Travel back in time with this Swiss festival marking summer's end
Advertisement
As the sound draws nearer, a buzz runs through the crowd. Onlookers spread out along the edge of the steep, winding road, the main thoroughfare in the Swiss Alpine village of Seewis im Prättigau, to claim a vantage point.
When they turn a sharp corner and emerge from behind a wooden-shuttered house, we catch our first glimpse of the glossy, mushroom-coloured herd, which is being led down the narrow road by a cow crowned with green pine cuttings, a bright yellow dahlia and a cluster of edelweiss. The fur-lined leather strap of the huge bell around her neck is stitched with bright flowers.
Cows lined up to be judged in various categories, including for the title of Alp Queen, at the Prättigauer Alp Spektakel, in the Swiss Alpine village of Seewis im Prättigau. Photo: Victoria Burrows
Mountain blooms also adorn the chest of her cowherd, a young woman in a bright blue embroidered shirt, a corsage of pretty flowers pinned to her breast. Her hair is braided and captured in a loose bun. As with the other two cowherds, young men in matching blue embroidered shirts, she holds a rough-hewn crook with which to gently guide her bovine charges.
Flocks of sheep festooned in small brass bells and brown goats in red neckerchiefs tinkle past. A band provides harmony above the livestock percussion: three white-haired musicians playing a concertina, a flute and a double bass all crammed, along with the coachman, into an open-topped carriage pulled by two horses.
The fox-coloured horses, with ivory manes and tails, are Haflingers, a sturdy and gentle-natured breed that originated in the Alps less than 200 years ago.
Advertisement
More herds follow, one led by a cow with a halo of red, yellow and white chrysanthemums above her head. Her halter is wrapped in moss and studded with flowers, and a wooden sign at her forehead reads: 'Heimat ist dort wo die Berge sind' ('Home is where the mountains are').
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Blue watches are back – in fresh shades, materials and textures: here's our rundown of the models that matter most from Rolex, Chanel, Vacheron Constantin, Parmigiani Fleurier, Hermès and Dior
If one thing stood out at Watches and Wonders 2025 , it was the return of blue. While the colour has long been a favourite in horology, this year's releases showed how brands are pushing the palette further, delivering unexpected textures, materials and finishes – from icy platinum to matte ceramic and pearly lacquer. Rolex's most talked-about launch, the new Land-Dweller, may have made headlines for its technical leap – the brand-new calibre 7135 and patented Dynapulse escapement – but aesthetically, all eyes were on the ice blue dial of ref. 127336. Reserved for platinum models, this signature hue now appears with a honeycomb pattern and satin finish, giving the brand's first all-new line since the Sky-Dweller in 2012 a dressier edge. The watchmaker also unveiled a blue-dial version of the Oyster Perpetual, available in case sizes ranging from 28mm to 41mm. Close-up of the ice blue dial of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Land-Dweller 40. Photo: Handout Advertisement The Zenith G.F.J. was close behind as a collector's favourite. Released to celebrate the brand's 160th anniversary and to honour founder Georges Favre-Jacot, the 39mm limited edition features a lapis lazuli dial with a mother-of-pearl centre seconds sub-dial and a platinum case with a bracelet engraved in a brick motif. Its movement, the calibre 135, dominated observatory accuracy competitions in the 1950s and now returns with modern upgrades, including a 72-hour power reserve. 'Blue has always been a defining element of Zenith's identity, symbolising our connection to the sky and the pioneering spirit that has driven us for 160 years,' says CEO Benoit de Clerck. To celebrate that legacy, the brand also launched a trio of bright blue ceramic chronographs: the Chronomaster Sport, Defy Skyline Chronograph and Pilot Big Date Flyback. 'More than a tribute to our heritage, these timepieces embody the spirit of innovation and craftsmanship that continue to shape the future of our maison. We are proud to celebrate this anniversary with such a bold and meaningful creation,' he adds. Parmigiani Fleurier Toric Quantième Perpétuel in platinum. Photo: Handout From deep blue lapis to sky tones, Parmigiani Fleurier's latest release explored the palette's softer side. The Toric Quantième Perpétuel in Morning Blue leans into understatement with a beautifully hand-grained dial in a pale, powdery blue. The 40.6mm case is framed by the Toric's signature knurled bezel, sculpted in platinum, with a clean coaxial calendar layout. Chopard Alpine Eagle 41 XP CS in platinum. Photo: Handout Chopard also refined its approach to blue. The new Alpine Eagle 41 XP CS, housed in platinum with an ultra-slim 8mm profile, features what the brand calls its Shades of Ice dial – a textured radial pattern inspired by an eagle's iris, rendered in glacial blue. The CS (Central Seconds) model features a bold arrow-tipped central seconds hand and baton indices. The movement – a COSC-certified, Poinçon de Genève-stamped calibre 96.42-L – is powered by a platinum micro-rotor and is visible through the sapphire caseback. Chanel J12 Bleu X-Ray. Photo: Handout
South China Morning Post
18-07-2025
- South China Morning Post
Travel back in time with this Swiss festival marking summer's end
We hear them before we see them, the hollow clang of bells ringing out over the hills above the village. Advertisement As the sound draws nearer, a buzz runs through the crowd. Onlookers spread out along the edge of the steep, winding road, the main thoroughfare in the Swiss Alpine village of Seewis im Prättigau, to claim a vantage point. When they turn a sharp corner and emerge from behind a wooden-shuttered house, we catch our first glimpse of the glossy, mushroom-coloured herd, which is being led down the narrow road by a cow crowned with green pine cuttings, a bright yellow dahlia and a cluster of edelweiss. The fur-lined leather strap of the huge bell around her neck is stitched with bright flowers. Cows lined up to be judged in various categories, including for the title of Alp Queen, at the Prättigauer Alp Spektakel, in the Swiss Alpine village of Seewis im Prättigau. Photo: Victoria Burrows Mountain blooms also adorn the chest of her cowherd, a young woman in a bright blue embroidered shirt, a corsage of pretty flowers pinned to her breast. Her hair is braided and captured in a loose bun. As with the other two cowherds, young men in matching blue embroidered shirts, she holds a rough-hewn crook with which to gently guide her bovine charges. Flocks of sheep festooned in small brass bells and brown goats in red neckerchiefs tinkle past. A band provides harmony above the livestock percussion: three white-haired musicians playing a concertina, a flute and a double bass all crammed, along with the coachman, into an open-topped carriage pulled by two horses. The fox-coloured horses, with ivory manes and tails, are Haflingers, a sturdy and gentle-natured breed that originated in the Alps less than 200 years ago. Advertisement More herds follow, one led by a cow with a halo of red, yellow and white chrysanthemums above her head. Her halter is wrapped in moss and studded with flowers, and a wooden sign at her forehead reads: 'Heimat ist dort wo die Berge sind' ('Home is where the mountains are').
South China Morning Post
07-07-2025
- South China Morning Post
Style Edit: Boghossian's Lirya collection brings aquamarines, rubellites, green tourmalines, moonstones and other gems together in vivid high jewellery pieces
In the world of haute joaillerie, few maisons dare to explore the beauty of contrast with the confidence and grace that Boghossian does. With the Lirya collection, the Geneva-based house unveils what it describes as a 'secret garden of enchantment' – a realm where opposing forces come together to create sublime harmony. In this case, the 'forces' are pairs of vibrant gemstones, masterfully delivered as pieces that are timeless and quietly transformative. Boghossian Lirya high jewellery necklace with matching earrings. Photo: Handout At the heart of Lirya is the idea of unity through contrast. The collection brings together aquamarines, rubellites, green tourmalines, moonstones and other gems in compositions that feel effortlessly fluid and elevated. Rather than one gem overpowering another, these stones form balanced narratives that celebrate individuality while highlighting a deeper interconnectedness. The result is a luminous choreography of colour and form. Advertisement Boghossian Lirya high jewellery set. Photo: Handout Lirya speaks not only to visual beauty but to emotional resonance. The pieces are crafted with intention: shapes unfold gracefully, colours blend in unexpected ways. They reflect a balance between strength and softness, stillness and movement. In this way, Lirya becomes more than jewellery: it becomes a statement of continuity and transformation. Boghossian Lirya high jewellery pendant necklace. Photo: Handout From tanzanites paired with moonstones, to morganites set alongside verdant tourmalines, each piece offers its own distinct presence within Lirya's enchanted garden. Since its debut at The European Fine Art Foundation (TEFAF) in New York, the collection has captivated visitors to Boghossian's Geneva and London boutiques, elevating the brand's already stellar reputation for visionary design. Boghossian Lirya high jewellery earrings. Photo: Handout What makes Lirya distinctive is its ability to maintain the integrity of each gemstone's brilliance while achieving a remarkable overall harmony. The name itself whispers of lyrical grace, echoing the maison's belief in the convergence of strength and delicacy, innovation and heritage.
