How to spot Switzerland's truly rich? Look at their car plates

Zurich

HANGING out in Switzerland before you check out watches at Baselworld and overwhelmed by all the affluence and shiny timepieces? Here's a way to separate the wheat from the chaff: forget the bling and have a look at the licence plate.

Switzerland doesn't allow vanity plates, so special or lucky numbers have an added value and sell for thousands of francs. While Swiss auctions of licence plate numbers can't quite compete with those in the United Arab Emirates - where the wealthy pay millions of dollars - they are not far behind.