Geneva in March — Jacob & Co Three-Day Shoot

I arrived Monday evening, March 2nd, and left on Friday. The reason was a three-day shoot for Jacob & Co — that's what brought me here. But Geneva in early March is something else entirely. The snow is still sitting on the mountain tops, the Jet d'Eau is back and spraying life into the city, and the temperature is finally climbing to 14, 15, 16 degrees. It becomes a completely different place.

Flying In

Late flight in. First night at Les Brasseurs, by the station, easy.

Les Brasseurs restaurant sign illuminated at night in Geneva

Wing tilted at sunset. First night at Les Brasseurs, by the station.

Monday evening

Into the City

Out into the city in the morning — the lake doing its thing, Cartier on the wrist, Coffee Up before the day starts.

Morning light through hotel curtains and wrought-iron balcony in Geneva

Geneva marina with sailboats on Lake Léman

Cartier Santos watch on wrist with black leather strap

Coffee Up Genève — Jimmy's regular stop in the city

The lake doing its thing. Cartier on the wrist before the day starts.

Tuesday morning

Jacob & Co

Three-day shoot kicked off Tuesday. Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon, the W16 movement detail, the trays laid out.

Jacob and Co Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon in rose gold on wrist

Jacob and Co Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon — W16 engine-inspired movement detail

Jacob & Co Twin Tourbillon fully set with baguette diamonds on blue alligator strap on wrist, navy checked suit sleeve

Jacob & Co Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon in rose gold on wrist — exposed W16-style movement detail, navy sleeve

Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon. The W16 movement, the Twin Tourbillon set, the trays in rotation.

Tuesday

Afternoon Off

Off the shoot in the afternoon. The Jet d'Eau back in motion, friends in town, a long terrace moment before dinner.

Jimmy in dark sunglasses and a navy trench coat on a Geneva terrace, holding a drink, soft afternoon light

Yellow Mouette water-taxi on Lake Léman with the Pont du Mont-Blanc and a Geneva flag in the background

Jet d'Eau water jet on Lake Léman, seen from across the Pont du Mont-Blanc on a clear blue-sky day

Independent maker watch with skeleton dial and light blue rubber strap on wrist, black ribbed sweater sleeve

Jet d'Eau back in motion. Friends on a Geneva terrace, an independent piece on the table.

Tuesday afternoon

Geneva Dinner

I have good friends in Geneva. I always stop by Kaffee App to catch up — it's one of those places I never skip. We organised a big industry dinner at SEN, a Vietnamese place that I can genuinely recommend. Incredible food. After dinner, we went to the Leopard Room — smoked a cigar each, met some friends, traded stories, basically just hung around. That's how evenings in Geneva go.

Leopard Room hotel bar entrance sign lit up at night — Hotel d'Angleterre Geneva

Inside the Leopard Room — leather chesterfields, leopard-print lamp shades, dark wood

SEN, then the Leopard Room. The way evenings here go.

Tuesday night

Around the City

And you can feel what's coming. Watches & Wonders is just weeks away, and the whole city knows it. The airport was packed with watch ads. Every brand was prepping content and materials. There's this energy — it's hard to describe, but it happens every year, and I love it. You know something big is about to go off.

Backlit Eminente Barrel bar wall with rum bottles — soft foreground bokeh of a wine glass

Swiss and Geneva cantonal flags flying on the Pont du Mont-Blanc — Lake Léman behind, hills in the distance

Vintage white and red Vespa scooter parked on a Geneva street

Jimmy seated outside Coffee Up Genève on a sunny afternoon — sunglasses, dark blazer

Cartier Santos on wrist with black leather strap, grey suit sleeve, soft daylight

Walking pre-Watches-&-Wonders. Cantonal flags up, a Vespa parked, Coffee Up in soft daylight, Eminente in the evening.

Wednesday

Marteau Preview

On Thursday night, I went to a preview event by Marteau & Co at Mad Gallery. They're a relatively new auction house, and they were showcasing pieces for their upcoming sale "The Echo." I got to meet Arthur Touchot, the founder — sharp, easy to talk to, clearly building something with intent. I'd love to work with them down the line.