Bern to La Chaux-de-Fonds to Zurich and Home

So Bern. I have been through Bern once or twice via train connections, and driven by my friend Rod Hess. With that being said, I was clearly missing out. I had about two hours after breakfast to take in the sights -

There is clearly a lot more to be seen, so next year this is definitely slated for a full day's stay.

And then I got a reminder about just exactly how large and (I gotta' be honest) not consistently logically laid-out a train station Bern is. If you've never started a journey in an SBB station without a ticket (and you do not have a pay account tied to your SBB app) you must do a few things before you get in the carriage:

• Identify the ticket machine - curious to relate? It is not always where you expect it to be.
• Make sure your payment method is going to work. 
• Make sure you have sufficient Swiss Francs and (if necessary) Euro to make your purchase (see above).
• Clearly understand just how far the platform is from the main hub.

So let's examine that last bullet item in a bit more detail. Ordinarily, it is a fairly brief walk from the central hub to any given platform. The one previous experience I've had is the walk "across the border" when arriving into Basel via Mulhouse (France). With that said, I was not prepared for the (literally) 1 + kilometer walk I had to make - and that is FROM the tunnel marked "Biel/Bienne"!

Long story short? I had to sprint at the end to make the train, and truly just made it!

With that said, it was a beautiful day and the ride to Biel/Bienne was smooth, with a quick transfer to La Chaux-de-Fonds -

And a return to visit my friend Kornelia Imesch at ochs und junior -

And I got to check out the settimana junior -

Courtesy of ochs und junior

And in an odd sort of way? This was really coming full-circle for me. Back in 2010 I had walked away from DOXA, realizing that it had become a bit of a dead-end, and I was not going to advance or go any further. I had started writing Tempus Fugit (which is today known as Henki Time), and I stumbled upon ochs und junior via a magazine article that had been forwarded to me. I then connected with Beat Weinmann and got a behind the scenes look at the nascent brand. Fast forward nearly 10 years to the day later, and I was back behind the scenes and got to know the owner Kornelia, the inspiration for the settimana junior - Flori, and got to see how things were moving forward since ochs und junior moved to La Chaux-de-Fonds. So really oj does bookend my start in consulting and media and as I said, it feels as if I've come full circle ; )

After a lovely lunch and a walk around the neighborhood, I was off to Zurich -

I got checked in, found dinner at my favorite Chinese take-out in the old town, got a good night's sleep. The next morning I availed myself of the Ruby Mimi's breakfast - highly recommended by the way, and struck out for a personal errand...a visit to Jenni Uhren, the work address of one Marc Jenni (among others).

After a few wrong turns and a short stroll along a river / canal, I found myself in the right place. I had my eye on two different pieces -

This particualr one I quite like - it's quirky and definitely "of an era", not unlike yours truly ; )

But I had also been admiring this little time machine -

And that is what I ended up with.

And a few words about Marc. The watch business can be a cynical world. As a member of the press, you all too often realize that your relationships with brands and watchmakers can be transactional. I sometimes call them "Weather Vane" friendships, meaning that whether or not some folks have time for you depends upon which way the wind is blowing ; )

But Marc Jenni is something altogether different. I will never forget getting a much coveted invitation to the AHCI dinner during BaselWorld several years back. I have never considered myself an "A List" level invitee, so I reached out to Marc and asked if there had possibly been a mistake, did they really mean to invite me. Marc immediately responded saying that I was absolutely meant to be invited, and that he looked forward to seeing me there! And he could not have been more inviting, more friendly, and more engaging. And I can honestly say after several years of knowing him that he is exactly that nice! For those of you have have the opportunity, he is a friend well met.

Then back to the hotel, packed everything up (including watches this time and double checked), and headed to the station -

And off to the airport, and some "self-care" which my friend Armand Billard reminds me is important not to neglect ; )

As I write this, it is Sunday morning, nearly one month since I got back. A lot has happened. A family member has been diagnosed with a serious medical condition, my job will likely be over by the end of June owing to the political machinations endemic to the city of Lawrence, and in many ways while it feels like the end of some things, it also seems like the start of yet another series of wonderful opportunities, and I am reminded once again that true friendship is something that endures.

Life is fickle and short, embrace it.

Tempus Fugit -

Spending Time With The BR 03-93 GMT BLACK

From Bell & Ross -

The folks at Bell & Ross North America were kind enough to let me borrow a BR 03-93 GMT Black for the past two weeks. And this was the perfect watch to get me in the mood for my upcoming trip to Besançon ; )

Now confession time, I have never worn (for more than a quick BaselWorld photo) one of Bell & Ross's Instrument series watches. And more importantly, up until recently I was more a devotee to the Vintage collection. But lately I have become more and more taken not only with the practical side of the watch - visibility, etc., I have come to not only admire (but again, in all honesty) become rather obsessive about the BR 03-93 format in both the diver, and per this review the GMT.

When I first launched "the blog formerly known as Tempus Fugit" my goal was to share feedback that was pertinent to actual watch buyers who actually might buy an actual watch, and actually? I don't know, maybe, actually wear it. In my world that comes down to a few things -

• Is the watch actually comfortable to wear?
• Is the watch reliable?
• Is the watch well made?
• Is it likely that someone who makes a reasonable income could save a bit and afford it?

So let's begin at the beginning, shall we?

The BR 03-93 GMT is based on what has become symbolic of Bell & Ross's design grammar, while also evolving beyond it's original iteration as a time only watch. It is not insubstantial, but in fact that is appealing to me.

The case is like an instrument panel, and that is by design. 

The case measures 42 mm in diameter, which is more than big enough, but yet not too big. The visibility is enhanced by the square shape. Don't ask me why, but I suspect it's not unlike utilizing a mat around a painting, or print - it draws in the viewer to a focal point.

The dial's face uses Bell & Ross's favored layout of alternating indices and numbers. In this instance the quarter hours are writ large with 12, 3, 6, and 9. The indices are coated in Superluminova, as are portions of the hands, and the tip of the GMT hand.

The finish of the case, the crown, the strap, and the buckle are all incredibly well finished.

Although the case back has engraving and four screws securing it, you would never know while wearing it. Very often, even in a watch costing far more, this is a tell-tale indicator of where the technical finishing and attention to tolerances is proven to be inconsistent with the vision of the design team. Not so with the BR 03-93. It is extremely comfortable on the wrist.

The crown is very smooth, yet very tactile. It is well balanced, setting and winding are quite pleasant - none of that "scratch, scratch" noise, nor cracked fingernails. And I was very impressed with the alignment of the GMT hand. This sounds silly, perhaps. I mean, it's a GMT watch, right? Well, it might surprise you to know that A LOT of GMT watches ship out to stores, later to be sold to customers, with somewhat misaligned GMT hands. Needless to say, Bell & Ross's quality control remains first rate.

On this review model, the BR 03-93 GMT shipped with a black leather strap. The strap is very well finished, not sloppy slipped stitches, and the leather is comfortable and smooth. The BR 03-93 GMT when purchased ships not only with a leather strap, but also a black synthetic fabric strap -

Courtesy of Bell & Ross

The strap is secured by four hex screws -

And while both straps are quite nice, Bell & Ross offers the opportunity to add to your strap wardrobe. And as I am both a fan, and a wee-bit contrary, if I were buying this time travel machine, I would add two more options to my sartorial kit -

Courtesy of Bell & Ross

Courtesy of Bell & Ross

The point being, is that you have options - actually a WHOLE BUNCH of them!

The buckle is definitely from the Goldilocks school of design, just right!

It is not insubstantial, but the finishing is smooth, the tang piece lays flat, and it refuses to get caught in the sleeve of your sweater ; )

Now the physical comfort is undeniable. It is more than comfortable all-day. But let's talk about reality. Travel is only so glamorous (unless of course you fly on a private jet, in which case you can afford to have someone else tell you the time). My travel tends to break down as Boston to California, Boston to Zurich, and more than once, Boston to Tokyo. Now again, back to reality - when you are traveling long distances you are not (despite the images you see in the brochures) at your best - either physically or psychologically. Your sleep patterns are, to use the Latin - jacked up. Your vision is not solid-state, and therefore it is hard to read the dial of your watch, even with a GMT feature. You need contrast -

Very often, we think of day and night separation of blue and black. And if that is your take on things Bell & Ross has you covered with a more subtle version. Me? I need contrast.

Let me invite you to the 22:55 Logan - Zurich flight with your old pal Henki. Chances are good that I have already put a full day in at my job, raced home, caught the shuttle bus to Logan, checked in, cleared security and paced back and forth waiting to board. This is even if I have plumped the extra $ for a business class seat on Swiss Air. Why? Doesn't Logan have a Swiss or Lufthansa lounge? Well now it's time for travel tips from your old pal Henki - Yes there is a lounge, but it is, to put it politely, underwhelming. So after putting in about 3 miles of airport walking while carrying my coat and my carry-on, I am not exactly "springtime" fresh by the time I am plopped in my seat. Moreover, I am tired, a bit groggy, and my visual acuity is not what it might have been earlier in the day. Now fast-forward as we are maybe about four hours into the flight and I am trying to decide between a night cap and part of a movie, or simply turning in. There is a true sense of reassurance and comfort glancing (not squinting) at your wrist and knowing what time it is where you are heading, and more importantly what time it is where your loved ones are. Your mileage may vary, but this stuff is important to me.

Overall, I fell in love these past two weeks. And as someone who stepped back from writing about watches, or even being that interested as an enthusiast for nearly 2 years, this is saying something. I do, however, have one critique. The date indication is just too small, and I suspect even for a younger guy it is a bit challenging to read. The one alteration I might propose would be a magnifying "window" over the date. BUT - not the typical cyclops window that you might find on others, but rather a magnifier on the inside of the crystal. Otherwise the date window really serves no purposes but decoration (very small and hard to see decoration). But again, that is just my take on it.

The timekeeping has been what you would expect, spot on. The movement is the BR-CAL.303. This is based on the ETA 2893-2. So good news, this is a very serviceable watch that you can get taken care of promptly, and not resign yourself to owning a formerly operational time keeper now consigned to over-priced paper weight.

About price - the BR 03-93 GMT is reasonably priced for what you get. It is (at least for me) not an impulse buy - social work paying what it does and the cost of living in the Northeast being what it is. But with that being said, it is what I consider to be aspirational within reason. It is something that you could reasonably save for. Of course if you are cut from more well-to-do stock, you won't have to wait. The asking amount is $4,200 and can be ordered directly from Bell & Ross or from a retailer in their network.

After two weeks, I regrettably have to return my new best friend to its family at Bell & Ross HQ, but can say unequivocally that this is a fantastic watch. Wonderful as an everyday watch. But if like me, you long for that extra something that will make your travel not only more bearable, but actually pleasurable? If you are looking for that trace of glamour (albeit attainable) in your travel experience, in a day and age where glamour (or even pleasure) is disappearing faster than the chicken entree in the economy class cabin's food trolley? Well this might just be for you too - I know that it is for me.

Here are the pertinents -

• MOVEMENT

  BR-CAL.303. Automatic mechanical.

• FUNCTIONS

  Hours, minutes, central seconds, second 24-hour time zone and date. Quick setting of the GMT hand, independently of the hour hand.

• CASE

  42 mm in width. Satin-finished and polished steel. Bi-directional rotating bezel with 24-hour scale and black and red two-colour anodized aluminum ring.

• DIAL

  Black. Indices coated in Super-LumiNova®. Metal skeletonised Super-LumiNova®-filled hour and minute hands and 24-hour hand.

• CRYSTAL

  Sapphire with anti-reflective coating.

• WATER-RESISTANCE

  100 meters.

• STRAP

  Black coloured calfskin leather and ultra-resilient black synthetic fabric.

• BUCKLE

  Pin. Satin-finished and polished steel.