Time is something that we’ve all had our fair share of juggling this year, but at the Beau-Rivage Genève – a historical, luxury hotel at the heart of the Swiss city – ‘making time’ is something that comes naturally. After all, Geneva is the horology capital of the world, so it’s only fitting that the hotel is offering the Beau-Rivage Watchmaking Experience, just in time for Christmas.
What do you give the OutThere traveller who has everything? Well, we’re not going to get all A Christmas Carol on you here, but taking the moral of Charles Dicken’s story to heart, the gift of time, travel and generosity is surely something that would make a priceless present, especially after this crazy year. None of us can be ghosts of past, present and future, of course – but the iconic Beau-Rivage hotel has a Christmas gift idea that might just satisfy that brief.
The Beau-Rivage Watchmaking Experience will give horology aficionados an opportunity to create their very own timepiece when they stay at the hotel. In partnership with prestigious local watchmaker studio, Initium, the experience includes a full-day immersion into the fascinating world of mechanical watches. It will reveal centuries of craft secrets, guided by a master watchmaker and guests will put together their very own piece. If you have the hands for it, you could even be taught engraving and chamfering to create something truly personal, that you will take home with you as a souvenir at the end of your stay. And if that’s not enough ‘time travel’ for you, then the hotel throws in two tickets to the lauded Patek-Phillipe Museum. The property has a long link to link to the brand, after all, it was at the Beau-Rivage that the most expensive watch in the world was sold back in 2014 – the Patek Philippe Supercomplication – for a cool £20 million / US$26 million.
The Beau-Rivage Genève has long been a hotel that revels in the luxury of authenticity. Beyond ensuring that its guests experience a real sense of place, it affords OutThere travellers the opportunity to step into over a century-and-a-half of history and service excellence, surrounded by the city’s Alpine peaks and magical Lake Geneva. After all, Switzerland is often said to be the authority when it comes to perfection in luxury hospitality.
It all sounds stupendous. All we at OutThere have to do, is to find a way to let ol’ Father Christmas know that we’ve been very, very good this year.
Photography courtesy of Beau-Rivage Genève and Initium
