AUTHORED BY JOKGEN
Living in a foreign country with lots of friends and family visiting over the holiday period, I am trying to find local Geneva-themed gifts this year.
Here are my first few finds – do please comment on the blog and add other ideas so we can help each other!!!
What could be more Swiss than a Swiss Army Knife and Victorinox have now created the “Place to be” series of knives dedicated to different destinations around the world. The knives come with a little twist – each knife is only available in the city after which it is named, meaning the Geneva knife is only available in the Geneva shop and so on. This little beauty retails at 39 CHF.
A glass cheese board featuring the lake or mountains could be combined with some Swiss cheese for the foodies in your life. Sarah Turney, a local artist, has turned her amazing art work into glass boards, place mats and coasters. Prices start from CHF 20 for a set of 4 coaster with glass boards CHF 50 each.
If you are looking for something a little less costly, then Faverger chocolate is made in Geneva (just up the lake in Versoix) and has been for nearly 200 years. The packaging is beautifully traditional and includes the Swiss flag and ‘Genève 1826’. Bars start from less than 3 CHF and larger boxes feature the fountain, mountains and the UN. There are also chocolate fondue sets on offer and you can purchase a voucher for a factory tour. Chocolates are available in all supermarkets.
And the last little bargain stocking filler I have found – the latest re-useable shopping bag from Manor. Folds up into a small pouch and once unravelled features the fountain and a lady drinking what looks like an Aperol Spritz. I have purchased several for the princely sum of 3 CHF a time. There are bags featuring many other local towns and Swiss cities in a range of colours.
One last one, added by KB, is the Geneva Watch by Swatch. Every few months, Swatch will put out a different Swiss or Geneva-themed watch, priced around 90 CHF., available at their locations on the rue de Marché, rue du Mont Blanc, at the airport, or at Manor. Perfect for your punctual Swiss loved ones, or likewise for those who tend to run behind:
Happy shopping everyone! Let us know your favorite Geneva and Swiss gifts/souvenirs in the comments below!
We are a group of international women living in Geneva, Switzerland. If you would like to join the AIWC, please visit our website at http://www.aiwcgeneva.org/
Living In Geneva 
Great info! There used to be other things out there but I haven’t really checked out if they still exist. Will look into it and let you know! Thanks for your efforts!
What great ideas! Such a help at this time of year!