Baselworld 2012 – Schnitzel Dinner and the Timezone Watch of the Year 2011

In stead of the usual Weekly Watch Photo I share some photos made by friends. No photos of a watch, but photos of a dinner we enjoyed during Baselworld. A dinner that also was the award ceremony of the Timezone Watch of the Year 2011.

A few weeks ago, during Baselworld 2012, I organized what was supposed to be a small informal dinner for independent watchmakers and online journalists. The responses were overwhelming and we could skip the word ‘small’, however it was still informal and a lot of fun.

I was too busy, making sure that every one had a good time, so I didn’t make any photos myself. Luckily Gerard from In2watches and Ben from Hodinkee made great photos that evening and allowed me to use their photos. Thanx guys!

Let’s take a little look at what happened before…

Guests arrived at the restaurant, talking, having a beer. Like Bert and yours truly (yep, with a beard).

Actually the entire Fratellowatches team was enjoying a few beers (Bert, Robert-Jan and Dennis)

When most guests had arrived, William from Timezone talked about the Timezone Watch of the Year. There had be great names who won this award in the past years, like Patek Philippe, Jaeger-LeCoultre (twice), F.P. Journe and… now two watchmakers from the Netherlands.

Mean while Ben from Hodinkee was making some photos with his new camera.

Charris from MB&F (front, right), Ian Skellern and Max Busser (in the back) are listening to William’s speech.

After William handed over the trophy to Tim and Bart Grönefeld for winning the Timezone Watch of the Year 2011 Award with their One Hertz, the roof went off. Tim and Bart, among the very best watchmakers of planet earth, also know how to celebrate and have fun. On the photo below they’re doing their ‘funny’ high five 🙂

After the brief but enthusiastic ceremony it was time for dinner. Here’s the Watchonista team (Alexander, Elze-Sophie and Malik on the far right) and Joanna from Ladoire in between.

Ernie from Watchuseek and Max (from MB&F) enjoying dinner and a good conversation.

More photos, much more photos can be found on our befriended websites. Please take a moment to have a look and hopefully you’ll like seeing the enjoyable side of a big and very busy fair that Baselworld is. You can find photos of Lionel Ladoire and Joanna Budzik from Ladoire, Felix Baumgartner from URWERK, Max and Charris from MB&F, Olivier from Speake-Marin, Karsten Freassdorf from Heritage Watch Manufactory, Alessandro and Katidja from De Bethune, Jeff Kuo from Xetum, John from McGonigle Watches and of course Tim and Bart Grönefeld.

Also many friends/colleagues were present: Ernie Romers from Watchuseek, Ben and Blake from Hodinkee,  Robert-Jan, Dennis and Bart from team Fratellowatches, Gerard Nijenbrinks from In2watches, Bernard Werk from Watching, the lovely Suryia from Sparkle agency and of course William from Timezone!

Watchonista’s photos can be seen here.

Rests me to thank every one for joining this big but informal dinner. Thanx for a great evening! And congrats again to Tim and Bart Grönefeld for a well deserved victory.