Baselworld 2012: A Moderator's Day

[reposted from the Basel Forum after request by Damjan (Ares501)]

Our 'preparation post' may have made you wondering how a 'typical' day might look like for a PuristsPro moderator in charge of hunting the latest and/or most interesting news from the Baselworld watch fair. Well, here you go...
Next door to our hotel we found a 'Saftladen' (health food shop) which (i) serves fresh sandwiches and (ii) opens early enough, so we managed to fuel up...

and enjoy a first coffee at Zurich's main train station.

That was the last moment we did not talk about watches! Barely entering the train to Basel, we recognised Marc Jenni, who just the night before was accepted as full member of the AHCI - CONGRATULATIONS Marc!

Being early certainly has its advantages. First, you have the leisure to admire the architecture, quite impressive since construction works are underway to replace the entire exhibition center in Basel.

You also get a rare feeling of tranquility, 'the quiet before the storm'. This even inspires a few of the industries top executives, here Nick Hayek having coffee with Walter von Känel, CEO of Longines:

The following collage I guess is what will make many envious - talking to watchmakers and executives is the icing on the cake for any watch connoisseur:

And it deservedly is! There is little more exciting that discussing first hand with the creators of timepieces, understand their vision, getting a glimpse into their personalities and thus expanding one's appreciation for the watches. Furthermore, one has much more freedom to inspect the watches in their natural environment (aka 'wrist')!