Piazza di Spagna has always fascinated and inspired artists. Thus, this historic setting was the obvious choice for IWC's first boutique in Italy. Rome with its “grande bellezza” reflects perfectly the sublime aesthetics of IWC watches, their timeless elegance and innovative design.
“It is an honour for us to present our feats of precision engineering, our philosophy and our tradition here in Rome, at the Piazza di Spagna. Not only is this place known throughout the world for its superlative art and culture; but many internationally renowned directors have also chosen it as the backdrop for some of the most famous moments in cinematic history,” affirms IWC CEO Georges Kern. “Once again, all these elements are testimony to our passion for cinema. This year, we have added official partnerships with the Tribeca Film Festival in New York and the Beijing International Film Festival to the IWC Filmmaker Award during the Cannes International Film Festival and the Dubai International Film Festival.”
150 guests, from the worlds of cinema, art and culture, were entertained inside a cinema set in front of the boutique windows, in an atmosphere redolent of the classic film “Roman Holiday.” Event hosts Vittoria Puccini and Pierfrancesco Favino paraded on the red carpet and cut the ribbon with Georges Kern. Personalities in attendance included the entertainer Rosario Fiorello, actor Ricky Tognazzi and film directors Edoardo Ponti, Jacopo Gassman as well as chef Filippo La Mantia.
Guest then enjoyed a delightful dinner, courtesy of chef Francesco Apreda and his “cucina dal vivo”, on the terrace of the Hotel Hassler. Later, Aloe Blacc and his band gave an exclusive concert under a starlit summer sky.
To mark the inauguration of its boutique on Piazza di Spagna, IWC released a special version of its Portofino Chronograph (Ref. 3910). The limited edition consists of 28 timepieces sold exclusively at Piazza di Spagna 28. The watch is embellished with a special Santoni strap instead of the classic alligator leather. The case back boasts a distinctive feature that makes it unique among the Portofino Chronograph collection: an engraving of the famous Spanish Steps as well as the limitation “ONE OUT OF 28” and the prestigious address of the Boutique.
