It’s been three years since my first SIHH experience, a wonderful and eye-opening privileged first look at the latest IWC novelties.
So I was very much looking forward to attending, and above all reconnecting with fellow collectors all of which have become good friends through this forum.
I was admittedly secretly hoping that I might also be included in the coveted Gala Night of SIHH – IWC’s legendary party.
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Lo and behold the special ‘Come Fly With Us’ invite came in the post!
And I was feeling rather happy...
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The great invitation made for an inspiring backdrop for some snaps as you can see.
And the excitement soon grew to a fever pitch until the day of departure…
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Fortunately a short hop to get to Geneva from London
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At the airport I bump into Mark and Giovanni. Great to see you guys, Mark I've seen at GTGs but Giovanni I haven’t seen since my last SIHH in 2013.
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Digging into some Entrecote
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Checking into the hotel, conveniently right by the main train station.
It’s then time to get ready for the night’s Gala festivities…
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Some of us arrange to meet at the station – great to see you Roberto and Argiris.
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What’s on your wrists tonight?
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Just a single-stop trip back to the Airport to get to the Gala venue at the Palexpo
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Joined by others on the train.
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It’s then a walk to the Palexpo convention centre…
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Getting closer and excited!
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And closer…
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Joined by Michael and Bill.
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Great to arrive on the red carpet
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Drinks and nibbles (joined by Adam, Jarrod and Ben) before being ushered into the dinner venue...
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An opening performance – with a strong theme of the glamorous aviation days of the 30s/40s.
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A fun and very professional performance from dancers, a big band, and various recording artists
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Georges Kern jamming on the drums!
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gasp... finally got a chance to see in the metal Tracy's famed and ultra rare 5003
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enjoying dinner with the other collectors and of course... talking watches.
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Congratulating Ronan Keating on the performance – a very friendly, classy guy and a real fan of IWC watches
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Karolina Kurkova posed for some photos with us collectors – a very approachable and friendly supermodel.
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I asked Arsene if for once my Spurs could finish above him in the Premier League – he could only chuckle…
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Tracy, Andrew and I enjoying the evening.
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It was then down to dancing, drinking, partying... sorry was too busy on the dance floor to take too many snaps!
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Andrew, Giovanni and I stayed until the very end…
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(that's UK time not Swiss time) =)
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What a very special, fun & fabulous evening.
Executed in the grandest fashion… and incredibly professional.
Boy is IWC's gala night reputation deserved!
And so pleased to finally meet in person other collectors from our forum who I've never met before.
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Many thanks to IWC and congratulations on the perfect execution. Until another year...
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Thanks for reading,
Thang
