The GMT publishing teams (including WorldTempus, GMT Magazine, and Skippers Magazine) have had a front-row seat at the event. Our offices are located on the rue des Vollandes in the Eaux-Vives district, right next to the venue of this historic meeting in the Villa de la Grange in the park of the same name. With helicopters, public transport disruptions, and a heavy military presence, no one could ignore what was going on in the neighbourhood.
As I am passionate about watches and politics (a strange combination, I admit) I planned to do my best to get a glimpse of the delegations as they passed by on Wednesday 16th June. The task wasn’t as complicated as the authorities had led me to believe as it was easy enough to walk down to the lakeside (blocked for the event) during my lunch break. I was not alone as many of our neighbours were curiously checking out the situation too. Whether you like the two characters in question or not, it was very interesting to see these presidential processions with an incalculable number of vehicles pass by. I excitedly returned to the office after my lunch break, proudly sharing my joy at seeing the President of the United States in the back of his limousine!
You may be wondering why this article is appearing on your favourite news site? Well, the answer is that the previous day, the WorldTempus team had started a bet on which watch the two presidents would wear for the summit. Many of you responded to our Instagram poll, much to our delight. Once the meeting had started and the world’s journalists were wondering what topics the presidents would be discussing and what the outcome would be, our team was busy analysing the photos from every single angle possible to try and detect which watches they were wearing.
The first watch to reveal itself to us was that of Russian President Vladimir Putin. A lover of fine timepieces, he was wearing his watch on his right wrist, perfectly positioned for the photo of the historic handshake that would be published all over the world. Mr. Putin had chosen to wear his Blancpain Aqualung Grand Date for the summit. This classic model has frequently been spotted on the wrist of the Russian President. 
As for the watch worn by the American head of state, it was initially very difficult to see. A photograph taken in the villa’s library revealed a steel bracelet. Speculation was leaning towards one of the president’s two Omegas (Speedmaster and Seamaster) or his Rolex Datejust, which he wore at his inauguration earlier this year. One member of our editorial staff was wondering if he would wear his Speedmaster, the watch associated with the historic American landing on the moon, as a snub at getting there first. I was personally going against this hypothesis as the photo taken in the library showed a case with a crown, but no other pushers (unlike the Speedmaster).
In any case, the speculation did finally come to an end just as the president was leaving Swiss soil. He stopped briefly on the tarmac of Geneva airport for a group photo, kneeling down to put us out of our misery with a flash of his Omega Seamaster.
I will leave it to the international press and political journalists to report on the outcome of the diplomatic summit and give you their thoughts and analysis. The last thing I can say is that I am proud that, as a Swiss citizen, two world leaders chose Geneva, Switzerland for a meeting of this importance and both wore a Swiss watch on their wrist.
