Recently, a horological feat never before achieved on record took place, with WorldTempus the sole witness from the watchmaking media sphere. On a direct SWISS flight between Geneva (GVA) and New York (JFK), a master watchmaker guided a novice in assembling a watch 30,000ft (10,000m) in the air.
Conceived by Swiss International Air Lines and Geneva Tourism, the activity, codenamed The Highest Calibre, was organised in support of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, which was hosting its travelling exhibition in the SoHo (New York) boutique of Watches of Switzerland. The assembled watch was an emblem of the enduring appeal and accessibility of fine mechanical watchmaking, and was displayed alongside the 84 finalist wristwatches of the 2023 edition of the GPHG.
The Highest Calibre represents more than that, however, being an ambassador of the Swiss values of enduring quality and service that can be perceived on every SWISS flight and in every corner of Geneva. While aviation is not often cited as an ecologically friendly industry, Swiss International Air Lines has an environmental policy that is both realistic and responsible towards our planet. The choice of SWISS to support efforts that perpetuate greater appreciation of mechanical watches — one of the most sustainable luxury products in existence (a mechanical watch is, after all, designed to last forever) — is a laudable example of the company’s long-term policy towards our social and ecological future.
Join us as we follow The Highest Calibre on its journey from Geneva to New York — and back again to the city of watchmaking, where a centuries-old tradition awaits your discovery.
