The GT TOUR SKELETON

From Reservoir -

Courtesy of Reservoir

This one is slated to be available in September.

Courtesy of Reservoir

Here are the pertinents -

– 43mm, Titanium Case with brushed finish 
– Open dial 
– Self-winding mechanical movement, 37 hours power reserve 
– Complications: Retrograde minutes, jumping Hour, Power Reserve 
– Patented proprietary 124-pieces module on ETA 2824-2 caliber 
– Anti-reflective sapphire crystal 
– Opened case-back, screw-down crown, Water-resistant 5ATM 
– Perforated black calf leather strap with stainless steel butterfly folding clasp 
– Quick release spring bars for easy changing of strap 
– Additional NATO strap provided

EPHJ Trade Show 2020 Cancelled

Yes sports fans, the other-other shoe has dropped and today the EPHJ announced that their event was cancelled owing to the continued ban on gatherings of more than 1,000 people.

Oh, and just in case you thought that they were going to stick it to the companies who had stuck with them and showed faith?  I encourage you to read this excerpt from their announcement:

Following the Swiss Federal Council’s decision to extend the ban on events with more than 1,000 people to 1 October, we have had to cancel the 2020 EPHJ trade show, which was scheduled to run from 15 to 18 September.

In light of the response from many exhibitors, the EPHJ Trade Show 2020 organisers pulled out all the stops to make the trade fair happen, having already rescheduled from June to September. Unfortunately, the Federal Council decision does not distinguish between different kinds of event and makes no allowance for the proposed health and safety measures.
“We have to honour the decision of the Swiss Federal Council,,” announced Alexandre Catton, Director of the EPHJ Trade Show. “Our thoughts go out to all those companies in the high-precision sector who rely on having this platform and were looking forward to presenting their findings and innovations at the Trade Show. We wanted to make a proactive contribution to the much-needed economic recovery. Unfortunately the virus had other ideas. We look forward to seeing everyone on 8 to 11 June at the 2021 Trade Show.”
We had already contacted exhibitors to explain that anyone registered for the 2020 trade fair will have the option of claiming a refund of the 2020 registration fee or carrying their registration over to the 2021 show.

Now I am assuming that this means a full refund and not a BaselWorld style: "let me sell you this nickel for a dime!"

And as for the big swinging dicks anxious to share their "savoir faire" (and God knows what cooties) in Geneva in a little less than two weeks' time -

Well, hey, health and safety are for little candy-assed brands, and punk-assed wanna' be influencers!

Make your choices my fellow members of the 4th and 5th Estate, I'm sitting this one out ; )

When the Music Stops - Reality Pays a Visit to Lucerne

Word reached the North Shore offices of Tempus Fugit this AM via Watch Pro and confirmed by some other outlets such as SWI (swissinfo.ch), that mighty Bucherer has told up to 370 loyalists to sling their hooks and take it on the heel and toe.

In the age of COVID-19, this is to be expected. For Bucherer (and let's be honest, nearly every other tourist focused retail store in Lucerne), it is going to be some time before the very, very large groups of Chinese tourists are roaming the city streets, credit cards in hand.



But closer to home, the purchase of Tourneau is probably starting to engender more than just a wee bit of buyer's remorse.  Tourneau, to their credit, have made a half-hearted attempt at online sales.  
But truth be told, a quick browse of the Tourneau website, it is just that, half-hearted. For better or worse, it is no longer a question of whether or not the future of watch retail is online.  The PRESENT of watch retail is online.  In the words of that other great commentator on the watch industry - Billy Beane as played by Brad Pitt in Moneyball -
"Adapt or die."