The Mayor of the Ramada

I have a lot of memories of BaselWorld. Curious to relate? The majority of them took place in the Hotel formerly known as the Ramada - the Hyperion. Anyone who had ever visited BaselWorld before it ceased operations would know about the lobby of that hotel. It wasn't necessarily glamorous, at least before it became the Hyperion. But what it did have? It had a lot of tables. And these tables in the lobby became the epicenter for where the real deals at BaselWorld would take place. You want to negotiate a deal? You sure as hell wouldn't do it in a booth in Hall 1! You'd go somewhere the press wouldn't find you because they were too busy running around the booths. But the Ramada/Hyperion was more than just a spot for confidential business rendezvous, it was also a spot for small independent brands to pitch their tents and introduce the more intrepid journalists (like yours truly) to their brands. And the undisputed Mayor of the Ramada was Daniel Simon Dreifuss -

I first encountered Daniel at my first BaselWorld visit as a member of the press, back in 2011. The blog formerly known as Tempus Fugit was by no means a known quantity by any stretch of the imagination. But Daniel had reached out via email on my second to last day and we arranged to meet.

And I introduced him to a few other journalists while I was at it ; )

But what Daniel would go on to do at subsequent fairs was emblematic of what made him so well known in Watch Town. Daniel realized that the best, most time and cost effective way to spread the word about Maurice de Mauriac was to plant a flag in the middle of the second busiest intersection at BaselWorld - the lobby of the Ramada. The lobby of the Ramada was not unlike Rick's Bar in the movie Casablanca. It was the one place, that sooner or later, everyone would pass through.

And it was there you would see Daniel, wearing something colorful and fun, jumping out of his seat to shake your hand, and then dipping into his signature leather tote bag to bring forth his latest watches, along with NATO straps of every color and pattern.

The last time I spoke with Daniel was September, 2021. I was returning home following a consulting trip in Neuchatel and had a day stopover in Zurich. He was running late, so I checked out the watches, and spoke with his sons. In the end he came in somewhat flustered from all of the errands he was busy taking care of that morning. If I remember correctly, he was in the process of either building or refurbishing a home in Italy.

Word reached Henki Time's North Shore offices early this morning that Daniel Simon Dreifuss had passed away. And if I am honest, this marks a fairly big turning point. Daniel was a larger than life personality - but in the best possible way. He made a lasting impression on everyone he met, and he will be sorely missed. 

His two sons had already taken over the business, and I suspect that they will continue on, making those human connections.

So what is there left to say? Well, thank you Daniel. You made Watch Town a whole lot more interesting! You will be missed, and certainly not forgotten. 

Go easy, and God's speed.

One of Watch Town's Nice Success Stories

Hanhart has a special place in my heart. Although it has been through a few misadventures, it is nice to see it on stable ground, and by all accounts steadily gaining steam.

Courtesy of Hanhart

The watch making know-how was always there. But at the risk of sounding less-than sympathetic to previous managers/owners, the business side had been poorly managed for quite some time. But that all changed with the arrival of Felix Wallner. I first met Felix in the lobby of the hotel formerly known as the Ramada. I had asked for the meeting to try and gain the US (and hopefully Canadian as well) rights for Hanhart. This was going to be based on the model that Synchron used for DOXA before the Jenny family took the distribution rights back. In the end, it did not work out, but Felix and I remained in contact, and I have to say that he has not only proven to be a true turnaround specialist, but also is someone that I truly enjoy speaking about the watch business with.

Courtesy of Hanhart

In a world of outsized egos, over funded marketing campaigns, and basic inability to "read the rooms" of Watch Town, Felix stands out as someone who exercises patience, and simple common sense. 

Courtesy of Hanhart

The turnaround at Hanhart is not down to one "Magic Bullet" move, but rather down to making a plan, and having the discipline to see that plan through. While it might not be as sexy as renting out a nightclub, hiring a DJ and pouring champagne all night (paying for it with your investor's money, or daddy's), it is a blueprint for how to take a failing brand, and build it up through something not too common in Watch Town these days - PATIENCE and HARD WORK.

Bravo Hanhart and Mr. Wallner!

 

The Transfer Window is Opening

Well pals and gals, it's that time of year once again.  Befuddled watch company owners/ board members will be pulling their heads out of their collective backsides as they finally come to grips with their balance sheets, see the red ink that has been accumulating for the past 11 months and say "how did that happen?"  As if it was some sort of sudden development.

And once again, action will be taken.  The same executives who were smiling confidently a few months ago, saying things like - "Yes, but we're REALLY big in the Mid-East", will be spending January and February punching up their resumes looking for a new "opportunity".

And those who haven't found something by BaselWorld will be populating the lobby area of the Ramada.  And actually this is my new business idea - start a headhunting firm specializing in the watch industry.  Simply camp out in the Ramada and put all of the executives on one side, put the HR representatives on the other, and do a sort of "speed dating" event.

I am joking.

Sort of.

Because ultimately, the watch industry continues to amaze me with its iron-clad unwillingness to learn from its mistakes.  "Well, executive X failed at three different companies - but let's have him run our company.  I am SURE that everything will be fine."  To my way of thinking, it is a bit like buying "retread tires" and then being surprised when you have a blow-out on the highway.

And this is not limited to Switzerland - although there does seem to be a real passion for this sort of willing suspension of disbelief.  Here in North America we see the same players, simply changing jerseys.

So who's fault is this?  I can't blame the CEOs or the North American troops.  Ultimately they are doing what they need to do to survive.  But it is a pretty startling reality.

If you continue to do the same thing, again and again, and somehow expect to get a different result...

The Pen Is Mightier!

I am very proud to announce the creation of a new award to recognize significant community contributions by members of the watch industry.  The ‘Writing Wrongs’ Award will be awarded for the first time on Thursday, April 25^th at the EDELBERG booth in the Ramada at BaselWorld. 

This past year, I announced the Tempus Fugit Initiative – a call to action for members of the watch industry to do more than merely write a check for a charitable contribution.  The goal of the Tempus Fugit Initiative is to help call attention to members of the watch industry who truly endeavor to change the lives of others in a positive, meaningful, and sustainable way.

I was joined in this mission by the father and son team behind EDELBERG Haute Manufacture, Carlo Naldi and his son Samuel.  Through their daily operations, they help prove that nothing is more powerful than an idea – even if sometimes that idea might need some help to express itself.  Carlo and Samuel recognized, as I do, that a story needs to be shared, and by sharing that story we can help people working to heal a broken world.  The Naldis share my sincere desire to give these actions a voice, and to prove that the pen is indeed mightier than the sword.

This year we are very pleased to honor the work of Fonderie 47.  Fonderie 47 have set out on the rather daunting task of reducing the number of assault rifles and other small arms globally.  They have addressed this challenge by funding the destruction of over 30,000 assault rifles to-date.  In the process, they have dismantled these deadly machines and repurposed some of the components into beautiful pieces of jewelry and one of the most beguiling haute creations the world of horology has seen in some time: a watch they have named Inversion Principle. 

Courtesy of Fonderie 47

The very idea of taking an AK47 and repurposing it into an object of beauty is amazing in and of itself – but considering that this enterprise serves to fund the destruction of even more weapons and you can understand how Fonderie 47 was the unanimous choice for the inaugural ‘Writing Wrongs’ Award.

Courtesy of Fonderie 47

Inversion Principle, the new timepiece by Fonderie 47 announced earlier this year, was designed by Adrian Glessing, and developed and produced by David Candaux of Du Val Des Bois exclusively for Fonderie 47.   Peter Thum, who is a pioneer in this field, heads Fonderie 47.  Inversion Principle is a mechanical marvel with features including a jumping hour complication, a retrograde minutes display, a 3-minute flying tourbillon, and 2 power reserve indicators.  Available in white or red gold, and limited to 10 pieces of each color, each timepiece funds the destruction of 1,000 assault rifles in Africa upon purchase.   And to commemorate the transformation of weapon to time keeping wonder, a small piece of the metal recovered from a destroyed AK47 is employed to cap the ratchet wheel and can be viewed through the display back.

We welcome you to join us in honoring Fonderie 47 on Thursday, April 25^th at 5:00 PM.  No RSVP required – just a desire to change the world!