Gion Mathias Cavelty: "The History of Swiss Watchmaking"

Description

Lionel Breitling, a 37-year-old fire insurance agent from Grenchen, notes in the year 13004 BC that the sun rises and sets at more or less regular intervals – and begins to throw a hazelnut stick called Navitimer into the air precisely at sunrise. With this observation, as precise as it is absurd, Gion Mathias Cavelty sets off the Big Bang of a completely invented chronology. Cavelty provides answers to questions such as: Why is a clock called a clock? What were the Breguet's chest hair wars? Who is the biggest pig in the Swiss watch scene? Does the God particle drive actually exist? The chronology continuously escalates: from Breitling's mental asylum to Hublot's adventurous escape from the Aztec empire to the Omega Cubitus, which comes to a halt in an audience with the God Emperor Piponzio. Gion Mathias Cavelty (*1974 in Chur) is a writer, satirist, and master of refined madness. He studied Italian, English, and Romansh and published his first novel with Suhrkamp at the age of 23. Since then, he has written novels, plays, radio plays, columns, and texts for radio, television, and newspapers. His anti-guide "Finally Non-Readers" became a small scandal, and his novel "Innocence. Legend" was awarded the Graubünden Literature Prize. In 2025, Cavelty received the Recognition Award from the city of Chur. He lives in Zurich.

Highlights

• Reading & discussion by Gion Mathias Cavelty
• Exploration of Swiss watchmaking history
• Venue: Literaturhaus Graubünden, Chur

General Information

Gion Mathias Cavelty presents a unique reading and discussion on the history of Swiss watchmaking. The event features a blend of satire and storytelling, exploring whimsical and absurd narratives surrounding timekeeping and notable figures in the industry.

Location

Herrengasse 6, 7000 Chur, Switzerland

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