SUR LA TERRE Gstaad 2013-2014

2013-2014

Gstaad

Fashion

Masquerade

watches

Sotheby’s Retrospective 2013

Interview Brad Pitt

The Charm of World War Z

Real Estate

Swiss Mountains Resorts An Evolving Environment

Reine de Naples Kollektion

in every woman is a queen

B O U T I Q U E S B R E G U E T – B A H N H O F S T R A S S E 1 G S TA A D + 4 1 3 3 7 4 4 3 0 8 8 – B A H N H O F S T R A S S E 3 1 Z Ü R I C H + 4 1 4 4 2 1 5 1 1 8 8 4 0 , R U E D U R H Ô N E G E N È V E + 4 1 2 2 3 1 7 4 9 2 0 – W W W. B R E G U E T. C O M

edito Linger awhile, thou art so fair!

Faust said this to the passing hour. And this is the same uncontrollable time that some brilliant minds, who have become masters of time for a moment, have captured in exceptional timepieces. Timepieces which, for want of keeping the hands ticking, carry within them savoir-faire passed down through generations (p. 44); high-tech objects resolutely connected to the past (p. 34), or reinterpreted design masterpieces (p. 38), grounding themselves in the present, rewritten.

You could say that time stands still and is lost, but time should definitely be taken for an unforgettable stay in one of the most beautiful property complexes in Spain (p. 84), where you will want to meet from one Christmas to the next, year after year thanks to its excellent services.

Two elegant silhouettes passing each other before finally meeting (p. 53); Brad Pitt, fighting the apocalypse (p. 72); or photographer Alexis Reynaud, braving the bad weather to create optical illusions (p. 81).

It is important to remember the happy endings from these timeless meetings; the time for writing has finished, so that it can be read, the stories and moving images are ready in time.

Gaëlle Hennet © Christine de Loë

Editor in Chief

Stay in touch with Sur La Terre or follow us on Twitter @surlaterre

Mélanie Hearnden “Melane“

Mélanie, Geneva stylist and designer for several years, is not only commissioned as a stylist for production companies, photo shoots and advertisement campaigns for big names (such as Bally, Raymond Weil, Canal Sat, TSR etc.), but also has her own made-tomeasure clothing label, “Melane”.

Ian Abela

The Parisian photographer Ian Abela develops in the worlds dedicated to fashion, beauty still-life and portrait. Although some photographers struggle to find their path, Ian quickly knew that he wanted to focus on women’s magazines. As such, at the age of 14 he took his first pictures. In 2011, the site buzzle.com ranked him as one of the top 10 best international photographers of the moment.

Jonathan Lanfrit

After an acclaimed visit to the hair festival ‘Métamorphoses’ in 2012, this talented young hair stylist and colour technician recently joined the Bal des Créateurs team, where he assists Christophe Durand with all of his services.

Cover : Rose leather dress by Vicedomini, Grey wool shale by Amy Hall (La Muse), Grey flanelle top hat by Brunello Cucinelli, Ebony and diamonds “Egeo“ necklace by Vhernier, White and rose diamonds earrings by de Grisogono, Black and white diamonds and ruby ring by Ponti Joaillier.

GSTAAD

GSTAAD 2013-14

index 12

hot spots

22 EVENTS 26

SLT News

27 Essentials

for Her

28 Beauty

29 Jewellery

32 Essentials

34 High-Tech

38 Design

43 6

IN-Depth

for Him

GSTAAD 2013-14

index 44 Watches

Sotheby’s Retrospective 2013 Watches Are All the Rage!

50 Real

Estate

Ski Station Real Estate in Switzerland Is There Danger in the House?

53

Fashion

71

Interviews

Meet Brad Pitt, Eric Bompard, Ricardo Guadalupe & Alexis Reynaud

83

City Guide

84 Escape

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A Spanish Escapade: From the PGA Catalunya Resort to Girona

h ot s p ots

The Grand Bellevue Hotel Text: Alexandre Mollard Photography: rights reserved

Since December 1912, the Grand Bellevue Hotel has followed the development of the ski resort by adapting to the changes in the activities and the types of visiting client. In December 2012, in the run up to its 100 year anniversary, the hotel became the property of entrepreneurs Daniel Koetser and Rudolf Maag, who decided to undertake a complete renovation. The work, which took place in two phases and over several months (Spring and Autumn 2013) led by atelier zürich and interior designer Davia Koetser, have transformed this history-filled establishment into a 21st century palace, where the designs of yesteryear have been subtly updated with modern touches, with a personal yet colourful theme, and where luxury is both accessible and welcoming, intimate yet family friendly. The 57 bedrooms and spacious suites, Leonard’s restaurant (which has been awarded 1 Michelin star and 15 points in the Gault&Millau guide), Le Petit Chalet, the lounge bar and the well-being area measuring 2500 m², allow the Grand Bellevue Hotel to remain a prime example of a luxury hotel by retaining its advantageous position at the entrance to Gstaad and its pedestrianized area.

The Grand Bellevue Hotel ***** superior Hauptstrasse 21, 3780 Gstaad Tel. 033 748 00 00 www.bellevue-gstaad.com

lorenz bach Text: Eva Steen Photographs: rights reserved

The company Lorenz Bach, situated on the delicate and prestigious Gstaad promenade for over 35 years, is home to more than 30 famous brands. A stylish man with an eye for fashion, Lorenz Bach has recently developed his own eponymous label. Each piece has been conceived with the finest attention to detail and with highquality materials. This luxury clothing line successfully marries both comfort and elegance.

The clothes and accessories from the collection combine high-quality finishes, bright and on-trend colours with timeless cuts. Lorenz Bach stays loyal to his philosophy of providing the best in quality, comfort and couture, and doesn’t skimp on the details. His causal chic line, identifiable with a woollen, cross-shaped emblem, is inspired by the sophistication of the Swiss Alps. His key pieces (cashmere sweaters, jackets and linen shirts made in Italy) can be worn for any occasion to your heart’s content.

Lorenz Bach Promenade 81, 3780 Gstaad Tel. 033 744 68 78 www.lorenzbach.com

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Grand Hotel Park Text: Alexandre Mollard Photography: rights reserved

The Grand Hotel Park makes use of the cuisines of Thailand, Greece, Morocco and Switzerland to offer a culinary voyage rich in discoveries, flavours and colours. Four prestigious chefs take it in turns, during a winter residency, to amaze the taste buds of guests. Jumnong Noradee, who presides over the Thai restaurant Patara in Geneva, offers authentic, delicious and light cooking, combining pan-fried scallops and spicy sauces containing lemongrass and fresh mint with lobster green curries! Chef Ettore Botrini uses seafood, goat meat and mutton, oregano, dill and olive oil to create an outstanding, warm Mediterranean cuisine, borrowing from the regional traditions of Corfu, Athens and Rhodes. Rachid Agouray, the chef at La Mamounia, takes a new look at meat and fish tagines, colourful salads and the flavours of his native Marrakesh. BenoĂŽt Violier, the Vaud native with three Michelin stars, presents, in Gstaad as in Crissier, a modern vision of cuisine created with precision and fine local produce. The Grand Hotel Park, with its tradition of exclusivity, continues to surprise its guests and is this winter inaugurating its new smoking lounge for lovers of cigars and hookahs.

Grand Hotel Park Wispilenstrasse 29, 3780 Gstaad Tel. 033 748 98 00 www.grandhotelpark.ch

rougemont interiors Text: Eva Steen Photography: rights reserved

This decor boutique tastefully combines an uncluttered and welcoming design in a space in which the client feels instantly at home. The collection is constantly updated with immaculate creations, which are all sought after pieces and original in nature. The colours, on the whole pale, imbue a peaceful ambiance. Pascale Mangiardi-Heuberger, owner of the store, focuses on quality and works with the best craftsman and manufacturers.

Each piece, clad in cashmere or magnificent Italian leather, subtly combines both luxury and comfort. Richemont Interiors also works in collaboration with a local architect, Michael Gehret. His talent, married with that of the designer, leads to the creation of pieces rich in both style and character.

Moreover, the shop offers its clients a comprehensive interior design service.

Accompanied by talented associates Astrid Desmaele and Lia Carpenter, Pascale Mangiardi-Heuberger is developing a concept which aims to fulfil clients’ architectural dreams.

Rougemont Interiors Viktoriastrasse 1, 3780 Gstaad Tel. 033 744 40 47 www.rougemontinteriors.ch

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Sole G S TA A D B O U T I Q U E , G S TA A D PA L A C E , T E L . + 4 1 3 3 7 4 4 1 4 6 0 ABU DHABI MOSCOW

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COURCHEVEL

NEW YORK

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DUBAI

PA R I S

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G E N E VA

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PORTO CERVO

G S TA A D

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K U WA I T

ROME

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S BARTHELEMY

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www• degrisogono• com

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LONDON •

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MIAMI

S MORITZ T

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Gstaad Palace SPA Text: Alexandre Mollard Photography: rights reserved

Since the 8th December 1913, the Gstaad Palace has been the embodiment of a luxury mountain hotel. To celebrate its hundredth anniversary, it is planning a whole range of events associated with its values and work, such as the replanting of a forest destroyed by Cyclone Lothar, publishing a book setting out the history of the palace, and various festivities throughout the year.

In order to remain an innovative establishment of excellence, the Gstaad Palace is expanding its spa facilities by adding a range of luxury medical cosmetics: Beauty by Clinica Ivo Pitanguy, from the world’s leading beauty clinic, founded in Brazil in 1963 and still a family company. Laura Tedino, the manager of the Palace Spa, is thrilled to now be offering oxygen products and treatments, exclusively within Switzerland, for the eyes, face and body – treatments which boost the skin’s vitality and contribute to its renewal and that of the cells, to give back its youth and health. Oxy Intense, Oxy Radiance, Oxy Eye Countour and Oxy Sculpt and Slim Body are the four special treatments designed to plump up, firm up and rebalance the skin, smooth out tone and, reduce and remove pigmentation problems, revitalise tissues and reduce fatty deposits: a wonderful à la carte programme at the Palace Spa!

Gstaad Palace Palacestrasse 28, 3780 Gstaad Tel. 033 748 50 00 www.palace.ch

six senses SPA Text: Eva Steen Photography: rights reserved

Situated within The Alpina Gstaad hotel, the Six Senses Spa is offering 5 new treatment programmes for the winter season. ‘Sense of Alpina’ combines relaxation and outdoor activity. Using local herbs and plants, it energises and nourishes the body. Using a specially created detox mix to purify and strengthen the body the ‘Sense of Detox’ conditions the body to help it heal and revitalise itself. For getting into physical shape there is ‘Sense of Fitness, Movement and Balance’, which aims to improve suppleness and resistance, whilst also increasing metabolism.

‘Sense of Beauty’, based on products specially created for the Alpina Gstaad Hotel, replenishes your skin with vitality and moisture, so that you are ready to face the harsh winter months. Finally the ‘Sense of Ayurveda’ treatment will satisfy those who like traditional Indian medicine. This treatment aims to fight against the insomnia, stress and fatigue of daily life.

To round off your well-being visit to The Alpina Gstaad, the hotel is launching Alpina Life, a menu made up of healthy and nutritious dishes, which you can enjoy without feeling guilty!

Six Senses Spa The Alpina Gstaad Hotel Alpinastrasse 23, 3780 Gstaad Tel. 033 888 9898 www.thealpinagstaad.ch

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GSTAAD

Words in pictures Valérie Glasson designes the cover of the 50th edition of Sur La Terre Switzerland

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fter a career in the literary field, Valérie Glasson decided to dedicate her time to painting. Since then, she has split her time between the creation of commissioned pieces and exhibitions.

For the magazine, she took up a new challenge; to create a 1.72m canvas depicting a watch mechanism and a hemisphere drawn within a circle. Valérie explains “the contours of the mechanism and the circle which surrounds it are made up of quotes from poets who have always provided material for my calligraphy pieces”.

This unique work of art will be auctioned at the Womanity charity gala, which will take place on January 30 th 2014 at the Espace Hippomène, in Geneva. www.valerieglasson.com

www.womanity.org

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Tradition meets Innovation

Zbären Kreativküchen AG Bahnhofstrasse 26 . CH-3777 Saanenmöser . Telephone +41 33 744 33 77 design@zbaeren.ch . www.zbaeren.ch Official Dealer

Saanenmöser . Gstaad . Lenk

Official Dealer

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Health Check-up

The Clinique La Colline offers you an exclusive up-to-the-minute check-up Text: Arlette Dubuis Photographs: rights reserved

Situated right in the he art of Geneva , the Clinique L a Colline and its multi-disciplinary te am of specialists have decided to update the tr aditional approach to he alth check-ups to give you the very best chance of staying in top shape.

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Consultation office Clinic Hintsa

For 2 years now, the Clinique La Colline has been offering an exclusive medical service: Executive & International Medical Services (EIMS).

This service, unique of its kind, offers a group check-up and individualised medical follow-up taking account of time constraints and confidentiality.

It is particularly aimed at business people with limited time, who are able to complete all necessary medical tests within a single day. The health check-up offered by the Clinique La Colline provides medical services of the highest standards in modern medicine. It enables you to be fully informed, to manage your health resources better and to prevent the onset of certain conditions.

Moreover, EIMS also has the distinctive feature of offering the exceptional expertise of one of its centres of excellence “The Hintsa Clinic”. This centre treats sportsmen and women of the highest calibre, including many Formula 1 drivers. A specific programme is drawn up, aimed at the health of the body and of the mind, based on balancing the elements which regulate our organism, such as nutrition and sleep, among others.

The objective of this programme is to optimise performance. Within the setting of a Check-up, this programme may also be offered to and adapted for business people, whose needs may be similar. This specific support enables considerable improvement to be achieved in physical and mental performance.

Each Check-up is organised according to the needs of the patient who has the benefit of personal contact with the medical team. Associated services such as transport or translation are available for patients, all within an exceptional hotel setting.

The Clinique La Colline puts the health and well-being of its patients at the centre of its concerns. It offers services of the highest quality which may all be accessed within the same location.

Discover Executive & International Medical Services, a team of professionals dedicated to your health.

For all requests for further information concerning Check-ups Your personal contact: Isabelle Boissel, Manager Tel. 022 702 26 10 checkup@lacolline.ch Clinic La Colline Av. de Beau-séjour 6, 1206 Geneva www.lacolline.ch

EIMS consultation room

GSTAAD

events

Davidoff Cigars

LIMITED EDITION CIGAR CREATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE HIGH PROFILE GOURMET WEEK Text: Mehreen Ovais Photographs : rights reserved

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he seventeenth “Dav idoff Saveurs“ Gourmet Week, which took place in Gstaad from 5th to 14th July 2013 featured several renow ned chefs and marked an exclusive and relaxing retreat. In addition to the traditional “Dav idoff Dinner“, title sponsor Dav idoff also presented a special limited edition cigar exclusively created for the occasion.

Thomas Neeser, Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard, Andreas Haseloh

The “Davidoff Saveurs“ Gourmet Week marked its seventeenth year this July in the breathtakingly beautiful setting of the Bernese Oberland with several top international and local chefs showcasing their culinary delicacies. The grand “Davidoff Dinner” held at the Gstaad Palace Hotel enjoyed the extraordinary gourmet of Chef Michel Roth, holder of two Michelin stars and former Head Chef of the renowned “L’Espadon“ at the Ritz, Paris. Another highlight of the evening was the presentation of this year’s Limited Edition Davidoff “Saveurs Gstaad“ cigar, only 150 boxes of 10 cigars each. It is an impressive Gran Toro with a length of 16.3 cm and a diameter of 2.22 cm (RG 56) and has a strong, full-bodied taste - the perfect way to round off every gourmet dining experience.

Relaxing in a great location, indulging in great food and wine, and enjoying the extraordinary cigar without any distractions, the “Davidoff Saveurs Gstaad“ Gourmet Week truly reflects the Davidoff philosophy of “Time Beautifully Filled“.

In 2014, the “Davidoff Saveurs Gstaad“ will take place from 4th to 13th July 2014 and promises to be an excellent event featuring top chefs from Switzerland, Germany and other neighbouring countries.

Information and registration at www.davidoffsaveurs.ch media@davidoff.com

Oettinger Davidoff AG Hochbergerstrasse 15, 4002 Basel Tel.: 061 279 36 36 www.davidoff.com

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swiss fine real estate

“ The home should be the treasure chest of living.”

Le Corbusier

www.ci-exclusive-properties.com COMPTOIR IMMOBILIER SA · COURS DE RIVE 7 · CP 3753 · 1211 GENÈVE 3 · T + 41 (0)22 319 89 15 · CONTACT@CI-EXCLUSIVE-PROPERTIES.COM n. 51

events

Dominique Perret’s

“25 Heures Freeride“ The good race Text: Arlette Dubuis Photographs: Dan Mitchel

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row ned best freerider in the world in 2000, Dominique Perret launched the ‘25 Heures Freeride’ [25 hour freeride], a major charity event for all ski and snowboard fanatics. From 25th to 26th Januar y next year, skiers and snowboarders alike w ill gather in Gstaad for a challenging race in aid of Womanity.

Participants in teams of four will take turns on the two tracks during 25 hours, one track for daylight hours, which covers a large part of the Gstaad ski slopes, closed off to the public for the occasion, and the other track for night-time. The rules of the event are simple: each team is sponsored, either by a company or an individual, at CHF 5.00 per kilometre covered, or for a minimum rate of CHF 2,000. The last hour, called L’Heure de cœur, allows the participants to ski/board together so that they can quadruple the kilometres covered and increase their donations, which will all go to support “Farzana’s dream“, a project to support girls’ education in Afghanistan carried out by the Womanity Foundation. www.25freeride.ch

Farzana’s Dream: Womanity’s wish Guided by its vision to contribute to a world where all women and men have equal and full social, economic and political participation, the Womanity Foundation undertakes to empower girls and women to shape their future and accelerate progress within their communities.

The “Farzana’s dream“ project falls within this aim. Farzana, a young 13-year-old Afghan girl dreams of studying and becoming a medical doctor.

She is at the Al Fatah School, the first public school for girls in Kabul, in which the Womanity Foundation and its partners have invested considerable efforts to improve the school environment and the teachers’ capacities.

The funds raised during the “25 Heures Freeride” will support the development of similar activities in other Afghan schools, thus helping young girls’ dreams come true. www.womanity.org

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News The latest fashion, beauty, high-tech & design

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ESSENTIALS fo r HER

Pullover, “Labo“ collection Eric Bompard

Wallet Tod’s

Ring , “Paris Nouvelle Vague“ collection Cartier

Trendy White & Blue Selection : Gaëlle Hennet Photographs : rights reserved

Navy blue, the seminal colour for the spring/ summer collection, has made an appearance again in the autumn/winter catwalk collections. It is a good alternative to black, and this sombre colour makes a good contrast to light colours, such as white.

“Fleur de lapis-lazuli“ earrings Van Cleef & Arpels

“Starlet skinny“ pants Guess

“Speedy Damier Paillettes“ bag Louis Vuitton

“J12 Moonphase“ watch in white high tech ceramic Chanel

USB key 16 GB Hermès

n. 50

B e au t y

Winter Beauty Trends Text: Arlette Dubuis Photographs: Rights reserved

Be radiant Specifically developed for dry and delicate skins, the Crème Souveraine by Dior Prestige combines the age-defying powers of the rose de Granville with the plumping and restorative benefits of the Rose Souveraine. Intensely nourrished, skin is revitalized deep down to become suppler and more radiant than ever !

A round-up of the latest women’s fragrances, make-up & skin care products to see you through the winter season.

Happy Holidays This limited edition by Lancôme includes a mascara, an eye shadow with mousse-like texture in four metallic shades, an iridescent powder to illuminate complexions, the iconic L’Absolu Rouge, a liquid lipstick and Vernis In Love in half matte, half shimmer shades Etincelle d’Argent and Etincelle de Neige.

Skin Detox This cleansing and exfoliating foam

by Grangettes Genève can be used daily on all skin types, including sensitive skin. The innovative combination of a protease, which liberates dead cells, and hyaluronic acid, guarantees a triple action – cleasing , exfoliating and moisturizing.

Perfect nails OPI has launched 18 new limited edition nail lacquers inspired by Mariah Carey. This seasonal promotion includes an assortment of red, burgundy, maroon and chocolate brown hues.

Precious perfume This new limited edition of Sisley’s Eau du Soir is a blend of citrus, floral, amber and musk notes. The bottle is crowned with a sculptural 18-carat gold-plated stopper designed by Polish sculptor Bronislaw Krzysztof.

Bath Experience These bath beads by Michael Kors are a blend of orange flower, cassis, jasmine, sandalwood and patchouli notes. When they dissolve, they leave a light veil of gloden shimmer on top of the water.

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j e w ellery

Bogh-Art

Fusion of design and innovation Text: Mehreen Ovais Photographs: rights reserved

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t the heart of Bogh-Art philosophy is an uncompromising desire to create designs that are unique, modern and unconventional. Bogh-Art push forward the boundaries of jewellery design through its pioneering spirit and a heritage in gemstones, perfecting the ‘Art of Inlay’ and originating the ‘Kissing Diamonds’ technique. Another innovation of the house is the groundbreaking use of titanium and carbon fiber to lend their jeweller y pieces an exceptional lightness.

Titanium fiber and diamond “Flower” ring

Mughal style diamond motifs inlaid into carbon bangle

Bogh-Art considers each piece of haute joaillerie to be a work of art and therefore strives to have minimum metal on display and the perfect setting.

This resolute approach and desire to create perfection is realized at BoghArt’s own Research and Development Laboratory where scientists and researchers work together with the designers to create and refine the most unique and state-of-the-art materials and techniques. One such example is the way carbon fiber is used in both jewellery and watch industries. Bogh-Art found its square background with intertwining vertical and horizontal fibers unromantic for its feminine designs and so recomposed the material with linear fibers to give a softer and more graceful feel when interpreted into contemporary rings and bangles. By combining micro deposits of titanium and fiberglass the house created a material that is delicate, translucent and lightweight. An innovative material that is complex in its manipulation, especially when combined with diamonds. Nonetheless, Bogh-Art expertly interprets elegant flowers, butterflies and dragonflies within the Titanium Fiber collection, demonstrating their unrelenting commitment to jewellery design and innovation.

Diamonds inlaid into carbon earrings

Bogh-Art 42, rue du Rhône, 1204 Geneva Tel. 022 900 00 30 www.bogh-art.com

GSTAAD

j e w ellery

Vhernier

The art of the material Text: Gaëlle Hennet Photographs: rights reserved

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n the eve of its 30th birthday, the Italian jewellery manufacturer V hernier continues to maintain its unique style with the nobility and contemporar y nature of its creations. Both formal and spectacular at the same time, these creations are noticeable because of their presence, expressing the elegance of the wearer. During this holiday season, V hernier combines natural and magical materials to create exceptional earrings, bracelets and necklaces.

The Ceylan and Trottola collections showcase precious rose gold and the force of natural materials, such as amber and ebony. Recognised for its clarity, Caribbean amber dazzles the beholder with its honey colour and perfect transparency, whereas the African ebony, precious to Vhernier because of its colour and warmth, is one of the most expensive woods in the world. Worked by hand, the amber and ebony have been sculpted with smooth curves by the Vhernier craftsmen to achieve perfect finished pieces.

Earrings from the Trottola collection in amber and rose gold

Necklace from the Ceylan collection in rose gold and amber

Vhernier opens along the prestigious rue du Rhône On its 30th birthday, the jewellery manufacturer will open two new boutiques in February next year, one in Geneva and the other in Milan.

In Geneva, Vhernier will move from the place de Longemalle, where the company has been located for about seven years, to the prestigious rue du Rhône. “With the materials used and its layout, the new boutique in Geneva escapes the usual monotony found in many luxury boutiques. I wanted to design something new, which could coherently accommodate the Vhernier jewellery, by creating an atmosphere for clients emulating the feeling of wearing the jewellery itself. I designed a gem which houses jewellery, focussing on soft, contemporary, comfortable and colourful lines” confides Carlo Traglio, Vhernier’s owner and president. This new concept, which the boutique in Geneva is initiating, will be rolled out in the future openings for the company’s jewellery boutiques.

Necklace and earrings from the Trottola collection in ebony and rose gold

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Vhernier 19, place de Longemalle, 1204 Geneva Tel. 022 311 21 01 www.vhernier.com

j e w ellery

Graff Diamonds

The founder’s heritage at the heart of the Icon collection Text : Arlette Dubuis Photographs : rights reserved

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fter unveiling a diamond broach this spring valued at 100 million dollars, the most famous of the London jeweller y houses is now making a journey back to its roots with the Icon collection, inspired by the incredible coiffure designed by Laurence Graff.

In the course of a brilliant career, Laurence Graff has not only excelled in producing sublime necklaces, brooches, rings and earrings. In 1970, the diamond cutter designed Hair and Jewel, a bold set of hair jewellery valued at one million dollars, inspired by the arboreal hair fashions worn by women at the royal court of Versailles in the 18th Century. Today, the House of Graff Diamonds continues the legacy of its founder by unveiling a series of set jewels that echoes the main pattern of this creation. Etched at the centre of a circle of diamonds comprising beautiful pendants or used in a clasp for elegant earrings, the pattern this year has become the symbol of a decidedly ‘70s figure.

Graff Diamonds The Alpina Gstaad, 23 Alpinastrasse, 3780 Gstaad Tel. 033 744 74 80 Grand Hotel Park, 29 Wispilenstrasse, 3780 Gstaad Tel. 033 744 97 00 www.graffdiamonds.com

GSTAAD

ESSENTIALS fo r h i m

Jacquard hat Eric Bompard “Carrera 83 “± sunglasses Carrera

Wool-cashmer seater with rabbit fur inner hood Canali

Winter Casual Text & Selection : Gaëlle Hennet Images: rights reserved

Scarf Ermenegildo Zegna

Even if winter is associated with black tie and festive clothing, these kinds of clothes cannot be worn all the time. When the ties, bow-ties and other festive accessories are in the wardrobe, opt for casual clothing, always easy to wear, decidedly comfortable.

“My Colors Double Wraps“ bracelets Tod’s

Shoes, “Montagna“ collection Car Shoe

“Casmio“ bag , “Green“ collection Hugo Boss

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“El Primero Lightweight“ watch Zenith

W E U N D E R S TA N D T H E VA L U E O F T I M E

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A N D T H AT A S M A N Y D R O P S

OF TIME AS POSSIBLE SHOULD BE SAVOURED

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LEISURE IS PLEASURE

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W E H A N D - P I C K , H A N D - R O L L A N D H A N D - PAC K O U R C I G A R S W I T H C A R E AND CRAFTSMANSHIP

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SO YOUR TIME, LIKE EVERY ONE OF OUR CIGARS,

WILL BE BEAUTIFULLY FILLED

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TIME IS THE ULT IMAT E LUXURY FI LL IT BEAUT IFULLY

davidoff.com

h i g h -tec h

High-Tech Spirit Life is all about change; and so is the high-tech world! Push your geeky side to the limit by updating your collection of high-tech gadgets.

Text : Anne & Judikael Hirel Photographs : rights reserved

Handmade Designed in Paris and assembled in Brittany, these elite headphones, with an innovative design made entirely from fine materials (titanium, aviation aluminium etc.), have already conquered Japan and the USA. Offered in a super limited edition model, these headphones offer portable sound perfection.

Aedle VK-1, €350, www.aedle.net

So British Before buying the new Aston Martin and pretending to be James Bond behind the wheel, why not dress up your portable gadgets in leather cases and holders embroidered with the badge of this legendary British car manufacturer?

Aston Martin collection, www.coque-exclusive.com

Vintage Ambiance Go back to the origins of rock‘n’roll and blues music with this designer and vintage look dock and amplifier, which can be carried anywhere you go. This lightweight amp is ready to blast out the decibels as soon as it is out of its box, and works just as well with a Fender as with the playlists from your Smartphone.

Yamaha, THR5, €235, www.yamaha.fr

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Surrounded by sound You no longer need any cables to transform your interior and fill it with a world of sound.

You can download the well designed app to your Smartphone or iPad, put your wireless speakers on to the network and you can have music in every room you choose.

Sonos Play 1, €199, www.sonos.com

Exceptional sound Sound perfection has a name, and it’s French: Devialet. Three years after having conquered 1500 audiophiles throughout the world with their legendary D-Premier, these sound geniuses, who have no stores, are finally making their unique audio technology available to us mortals with a new range with the same sound quality, still a classy design, but with a (slightly) more reasonable price.

Devialet 110, starting from €4990, www.devialet.com

To be or not to be We can certainly imagine this item in a head-to-head, sorry, a dialogue in Hamlet, at the heart of a version 2.0 scene. This well-known audio skull from Jean-Michel Jarre is being re-released this year in an XS version, still very much in a disco style, for all design and tech style interior lovers.

Jarre Aeroskull XS, €199, www.jarre.com Green tech This recent start-up ‘made in France’ has put wood back as the flavour of the month, by giving it life, making astonishing high-tech accessories, such as this wireless power pebble. Available in marble, maple or walnut, it charges your Smartphone using induction.

Orée, pebble, €110, www.oreedesign.com

No comment Are you a devoted football fan, but can no longer tolerate the match commentary? This high-tech stylish home cinema has a football mode so you can amplify the sounds from the match and get rid of all the rest.

Home cinema Sony, €950, www.sonystyle.fr

GSTAAD

h i g h -tec h

German quality It’s true that this speaker could appear to be a little simple, but in terms of sound and engineering the quality is definitely there, because Loewe never makes any comprises in these aspects.

Nothing but perfection!…

Loewe, speaker 2 Go, €270, www.loewe.de

The sound of metal Did you know that each metal has its own way of diffusing sound? By examining the difference between various alloys used, these top of the range headphones were born. Wear these and revel in a unique acoustic experience!

Final Audio Piano Forte, from €1300, www.final-audio-design.com

Small case, big talent If you judge things purely by their size, then keep moving: this top of the range hybrid with a retro and stylish look combines the most compact casing of the moment with the latest 16 megapixel sensor. So you can capture anything you like on camera, even if it’s not worthy of being immortalised on film!

Panasonic Lumix GM1, €699, www.panasonic.fr

Hoist the sails!

What if you took the time to sculpt your dream body? This techno design tool made from ash wood simulates the effort made in hoisting a sail, without the spray from the sea, but with the same resulting muscles. There’s no question of letting it drop: it tells you constantly the number of rounds, your heart rate, the effort you put in and the time you have been using it in order to follow exactly what you’re doing during the exercise.

Waterrower WaterGrinder, €1499, www.nohrd.fr

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Exigez un meilleur traitement des soins chirurgicaux de pointe

La vitalitĂŠ retrouvĂŠe

www.lacolline.ch

h idgehs-tec ign h

Re-composition The past does not delete itself, it does not repeat itself.

It reinvents itself constantly, to give life to a reconstructed atmosphere.

Text : Anne & Judikael Hirel Photographs : rights reserved

Nautilus In designing this table centerpiece, it was Adam Cornish’s desire to incorporate natural elements whilst using modern industrial production methods. Trinity’s shape is obtained using a laser technique to make perforations in a thin sheet of steel, which is then shaped mechanically.

Alessi Trinity, price available upon request, www.alessi.com

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Red Edition With this sideboard, young designer Sabrina Ficarra reinterprets this typical piece of furniture from the 1950s by adding the necessary modern touches: space for a cable and a shelf to hold a flat screen.

‘Enfilade Red Edition’, Design ikonik, €1490, www.design-ikonik.com

Iconic Design Presented at the Furniture Exhibition in Milan in 2013, and produced by Magis in 2004, the legendary Chair One designed by Konstantin Grcic is now already 10 years old. A graphic industrial design object, this chair has become a 21st Century design icon.

Magis Chair One, price available upon request, www.magisdesign.com

Soap Bubble You might say this looks like a soap bubble, delicate and intangible, that’s floating in the air whilst bathing the space with a typically Nordic white light. This is what you see for the first time with ‘Yoko’, the new table lamp designed by Anderssen &Voll and produced by Foscarini.

Yoko lamp, price available upon request, www.foscarini.com

Double Shell This sofa, a focal piece of the collection from Cédric Ragot, is based on the union of two outer shells around a diagonal.

Nautil sofa, www.roche-bobois.com

GSTAAD

design

Time on the Wall This Firenze clock knows how to stand the test of time with its current and modern design. Created in 1965 by the Castiglioni brothers for La casa abitata exhibition at the Palais Strozzi in Florence, the clock has been released in two new colour styles: black and white or red and white.

Alessi 12 B- Firenze, price available upon request, www.alessi.com

Transparency Between curves, transparent sections and lighting effects, this bookcase comes in all forms to offer any contemporary interior a design omega.

Roche-Bobois Omega, Daniel Rode, price available upon request, www.roche-bobois.com The Evidence is Clear You should be able to throw the perfect soirée with this table-top champagne bar, made from hand-sculpted bamboo wood. It’s perfect for keeping up to six bottles at the right temperature for the perfect degustation every time.

Lallier, basin/bar, €380, www.champagne-lallier.fr

Limited Edition Alessi has chosen Pinocchio as the inspiration for its new corkscrew. Alessandro M. is not made out of wood, however, but stainless steel. It will bring a playful, Italian touch to your table.

Alessi, Alessandro M. Pinocchio, price available upon request, www.alessi.com

Wooden Light This lamp, thanks to its simplicity and curved shape, inspired by old candle lanterns, will fit in with any interior, and will enhance the most beautiful of decors. We like the warmth and softness of the wood, which diffuses a pleasant light that bounces off the reflector.

Lampe Woody, Goodbye Edison, €360, www.goodbyeedison.com

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a rc h i t ec t u r

Rieder Architektur AG A success story

A

fter gaining experience in architecture and developing his talent, Max R ieder founded the company Tiemer&R ieder Architektur Gstaad in 1991 together w ith a partner.

The success was immediate, and Max R ieder acquired the whole company when his associate retired. R ieder Architekur AG was officially established in 2002 and the company now employs more than 16 people, prov iding high-end ser v ices to international clients, and holds its ow n real-estate company.

Sur La Terre: In a few words could you tell us about the history of your business?

Max Rieder: After a few years of managing this company, I realised even more how important it is for clients to have personally tailored advice from somebody who understands their needs. When we first start working together on the architecture of a property, interior design already enters the game. And this is the same with real-estate. When I invest in properties, I already know the potential they have in becoming high-end projects.

SLT: How do you proceed in creating the layout of an apartment or a chalet?

M.R: I try to find the exact mixture between quality, functionality, design and well-being. This is a long-draw-out job but once I get the idea in my mind, I can hardly stop working until the project meets my satisfaction.

SLT: Your business also operates as an estate agency. What is your opinion of the industry’s current situation in Gstaad?

M.R: The time when properties could be sold at any price is over. Further to that, the Lex Weber will mark a new era for Gstaad. But, I see this as an opportunity to develop and redefine my company and to be more competitive and proactive than ever. I believe in high quality and tailormade services and this is one of Rieder Architektur AG’s strongest assets.

Rieder Architektur AG Bahnhofstrasse 5, 3792 Saanen Tel. 033 748 40 50 www.rieder-architektur.ch

GSTAAD

design

Art Your Home

Laurence Baud, a passionate interior designer Interview : Gaëlle Hennet Photographs : rights reserved

P

assionate about art and design, Laurence Baud loves to play w ith colours, shapes and materials to create v ibrant and unique interiors. She’s bold, and keeps adding to her inspiration w ith her travels, v isits to international design exhibitions, strolls through art galleries and f lea markets.

Sur La Terre: How did you become an interior designer?

Laurence Baud: After a career in marketing for luxury and consumer products, I felt an essential need to free my creativity and to express it. I was always told that I had the ‘je ne sais quoi’ for finding beautiful objects, sometimes completely original, but all with a story to tell or a certain spirit about them, and the ability to adapt them, to marry them harmoniously with their surrounding environment.

SLT: How would you go about creating a design for an apartment, a villa or a professional space?

L.B: Each project, whatever its size, is unique. My goal is always to integrate dreams, needs and the constraints simultaneously, then to refine the agreed concept with the client at each step, before presenting it in the finest of detail. It’s a four hands composition!

SLT: What would you say is a successfully decorated interior?

L.B: To see the eyes of my clients sparkling with joy is the best reward.

Successfully decorating a private interior space is all about creating emotions whilst accurately and elegantly fulfilling my clients’ needs. For a professional space, the aim is to reinforce the image of the company.

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Tel. 022 757 30 08 contact@art-your-home.com www.art-your-home.com www.art-your-office.com

In-Depth

43 GSTAAD

WATCHES

Sotheby’s retrospective 2013

Breguet - ultra-slim gold pocket watch Estimated price: CHF 600,000 – 1,000,000 Sale price: CHF 1,025,000 Place of sale: Geneva Date of sale: 13 November 2013

Bought in 1831 by Lord Henry Seymour Conway, this watch in yellow gold was bequeathed by Sir Richard Wallace, who lends his name to the famous Wallace Collection in London. The watch has a double case, with equation of time, power reserve, calendar and moonphase and is a perfect example of Abraham-Louis Breguet’s watchmaking genius.

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Watches are all the rage!

The auctions run by Sotheby’s, unmissable events for watch connoisseurs and collectors, have beaten all records this year. From Hong Kong to Geneva, London to New York, the bids on timepieces at auction have increased, reaching new record amounts. Here are details of the top ten best sales.

Text: Gaëlle Hennet Photographs: rights reserved

Patek Philippe - REF. 5073P

Estimated price: CHF 584,000 – 817,500 Sale price: CHF 775,447 Place of sale: Hong Kong Date of sale: 8 October 2013 Having been elected as master in the art of making minute repeater watches with so called cathedral gongs almost twice as long as anyone else, Patek Philippe paid tribute to this know-how in 2011 with the launch of the 5073P. The two gongs contained within the narrow case of this timepiece produce an incomparable sound, not forgetting the mechanical self-winding movement, with a caliber R 27 Q , made up of 467 parts. As well as the perpetual calendar, the technical skill is enhanced by the beautiful watch face set with 103 baguette diamonds, and a further 55 diamonds set into the dial and clasp.

GSTAAD

WATCHE s

Vacheron Constantin - King Kalla Estimated price: CHF 437,000 – 560,000 Sale price: CHF 723,393 Place of sale: Hong Kong Date of sale: 28 May 2013

‘Do better if possible, and that is always possible’, is Vacheron Constantin’s motto, the oldest watchmaking company still in business. The savoir-faire of the Genevan company is perfectly portrayed in this Kalla series watch, which marries white gold with diamonds. Created in 1990, the watch has 160 diamonds set into its elegant bracelet and 32 set into the dial, a total of 103 carats.

Patek Philippe - REF 5029P

Estimated price: CHF 350,000 – 450,000 Sale price: CHF 557,000 Place of sale: Genève Date of sale: 11 May 2013 This model, which includes a minute-repeater, achieved the highest auction sale during the Sotheby’s Geneva auction in May. Produced in 1997, it is part of the 10 piece platinum limited edition series that responds to the contemporary desire for automatic watches with elegantly simple cases.

George Daniels - Yellow gold pocket watch

Estimated price: CHF 432,000 Sale price: CHF 522,362 Place of sale: London Date of sale: 3 July 2013

This mechanical yellow gold pocket watch was made in 1986 by watchmaker George Daniels (19262012) and is the first to include his co-axial escapement mechanism. This mechanism, subsequently adapted by Omega to be mass produced, reduces the friction between the different parts so as to achieve optimal time keeping.

Richard Mille- RM 027 Tourbillon n°16/50 Estimated price: CHF 292,000 – 409,000 Sale price: CHF 509,179 Place of sale: Hong Kong Date of sale: 8 October 2013

The RM 027 Tourbillon, the result of a partnership between the independent Swiss brand and Rafael Nadal, is one of the lightest watches ever made (it weighs less than 20 grams, including the bracelet). Made from titanium and lital (a lithium alloy used in various aeroplane parts), the watch has a supple yet sturdy movement. Its case, which protects a skeleton dial, is clearly robust as it is made from carbon composite.

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Vacheron Constantin - Patrimony Traditionnelle Caliber 2755 Estimated price: CHF 373,700 – 560,000 Sale price: CHF 453,123 Place of sale: Hong Kong Date of sale: 8 October 2013 Housing three grande complication dials, this model is the most complex watch made by Vacheron Constantin. At the heart of this classical looking watch is the caliber 2755, made up of 602 parts, which powers the tourbillon as well as the minute-repeater and perpetual calendar, indicating the week, month, date and the power reserve.

Blancpain - REF 1735 Grande Complication n°30/30 Estimated price: CHF 140,000 – 230,000 Sale price: CHF 437,000 Place of sale: Geneva Date of sale: 13 November 2013

This emblematic platinum timepiece, made as a limited 30 unit edition in 1991, combines the six masterful complications from the eponymous Blancpain series. That is, moon phase, perpetual calendar, flyback chronograph, tourbillon and minute-repeater, with an automatic caliber.

Chopard - L.U.C Tourbillon REF 171914-1001 n°22/25

Estimated price: CHF 94,000 – 140,800 Sale price: CHF 432,572 Place of sale: New York Date of sale: 10 June 2013

This model, part of a limited 25 unit edition, entirely set with diamonds, is also equipped with an extraordinary manual winding caliber with a ‘L.U.C 1.02’ tourbillon, and a power reserve of 9 days.

Made up of 224 parts, this exceptional caliber also has a four arm variable inertia balance wheel ‘Variner’, combined with a Breuget overcoil. The precision functionality and reliability are tested and certified by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute), whereas the movement obtains the much coveted Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark.

Patek Philippe - REF 5013P

Estimated price: CHF 328,417 – 422,250 Sale price: CHF 432,572 Place of sale: New York Date of sale: 10 June 2013 Launched in 1992, this elegant platinum model from Patek Philippe is known to be one of the most complicated with its 515 parts. This timepiece is also one of the first to combine automatic movement with a perpetual calendar and minute-repeater.

GSTAAD

WATCHE s

Geoffroy Ader He certainly knows watches. For his seventh birthday he received his first digital watch, and the rest, as they say, is history! A few ye ars l ater, during the 1980s, this son and gr andson of auctioneers started his first collection of Swatch watches before starting his career working alongside his father, Mr Antoine Ader, auctioneer in Paris. Since 2008, Geoffroy Ader has been Europe an He ad of Watches for Sotheby’s.

Interview: Gaëlle Hennet Photographs: All rights reserved

which, in contrast to wristwatches that can be compared to contemporary artworks, are more like old paintings.

SLT: Who are the main players in this market?

G.A: Since the start of the 21st century, new players have entered the market, from Asia, Russia, the Middle East and certain Latin American countries, such as Mexico. Today, the market is becoming more and more global. In the years to come, I think that the market will expand even further, in particular into emerging countries.

SLT: Could you share two of your best horological anecdotes?

G.A: Due to the nature of my work I ‘collect’ anecdotes! Two years ago, I had the opportunity to sell the Oyster Datejust, worn by the German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer. Through our research, we discovered that this Rolex was accompanied by a note from the founder of the brand, which, to my knowledge, is a very rare occurrence. In this letter, resembling an instruction guide, Hans Wilsdorf gave several pieces of advice to the illustrious Head of State on how to look after his watch.

As such, having reassured him that he needn’t worry about anything because the watch ‘winds itself’, he recommended, because it is also watertight, that he cleaned it from time to time so that it kept its justbought appearance!

More recently, I went to see the film Rush with my children, which portrays the rivalry between Formula 1 racing drivers Niki Lauda and James Hunt during the 1970s. Throughout the whole film, I was obsessed with the watch worn by the Swiss Clay Regazzoni, Niki Lauda’s team mate, which was a Heuer Monaco with a blue dial. At the end of the screening, I remembered with a jolt that I knew that watch: we sold it at Sotheby’s Geneva in May 2010! p Sur La Terre: In light of the records achieved this year, what are the main trends of the horological market?

Geoffroy Ader: Generally speaking, the records confirm that the market for watches sold at auction is currently dominated by two trends: the success of star brands on the one hand, such as Patek Philippe and Rolex, which are used to setting records, and on the other hand an increasing demand for iconic brands. This phenomenon is very encouraging, in as much as it shows healthy competition between the different brands.

As for the types of timepieces, I have noticed a marked interest in grande complication watches with an innovative design, as well as pocket watches

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Sotheby’s 13, quai du Mont-Blanc, 1201 Geneva Tel. 022 908 48 00 www.sothebys.com

Brillian ce mee ts

march 27 – april 3, 2014

GSTAAD

REAL ESTATE

Š Grace Hotels

Ski Station Real Estate in Switzerland

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H

Is There Danger in the House?

av ing remained unchanged for several years, the real estate ski station situation currently seems to be affected by things lurking on the horizon, whether this be the ‘Lex’ Weber initiative, or uncertainty w ith regard to taxation.

In this market, capable of affecting the stability of the economy as a whole, does Sw itzerland still have a hand to play?

Text: Gaëlle Hennet Photographs: rights reserved

The ‘Lex’ Weber: the Never Ending Wait As always, the ‘Lex’ Weber is still predicting images of a morose future for the Swiss real estate situation. This initiative imposes a 20% limit on the number of secondary residences in every commune in Switzerland.

Inseparable from its quotation marks, the ‘Lex’ cannot be considered stricto sensu as a law. Pending the definitive drafting of the federal bill on secondary residences by Parliament, due in 2014, on the 22nd August 2012 the Swiss Federal Council decreed an implementing ordinance which came into force on the 1st January 2013, which defines the parameters of the initiative voted for by the population in March 2012.

Apart from its articles, which aim to define the notion of a secondary residence, the ordinance includes an annexe listing the communes concerned. Whilst sixty or so of the communes have already been crossed out, as they have shown to have fewer secondary residences than the imposed 20% limit, the best ski stations in Switzerland, such as Verbier and Crans-Montana, will hardly be able to escape the law, seeing as these are communes in which the quota of secondary residences has hit the 70% mark. As for Gstaad, the developer Byron Baciocchi, Executive Director for the Noryba Group, estimates its quota for secondary residences at 50%.

“In the absence of implementing legislation for the constitutional provision, it is still difficult to measure the impact of this regulation,” assuages Me François Bellanger, who is both a professor at the University of Geneva and a lawyer specialising in regional planning law. For others, the wait for the federal law is a problem. “This interminable wait has made the banks cautious: they are advising the majority of their clients not to invest in a secondary residence. Irritated by this situation, some of my buyers are going abroad!” deplores Jean-Luc Clerc, associate at the Opt-Immo estate agency based in Aigle. Currently hard to evaluate, the precise consequences of this law on ski station real estate nonetheless unleash certain forecasts.

GSTAAD

REAL ESTATE

© Eddy Mottaz

From a real estate economy to the development of tourism?

Jean-Luc Clerc and his associate Aline Thalmann (Opt-Immo)

At the source of the initiative, launched by Franz Weber and supported by the association Helvetia Nostra, is a precise objective: to efficiently fight against uncontrolled development. Even if it is still to be proven whether the ‘Lex’ will harm property development in the most significant ski stations in Switzerland, voices are being raised questioning the pertinence of the initiative’s main argument. “Before the population accepted the initiative, tourism was centralised in the existing ski stations. Since these stations can no longer expand, we are going to witness anarchical building development, primarily in the heart of communes which haven’t reached the 20% quota,” predicts Bernard Attinger, President of the Altitude 1400 Association.

Consequently, coming back to land management and planning, construction companies are suffering huge losses, which has led to a wave of redundancies. “Apart from the training companies, which have reduced the number of apprenticeships by 75%, all construction companies specialising in ski station property will be in the hot seat,” emphasises Jean-Luc Clerc. However, one sector does seem to have escaped: that of the hotel industry, which is not affected by the ‘Lex’ Weber. According to Ms François Bellanger, the future law should “give a second wind to the hotel industry with, for example, the creation of hotels or apart-hotels offering services that compensate for the absence of new secondary residences.” So, instead of blocking the developers, the ordinance and future law could push them to rethink the nature of their projects. That is, of course, on the condition that the best known Swiss ski stations continue to attract a foreign clientele with strong purchasing power. Because, over and above the ‘Lex’ Weber, which will mean stringent measures for all new buyers, the uncertain fiscal climate prevails in Switzerland, particularly in relation to taxes and taxation on Swiss-French inheritance, which is more than enough to dissuade people from investing in Switzerland.

Switzerland.”, explains Yaël Nespolo, director for the Genevan subsidiary for the estate agency John Taylor, before recalling the results of a recent study led by the British estate agency Savills, placing Saint-Moritz, Gstaad and Verbier in the list of the top 20 preferred holiday destinations for people who have more than 30 million dollars of capital at their disposal.

These ski stations, the preferred locations of the super-rich, continue to see sumptuous individual residences popping up, for which prices per square metre range between 20,000 and 50,000 CHF in Gstaad, and can reach the heights of 80,000 CHF at the centre of Saint-Moritz. To justify these prices, which are constantly on the increase, Yaël Nespolo alludes to the rarity factor of these properties. A rarity which relates as much to their intrinsic characteristics, such as their size or quality of the services, as much to their location, proximity to the slopes or the village and, more broadly speaking, to the heart of an internationally renowned ski station.

“The majority of these ski stations have not reached their development potential threshold. This is what justifies the notoriously high prices of properties”, explains Jean-Luc Clerc.

So, do these Swiss ski stations still have the same appeal? Yaël Nespolo is convinced they do, and are an excellent example of the exceptional quality of services in Switzerland. “Gaining customer loyalty through property is not going to disappear just yet. Thanks to the quality of the welcome and to the efforts made by the tourist offices, concentrated on creating cultural and sporting propositions throughout the year, Gstaad, SaintMoritz, Verbier and Crans-Montana are able to meet the expectations of a demanding and complimentary clientele.”

As such, whilst the family friendly Gstaad will continue to attract Anglo-Saxon, French, Greek and even Swiss buyers, Saint-Moritz will be particularly enjoyed by a Russian speaking clientele favouring rental properties, or hotel stays.

In terms of the hotel industry, if the ‘Lex’ Weber, uncertainty with regard to regarding taxation and the strength of the Franc are worrying enough factors for the property and hotel development industry in our ski stations, it is safe to say that their impact will be reduced as long as tourism and property services offered in Switzerland continue to be constantly revamped. p

Has Switzerland’s appeal been called into question?

“The price is often not an obstacle in the sale or rental of a property, when said property is located in one of the most popular ski stations in

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Yaël Nespolo (John Taylor Geneva)

FASHION

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Masquerade

Fashion Editorial Photographed by Ian Abela www.ianabela.com Styled by Mélanie Hearnden “Melane“ www.justmelane.com Hair by Jonathan Lanfrit – Le Bal des Créateurs Make-up by Audrey Bodilis – Le Bal des Créateurs www.lebaldescreateurs.wordpress.com Models : Amanda K. (Elan Management) & Francesco Imundi Making-of : Christine de Loë www.christinedeloe.com

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Platinum fox vest by Daniel Benjamin Plumeti and lace dress by Red Valentino (Globus) Burgundy leather gloves by Mulberry Multishape diamond Alice Band by Graff Diamonds “Sunflower“ earrings by Harry Winston “Sunflower“ necklace by Harry Winston Diamond and titanium fiber ring by Bogh-Art

Grey flannel skirt by Enza Costa (Apollinaire) White blouse by Iro (Bongénie Grieder Geneva) Violet coat by Burberry Black horse box boots by Hermès

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Black bomber by Eric Bompard Navy blue vest by Boggi White cotton shirt by Boggi Beige velvet pants by Ermenegildo Zegna “Ocean Tourbillon Jumping Hour“ watch by Harry Winston

GSTAAD

Black leather pants by Drome (Apollinaire) Light rose silk blouse by Zucca (Apollinaire) Emerald Swakara with raccoon collar coat by Daniel Benjamin Emerald cut sapphire and diamond bracelet by Graff Diamonds

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Marine pull by J. Lindeberg (Globus) White cotton shirt by Boggi Navy blue chevron pants by Fendi “Terra Luna“ watch by Cabestan

GSTAAD

Blue cardigan by Fendi Beige velvet pants by Ermenegildo Zegna Rose gold and full black “Androgyne“ watch

by Manufacture Royale Steel and rose gold “Black Sport“ phone by Savelli

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Black wool turtleneck by Bongénie Grieder Geneva Fur vest by Drome (Apollinaire) Black leather pants by Drome (Apollinaire) Black leather bag by Tod’s Burgundy leather boots by Mulberry Mughal motif inspired bangle with diamonds inlaid into jet by Bogh-Art Mughal motif inspired earrings with diamonds inlaid into mother of pearl by Bogh-Art Ebony and diamonds “Calla 5“ pendant by Vhernier Onyx mat diamonds ring by Ponti Joaillier

GSTAAD

Blue and green printed silk dress by Elie Saab Black suede shoes by Elie Saab White gold and diamonds set necklace by Chopard White gold and diamonds set with grey moon stone, blue pear-cut sapphires, orange sapphires pear-cut earrings by Chopard “Henna“ ring by Van Der Bauwede Geneva “Petite Heure Minute Aventurine“ watch by Jaquet Droz

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Interior design: Black and white carpet by Fereo (Domiciles) White candle by Baobab (Domiciles)

Navy blue corduroy dress by Chanel Navy blue fur stole by Vicedomini Black leather shoes by Free Lance (Picibi) Black diamonds and ruby “Twilight“ earrings by Van Der Bauwede Geneva Rose gold and diamonds “Juste un Clou“ necklace by Cartier “Big Bang Caviar Gold“ watch by Hublot Black diamonds « Pirouette » ring by Vhernier Onyx bracelet by Luisance Bijoux (www.luisancebijoux.com)

GSTAAD

Black silk top by Chloé (Bongénie Grieder Geneva) Mustard cardigan “Labo“ by Eric Bompard Black and gold leather belt by Jo No Fui (Apollinaire) White scottish cashmere pants by Hermès Heart crush bag by Burberry Amber and pink gold “Trottola“ necklace by Vhernier Amber and pink gold “Trottola“ earrings by Vhernier Bronze and citrine ring by Isabelle Fa (Bijouterie Kunz) Pink gold and diamonds “Androgyne“ watch by Manufacture Royale

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Scottish blazer by Brunello Cucinelli Grey down vest by Brunello Cucinelli Navy blue velvet pants by Ermenegildo Zegna Brown with fur rangers by Ermenegildo Zegna Brown leather gloves by John Lobb

GSTAAD

Interior design: Fur monster by Fendi Striped tie by Boggi Navy blue suede ankle shoes by Ermenegildo Zegna Electric blue toolbox bag by Hermès Teddy Black by Burberry Black and white dots balls by Dôme Deco (Domiciles) Black shadow watch by Van Der Bauwede Geneva

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Purple wool pull by Brunello Cucinelli Beige velvet pants by Ermenegildo Zegna Printed scarf by Boggi Brown suede Chambord by John Lobb Moka felt harper hat by Hermès “Duoface Blue Reverso“ by Jaeger-LeCoultre

Camel printed turtleneck by Fendi Navy blue vest by Boggi “Speadmaster“watch by Omega

GSTAAD

Navy blue and camel houndstooth pullover

by Ermenegildo Zegna Jeans by Michael Kors (Globus) Rose gold “Nautilus“ watch by Patek Philippe

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Burgundy silk blouse by Mulberry White skirt by Dior Black dog-collar leather belt by Hermès White gold and titanium diamonds set necklace by Chopard Bronze and gold bracelet by Isabelle Fa (Bijouterie Kunz) “Dome“ black diamonds ring by Van Der Bauwede Geneva “Trinity“ grey gold, diamonds and ceramic earrings by Cartier “Chronographe Flyback Grande Date“ watch by Blancpain

GSTAAD

atelier-zuppinger.ch

Couronne Symbole royal ou remontoir de montre ?

Découvrez l’univers de l’horlogerie d’exception, sur www.hautehorlogerie.org

Couronne | La couronne de remontoir est un bouton de formes variées, moletée ou cannelée que l’on saisit entre le pouce et l’index pour remonter la montre.

Certaines couronnes incluent un poussoir mobile pour déclencher le mécanisme du chronographe, ou le couvercle d’une boîte savonnette.

PARTENAIRES DE LA FONDATION | A. LAnge & Söhne | AuDEmARS PIguET | BAume & mercier | BOvET 1822 | cArtier | ChANEL | chopArD | ChRISTOPhE CLARET corum | DE BEThuNE | girArD-perregAux | gREuBEL FORSEy | hArry WinSton | hERmèS | iWc | JAEgER-LECOuLTRE | LouiS Vuitton | mONTBLANC | pAnerAi PARmIgIANI FLEuRIER | piAget | RALPh LAuREN WATCh & JEWELRy | richArD miLLe | ROgER DuBuIS | tAg heuer | vAChERON CONSTANTIN | VAn cLeef & ArpeLS

interviews

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MOVIE MOVIEs

The Charm of World War Z He is one of the biggest movie stars in the world, one of the most talented and sexiest, too. Meeting with Br ad Pitt.

Brad Pitt

Interview : Patrick Korben Photographs : DR PPC

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Sur La Terre: You once said that everything you do is personal.

Is there a part of the real Brad Pitt in your last movie, World War Z, as well?

Brad Pitt: Yes, absolutely. Obviously everything in this film is a little over the top. But the fear of a parent - to lose his family, that’s real; I think everybody can relate to that.

SLT: You are one of the biggest movie stars in the world. Have you always loved movies?

B.P: Yes, I always have. When I was little I used to sneak into our local movie theater. I loved to be transformed into a different world. I guess I still do. I love exploring worlds like the one in World War Z. SLT: With the success of the TV series “Walking Dead” and other zombie films, computer games and books, it seems like the world is undergoing its own worldwide zombie pandemic. Once again, just like George Romero’s films decades ago, it’s a popular genre.

B.P: Four years ago I knew nothing about zombies. Now I’m an expert!

During the 70s when they were popular it was a time of change and today we are in a time of change. That’s why I think people today are again attracted to the zombie genre.

SLT: Your production company, Plan B, bought the rights to the best-selling novel “World War Z” by Max Brooks, in 2007. What was it about the novel that caught your interest?

B.P: I was really intrigued with what Max explores in his book. In it we found much more than a zombie film. We found this global apocalypse. A zombie worldwide pandemic.

SLT: When you shoot a movie like World War Z it entails, as you mentioned earlier, a lot of travel. How do you cope with being away from your family?

B.P: Well, we are lucky. Most of the time we travel together. We are used

to the chaos when you have to go around the world. And we always try to turn into an adventure. But when I do have to travel alone, I always try to rush back to my family. I miss them when I am on the road.

SLT: Often it’s not an easy job to adapt a book to a film and this one must have been difficult, with all of the action scenes. But also it takes place in numerous countries around the world. You star in it and produced it, so it must have been a lot of work on and off the screen.

B.P: Our first problem was “How could we crack this book?“. It travels around the globe. And two, ‘How do we reinvent the zombies? How do we originate our zombies in a field that has been done and done really well’.

When you watch it, you’ll see our answer to that. I hope you enjoy it as much as my boys!

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MOVIE MOVIEs

World War Z is finally on DVD! Text: Judikael Hirel

The Plot On a day like any other, Gerry Lane and his family find themselves stuck in traffic on their daily commute. Lane, a former United Nations investigator, understands straightaway that this is no ordinary situation. While helicopters fly back and forth and motorbikes crisscross the streets, the town descends into chaos.

When a deadly virus seems to be spreading, even the most peaceful of people become formidable enemies. Lane has no other choice but to step into his old role to protect his family: as such he becomes involved in the frantic quest across the world to identify the origin of the threat and to find a way to stop it from spreading.

The Film World War Z, a general audience film, is carried by the 3D and spectacular special effects. In this film, the world is at war, amidst impressive explosions, jets of fire, bullets raining all around and roaring weapons. Vehicles are also given a rough time in frightening car chases, with pile-ups and crumpled metal to throw into the mix. As for the contaminated crowds, they are ready to swoop down on their prey with blood chilling choreography. Using panoramic and sequence shots the camera follows the action, whether from the side of a helicopter spinning in all directions, or whether from a never ending spiral staircase. It is a compelling immersion into the chaos.

As impressive as ever, Brad Pitt plays an active Gerry Lane who relies only on his intuition and his experience to make crucial decisions to prevent the world from ending. In World War Z, Brad Pitt plays his role thoroughly, working up a sweat, even doing some of his own stunts. This is not surprising when you know how

crowd scenes, supposedly taking place in Jerusalem, were also filmed in Malta.

much this project, which he co-produced, means to him.

The filming team set up in a supposed North Korean prison, before taking to the

After his first forays on to the small screen, his appearance in Thelma and Louise

streets of Budapest.

introduced him to the public in 1991. Since then, he has repeatedly racked up

With astonishing realism World War Z portrays a particularly credible end of

successful performances in varying types of films, from Interview with the

the world scenario. Thousands of extras, an armada of technicians, battalions

Vampire to The Tree of Life not forgetting Seven, Fight Club, Troy, Babel, The

of hairdressers, make-up artists and stylists all contributed to these apocalyptic

Curious Case of Benjamin Button etc. It is a long list, as is the list for the films

scenes, in which you progress from absolute calm to pure panic in a matter of

he has produced, including The Departed, Kick-Ass, Charlie and the Chocolate

minutes. Carefully executed, the stunts show the sheer scale of the contamination,

Factory and Eat, Pray, Love.

the extent of the devastating effects, and the fear that spreads through the

World War Z was filmed in all four corners of the world. Everything starts with the

infected beings. In these authentic sets, tension is increased, which lends an

beginning of the epidemic in Philadelphia. Or rather Glasgow, which was the ideal

incredible importance to the film. As such, the viewer is immersed in a story that

location to recreate the American metropolis, spreading the panic in the central

could affect anyone, in any place, at any time. This means the fear and violence are

square, which was closed off for two weeks for the 700 extras! Several impressive

truly palpable! p

WWZ Collector’s Box Set Limited, numbered edition, only 3000 available • Metal case Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD • Book “The Art of the Film” (storyboards and preliminary drawings) • Bonus disc: 68 minutes of commentary/discussion with Max Brooks, George Romero and Steven Schlozman (author of The Zombie Autopsies) • Film poster • Game of 10 collector’s cards

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FaMOVIE shion

Entrepreneurial spirit from the silky coat of the small capr a hisca goat, Eric Bompard has woven the foundations of a successful business. 30 ye ars after his first roll neck sweater, the entrepreneur remembers the origins of his cashmere adventure and shares some of his secrets to success with us.

Eric Bompard

Interview: GaĂŤlle Hennet Photographs: rights reserved

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Fa s h i o n

Sur La Terre: Would you say that fashion is your vocation or a lucrative profession?

Eric Bompard: Without a doubt a lucrative profession: but this doesn’t mean there is no passion! Our adventure started in 1984 during a business trip to Northern Asia. Throughout the trip, I discovered that 90% of the world’s cashmere was not produced in Scotland, as I had thought, but in the highest planes of the Gobi desert in Mongolia. As European cashmere was very expensive, I quickly realised that there was an opportunity to grasp here, working directly with the producers.

The first boutique was quickly opened in Neuilly-sur-Seine, but the development of the product was not easy: at the time cashmere was very difficult to handle, and the techniques to knit with it very limited. Today, we produce 170 styles per year, whereas the richness of our colours is our strong point. In 30 years we have created over 400 colour nuances!

SLT: This season, fashionistas, men and women alike, are fighting for the limited edition pieces in the Labo collection. Has this line initiated a new, more high-end, positioning of the brand?

E.B: The development of knitting techniques has allowed us to create very refined collections, for a number of years now. The Labo line, for which the name refers back to our savoir-faire, which was developed in a laboratory, is one of these collections. This collection is made up of 5 styles for women and 2 men’s jackets, one sleeveless grey cable jacket, and the other with a shawl collar, only 80 of these numbered creations have been made. If this line is like a carte blanche for our design team, it doesn’t replace our standard collections, quite the opposite, in fact it shows our capacity to push the boundaries of knitting techniques.

SLT: Eric Bompard now has 15 boutiques abroad, 5 of which are in China. In this country from which the cashmere is produced, what value does Eric Bompard add?

E.B: What our Chinese clientele appreciate most is the French touch, the finishes, the knitting, the quality of our pieces. In fact, this is true for all our clients.

SLT: Eric Bompard is known for its autumn and winter collections.

What do you propose for the summer months?

E.B: Whilst it’s true that we achieve more than 80% of our turnover between 15th September and 30th January, the spring/summer collection gives us the opportunity to work with lighter products, stoles, tops, homewear, thanks to new knitting techniques. Unlike other brands, we refuse to work with other, lesser-quality materials. If we did that, we’d lose all credibility!

SLT: A year ago, you launched an advertisement featuring a sweet looking yeti who was irresistibly drawn to the softness of cashmere. Why did you choose this creature as a ‘style icon’?

E.B: Before, our PR strategy was centred on the capra hisca goat, from which our silky wool for our pieces comes. In 2012, we wanted to renew our strategy continuing to feature an animal but one capable of human interaction, unlike the capra hisca. Tho Van Tran, director at the agency Air, suggested using a Yeti. This creature answers our PR needs perfectly; covered in white fur, he reflects the mountain world, and as this is an imaginary being he brings to mind the myths and secrets surrounding the origins of cashmere. Moreover, in our visual campaigns he appears as a benevolent creature searching for a hug! This is a metaphor for the feeling one gets from wearing one of our cashmeres. In September last year, we showed the film “Hugs on Ice”, the second part of the yeti saga.

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This video has already had over 200,000 hits on YouTube!

SLT: In 2012, your site won the gold e-commerce Trophy in the Design/ergonomics category. Are you also passionate about new technologies?

E.B: How can one not feel affected by new technologies! However, I leave this in the hands of the professionals, as it happens with the agency Mazarine, to develop our online strategy. Our website and online boutique were launched in 2004. 10 years later, the e-shop, present in Europe, the USA and in Asia, has grown by 40%. This incredible increase extends the mail order side of the company, which I started with, in the 1980s.

SLT: What is the greatest compliment you’ve received for your cashmeres?

E.B: Once, during a flight, my neighbour who was changing clothes said, without knowing who I was, that he always put on a Bompard sweater to keep warm on long-haul flights. As an entrepreneur, you couldn’t hope to receive a better compliment!

SLT: What do you do in your free time?

E.B: I like to play the piano, go boating, and read. At the moment, I am engrossed in the autobiography of military doctor Pierre Titon, Médecin à travers les tempêtes du siècle. This work contributes to our collective memory; it retraces memorable events in the author’s career, which mainly took place during World War Two and the Algerian war.

SLT: What does Switzerland mean to you?

E.B: For me this country represents the ‘good life’ and peacefulness. Also, I enjoy skiing in Zermatt and Crans-Montana! p

www.eric-bompard.com

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Hublot: a force to be reckoned with His appear ance is rel a xed, and he has a smile on his face. Ricardo Guadalupe, 48, should be proud of what he has achieved.

His career path has been focussed on watch making, punctuated by periods spent working at Bulgari and Bl ancpain, with the crowning glory being his appointment as CEO for Hublot. Today, he relives his journey, the encounters that have shaped his life and the astounding destiny of a factory which is now pl aying in the big leagues. Here is our interview with him .

Ricardo Guadalupe

Interview: GaĂŤlle Hennet Photographs: rights reserved

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Sur La Terre: What pushed you intoa career in the watch making industry?

Ricardo Guadalupe: I was born in one of the birthplaces of luxury watch making, Neuchâtel! Seriously though, this universe has fascinated me since I was a child, thanks, without a doubt, to my father, who was head of manufacturing for automatic watches. I later made this passion a reality when Bulgari, which was a small enterprise at the time, employed me as product manager. As for the rest of my career, I owe this largely to meeting Jean-Claude Biver in 1994, at Baselworld. I was very impressed.

He was already the managing director for Blancpain, and he said to me that one day I should join his team. And this was how I joined the company in 1997, before following Jean-Claude Biver in the Hublot adventure from 2004, motivated by the desire to shake up the conditions of traditional watch making, working alongside him.

SLT: What have you undertaken since your appointment?

R.G: My appointment as CEO at the start of 2012 follows on from, and aims to corroborate, the excellent results Hublot has achieved since 2005.

I aim to support this dynamic growth, as much for the production as for sales. Furthermore, Jean-Claude and I complement each other. He has become the president of the administrative committee and so manages the strategy, and the creative side of things. Me, I am more pragmatic and can transform his ideas into reality.

SLT: This autumn, you got together with Laurent Picciotto, founder of the Chronopassion boutique in Paris, to launch the limited edition Classic Fusion Jeans, a watch with a face made of denim and a bracelet in black denim. Why did you focus on this material, which has been forgotten in the watch making industry since the 1980s?

R.G: This model is an extension of the limited edition collection we launched in February last year, which is made up of a masculine diving design, the Oceanographic 4000 Jeans and of 3 feminine Big Bang designs. At the start, this collection was born from my meeting with Tina Zegg, who had the great idea of creating watches with faces made from real denim. Our partnership led to these designs, offered exclusively in the Zegg & Cerlati boutiques. Like the first collection, the Classic Fusion

Jeans is a result of the research we have done, in order to work with this timeless material, used for the first time in luxury watch making. At the moment, we are continuing our research in the adaptability of other materials for watch making, such as linen.

SLT: These collections also illustrate a key concept for the company: fusion. Could you say a few words about this?

R.G: The art of fusion comes into its own in these two collections. Fusion is the reinterpretation of tradition with technological materials; a unique method to produce watches, which was initiated with the Big Bang.

For example, carbon fibre, zirconium, tantalum, tungsten, ceramic, and titanium are mixed with more traditional materials such as gold, platinum, steel or diamonds. Sometimes, fusion concerns the material itself, like hublonium, an aluminium and magnesium alloy, or Magic Gold, which was a product of our collaboration with EPFL. It’s the first 18 carat gold that is scratchproof! Even though its ingredients are a secret, I can say that ceramic plays its part.

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watc h e s

SLT: Fusion also seems to be a part of the series of limited edition design objects that you offer.

collection marks a new step in Jay-Z’s career, less of a display of bling, and more of a show of classic designs with these two timepieces.

R.G: Exactly! After having launched the All Black skis in carbon fibre with Zai, a bicycle with BMC, a sledge which merges carbon, leather and wood in collaboration with ECAL, we are widening our range this year with Inspiration, a set of headphones created in partnership with Monster, a leading Californian company in this field. With these objects, we are widening the Hublot world by diversifying the mediums to which we attach our name, all the while retaining a consistency with our choice of partners, who are all reputed for producing high quality products.

SLT: Hublot’s presence across the world has increased in response to the incredible development of watch designs. What kind of international development strategy are you following?

SLT: Your partnerships are always so innovative. After sport, you are now working with the musical genius that is Jay-Z. Why?

R.G: At the time of speaking, Hublot has 800 retail outlets across the world, and 65 exclusive boutiques. In 2013, we opened 2 boutiques a month! Of course, we hope to continue with this development in 2014, particularly in China. Our growth potential there is significant. Currently, we achieve just 6% of our turnover there. From now until 2018 we hope to reach 30%.

SLT: On a more general note, what are your objectives for 2014?

R.G: It is true that Hublot was the first luxury brand to enter into the world of football, as the official timekeeper for the Euro and the World Cup from 2010 to 2022. We are now also partners of some of the biggest clubs, like Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain. We were also the first luxury brand to invest in the NBA in the USA with the Lakers and Miami Heat. And we were chosen by Ferrari for a 360° collaboration: we will accompany them in all of their activities right up to what they do for Formula 1. This makes sense; we share the same clients, we have the same DNA: sport, performance, technology. Motivated by a desire to innovate, we turned to music, firstly with the group Depeche Mode, working in collaboration with and for the benefit of the charity Water.

For this we created the Big Bang Depeche Mode with them. As for our collaboration with Jay-Z, we owe this partly thanks to Jean-Claude Biver’s youngest son, who told him that Jay-Z had worn a Hublot in one of his videos. Therefore, a meeting was inevitable! Together we created two Classic Fusion watches to fit in with his collection, Shawn Carter, on sale at Barneys, in New York, as well as the Hublot retail outlets. This

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R.G: Amongst our numerous objectives, is the opening of a second factory in Nyon by the end of 2014, opposite the current building. Five years from now, this new factory will allow us to produce all of our timepieces, to develop new materials and to grow from approximately 400 colleagues to more than 600. On a larger scale, we hope to increase our sales, which are approximately 40,000 watches per year, from 4,900 CHF to more than 350,000 CHF for the more complex pieces.

SLT: Apart from watch making, what do you enjoy?

R.G: I am passionate about gastronomy. Cooking requires precision and creativity, particularly in the choice of products, just like watch making! p Hublot 33, chemin de la Vuarpillière, 1260 Nyon Tel. 022 990 90 00 www.hublot.com

ART

Alexis Reynaud

shakes things up with Skiers From his multiple trips to Asia , Alexis Reynaud, photogr apher and multimedia artist, has brought back unsettling clichĂŠs, where urban l andscapes seem to resemble monsters capable of snatching humans who dare to dawdle. Today he is presenting Skiers, a new series of 23 photogr aphs, which emanate a str ange yet frightening be auty. Here is our interview with him .

Interview: GaĂŤlle Hennet Photographs: rights reserved

Skiers 4464, photograph, 150cm x 200cm, 3 copies made of this edition, from the Skiers series.

GSTAAD

ART

Sur La Terre: After having travelled through some of the biggest Asian cities to create the Passengers and City Ships series, you seem to explore new territories with Skiers…

Alexis Reynaud: It’s true that the series I have created over the past two years have been largely focussed on urban architecture, whereas Skiers has been created at a ski resort. However, these photographs do not signal a split from the previous ones; they have been produced from the same analysis, touching on man’s place in space. In fact, I noticed that the further people are away from us, the less we are affected by what happens to them. These beings are dematerialised, and resemble ants: little black dots lost in the vast emptiness of space which has become incontrollable.

This paradoxical feeling is what gives life to my work. With Skiers, I chose to increase its impact by obscuring the alterations and the editing so as to keep only the crucial visual information.

SLT: Nevertheless, all of the photographs in the series appear almost unreal. How do you explain that?

A.R: The photographs were taken last winter in Avoriaz, in just one day.

I know this ski resort well: at the age of 10 I was already used to spending my holidays here. On occasion I imagined that my skis were ice-breakers, or space ships. This resort is perhaps conducive to strange effects! On a more serious note, I must admit that I took perverse pleasure in doing everything that, in theory, you’re not supposed to do in photography. As such, I slightly overexposed pictures so as to eliminate textures, shadows and perspectives. This has contributed to the undeniably unreal feeling of the images. Few people recognise Avoriaz in these pictures, and many are mistaken even about the nature of the medium used, thinking that they are in fact a series of drawings or pen and ink.

SLT: The tensions between large and small scale, and also identification and anonymity could lead one to think of works by Andreas Gurksy or Massimo Vitali. Which photographers do you admire?

A.R: I am of course appreciative of the originality of Gursky’s work, but also fascinated by the genius of Helmut Newton, Richard Avedon or Robert Mapplethorpe. Most recently I have discovered, and enjoyed, the work from the American Chris Jordan, who creates his pieces from photographs and collections of objects to condemn Western consumerism.

SLT: What are your plans?

A.R: Skiers has started a new stage in my research, which leans more towards simplicity. To continue with my research I want to go to New York and Hong Kong soon, in order to take advantage of a helicopter flight to take several shots for a new project, mixing various shots and well known points of reference. And then there are also many other places I’d like to discover, like the Baïkal lake, in Russia, which gives off a particularly mysterious atmosphere. p Exhibition dates: www.alexisreynaud.com

Passengers in Airport 001, photograph, 150cm x 150cm, 3 copies made of this edition, from the Passengers series.

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CITY GUIDE

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A Spanish Escapade From the PGA Catalunya Resort to Girona Text: Gaëlle Hennet Photographs : Christine de Loë

Stretching from Port-Bou, on the French border, to the seaside resort of Balnes, in the Girona province, the Costa Brava is one of the most popular destinations in Spain. Even though these seaside resorts are dotted with a multitude of high rise buildings, the Costa Brava has not lost its wild side, which is at the origin of its name. Not far from the charming town of Girona is the PGA Catalunya Resort nestled in the rolling hills of the region, a resort complex which has two golf courses and superb villas. This was our experience…

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PGA Catalunya Resort A golfer’s paradise

A

t the heart of the Catalan countryside, several minutes by car from the Girona-Costa Brava airport and less than one hour from Barcelona, nature is rife and fascinates visitors with its diversity. Here, two golf courses embrace the rolling hills of a 300 hectare forest landscape: the Stadium Course and the Tour Course, which contribute to PGA Catalunya Resort’s reputation, recognised by the European Property Awards judges as the best golf estate development in Europe, in 2013.

The courses are differentiated by their degrees of difficulty and were designed by Angel Gallardo, member of the board of directors for the PGA European Tour and ex-professional player, and Neil Coles, legend on the European circuit. Ranked as the 3rd most beautiful golf course in Europe, and the most beautiful in Spain, the demanding Stadium Course, conceived with professionals in mind, has welcomed numerous international competitions onto its greens. And as for the Tour Course, which snakes its way between majestic pine trees and pretty lakes, it offers less experienced players an ideal place to play.

In light of these courses, rigorously maintained and useable throughout the year, it is worth noting that Denis O’Brien, the founder and owner of the PGA Catalunya Resort, has successfully positioned the complex in the rankings of the most prestigious resorts in Europe.

La Vinya – PGA Catalunya Resort (www.pgacatalunya.com)

From the charming hotel to the beautiful villas International tournaments, the lure of the golf courses and the region’s unique setting in Europe – appreciated for its beaches, sheer cliffs and romantic coves – have all contributed in making PGA Catalunya Resort a top choice destination. Riding on the success of its sporting facilities, opened in 1999, the resort complex was developed

in 2006 with a 149 bedroom hotel, the Melia Golf Vichy Catalan, before marketing the surrounding land for the development of real estate projects. In this sector, the rules are strict. Even though each buyer is free to commission their choice of architect, this architect must then construct a contemporarily aesthetic villa, which will stand out for both the irreproachable quality of the materials used to construct it, and its ability to blend in harmoniously with the surrounding environment.

These architectural characteristics are evident in the apartments and the three splendid villas on the complex, which are for sale.

Amongst them, La Vinya, situated close to the Tour Course, offers a stunning view of the region. With its large panel windows, filling the interior space with light, and the pillars on which it sits, the façade of this villa, constructed by five architects from the Lagula team, resembles those of Le Corbusier, particularly the Savoye villa. Not only can you appreciate the beauty of La Vinya from its façade, but also from the wide infinity pool, the superb terrace or its 400m² functional interior, which comprises of four bedrooms and as many bathrooms.

A bespoke services The PGA Catalyuna Resort staff is keen to pay attention to even the smallest of their clients’ wishes, and provide a security service and a

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concierge (in charge of the various cleaning, chauffeur, gardening and catering teams) for the happy owners of the resort residences.

Thanks to a partnership with the Santa Marta hotel, less than 20 minutes away from the resort, the property owners can also benefit from a superb sandy beach, as well as the hotel facilities, which include tennis courts, a swimming pool, restaurant, spa and club house.

Closer to the accommodation on the resort is the residents club, which has a fitness suite, swimming pool, spa and two tennis courts.

The region also offers other possible activities, from the sea to the mountains. Only an hour by car are ski resorts covering more than 100km, or residents can enjoy the more hectic way of life in Barcelona, or perhaps discover the charming fishing villages of the region, such as Calella de Palafrugell. Closer to home is Girona, a surprising gem of a town with its diverse architecture.

Exploring Girona From the medieval city to the Eiffel bridge

Of course, in order to fully appreciate this pretty city of 100,000 inhabitants, and the birthplace of architect Rafael Masó Valentí (1880-1935), there is nothing better than immerging yourself in its history. It is a history strongly affected by French invasions in 1285, 1653, 1641 and Napoleon’s troops, who took the town in 1809 to make it the administrative centre for the Ter department from 1812 to 1814. The Place de l’Indépendance, situated in the centre of the town, there are groups of sculptures as a reminder of this war.

A short distance away, on the pedestrian Gómez Bridge, made up of one single arch, the scenery changes: charming, little pastelcoloured houses line the river Onyar. Behind these houses is the Sant Feliu church, constructed in the 12th century, and the famous Lleona statue (lion), which each visitor should kiss for good luck, all marking the entrance to Barri Vell, the old town of Girona. Overlooked by the Santa Maria cathedral, which has a baroque façade, a gothic nave and the largest crypt in Europe, the old town is bordered by ramparts first built by the Romans, now transformed into a pleasant archaeological walk.

This true town within a town notably has a

historical museum and the Call Jueu (Jewish quarter). Secret passages, steep alleyways, flights of stone staircases: a visit to this area, considered to be amongst the best preserved quarters in Europe, remains unmissable.

At the exit to Call Jueu, walk along the banks of the river leading to the Peixateries Velles bridge, recognisable for its red metallic structure designed in 1877 in the Eiffel workshops to replace the wooden crossing that was regularly damaged by rising water levels.

Cross over the bridge and take a little detour to the Cinema museum. This museum presents a rich overview of the history of cinema, from the first moving images of shadow play to cinema as we know it today.

As for food lovers, no trip would be complete without a meal at El Celler de Can Roca, which received the title of Best Restaurant in the World from the British magazine Restaurant this year, upon discovering the bold flavours of the three Roca brothers. It is a restaurant that is just like the city: both traditional and modern.p

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