaccio trains on the back side of Mont Fort.

Photo: Melody sky

Reached from Les Attelas, the 3,023m summit gives way to around 50 corridors, the choice of which depends on the conditions at the time. Two of them are marked out but not groomed – one tumbling down the southern face towards La Chaux and the other on the eastern side, in the direction of Tortin. Stretching for four kilometres and boasting an elevation drop of 828 metres, the second of these runs is easy on the eye with its majestic views and features long stretches of adrenaline-pumping moguls.

The run links up near the end with the “yellow” piste that runs down from the Col des Gentianes. Whisper it quietly, but it is said to be the longest mogul field in Europe. Another enticing alternative from Les Gentianes is to ski or board down the famous Stairway to Heaven. It might be an arduous 15-minute climb, but the reward is a heavenly run down a long powdery corridor, snow conditions permitting of course.

Let the powder do the talking Altogether more demanding in terms of technique, the MontFort backside is one of Verbier’s classic freeride descents.

After climbing to the highest point of the ski area (3,300m) to salute the Alps, take a very deep breath and then hold it all in as you traverse the exposed ridge offering access to the eastern side of the mountain. From that point on it’s a question of letting gravity take over. The two corridors that unfold before your eyes are steep to say the least – between

35° and 38°, shrinking your margin for error. Deliciously long, the run flattens out as it passes Cleuson Dam and comes to a gentle end at Siviez. Mission accomplished!

Topping them all is the Bec des Rosses (3,222m), the ultimate in Bagnes freeride. The exclusive domain of the professionals, its endless runs stretch down slopes that are so steep you would be well advised to steer clear of them if your technique is anything less than perfect. www.guideverbier.com www.essverbier.ch/freeride

Learn to freeride Freeride is fun but dangerous and there are no short cuts when it comes to learning the ropes. Luckily for budding freeriders aged between eight and 16, Verbier’s Swiss Ski School has teamed up with the Freeride World Tour to offer them beginner and refresher courses. Led by qualified instructors and pro riders, they include technical and safety advice, fun freeride and freestyle activities, and races. You can choose from private classes or a group programme spread over the whole season or just a week. As part of the courses, learners spend a day in the company of an FWT pro.

27

La Cordée des Alpes an ode to the mountains Text: Claude Hervé-Bazin / Photos: La Cordée des Alpes

Under the snow-covered rooftops of this big mountain chalet, anther verse is written in the Small Luxury Hotels of the World poem.

We may be up among the snow-capped peaks, but we’re a million miles from the rustic comfort of the average mountain hut. At La Cordée de Alpes, it’s more about discreet luxury in inviting surroundings which cater to your well-being.

The décor is discerning; contemporary interiors infused with subtle touches of nostalgia harking back to the Alps of times gone by. A pair of old, weather-worn skis lean delicately against the wall, old wooden panelling and furniture feature throughout, and the intricacy of the carved balconies is akin to lace. “We drew inspiration from old hotels from the turn of the last century. But that doesn’t mean we’ve overlooked the requirements of a modern hotel!” explains Marcus Bratter, the Swiss-Australian who owns this establishment, as well as the Nevaï nearby.

The cosy chalet-style décor makes you instantly feel at home — but better! In the 32 bedrooms and suites, the quilts are plumped up like clouds, the pillows dreamily soft, and cosy rugs yearn for you to wrap yourself up in them – an unadulterated invitation to kick back and relax. We continue our visit to discover a lounge area with a fireplace, a huge bathroom and a balcony offering a panoramic view of the mountains.

29

ARTISANAL TEA FOR MODERN LIFE

nunshen.com

La Cordée Spa invites its guests to relax and unwind in luxurious style and avail themselves of a large swimming pool, jacuzzi, hammam, sauna and expert massages.

A spa for enchanted evenings The pursuit of well-being continues with a spa in the basement. We’d gladly sink into the water in the Jacuzzi or do a few gentle laps in the adjacent 15m pool, surrounded by high vaulted ceilings. A steam room and a sauna round off the facilities. Aching muscles? Succumb to the expert hands of the therapists at the Cinq Mondes and Karin Herzog Spa for an organic massage treatment using aromatic plants from the Napf pastures. For those aspiring to total privacy, the spa can be privatised. Then collect your thoughts as you recline on a chaise longue by the fireplace as you contemplate the beautiful view of the treetops.

A prestigious table The journey of the senses carries on into the evening in La Cordée’s fine dining restaurant, a blend of urban brasserie, cosy booths, exposed beams and shuttered windows which lay claim to its Alpine identity.

The bar is the best spot for admiring the chef Fabrice Taulier and his team as they go about preparing their wares in the large open kitchen. Trained by some of the best chefs (2 and 3 Michelin stars), and namely by Joël Robuchon, the new chef from Cannes is hard to beat for references: he has worked at the Royal Plaza in Montreux, at the Grand Hôtel du Lac in Vevey, and at the Mirador Kempinski. The menu is strongly inspired by local products, meticulously sourced from Valais producers and farmers, and worked

under the codes of French gastronomic cuisine with a touch of contemporary boldness. For even more originality, you could be invited to dine at the ‘chef’s table’ – serving up to five guests in the kitchens.

Hotel and residence Tucked inside La Cordée des Alpes are a handful of spacious private apartments, some of which can be hired for the day or by the week. Comprising two or three bedrooms, they can accommodate up to six guests and include the personalised services of a concierge, which can be called upon to arrange meals at the residence or book private ski lessons or a mountain guide. These luxury apartments also have access to the same services as the hotel’s rooms (breakfast, shuttle buses to the slopes, etc.). Ultimate luxury. www.hotelcordee.com 31

Topping the list of enticing activities offered by the company is heli-skiing, which in this case involves being dropped off by a Squirrel helicopter on the Trient Glacier.

Once upon a time, five friends – four of them experienced pilots – came together to found a helicopter company in Valais. Héli-Alpes was its name. From its humble beginnings in 2005, it grew and grew until eventually it covered the skies of all Europe.

Héli-Alpes has its base at the end of the runway at Sion Airport, just a stone’s throw or two from the centre of the city. The helicopter company operates a fleet of ten aircraft. As well as small piston-engined two-seaters such as the Robinson R22 and the Cabri, which are used for flying lessons, the fleet also comprises multi-purpose single-engine helicopters such as the Colibri and Squirrel, which are mainly used for transporting equipment and passengers, and luxurious twin-engine Bell 49s with autopilot, ideally suited to longer flights.

The company employs seven pilots full time to fly the fleet, in addition to five freelance pilots who are called upon when needed, to cover seasonal peaks for instance. The bulk of their workload is made up of air taxi services, scenic flights over the Alps, first-time flights, high-altitude dining experiences and marriage proposals. For some of Héli-Alpes’ customers, distance is no object. The company has taken its passengers to Paris and Brussels on business, to Monte-Carlo for a night at the casino, to Ibiza house-hunting and even as far afield as Denmark. The most unusual assignment they have ever had? “Carrying a Komodo dragon for the Lausanne Vivarium. No question,” said Jean-Daniel Berthod, Héli-Alpes’ vice-president and COO.

A wide range of activities Of all Héli-Alpes’ flagship services, it is heli-skiing that captures the imagination. There are no fewer than 40 designated landing sites in Switzerland, all of them offering virgin snow far from the madding crowd, to the delight of

Héli-Alpes, a fairy tale in Sion Text : Daniel Bauchervez / Photos : Ned Dawson

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FULFILLING DREAMS HAS T E N S . COM

A Héli-Alpes Bell 429 runs supplies into the Bertol hut (3,311 m) on the Haute Route. It’s easier than using its famous ladders!

well-heeled ski lovers. “Heli-skiing accounts for about 15 percent of our turnover,” explained Berthod. “Like aerial work (which generates the same turnover), it’s an activity that is more lucrative than most, though it does take up more resources.”

Héli-Alpes does not skimp on those resources, however. To respond to the needs of filmmakers, for example, the company has its own HD and FLIR cameras fitted in a Cineflex gyro-stabilized system.

The flying school is a another key area of activity, as Berthod explained: “It’s been operating since 1987 – well before Héli-Alpes – through Groupe Hélico Sion, which is the company we emerged from. We put it on a professional footing in 2010 by offering both private and professional pilot licences, qualifications for all the helicopters we operate, training for mountain landings and night flying, and flight instructor and helicopter sling load pilot qualifications.”

Onwards and upwards With military flights at Sion Air Base set to be discontinued in early 2018, Héli-Alpes has become an even more important mainstay of the local economy. The Swiss Army will continue to operate a clearing base in Sion (a role to

which it is perfectly suited, given the region’s favourable climate) and will run the airport at its own expense through to 2021, at which point the site will need to reinvent itself and take on more of a civil role.

Héli-Alpes has plans for when that happens. The airport currently records some 40,000 civil aircraft movements a year. A large number of private jets use the Sion runway (which, at two kilometres, is long enough for a 737 to land) as a gateway to Valais, with their passengers often hopping straight into a helicopter and making a beeline for the canton’s high-altitude resorts. Prince Albert II of Monaco is a regular visitor here and the airport is regularly frequented by holidaying financiers and captains of industry, the parents of children attending schools in the region, and celebrities and sports stars touring the area or on personal visits.

If Sion Airport is to attract enough traffic to achieve financial stability, it needs to diversify, develop business aviation, present itself as a credible alternative to Geneva Airport – which is often over capacity – and resume regular flights.

Should that future take shape, Héli-Alpes will not be short of opportunities to expand. www.helialps.ch 35

David Carlier Paying homage to the mountains Text: Laurent Grabet / Photos: David Carlier

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Previous page: Seen from Verbier, the Petit Combin is an aesthetically appealing peak, with its central crest and its broad flat summit.

Here it is enveloped in a halo of light late in the day, while its big brother sits hidden in the clouds.

Whipped up by a passing skier, a cloud of powdery snow hangs in the icy air on the backside of Mont Fort.

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1. Mont Rogneux caught in a storm. The place is one of Verbier’s best-known ski touring locations.

2. Just one of Verbier’s many breathtaking views: the Aiguilles Dorées, with the Aiguille d’Argentière on the left.

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A gifted photographer and filmmaker who shot the 2015 film Les 13 faces du Valais (“The 13 Faces of Valais”) to mark the canton’s bicentenary, David Carlier is a man of many other talents. Once an aspiring mountain guide and a one-time communication director of the Freeride World Tour, he is also – and perhaps above all – a climber and an adventurer.

Drawing on his boundless reserves of energy, the multi-faceted Carlier is passionate about everything he does. We shot some quick-fire questions at him.

David Carlier, what’s your most striking image?

It would have to be Géraldine Fasnacht in a wingsuit at night, above the Grand Combin. It was technically challenging. I spoke to her about how we might get an original shot and I dreamed up a night image above the Alps, with her suit lit up with LEDs, along the lines of the photos you’d see in the skiing world. We reworked the concept for high altitude (5,000m), which was no easy task at all.

The result matched our expectations in every way though.

It’s an image that’s still totally unique.

How do you approach your work?

I get the greatest pleasure from dreaming photos up and getting everything in place to make them happen: design, funding and selecting the team through to the final click, processing and even the distribution. Taking the actual photo is barely 10% of my work. My past experiences as an aspiring guide, hotel manager, software developer in the 2000s, and a trader and comms director on the Freeride World Tour have come in very useful for me and have allowed me to bring together all the different skills you need to be a photographer. Then there’s also my love for the mountains, which has helped me develop the skills and physical fitness I need to be able to get a close-up view of elite athletes performing their exploits. Over the years I’ve made some really good friends and built up a solid network in all these fields. The fact I live in Switzerland, in a small area where there are so many great sportspeople, potential partners and unique places, helps a lot too.

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1. The faint trails and barely perceptible silhouettes of ski tourers clawing their way up snowy slopes lend a sense of scale to the sheer size of the Rosablanche sector.

2. Climbing La Rosablanche through the Grand Desert.

3. The snowboarder GĂŠraldine Fasnacht looks for a good line on the sun-kissed Glacier du Parrain.

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Dream conditions: passing skiers throw up cold, light clouds of powdery snow.

Your favourite camera?

A Leica M6! I got my first little film camera when I was eight. When I turned 14, my father let me use his reflex, a Nikkormat, on a visit to the transport museum. Then my grandfather gave me his Nikkormat, which I still use. I love looking at life through its viewing lens.

Your favourite place?

The Alps, of course, Le Valais, in particular, and Verbier at the heart of it all.

What does your future hold?

In five years’ time I can see myself doing 50% adventure photos and 50% reportage. I have this deep-seated desire to explore other worlds, tell other stories in images and make an impact on the people who look at them. I’d love to use my lens to support causes that are close to my heart, such as protecting the environment or tackling climate change. I’d love to cover humanitarian crises and work alongside a great reporter, which is something I dreamed of doing when I was 18, or work in an area I don’t know so much about. Photography is pretty unique in that it offers all that diversity.

that there are so many ways you can interpret it. Another image of mine that I really love shows a blurry red-sailed boat speeding off on an adventure. I just love imperfect, grainy and out-of-focus photos that tell stories, which is pretty much the opposite to what I’m generally known for. www.davidcarlierphotography.com

A love at first sight?

There’s a photo I keep in my wallet the whole time. It brings a smile to my face every time I come across it and reminds me that the eye is usually faster than the finger or the brain. I “took” it on a trip to India, and it shows a blind beggar blissfully unaware of a couple who look like they’re having an argument. What I love about the image is 45

Eric Balet The secrets of Verbier’s success Text: Laurent Grabet / Photo: Christian Hofmann

Left page: After 14 years as CEO of Téléverbier, the 62-year-old Eric-A. Balet was appointed vice chairman in charge of business development last September.

Verbier has not only resisted in what is a gloomy European ski market, it’s actually thriving.

Eric-A. Balet, Téléverbier’s vice chairman in charge of business development, explains how.

The global ski market has been in the doldrums for the last few years, and Switzerland has not been immune to the downward trend. The number of ski days at the country’s resorts has dropped 26.7% since 2008/09, while some industry professionals fear that as many as 30% of resorts in French-speaking Switzerland will go out of business in the next three years, figures that would appear to herald the end of the golden age of winter sports. While skier numbers are falling and their spending habits are changing, resort owners are also having to contend with global warming, which is occurring twice as fast in the Alps than elsewhere in the world, leading to both reduced snow cover and a later start to winter. Yet, in spite of it all, Verbier is now the second most-visited resort in Switzerland after Zermatt. The freeride mecca posted turnover of CHF50m in 2016/17, a season in which it attracted a grand total of 1,159,000 skiers. So, what are the strategies that have enabled it to do more than just survive, and what does the future hold for the resort? Answering those questions for us is Eric-A. Balet, formerly the CEO of Téléverbier and now the company’s vice chairman in charge of business development.

While Verbier is generating as many ski days as it did in 2000, figures are well down in virtually every other area.

How is that possible?

The number of ski days has fallen 12% since the 2008/09 peak of 1.3 million. William Besse (a former Swiss skier) sounded the alarm in 2010, telling us that fewer than 50% of schoolchildren in Bagnes had an annual pass, whereas the figure was 100% in his time. In response, we offered local children an annual pass at a reduced rate of CHF60, with CHF50 of that being paid for by the local authorities.

We still managed to turn a profit, though, because their parents often came out to ski with them. This season we’re offering annual passes to under-25s for CHF400, while maintaining the same prices for other passes of this type.

Satisfaction levels in terms of value for money are running at over 75%. And even if skier numbers are falling, it’s not necessarily all to do with prices. There are several other factors that come into play, like the fact babyboomers are giving up skiing, and people are flitting from one resort to another and from one activity to another. There are also 47

Mont-Fort - 3 330 m - #anotherbestday

fewer ski camps around because the cantons are experiencing financial problems, and we’ve got low-cost flights and video games competing with us too.

There are fewer international customers coming to Verbier than in the past. What are you doing to make up for that?

The strength of the Swiss franc has really hit us hard, and with sterling having halved in value we’ve lost around CHF3m in revenue from British tour operators since 2008.

We’ve noted an almost direct correlation between the percentage of British customers and the value of the pound.

Quite a few countries in Europe are having economic problems. We hardly see any Belgians here anymore, for example. So we’re looking to Nordic countries and across the Atlantic, where Verbier is better known than in German-speaking Switzerland. China could also be a productive market for us, if the government follows up on its plans to get 300 million Chinese people on skis by 2026.

That Chinese market is appealing to say the least. How are you planning to break into it?

As regards China, for the time being we’re working as a team under the “Matterhorn region” label, which gives us more clout. Though the figures are pretty modest, we’re already attracting Chinese, Indian and even Brazilian guests, thanks in the main to the high-end ski camps at Les Elfes, which were pretty much fully booked right throughout the season.

We’ve been working on the Chinese market for the last two years, but we’re still at a stage where we need to earn the confidence of our future partners, because it’s partners we’re looking for, people who can make the most of our knowhow to launch resorts from A to Z in China. In return, we’d like them to help fund our major real estate projects. We’re also interested in Chinese skiers of course, but it’s going to be five to ten years before they start coming to Verbier in any great numbers, because that’s how long it’ll take for them to become sufficiently good skiers. The important thing is to position ourselves in China right now and to make ourselves known. We’ve also signed a skier exchange partnership with the resort of Wanlong, in the province of Chongli, which is due to host the Winter Olympics. In the short-to-medium term, the Chinese market will have an especially important role to play in developing our summer season. I think they might find the panoramic walkway we want to build at MontFort in the next two to three years irresistible.

and we’re planning to invest ten million more in the next three years, including a hillside dam project on the La Chaux side. That will complete our system and we’ll need less than a week of cold weather to put snow on all the runs in question. In the meantime, we’ll also be continuing to upgrade our ski lifts. The Mont-Gelé cable car has been completely refurbished this season. We’re also hoping to build the Les Esserts-Savoleyres combimix cable car and chairlift, which will at long last provide a first-class link between La Tzoumaz and the rest of the domain.

Many resorts are looking to diversify. What’s Verbier doing in that respect?

We’re working on our summertime attractions, which now generate nearly CHF1.4m in turnover, compared to CHF600,000 just five years ago. Though that equates to more or less the same as a big weekend in winter, mountain biking and hiking have both got potential. We’re also looking to build hotels and holiday homes. We’ve invested in the T-One project at La Tzoumaz (a holiday home development with 490 beds), which should generate CHF1m in turnover thanks to the marketing of very carefully priced packages.

We’ve got a number of other projects in the pipeline, including one at Les Mayens de Bruson, in close collaboration with Bagnes Regional Council. We’re also looking at building new hotels on sites we own in Verbier and La Tzoumaz. And we’re planning to develop other non-winter sectors with a view to limiting our exposure to risk. Investing in ski lifts and nothing else would be just too unpredictable at a time when we can no longer afford to lose 10% of our revenue. www.verbier.ch

How are you dealing with global warming?

We’re fortunate in that we’re a high-altitude resort, so it’s a problem that affects us less than other resorts and less quickly too. We’re continuing to invest in mechanical snow making all the same. For the season ahead we’ve completely fitted out two runs at La Tzoumaz for a little under CHF5m, 49

Les Étrennes a chalet for the festive season Text: Claude HervÊ-Bazin / Photos: Yves Garneau

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Previous page: The vision of London based interior designer Nicola Hulbert the vast kitchen and dining space is a spectacular use of beautiful natural wood to dramatic effect.

There are chalets, and there are chalets. There are those as old as the mountains, all worn timber and creaking wooden floors, lauze stone and latticed roofs, that epitomize the Alpine lifestyle and the Switzerland of bygone times.

Then there are Verbier’s super chalets that flourish amid the same snowy landscape, boasting every avant-garde amenity and creature comfort the modern world has to offer, a harmonious composition of ease, beauty and indulgence.

Les Étrennes is one of these; a modestly opulent bolthole featuring four floors of unforgettable luxury.

It starts with the view. Lodged near the foot of Savoleyres’ slopes, turned towards the south-westerly sun like a glorious oversized flower, Les Étrennes presides over Verbier, surveying the slopes and smiling over to Mont Blanc and its mountain range which return its gaze from afar.

It used to be a typical, run of the mill chalet. However, since being entirely redesigned and revamped in summer 2017, it has been propelled to super chalet status, fastforwarded into the era of airy spaces, luxury comfort, and uncompromising quality, melodically crafted by artistic artisans.

You enter the chalet on the ground floor into the entrance hall with the ski room directly ahead of you. Upstairs, the first floor has two double bedrooms and a steam room,

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1. Colour really pops in Chalet Etrennes, there is clever use of orange and turquoise against subtle neutrals here in the open living room.

2. Guests of Bramble Ski can relax in this casual but elegant dining space, taking in the Verbier views.

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1. Brand new for the 2017/18 season, Chalet Étrennes sleeps 12 in six comfortable bedrooms each with a different colour scheme.

2. There are six bathrooms one for each bedroom, a hot tub and a Hammam in the chalet.

perfect for easing aching muscles and a spot of pampering.

The second floor houses the most coveted of Les Étrennes’ six bedrooms, the master suite, where an authentic old wood ceiling is discerningly offset by cream-hued walls and azure blue furniture. The super king sized bed is an island amid an ocean of wood, and the gaze is beckoned by panoramic views and a sunken hot tub on the huge terrace, sending your senses into overdrive.

Three more bedrooms open out onto the same sun-drenched balcony, each composing their own sweet symphony of colours.

On the top floor, edging closer to seventh heaven, is a Cathedral-style open-plan living and dining area, adorned with timber beams and sliding glass panels that let the mountain scenery and pink tinged hues of the sunset flood in. Burnt Sienna cushions nod to the flames in the hearth, while open-plank stairs sneak up to a mezzanine reading nook. Majestic yet cosy. www.brambleski.com/luxury-chalets-verbier/chalet-lesetrennes/

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Architecture: Baris Kansu - Design: Olivier Rambert - Š daniela et tonatiuh

Since 1821 in Morges, www.moyard.ch

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1. The bedrooms are situated on the two lower floors of the chalet and there are nine seperate beds, so room for unexpected guests too.

2. Candle light and the changing scenery play their role in creating a wonderful ambiance for guests dining with their family.

3. For a cosy evening by the fireside, guests can even make their way up to the snug in on the mezzanine complete with a library.

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Chalet Aline Verbier Text: Claude HervĂŠ-Bazin / Photos: Yves Garneau

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Some overtly prestigious chalets exude luxury from a mile off. Others have an unassuming modesty that speaks to the soul of those who harbour nostalgic dreams of cosy winter evenings around a roaring log fire. Aline is unquestionably one of the latter, and abounds with the quintessential feel of a snowy mountain chalet.

Cross the threshold into a spacious living room featuring old wood throughout. The reassuringly rustic timber beams and stone hearth hint at a history steeped in stories from the Alpine pastures. Deer skins adorn the soft grey sofa.

It’s spacious yet cosy. No towering ceilings here, instead, there’s a sturdy spruce wood arch that takes the edge off the chill outside and emphasizes what really matters: spending time with family and friends around a table in an authentic mountain setting.

In the evening, the lights diffuse the warmth of the flames. In the daytime, the sun floods in. Chalet Aline is south-facing and overlooks the snow-capped Combin mountain range,

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Previous page: Laden with reclaimed wood, the living room is reminiscent of times gone by and the traditional wood chalets that occupied these hills.

1. A perfect little chocolate box chalet nestled in the snowy hamlet above the village of Verbier.

2. Hints of Scandinavian design are felt through out the fairy tale chalet, in the soft furnishings and decorations.

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1. Reindeer skins and a large stone fire place adorn the living room making it the perfect place to snuggle away on a snowy vacation.

2. Sun pours in the large bay windows bathing the master bedroom in natural daylight.

3. The classic style kitchen that boasts rustic wood floors and cabinets as well as brass and copper finishings sits just beyond an arched walkway.

soaking up their strength through glass panels and French windows that open out onto a wide balcony with traditional carved railings and breathtaking views.

Such views can be enjoyed throughout the chalet; each of the three floors has its own beautiful viewpoint, including the master suite which, as one would expect, is a cosy hideaway tucked away on the top floor. To enjoy summer to the full, the sliding doors open wide looking over the rooftops, with the Valley of Bagnes in the distance. In winter, the big armchair and bench seat are an invitation to sit back and raise a glass to the scenic landscape.

For the ultimate touch of luxury, even the steam room has fantastic views of the mountains!

The chalet is well thought out, with a bunk room for children, two double bedrooms on the ground floor, and a spacious TV den. There’s also a ski and boot room which leads outside, like a crossover from the great outdoors to the snug and cosy interior. www.brambleski.com/luxury-chalets-verbier/chalet-aline/ 63

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High jewellery, liberated The era of formal high jewellery is over. It is giving way to creations that are worn like a second skin, to fun-loving jewels that tell of metamorphosis, and to wonders full of symbolism that whisper their secrets. Such jewels no longer stay tucked away in drawers, awaiting the next grand occasion.

Instead they are worn and become part of everyday life, audaciously mixing genres and styles, much to the delight of onlookers’ eyes.

Text: Nathalie Cobos

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Previous page: Chopard Silk Road Collection, Claudine necklace Bridging the worlds of high jewellery and haute couture, this Claudine necklace possesses all the fine elegance of lace – the difference being that this guipure of light is made entirely of diamonds. Delicate and precious, this unique creation is adorned with a pear-shaped emerald that can be removed as desired. Wear it with or without, as the mood dictates!

Graff Carissa Collection, Carissa Bracelet A cascade of flowers, the Carissa bracelet takes its name from a five-petalled wild flower native to South Africa. With its delicately interlacing and exquisitely cut pear-shaped and marquise gemstones, Carissa contrasts the ephemeral beauty and fragility of the eponymous flower with the power of diamond and sapphire.

Cartier Resonances Collection, ­Eurythmie bracelet For this eclectic bracelet, Cartier opted for a dynamic, highly visual look that embodies a sense of movement. One flick of the wrist and the jewel transforms: a bracelet that shines with azure reflections by day, and sparkles with a thousand flames by night. Eurythmie embraces this contrast with a natural duality, alternating lapis-lazulis with diamonds. A creation with a vibrant personality and a fun-loving feel.

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Bulgari Divas’ Dream Collection, Peacock necklace

Van Cleef & Arpels Le secret Collection, Fleur bleue Ring

Like a precious talisman, this creation from the Italian high jeweller is a superb standard bearer for the highly glamorous Diva’s Dream collection.

Inspired by the effervescence of Caracalla marble and the meticulous details of antique mosaics, this necklace employs its colours and the shape of its gems to evoke the peacock with its sumptuous fan-like tail. [A symbol of splendour and sophisticated elegance, this piece is well suited to any occasion.]

Never has a ring carried its name so well. La Fleur Bleue holds a secret, which it reveals only to she who is able to tame it. The top part of the jewel pivots and can be lifted to reveal a quote from Oscar Wilde engraved into the gold: “A life without love is like a sunless garden.” Van Cleef & Arpels has made mystery one of its signature touches. Its dual reading creations hide a treasure or surprise that one cannot help but be drawn to discover.

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Chanel Flying Cloud Collection, ­Endless Knot necklace and earrings In many cultures, knots hold a strong symbolic importance that reflects attachment, promises, commitment. Chanel illustrates this theme with a necklace and earring combination inspired by the rope rigging on sailing ships – a world dear to the heart of Gabrielle Chanel.

It pays homage to the life at sea while alluding to a sense of eternity.

Messika Paris est une FĂŞte Collection, Flappers necklace “Flappersâ€?, the term popularised by Scott Fitzgerald, was used to describe avant garde women of the Roaring Twenties.

It is to those liberated, brazen women, that Messika dedicates this choker, with a streamlined, contemporary style worn against the neck for a sensual look.

Made with a very thin frame that hides tiny springs, this string of diamonds fits like a lightweight, flowing second skin. A necklace with a well-established character of its own.

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Time at its most precious, by the great watchmakers Watches or pieces of jewellery? Set with the finest stones, these are some of the boldest high jewellery creations.

Text: Nathalie Cobos

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Previous page: Chopard Imperiale Joaillerie Watch This enchanting creation evokes the fairy tales of our childhood, dressed in the colours of the rainbow and proclaiming the exquisite fineness of its craftsmanship. Its luminescent robe is made up of 581 sapphire stones arranged in a multicolour gradient pattern. An aesthetically delightful gem with a mechanical heart.

Left page : Cartier Resonances Collection, ­Panthère Lovée Secret Watch Wound around an oval cabochon ruby with bewitching depths, this Panthère piece from Cartier protects a well-guarded secret: the time that passes is displayed on a dial entirely studded with diamonds. This feline fixes her emerald eyes on a distant horizon that holds a promise of eternity.

Right page : Van Cleef & Arpels Secret Bracelet Watch The tradition of secret watches at Van Cleef & Arpels reaches back nearly a century. At the crossroads of watchmaking and haute couture, this rare, flowing piece, enrobed with white gold and diamonds, graciously winds its way around the wrist, with a scintillating knot on top that pivots to reveal its dial.

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Whether they play it discrete, hiding their dial with the most exquisite of sleight-of-hands, or loudly proclaim their love of colour by displaying all its hues, these pieces will leave no one indifferent. The magic of the gems that adorn them is enchanting, and the burden of the hours that pass by is transcended by the timelessness of these eternal keepers of time, where hands discretely become one with their surroundings, as if to make themselves forgotten.

Right page : H. Moser & Cie Swiss Alp Watch on the Rocks This watch’s dial, covered entirely with gradient blue sapphires, evokes images of ice cubes. The shape of the case and the size of the stones celebrate rectangular aesthetics with a bold art deco design and a powerful personality.

Chanel Skeleton Première Camélia Watch The symbol of the camellia is interpreted through this watch’s delicate skeleton dial that reveals its manual movement, encased in the most sophisticated of ethereal geometries.

Its case, bezel, dial, crown and bracelet, made of white gold, are inset with diamonds which form an elegant pattern.

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Occupation: superchalet landlord Text: Claude HervĂŠ-Bazin / Photo: Yves Garneau

One of the Alps’ most stunning holiday rental portfolios is headed up by a group of four friends, who between them manage an array of high-end apartments and ultra-luxury chalets marketed under two sister brands: Bramble Ski and Haute Montagne.

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Previous page: “The Directors of Bramble Ski and Haute Montagne spoke to us in the beautiful Haute Montagne Chalet, Dent Blanche, in Verbier one of nine Haute Montagne properties in the resort. From the left Barry Cox, Natasha Robertson, Colin Mayo and Duncan Roberston.”

Brought together by their passion for skiing, and for skiing in Verbier in particular, Colin Mayo, and Duncan and Natasha Robertson decided to ditch their respective jobs as an engineer, financial analyst and advertising executive in London and set up in the Val de Bagnes, right next to the peaks so dear to their hearts. In their first season they had but one chalet on their books. Two years later they were joined by a fourth partner: Zimbabwean Barry Cox, a former chef and now a co-director.

So, why here? Because Verbier is “easy to get to from the bustling city of Geneva”, replies Mayo. And also because they had been drawn here many times by the cosmopolitan feel and charm of the resort, which attracts a growing number of affluent visitors from all four corners of the globe.

13 years later and a portfolio of 80 properties The foursome now runs a company that is firmly established on the Bagnes landscape and which has a turnover of around CHF 14m. They all live in Verbier and partake in a wide range of sports all year round, though nothing too strenuous to stop them from extending their business to four other Alpine resorts: Zermatt in Switzerland, St Anton and Lech in Austria, and Meribel in France. Others are set to follow soon. So what do these resorts all have in common? Well, the answer is the same passion for skiing, the same quality of snow and the presence of high-end real estate that meets their very high demands.

Depending on the season, the four associates and their team of around 100 people manage between 70 and 80 properties through their two brands. Bramble Ski specialises in luxury apartments and chalets, all of them carefully selected

by Duncan, right down to their appearance. Meanwhile, Haute Montagne devotes its energies to the highly specific ultra-luxury segment, which includes only the very best

properties, set aside for a fortunate few. The properties in question are free-standing chalets with a swimming pool and spa, most of them with a floor area of over 1,000m2, though the largest boast more than 3,000 m2.

They are rented out by companies, families – latterly most of them from India and the Middle East – and private individuals. No doubt there are celebrities and royalty among them, though the co-directors withhold names, like the true professionals that they are. Finding anything out about the owners is also an impossible task. When it comes to the world of high-end luxury, confidentiality is an absolute must.

The ultimate in luxury “No request is too much,” says Mayo, uttering what could easily be a slogan for Haute Montagne, whose ultimate aim is to fulfil every desire, or as some might say, every whim.

‘Bespoke’ is the watchword here. Many clients who choose to stick to a single location call on the company’s services for virtually everything. From cleaning and upkeep to cooking and organising activities and trips, there is nothing that cannot be taken care of, with the best chefs and ski instructors also available on call.

As Mayo explained, some clients choose to stay in and make the most of everything their chalet has to offer rather than enjoy the wonderful ski domain stretching out from the front door. Nonetheless, although Mayo himself is lucky enough to test out the company’s new properties on a regular basis, he never misses the chance to enjoy the magnificent surroundings of Verbier and engage in a spot of off-piste skiing and some summertime trail running, preferably on the Bruson side of Le Rogneux. www.brambleski.com www.hautemontagne.com 83

Verbier Festival 25 years of great music Text: Marie de Pimodan-Bugnon

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Previous page: During the 2017 edition of the Festival, the Russian pianist Grigory Sokolov, known for his total commitment, performed several sonatas of Mozart and Beethoven in the setting of Verbier Church.

Photo : Aline Paley

1. A rare moment: a concert with eight pianos to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the festival!

Photo : Mark Shapiro 1

2. The beating heart of the festival, the Salle des Combins, features a magnificent terrace with a panoramic view of the mountains.

Photo : Nicolas Brodard

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The magical strains of classical music have been heard every summer in the majestic Alps for the last quarter of a century. Next year’s edition of the Verbier Festival will be no exception. Taking place from 19 July to 5 August 2018, it promises to be a memorable 25th anniversary.

Who would have believed back in 1994 that a classical music festival held in Verbier at the height of summer would be able to attract the world’s leading virtuosos and ever larger audiences? In July and August 2017, more than 50,000 people flocked to the event, attending around 60 concerts given by a galaxy of eminent grand masters and new talents from around the world. The next edition, which will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the event, should attract music lovers in even greater numbers.

In addition to the first-rate programme, one of the event’s main attractions is the ambience of its venues. The Verbier Festival is, first and foremost, a place for meeting and talking to people, a place where great minds come together.

Conducting the intricacies of that delicate alchemy to perfection is Martin T:son Engstroem, the founder and executive director of the Verbier Festival. Ahead of the silver anniversary of an event that puts the accent on excellence, we fired a few questions at him.

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SWISS ANTI-AGING SOLUTION

TIMELESS BEAUTY

geneva // zurich // lausanne // villars-ollon // montreux // crans-montana // verbier Pharmacie Internationale A. Romerio // Place Centrale 5 // 1936 Verbier

Martin T:son Engstroem is both an artistic agent and the Executive Director of the Verbier Festival which he created in 1993 with his ex-wife Barbara Hendricks.

Photo : Aline Paley

You grew up in Stockholm, lived and worked in Paris and then moved to Switzerland. Why did you choose Verbier as the venue for your festival?

Verbier was a case of love at first sight, It was purely emotional. I knew the resort because I’d skied there with my family a few times. Then we rented a chalet for a year. In the summer of 1991 I spent three weeks in Verbier with my children. I discovered just how intense nature can be and how magical the place was at that time of year. I then started to ponder the idea of organising a classical music festival in the village, which already had a pretty good infrastructure, with concert halls and big hotels. That was 25 years ago and though there were already plenty of things to do in Verbier in the summertime, places were pretty much deserted, aside from hikers and a few people paragliding. I mentioned it to the head of the tourist office at the time and the idea appealed to him straightaway.

Did you think the festival would become as big as it has?

This festival is my baby and when you have a child, you just can’t imagine what it will look like when it reaches 25.

Obviously, you have to think long-term and have an idea of the direction you want to go in, but you have to build things up bit by bit. My initial idea was to come up with a big festival with a summer academy and a youth orchestra. Everything’s based on youth, education and the passing-on of knowledge.

What do the Verbier Festival’s educational projects involve?

We’ve set up the Verbier Festival Academy, which welcomes 60 young soloists to the resort for three to five weeks every summer. We’ve also founded the Verbier Festival Orchestra, a youth orchestra conducted by Charles Dutoit and which every year attracts applications from between 1,000 and 1,500 young musicians from all over the world. Verbier’s strong point is the level of education it offers. In terms of quality, it’s out on its own. It’s the most prestigious summer

camp in the world, the first place that a young musician will want to come to. Over the years, we’ve spotted a great many talents at the summer academy. That’s why Verbier is recognised as the very best breeding ground for the great performers of tomorrow. We also have people from the industry coming here year after year to unearth future virtuosos. Lang Lang, Yuja Wang and Renaud Capuçon all took their first steps at Verbier, to name but three.

What surprises do you have in store for us at the festival’s 25th anniversary?

We’ve always celebrated our anniversaries in style and we’ve always enjoyed throwing a party, and we’re continuing in that vein by putting together a magnificent season, with the help of the chairman of the Foundation’s board of trustees, Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, and our teams and artists. In keeping with the last 25 years, the programme is going to be very exclusive. We’re going to have the pleasure of welcoming great artists such as Martha Argerich, Radu Lupu, Evgueni Kissine and Valery Guerguiev, the Verbier Festival Orchestra’s new music director. And on 25 July, we’ll have around 50 soloists performing on stage at the same time. I hope this 25th anniversary will give us the opportunity to become even bigger and to attract even more people to Verbier. We never rest on our laurels; we’re always chasing bigger dreams.

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Val de Bagnes A ski touring paradise Text: Daniel Bauchervez / Photos: David Carlier

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Previous page: 1 Within sight of Verbier, the Combin massif offers a wide number of beautiful ski touring routes: the promise of outstanding excursions ahead.

1. Only a few steps more to the summit of Bec des Rosses. In sight on the mountain’s dark side lie long and inviting stretches of pristine powder.

2. With the Combin massif stretching out to the horizon, the pleasure of leaving a fresh trail in the snow is intense.

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International Winter, Spring and Summer Camps Verbier Switzerland

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Trekking towards The Godfather (Le Parrain), 3,259 m, under a deep blue sky. An amazing climb, in an extremely wild environment.

There is more to life than freeride, as the vast expanse of the Val de Bagnes and the Pays du Saint-Bernard proves by giving ski touring aficionados an exciting world to explore.

Putting up with a certain amount of traffic is a fact of life on the world’s best-known freeride runs. Not so with ski touring, where silence, a sense of calm and close contact with nature are the order of the day. While it may be a sport that requires plenty of effort – often for long periods – what could be more pleasurable than traversing forests, valleys and mountains in the peace and quiet of the great white outdoors and then gliding down virgin slopes, leaving a graceful trail behind you?

A thousand and one ways to ski tour Ski mountaineering has enjoyed steady growth over the last ten years or so, with Verbier providing a perfect setting for practitioners of the sport. The resort, which hosted the world championships in 2015, has slowly but surely acquired a reputation as a mecca of ski mountaineering, a reputation as large as its outstanding mountain domain. It’s all backed up by Verbier’s guides, who offer a wide range of excursions both long and short, not to mention a perfect command of the terrain and the necessary safety equipment.

The menu includes “mere” one-day tours. Open to everyone,

they take you on a journey to the heart of nature. Set off from Verbier and within an hour’s exertion you can find yourself standing atop La Chaux (2,940m), reached via Les Gentianes, which is served by a ski lift. Standing regally nearby is the Bec des Rosses. From here, why not push on to the famous Rosablanche (3,336m), a bottleneck on the equally well-known Patrouille des Glaciers ski mountaineering race? Bruson, on the opposite side of the Val de Bagnes, offers yet more achievable alternatives, such as the Tête de la Payanne. As for the forest path leading to the Brunet hut, up above Lourtier, it has gone down in local legend, and not just for the fondue served on arrival.

Destination Le Rogneux Enlightened ski mountaineers stay the night there and kick on the following day to the beautiful white pyramid that dominates the scene to the west. It’s a climb of nearly 1,000m to conquer one of Bagnes’ classic ski touring destinations, the crowning point of L’Intégrale du Rogneux, the great annual race that takes its name from it. The mountain, which peaks at 3,084 metres above sea level, is renowned for its excellent snow conditions and even for its thaw conditions, not least at the top.

The journey takes in small valleys, one rock wall after another, and a long series of powdery crests leading – around three hours later – to the summit, which is topped by a large wooden cross and affords a magnificent 360-degree 95

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ONE LENS

1. Clear skies and untouched slopes shrouded in powdery snow: the climb up to the legendary Bec des Rosses by the northeastern ridge does not disappoint.

NO MATTER THE WEATHER

– Photos : © Sémaphore - Shutterstock. *1 seul écran, quel que soit le temps. **Le monde a besoin de votre regard.

2. Climbing in the directionof Tournelon Blanc above the Corbassière glacier. Verbier is hidden down in the valley.

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view of Les Combins and the Mont Blanc massif. Skilled skiers descend by the north face, while the less accomplished wisely retrace their steps in the wedeln style.

Great adventures Also on offer are stirring adventures leading to even higher climes, where nights are spent in huts perched on Monte Rosa, the Grand Combin massif or right on the Haute Route.

This legendary route takes five days of skiing from Zermatt and includes many a stretch and summit that encapsulate what the Valais Alps are all about: the great Rosablanche, the Pigne d’Arolla (3,790m), the Haut Glacier d’Arolla, the DentBlanche – seen in close-up – the Tête Blanche and, right at the end of the route, the Lord of the Alps itself: the Matterhorn. www.guideverbier.com www.meteosuisse.admin.ch http ://map.geo.admin.ch (topographic maps) www.slf.ch (avalanche bulletins) 97

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1. Federica Brignone (Italian ski team) and her friend Nicolas Raffort (French ski team) I 2. Géraldine Fasnacht (three-time winner of the Verbier Xtreme) and Steve Klassen, a snowboard living legend I 3. Daniel Yule (Swiss slalom champion) and Yann Rausis, 4th on the Freeride World Tour 2017.

I 4. Christian Constantin (President of FC Sion) I 5. Charlie Raposo (British ski team) and Pat Burgener (Swiss freestyle team) I 6. Armin Niederer (Swiss ski cross team), Joëlle and Mike Schmid (Olympic champion in ski cross). I 7. Halle Saint-Marc, Le Châble I 8. Pierre Fehlmann (yachtsman) with his wife Nadine. I 9. Roland Collombin (Olympic medal winner) I 10. Mathieu Gschwandtner (freerider)

The unmissable Verbier Charity Night The 11th edition of the end-of-season Charity Night will be held on Friday 6 April 2018 at the magnificent Halle Saint-Marc in Le Châble, an outstanding event where diners share a table with some distinguished sporting champions.

Text : Daniel Bauchervez / Photos : PPR Media Relations / Dominic Steinmann

Some 40 sporting champions and celebrities have answered the call of Eric-A. Balet, Téléverbier SA’s head of business development, and will be attending the 11th Verbier Charity Night on 6 April 2018. One of the must-attend events of the calendar, it is always eagerly awaited, as Balet explained: “People often call me to find out when the invitations are going out.”

To reserve a ten-seat table, one must pay CHF4,000. Eight of those seats go to the buyer and their guests and the two remaining seats are occupied by VIPs or sports stars. All proceeds from the evening go to three charity organisations, among them Right To Play, which was founded at the Olympic Winter Games Lillehammer 1994 in support of children living in the world’s poorest countries. For the last few years the event has also been supporting young athletes from the region and Switzerland as a whole through the Verbier Freeride Association and the Association Aide Sportive Suisse. In total, more than CHF 600,000 has been donated to the three charities since 2008.

Star guests at the 2018 Charity Night will include skiing icons such as Alberto Tomba, Hermann Maier, Lindsey Vonn and Tina Maze. Like their fellow celebrities, they

will be only too happy to chat with the other guests and pose for photos, which is one of the many things that makes the event so special. Selfie and autograph hunters will also have the chance to track down the likes of Bernhard Russi, Didier Defago, Pirmin Zurbriggen, Marc Girardelli and Roland Collombin, champion skiers who have all done their bit in writing the history of the sport over the last 40 years. Also in attendance will be Pascal Richard, an Olympic cycling champion at Atlanta 1996, and personalities such as Bertrand Piccard and Yves Rossy (aka Jetman).

With entertainment figuring large on the programme, a number of well-known singers have performed at the event in the past, among them James Blunt. Bastian Baker and Hughes Aufray proved just as much of a draw at last year’s star-studded gathering, which was also held at the Halle Saint-Marc. Providing performers with the perfect setting, it boasts acoustics that rival those of the best concert halls.

Bookings are now being taken (maximum 250 places).

To reserve your table, please write to verbiercharitynight@televerbier.ch

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12. Bernhard Russi (Olympic champion), Svenja Rihs (Right To Play), Mary Russi, Nina von Siebenthal (professional golfer), Andy Wenzer (World champion, combined) and Roger Furrer (professional golfer) I 13. Emilien Badoux (World champion, freeride) and Steve Klassen (a snowboard living legend) I 14. Didier Defago (Olympic champion, downhill) I 15. Charlotte Châble (Swiss ski team) and Resi Stiegler (USA ski team) I 16. Tanja Frieden (Olympic champion), Anne-Sophie Barthet (French ski team) and Géraldine Fasnacht (three-time winner of the Verbier Xtreme) I 17. Joël Sciboz (Director of the Verbier tourist office) and Pierre-André Gremaud (Director of Verbier Promotion) I 18. Dominique Perret (freerider of the century) and Adrien Théaux (French ski team) I 19. Christian Constantin (President of FC Sion), Eloi Rossier (President of La commune de Bagnes) and Emanuelle Collombin I 21. Christof Innerhofer (World champion, Super G), Resi Stiegler (USA ski team)

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22. Super-G World champion Christof Innerhofer I 23. Tanja Frieden (Olympic champion, snowboard), Hugues Aufray (French singer), Eric-A. Balet (Charity night organiser) and Yann Lambiel (Swiss comedian) I 24. Marc Girardelli (four-time ski world champion), Bernhard Russi (Olympic champion and downhill world champion), Didier Defago (Olympic champion, downhill), Philippe Roux (Swiss champion, downhill) and Gullermo Fayed (French ski team) I 25. The stars who were at the 10th Verbier Charity Night I 26. Downhill skiers Guillermo Fayed (France) and Philippe Roux (Switzerland) I 27. Tanja Frieden (Olympic champion, snowboard) and Eric-A. Balet (Charity night organiser) I 28. Fanny Smith (World champion, ski cross) and Armin Niederer (Swiss ski cross team) I 29. Christian Bugnon (Publisher & Editor-in-chief) and Eric-A. Balet I 30. Singer Hugues Aufray and impersonator Yann Lambiel.

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W A blend of the urban and the Alpine at the ultimate lifestyle hotel Text: Daniel Bauchervez / Photos: Yves Garneau

19 July – 5 August 2018 years !

verbierfestival.com

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Previous page: Opened in late 2013 and located at the foot of the Médran ski lift, the Hotel W occupies four large wooden chalets linked by glass atriums.

1. Loyal to its urban roots, the W Verbier is all sleek contemporary interiors that also draw on some unmistakably Alpine influences.

2. In winter, the large terrace at the foot of the slopes becomes a late-afternoon après-ski hangout. In the summer months, it is home to a beach.

Known for their hipness and urban locations, W Hotels have branched out with their Verbier establishment, which has brought the chain success by winning the highly coveted “Switzerland’s best ski hotel” and “The world’s best ski hotel” awards for the second year running.

The W Verbier delivers on its promise of “ski-in ski-out” holidays, with skiers arriving at its doors in a spray of snow.

This is a very different type of W to the ones for which this fast-growing chain, now present on every continent, is known. There is no glass and steel tower here in Verbier but four large chalets authentically encased in wood to ensure they blend in harmoniously with the Bagnes countryside.

The Médran cable car is a short walk away, which is handy if you want to see the sun come up over Mont-Fort.

Behind the Alpine façade, the ambience is resolutely urban and trendy, echoing the W vibe and that of the resort as a whole, which has become something of a hub for the jet set.

Transformation is the concept here, the idea being to create “a contemporary Swiss experience” backed up by innovative design and New York vibrancy. In the ultra-trendy Living Room bar, which doubles up as the lobby, you can toast your arrival as you check in amid fluffy cushions, a green stag and a pink rabbit! And in the morning, lounge music provides the backdrop to breakfast.

The hotel’s 123 rooms and suites boast many touches that underscore its luxurious comfort and international design: an alcove with red upholstered walls; a glass-encased fireplace between the bed and bathroom (which comes complete with

an XXL shower and bathtub); translucent pendant-shaped lights; and a balcony with trunk stools. Take a seat there snuggled up in a thick red blanket bearing the Swiss white cross and soak up the mountain views at your leisure.

The largest hotel in the resort, the 5-star W has much more to offer however, not least at the Kitchen, a restaurant that reinvents Swiss cuisine and where an illuminated bottle wall forms part of the décor along with clusters of copper-accented lights. Alternatively, there is the Eat-Hola tapas bar run by Catalan non-conformist Sergi Arola, a would-be rock musician turned two Michelin star chef, or the bunker-style Carve Sushi Bar, with interiors as black as ink. As if that were not enough, the W also has 800 square metres of spa, complete with sauna, hammam and indoor/outdoor swimming pool; plexiglass bubble chairs for sipping cocktails on and admiring the scenery; and ever-essential après-ski at the Off Piste bar. http://www.wverbier.com

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watches

Cartier Panthère A cult timepiece born in the 1980s, the Panthère watch continues to defy the passing of time by stylishly reinventing itself. The singular silhouette of its small square case in yellow gold is seamlessly extended by a bracelet with links that sensually embrace the wrist. This style icon and paragon of elegance is more contemporary than ever, tracking the passing of the minutes and hours with a quartz movement that hits its mark as precisely as the strike of a feline’s claw. www.cartier.ch On sale at Michaud, Verbier

Parmigiani Parmigiani Kalparisma Agenda The Kalparisma Agenda harmoniously expresses its beauty through the sensual curves of its round-cornered 18 carat rose gold tonneau case, which is flanked by diamonds that accentuate its femininity. Enhanced by white flinqué detailing, the dial conceals a self-winding mechanical movement and features all the essentials (hour, minute, small second and date), lending a pragmatic touch to a graceful watch that boasts an elegant white bracelet. www.parmigiani.com

Zenith Defy El Primero 21 The single-star brand ascends once more to the heights of technical innovation with the unveiling of a new chronograph movement that defies the laws of precision. Boasting a powerful 44 mm titanium bezel, a skeleton dial with a contemporary design, and a COSC-certified calibre, the Defy El Primero strides onto the scene with panache. Its new 1/100th of a second automatic movement pulses at 50 Hz — ten times faster and ten times more precise than the original legendary El Primero unveiled in 1969.

Quite simply dazzling! www.zenith-watches.com On sale at Michaud, Verbier

TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer-01 Full Black Matt Ceramic A distinguished contemporary look, inspired by car racing and exceptional mechanical motors, graces this signature chronograph model by TAG Heuer, released in a new all black matt version that will leave no head unturned. All the parts exposed to friction — 45 mm case, bezel, horns and face — have been shaped from ceramic, a material possessing unparalleled scratch-proof qualities. The bracelet, also of ceramic, is light and soft to the touch. www.tagheuer.com On sale at Michaud, Verbier

Hublot Big Bang Unico Blue Sapphire Now here’s a Big Bang that has nothing to hide. Its fully transparent case reveals all the technical prowess of Hublot, which has succeeded, using a unique watchmaking process, to shape the face, bezel and back of its 45 mm case out of blue sapphire. The shock- and scratch-resistant case, born of a fusion of iron and alumina, houses a Unico self-winding chronograph flyback movement. This technological marvel is a limited edition of 250 pieces. www.hublot.com On sale at Michaud, Verbier

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1. Tudor Heritage Black Bay Tudor has reached a milestone in its ongoing quest for excellence, creating an in-house mechanical movement for this iconic model. In terms of design, the Black Bay borrows from the classic diving watches made for the French Navy in the 1970s. Waterproof to 200m, it boasts not one but two striking yet stylish new details: an especially prominent winding crown known as the Big Crown, and a handcrafted Jacquard woven fabric strap. www.tudorwatch.ch On sale at Michaud, Verbier

watches

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2. IWC Da Vinci Automatic

3. H. Moser & Cie Venturer Small Seconds

4. Breitling Avenger Hurricane Military

Since the 1980s, the Da Vinci collection has stayed timelessly in fashion, its round shape becoming a style manifesto. This three-hand version matched with a highly beloved date display comes in a 40 mm case made of fine steel.

Articulated strap horns ensure it fits any wrist perfectly, even the most slender. This timeless icon is unruffled by the passing of time, keeping pace with the beat of its manufacture automatic movement. www.iwc.com On sale at Michaud, Verbier

Inspired by the design of traditional pocket watches and infused with aesthetic elements of the Bauhaus era and the convex lines of the 1960s, the Venturer collection adorns the wrist with singular modernity.

Its understated slate-grey dial, punctuated with a small seconds hand at 6 o’clock, sets the tone in a 39 mm case made of red gold. Simplicity remains the hallmark of this model powered by a hand-wound calibre with a 3-day power reserve indicator. www.h-moser.com On sale at Michaud, Verbier

With a muscular look and a technical character, time-keeping performance meets GI Joe with this high-precision timepiece dedicated to devotees of grand exploits. Inspired by Breitling’s aeronautical and military heritage, this 1000 piece limited edition checks all the boxes: 50 mm black Breitlight case, manufacture calibre with 24-hour display, COSC certification, and more.

Ready for adventure? www.breitling.com On sale at Michaud, Verbier

5. Panerai Luminor Due 3 Days Automatic Acciaio – 45 mm The emblematic Luminor watch refines its silhouette in this Due version that combines elegance and a sporty attitude with panache. Its 45 mm steel case is now 40% thinner than the original model. Behind the anthracite dial with a smoked finish, the P4000/10 automatic calibre, visible through the sapphire back, is truly a sight to behold. At the heart of this skeleton movement with outstanding finishings sits an off-centre micro-rotor in gold decorated with clous de Paris embossing.

Pure watchmaking elegance. www.panerai.com On sale at Michaud, Verbier

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22 – 27 March 2018

BASELWORLD.COM

Be there when the world’s most important watch and jewellery brands present their latest innovations and creations.

BASELWORLD: THE PREMIERE SHOW

Fairs and Wonders Text: Marie de Pimodan-Bugnon

The Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in Geneva in January, and Baselworld in Basel in March, are two do-not-miss events that bring industry professionals and lovers of watches and jewellery from around the world together under one roof. Events where excellence and luxury shine like nowhere else.

The excitement is palpable. It begins to mount as the autumn progresses, explodes in the depths of the winter and makes its mark again with the arrival of spring. It’s the feverish elation of watchmaking fans, the endless murmuring of speculation and postulation, as all eyes turn towards Switzerland in heightened anticipation of the two most important watchmaking and jewellery trade fairs in the world.

What will be the trend that marks the months to come? To what tempo will the market beat this year? Will creativity rise to the occasion once more? In Geneva and Basel – the unmistakable and indisputable capitals of watchmaking and jewellery – this explosion of luxury sparkles in gold letters through thrilling creations that are the stuff of dreams.

Starting in January, the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) kicks off the feast in Geneva. In an elegant setting punctuated with felted booths, thirty-five fine watchmaking maisons bring out their latest collections to meet the cameras of journalists from the four corners of the world, the expert eyes of collectors, and, starting in 2016, the general public — though admittance of the latter is limited to the last day of the fair. On the menu: mechanical excellence and the prowess of design, in a singular world première. “For 28 years, SIHH has stood as an exceptional platform that highlights the extraordinary creativity and innovation of the great watchmaking houses,” emphasizes Fabienne Lupo, SIHH Managing Director. “Held in the cradle of fine watchmaking – Geneva – it’s an indispensable event that sets the trends and fashions for the year ahead.”

The 2018 event, held from January 15 to 19, is expected to once again welcome an estimated 15,000 visitors.

Two months later, from March 22 to 27, it is Basel’s turn to roll out the red carpet for the stars of the watchmaking and jewellery universe. Baselworld’s numbers speak for themselves: with over 100,000 buyers of 100 different nationalities, and nearly 4,400 representatives of international media hailing from 70 countries, for a week the city transforms into the true nerve centre of the global luxury industry. The great houses of fine watchmaking, the signature jewellery makers of prestige, independent designers, diamond merchants, and a host of representatives from all sectors of the industry, come together in one place for a unique opportunity to admire and physically touch the magic of these precious creations. “It is here that, for over a century, watchmakers and jewellery makers have presented their creations to visitors from Switzerland and clients from other countries,” explains Sylvie Ritter, the fair’s Managing Director. “Baselworld is an essential fixture in the watchmaking and jewellery annual calendar, and each year’s event is anticipated with marked interest and earnest impatience.” The feverish excitement of watchmaking fans, the endless murmurings of speculation and postulation — the anxiousness to discover the new arrivals that will make 2018 shine is real indeed!

Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie Geneva, 15–19 January 2018 www.sihh.org Baselworld Basel, 22–27 March 2018 www.baselworld.com 111

1. Caran d’Ache Léman Caviar

trends

Reminiscent of the bronze waters of a lake at daybreak, the Léman Caviar fountain pen is coated in a fine lacquer and engraved with motifs resembling caviar beads. www.carandache.com 2. Nobis Yves Brown Fully windproof, waterproof and breathable, the men’s Yves parka is a new addition to the Core Collection. Featuring a two-way zipper, down-proof free hanging liner and hidden inner drawcord adjustment for versatility. www.ch-nobis.com 3. Rolex Oyster Created in 1926, this pioneering wristwatch is now a collection.

Its four hallmarks are water-resistance, accuracy, reliability, and an automatic movement. www.rolex.com 4. Nunshen 89 Christmas tea Christmas spirit infused with spicy notes of clove, cardamom, cinnamon, lemon peel, rose and vanilla. www.nunshen.com 5. Bernard Favre Planet “Create useful yet arresting objects”: that is the mantra of Bernard Favre. This watch winder is not so much a tool as a moving sculpture. www.bernardfavre.com 6. Shamballa Jewels Beloved by the stars, Danish designers Shamballa have come up with an iconic bracelet that fuses onyx, Tahiti pearl, white gold, grey sapphire, and amethyst to stunning effect. www.shamballajewels.com 7. Swiza Allblack

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Swiza knifes are in a class of their own thanks to their curved handles and the distinctive cross button, which releases the lock on the blade. This particular version is 100% black! www.swiza.com

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1. Edra Cipria Italian designers Fernando and Humberto Campana took powder puffs as their design cue in creating this sofa with nine cloud cushions. www.moyard.ch

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2. Hästens 2000T Where can you sleep better than in your own bed? In a Hästens bed, that’s where. Founded in 1852, the Swedish company uses nothing but natural materials to create beds that make you feel weightless. www.hastens.com 3. Dr Rheims Eclipsage 2

Free of silicon, parabens, PEG, EDTA and perfume, this highly effective anti-age cream is based on a Mexican species of mimosa. www.eclipsage.com 4. Jaden Jewels Inspired by Greek worry beads (komboloi), this necklace combines grey agate beads, a jade blue oriental-style pendant and a silk pom pom. www.jadenjewels.com

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hublot.com

Big Bang Unico Blue Sapphire.

Scratch-resistant blue sapphire case.

In-house chronograph UNICO movement.

Limited edition of 250 pieces.