As announced at the 2010 edition, the constituent instrument of the Foundation of the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix was signed on May 31st by the five founding members: the City and State of Geneva, the Musée International de l’Horlogerie in La Chaux-de-Fonds, TIMELAB and Edipresse. At the ensuing press conference, the Chairman of the Foundation Carlo Lamprecht also introduced a new main sponsor of the Grand Prix, the Edmond de Rothschild private bank, a new partnership that will enable it to pursue its international development. The jury, of which the members are listed in the regulations available on the www.gphg.org website, now includes eminent retailers from around the world such as Abdul Hamied Seddiqi, John Simonian and Michael Tay. Carine Maillard remains the operational head and thus ensures a valuable sense of continuity. The next key dates are June 30th for the close of the selection procedure, and November 18th for the 2011 prizegiving ceremony.
TimeCrafters PROVES its worth
The first New York luxury watchmaking fair open to the general public, held from May 13th to 15th, was a great success. Around 3,000 visitors enjoyed the chance to discover the twenty or so luxury brands exhibiting their creations at TimeCrafters, many of them represented by their CEO. The organisers have already confirmed that the second edition will be held in the same venue next spring, and there are rumours that a TimeCrafters trade show might also be held on the West coast. Check the www.timecrafters.us website for more information, pictures and videos.
Fiesta at Plan-les-Stas
To celebrate five years of activity of their Manufacture, the symbolic threshold of Frédérique Constant watches that was crossed in 2010, the take-off of Alpina and the launch of their latest Ateliers deMonaco brand, the group founders and owners Aletta and Peter Stas invited retailers and journalists from around the world to their headquarters in Plan-les-Ouates, where a second production building will doubtless soon be built in order to keep step with demand.
