WORLDTEMPUS – 15 June 2011
Louis Nardin – Veloptuous Times/Carnet de bord
The Veloptuous Times expedition is underway.
Swiss bicycle maker BMC supplied special bikes tailored to the voyage of the two protagonists setting out on this semi-local, yet exotic, adventure: Anders Modig of Plaza Watch and myself, editor-in-chief of Worldtempus. Last night, after taking care of some last details, we got on our completely new bikes prepared with great care by Jean Brun, the brand's representative in Geneva, and pedaled the first kilometers on the road to watchmaking.
Our planned photograph in front of Geneva's hallmark, the Jet d'Eau, never happened. The Jet seems to be on a break, and not a single drop of Lake Geneva was shot above its surface. A passerby helped us out by taking this picture before we departed: from left to right, Anders Modig, Yannick Emery of the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie's blog, and Louis Nardin. The passerby also kindly offered us accommodation for the night, but that was not necessary as we were about to pedal off to Meyrin – to the garden surrounding the Agenhor factory, where we were destined to spend the night.
Nicolas Wiederrecht, one of two sons of founder Jean-Marc Wiederrecht, welcomed us with glasses of white wine. After an improvised tour of the factory surrounded by the encroaching twilight, Jean-Marc and his wife Catherine – who just returned from vacation – joined us along with their other son, Laurent, for a typical Swedish meal concocted by Anders. On the program was pickled herring and strained potatoes with sour cream and chives.
A Few Turns of the Wheel
A few turns of the wheel sufficed to slip back into the journey. Relaxed and smiling, Jean-Marc Wiederrecht calmly explained that this piece of nature he created around his factory helps him to find his great ideas and also helps his employees to feel calm and relaxed as well.
Indeed, this recently erected building does not resemble a usual factory, but looks rather more like an individual house. Its employees are encouraged to come by bicycle and can park their bikes in a special spot. There are even showers available in the heart of the building. Access to the flowering, wooded garden is freely available and the barbeque grill is always available for use.
That which Hermes's newest timepiece, Temps Suspendu, expresses – a watch whose module was cleverly invented by Jean-Marc Wiederrecht – beautifully corresponds to this place. This experience lent a taste of magic to the beginning of the journey tracing the path of time measurement.
Veloptuous Times - dossier
