Watch production generally slows down over the summer period, and new launches become as infrequent as rain showers in a heatwave, and as eagerly awaited. But watch news doesn’t stop, and communication departments turn their attention to what we might call the “décor” of the watch world which, as it would be in a play or a painting, can be as important as the central subject, which in this case is the watch. In recent weeks, watch news has invited us to cultivate our finer tastes, to forget about movements, dials, cases, technical innovations and novel materials, and discover the world around us – through a horological lens. We might even learn something, and discover some interesting people!
Animals...
Did you know that there are five species of rhinoceros, which live – or survive – in Africa, Sumatra, Java and India? Did you know that only around 28,000 rhinoceroses remain, 80% of which are in South Africa, and that the greatest losses from poaching occur in Kruger National Park? This information comes courtesy of Hublot, via its ambassador Kevin Pietersen, former cricket star and founder of SORAI – Save Our Rhinos Africa and India. Hublot has just signed a partnership with SORAI to help protect these impressive herbivorous mammals and launched of a timepiece dedicated to the cause.
Carl F. Bucherer is more parsimonious with figures on the superb black manta, although its fate is as precarious as that of the rhinoceros. It has fallen victim to pollution, mainly from the thousands of tonnes of plastic waste dumped into its ocean habitat each year. The Lucerne-based watchmaker, a partner of the Manta Trust, which campaigns for the protection of marine ecosystems, supplies its Patravi ScubaTec Black Manta with a natural rubber strap whose lining is made from 30 plastic bottles fished out of the Mediterranean Sea.
men...
But saving wildlife is not the only cause that interests the watch industry. Some brands, including Maurice Lacroix, use their high profile to help discover talented youngsters. Have you heard of Yannick Aellen, the newest “friend” of the brand? This young forty-something man has worked in casting and scenography for artists including Lady Gaga and Raf Simons, and is the founder and manager of Mode Suisse, a platform for promoting young local creators. Through his efforts, Mode Suisse, which celebrates its 16th edition this September in Zurich, has become an essential destination for followers of fashion. Maurice Lacroix, which has made many new friends this summer, introduced the world to the young Swiss chefs Ben and Léo, the stars of “Bon App!”, a series on Télévision Suisse Romande.
Christian Stucki is another useful friend to have in your corner. This 34-year-old from Bern is almost two metres tall, and weighs 140 kilos. He has just been crowned the King of Swiss wrestling. Although he’s as famous as Roger Federer in German-speaking Switzerland, he keeps a lower profile in the French-speaking part. He is brand ambassador for Graham, which has introduced him to the watch media.
Even people who get all their current affairs from the watch press will have heard about the achievement of Franky Zapata, a friend of Zenith, who crossed the English Channel on 4 August standing on his Flyboard Air, which he controlled with a joystick.
and machines
And have you heard of the Staffel 11? The Swiss Air Force Professional Aviator Corps is responsible for the security of Switzerland’s air space. It’s a serious job, which they carry out on board planes whose tailfins are decorated with colourful, outsize tiger heads – quite an unusual sight on Swiss military vehicles. It’s the work of IWC Schaffhausen, the watchmaker informs us. They have just launched a limited edition Pilot’s Watch Chronograph “Staffel 11” Edition.
And finally, are you familiar with COOL Racing? Rebellion Timepieces has just signed a partnership with the Swiss motor racing stable that will be competing in the WEC and ELMS Endurance World Championship this year, with the goal of entering the Le Mans 24-hour race in 2020. The Rebellion Twenty-One GMT Turquoise sports the COOL Racing livery.
