News Paris was the third stopover on the extensive tour begun by the brand last May in New York to highlight the new faces of Girard-Perregaux watchmaking tradition.
Last May, Girard-Perregaux launched a campaign to introduce the new faces of luxury watchmaking tradition. After stopovers in New York in May and Beijing in June, it was the turn of Paris in September to serve as the backdrop for photo shoots showing young watchmakers on the Place du Trocadéro, the Butte Montmartre or the famous Pont de l’Archevêché with Notre Dame in the background. An original way of paying homage to the new generation of watchmakers and cause for many colourful, unusual and merry encounters!
Girard-Perregaux and Paris share a special history spanning more than a century. It was in 1889 at the World Fair held in the French capital, that the brand from La Chaux-de-Fonds presented its famous movement, the «Tourbillon sous trois Ponts d’or», which won many awards including a gold medal at the Fair.
For its «L’art de marquer le temps» tour, the brand set up its exhibition at the beginning of September at Christie’s, on the Avenue Matignon. A selection of exceptional timepieces all borrowed from the Girard-Perregaux Museum made up the largest exhibition ever presented in France. Original creations from «pioneers» to the latest designs, artfully orchestrated, invited enthusiasts of fine watchmaking to embark on an informative journey through time. An interactive exhibition and introductory workshops acquainted the public with the mysteries and techniques of luxury watchmaking. Many personalities gathered at Christie’s at the invitation of François-Henri Pinault, CEO of the PPR Group, who said: «It’s because Girard-Perregaux has never stopped reinventing itself, while remaining loyal to its tradition, that it has been able to write one of the longest and richest pages in the history of Swiss luxury watchmaking. But behind the exceptional timepieces lies the passion that drives these watchmakers. We had to show off their inventiveness and creativity. That’s the whole point of this wonderful idea to tour with young watchmakers». Michele Sofisti, CEO of the Sowind Group, affirmed for his part: «We pay particular attention to nurturing and developing the talented individuals of tomorrow. We must move with the times and design watches that can reach out to our contemporaries and to future generations».
With this initiative Girard-Perregaux ushers forth a new generation of watchmakers, the artisans of tomorrow, as befits the proud tradition of master craftsmen in step with their times. Eight young watchmakers are taking part in the tour, and three of them were in Paris. The zeal they display every day in their workshops is combined with other, more secret and personal passions, which they practise
September 25, 2012
