Switzerland trip Zürich and Geneva AP experience

[Steele]

So this is a trip that’s been long in coming and have been planning for over 6 months, I have really wanted to go back to the motherland and get as much watchmaking as I could into the trip, but for this trip it was a very quick trip with the family so I did as much as I could in what time I had available.
We started off the trip in Zurich and then our way to a few other Swiss cities before ending up in Geneva and then headed back to Zurich where we flew out to Paris.

Geneva AP boutique
My AP experience at the boutique in Geneva was amazing. Benjamin was the SA who helped me and what an amazing time, He had a vast knowledge of the brand and really understood the watchmaking history of AP I was very impressed. Great conversation we spent about two hours chatting and looking at pieces and of course I was wearing my AP perpetual calendar in yellow gold I felt this really helps break down the barriers in the Boutique to help identify the true collectors, At the boutique, they brought out more than a few amazing pieces in which I was offered this rose gold chandelier chronograph and if the wife wasn’t there to slap me around and remind me IM PINK lol and rose gold does NOT look good on my PINK/White Pasty Skin, there’s a chance she would’ve come home with me even though I am not a rose gold fan if would’ve been yellow gold or white gold. The likelihood of this coming back to America would’ve been very high!
I tried on the Royal Oak offshore blue ceramic 43 mm. I already have this in the black ceramic with the Gold markers and I love it. I wear it often but it is at this point in my collecting journey just a little too large for me. I am looking for the 41 mm and 39 mm is kind of my spot for AP.
They then Brought out a gem set Code 1159 for the wife to look at it was the pink sapphires and my wife thought the peace was amazing. Just way too large for her. She has a very tiny wrist and she’s usually wears a 26 to 28 mm Rolex. Yes she has two AP and Vacheron.

The boutique itself was small and very busy as this is the Christmas holiday buying season. It was a lot busier than I expected it to be to be honest. The boutique was to be as expected, very well-designed and a good location in Geneva. It was very well staffed, and from the very beginning to the greetings at the door, everything was very fluid and professional overall great experience.

I was offered three total pieces at the boutique, but nothing that really for me as I already have a very substantial AP collection and am looking for specific Sizes and pieces from 37mm ROO to 41mm RO

Zürich AP house

So my visit to the house in Zürich was kind of a little confusing in the beginning as it is located inside of a building that you have to walk into to get to the actual house. Once you go inside, it’s a little bit confusing as you’re looking around and you think you’re walking into a bank!!! In reality, that’s exactly what it is. It’s an old bank that has been converted into the AP house. Absolutely amazing they did a great job. It was set up for Christmas so very festive. The staff there was great. I even asked the front door guy am I at the right place here? He laughed and said yes They greeted me once I entered, and I told them that I have a bucket list of traveling around the world and visiting all of the houses and boutiques we had off right away. We talked about my collection. We talked about how much time I was spending in Zürich and Switzerland in total. They asked me what plans I had for dinner for this evening and when I told them none, they immediately started booking dinner reservations for me, which was completely above and beyond anything I ever could have expected. It was so great literally worked for a good 15 minutes to get me a reservation multiple restaurants in the area.
At this point, I really was looking for a piece for the wife as I figured there was no chance of getting any Royal oaks for myself so I went back and collected the wife at the hotel and the small child Headed back to the boutique
Where we met with the SA Cedric It was very funny because he immediately noticed my yellow gold perpetual calendar and said if there was one Watch he would ever get that would be his endgame. I was wearing it and what a treat that was so of course I took my watch off and let him wear it Lol. I told him I was looking for the Wifey And we are looking for something 34 mm and down due to her small wrist size. They did have the 34 mm rose gold with the diamond bezel, but it was already spoken for so then I asked him if I could even just try on one of the ceramic pieces because I never had a chance to try one on or see one in the flash, Unfortunately, they did not have any in stock This is when he brought out the double balance, yellow gold in the brand new reference number. My first experience with this piece in precious metal and what I do like about it is that the new dial really focuses on bringing out the inner workings of the watch you have to really see it in person to understand the older reference the 15407 Where your eye is drawn to the double balance bridge Has now changed to where your eye is drawn deep into the movement more of a 3-D effect The gold that they are now using for their yellow gold is definitely being mixed with the sand gold. It is a much lighter yellow gold than their other pieces. I should’ve taken a picture side-by-side with my watch, but I just was not thinking about it total FAIL
So after talking for a little bit, I asked him OK what’s in the back? What amazing piece can you show us? So this is when he brought out what is by far the most beautiful piece of watch/jewelry Creation that I have ever had a chance to experience. It was the Royal Oak concept the 38.8 mm Blue sapphire tourbillion And let me tell you I wore it for a good 30 minutes and never once will you ever be able to look at The watch and see the same or experience the same visual effect ever. It is an ever-changing ever evolving visual experience As the light is moving, the angle of the watch is moving every single movement or change in position the watch opens up new dimensions of amazingness!!
They had a client coming in to look at it, and I told him if If his wife does not want it, I want it!!!!!!

Another funny thing that happened in the Zürich house was they had a giant 4 foot tall book that had the actual page with the movement of the watch that I was wearing open to when we arrived. I had to get a photograph. It was too funny. what are the coincidences?

Cheers