Kiss Drummer to Judge Grand Prix of Fine Watches
If anyone knows about keeping time, it’s the drummer for a legendary rock band. That’s just one reason that Eric Singer of long-running metal group Kiss has been chosen as one of the judges for the upcoming Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) which will be taking place in November. Singer is also a noted collector of fine watches so he should fit right in with the jury of 26 experts that have been given the task of choosing the best timepieces of 2015.
In just four years, the GPHG has become one of watchmaking’s most prestigious awards with most famous brands choosing to participate, Rolex being the one notable exception. Categories range from watches selling for under $5,000 all the way up to grande complications.
Singer joins a panel of returning jurors that includes René Beyer of the Beyer watch shop in Zurich, jeweler Claude Sfeir, collector John Goldberger, writer Elizabeth Doerr and jury president Aurel Bacs.
Last year the top prize, called the Aiguille d’Or or Golden Hand, went to Breguet, making them ineligible to repeat. The list of competing watches will be announced on July 15.
Zurich Not Impressed by Apple Watch
The Apple Watch went on sale in Switzerland on Friday to a tepid reception. Could it be that the home of fine luxury timepieces is less than impressed with the heavily hyped smartwatch?
While past product launches have been marked by long lines outside Apple retail outlets, just a small group camped outside the store on Zurich’s Bahnhofstrasse Thursday night. Many of them were under 30 and buying their first watch. Rene Weber, an analyst at Ban Vontobel AG, was part of the crowd and told a reporter, “Young people are definitely the target audience of the Apple Watch. Swatch is now challenged to bring something to the market that will excite young people.”
Maybe so, but for now Swiss customers are less than excited over the Apple watch.