SWITZERLAND: GENEVA HOPES TO GET INTO THE GUINNESS BOOK OF RECORDS WITH THE WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE CHRISTMAS TREE

Record ID: 646192

  • Title: SWITZERLAND: GENEVA HOPES TO GET INTO THE GUINNESS BOOK OF RECORDS WITH THE WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE CHRISTMAS TREE
  • Date: 5th December 1996
  • Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (DECEMBER 5, 1996) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. GV STREET WITH CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS, TRAM GOING PAST 0.08 2. LV STORE WITH CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS 0.13 3. LV/CU CHRISTMAS TREE WITH WATCHES IN BOWLS HANGING FROM BRANCHES (4 SHOTS) 0.39 4. SV SECURITY GUARD 0.45 5. SLV CHRISTMAS TREE WITH SECURITY GUARDS 0.55 6. SV DIRECTOR GENERAL OF PIAGET JOHN VERGOTTI SAYING THEY HAVE DECORATED THE TREE WITH THEIR BEST COLLECTION, SOME OF THE WATCHES HAVE NEVER BEEN SEEN IN SWITZERLAND BEFORE. THAT THEIR TOTAL VALUE IS TEN MILLION SWISS FRANCS (ENGLISH) 1.09 7. CU/SV WATCHES HANGING FROM TREES (2 SHOTS) 1.17 8. SV WOMEN STANDING BY, LOOKING, CHATTING 1.22 9. CLOSE UP OF WATCHES 1.27 10. SCU WOMEN SAYING IT'S A TEMPTATION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE (FRENCH) 1.33 11. SCU WOMAN SAYING SHE DOES NOT THINK IT'S VERY APPROPRIATE GIVEN THE ECONOMIC PROBLEMS OF TODAY (FRENCH) 1.41 12. SV WOMAN SAYING SHE DOES NOT THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO SHOW ALL THIS WEALTH, FOR WHILE IT'S NICE TO LOOK AT IT IS ALSO A TEMPTATION FOR THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY (FRENCH) 1.55 13. CU/LV WATCHES ON TREE (2 SHOTS) 2.07 14. LV CHRISTMAS TREE WITH WATCHES, SURROUNDED BY SECURITY IN FRONT OF KLEINWORT BENSON BUILDING 2.12 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 20th December 1996 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
  • City:
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Reuters ID: LVAF3K58FTHPG1XKQ7C1L4Y497GJ
  • Story Text: The jewellery-maker Piaget installed the 18 metre (60 feet)-high tree on Thursday (December 5) in a central square along Lake Geneva.

    Instead of the usual set of plastic baubles, this tree was adorned in diamonds worth ten million Swiss Francs (more than eight million United States dollars), jewellery and watches, rubies, emeralds and other precious stones.

    John Vergotti, Director General for Piaget Switzerland, said he hoped the Guinness Book of Records would register the achievement.

    The diamonds and jewellery have been insured for an undisclosed sum. They were only on the tree for a few hours -- just long enough for perusal by a specially-selected audience.

    About 30 transparent bowls containing luxury jewels and watches were monitored by 20 security guards.

    Many ordinary local people seemed less than enthusiastic about the display. Others said they thought it was inappropriate to display symbols of wealth at a time when many people were struggling financially.

    "It will be interesting only for those who will be invited to the Piaget cocktail party," one woman said, "The others won't see anything".


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