The Polo Trip to visit Adolfo Cambiaso at Buenos Aires, Argentina.

[Jaw]

Part 1 :- Introduction.

This is Ariane Dedeyan from Jaeger-LeCoultre France.



Ah! Now that I have your attention, we can focus on the beautiful city of 'Buenos Aires' or actually the proper name is 'Ciudad de la Sant?sima Trinidad y Puerto de Santa Mar?a de los Buenos Aires'; roughly translated to mean 'City of the Most Holy Trinity and Port of Saint Mary of the Fair Winds".


The Jaeger-LeCoultre Buenos Aires Simonetta Orsini Boutique.

Buenos Aires is also the Capital city of Argentina, "Paris" of South America, The original birth place of Tango and probably is the only country where the Polo Game is a MASS SPECTATOR sport and its popularity is ranked second only to Football (or Soccer to the American).




A good mix of new-and-old. In this extremely modern European looking city, the old trade of knife sharpening is still visible.


The Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre team together with a very exclusive group of general interest and lifestyle journalists visit the beautiful city from 30th November to 4th December 2006 to witness the special partnership of Jaeger-LeCoultre and the undisputed best Polo player in the world, Adolfo Cambiaso.


An old Jaeger-LeCoultre street clock right in the city centre of Buenos Aires.

Please also refer to our previous brief report of 30th November 2006 dinner and the Jaeger-LeCoultre-Adolfo Cambiaso partnership.

Jaw

[watchme]

Beautiful city, nice clock (reminds me of the Gentilhomme of the early 90s). Keep it comin'!
-Dean

[Stefano]

Buenos Aires must be a nice city to visit and certainly one for a launch

[Jaw]

The 'La Dolfina' Boutique at Buenos Aires.

Being the acknowledged best Polo player of the world in the Polo-crazy Argentina means Adolfo Cambiaso is treated like a top celebrity. "Everywhere he goes, there is always a crowd asking for autographs and handshakes" said his mother Martina. "They love him, although some of the fans are so passionate that they can appear a little aggressive at times".


The 'La Dolfina' boutique, with a huge photograph of Adolfo Cambiaso.



Martina inherited a large portion of the famous "Los Lagartos" property from his late father Tomas J. De Estrada in 1982. "Tommy" as he is affectionately called in the family, dedicated his lifetime turning the place into one of the most beautiful planted landscape in Argentina and when it was passed to Martina, she decided to call her portion of the ranch as "La Martina Polo Ranch" (more on Martina, Adolfo and the La Martina Ranch later).


Coffe and snacks reception.

"My mother created the brand 'La Martina'" said Adolfo Cambiaso. It is unclear to us what actually happened but the family has apparently lost control of the brand name "La Martina".


Ariane Dedeyan from Jaeger-LeCoultre France.

Probably referring to the current owner of "La Martina", Martina said, "I trusted 'him' because he was a close friend of Adolfo's father" - without further elaboration. "Today, 'La Martina' no longer tells a real Polo story" noted Adolfo, "and this is why we created the brand 'La Dolfina'".


Benedicte Ferlet from Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre.


Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre, Communications and Public Relations, Head, Isabelle Gervais

With Adolfo's popularity and his Polo team La Dolfina's winning streak in recent years, it is logical that the "La Dolfina" brand of Polo apparels, leather goods and Polo products seem to be doing well in Argentina.


Christian Monnard from 'Lounge Men'.


Pete McCormick, Adolfo Cambiaso's business Agent.

On 1st December 2006, we visited the "La Dolfina" boutique in downtown Buenos Aires.


Fabienne Reybaud from Le Figaro.

Jaw

[Jaw]

Federation Internationale de Polo (FIP) Counsel, Nicholas Colquhuan.

By Noon, we were at the cozy Bond Restaurant to meet FIP Counsel, Nicholas Colquhuan.





Winston Churchill said that "A Polo handicap is the best passport in the world", and Nicholas explained to us the truth behind the famous quotation.





Today, there are some twenty thousand Polo players and 13,363 registered Polo players in the world and the game is played in more than 60 countries. In any of these Polo clubs, once your handicap is verified, you will suddenly find new friends of the same interest who are willing to make acquaintance and take you around in strange lands.



The FIP Counsel also briefed us on the history, nature and the rules of the Polo game. I have watched several Polo games and I was beginning to enjoy the game In India last year. I won't bore you with the details, but if anyone is interested to know more about Polo, I do have the knowledge of someone who has been briefed once :-).


Jaeger-LeCoultre Central and South America Brand Manager, Bianca St. George.

Nicholas asked us to imagine this: - Riding a horse with its own mind, the horse weighs half a ton, traveling at 30 mph, you are wearing tight trousers, 6 feet off the ground, and you have to hit a ball of 4.5 inch diameter on the field. one aim, one hit or one miss...


Isabelle Gervais.

It was an interesting lunch.



Jaw

[Jaw]

The Diamond Cup Polo Ground at La Dolfina Ranch.

Adolfo Cambiaso grew up in one of the most beautiful family home, the "La Martina Polo Ranch" inherited by his mother. Today, Adolfo Cambiaso, his beautiful wife Mari Valquez, his daughter Mia and his son Adolfo Jr. reside in "La Dolfina", a place he bought to work, to administer, to train and breed his more than 800 Polo Ponies, and to train his own Polo skills.




The VIP tents, for VIP guests with VIP armbands only.

The Copa Diamante (Diamond Cup) 2006 Men's and Ladies Final held on 1st December 2006, was sponsored by Jaeger-LeCoultre and played at one of the two full sized authorised Polo Ground within the ranch. A full size Polo Ground is 300 yards long and 160 yards wide.


VIP tent.


The watch display, Reverso Squadra Chrono GMT & World Chrono.

The Diamond Cup 2006, in the case of the men's event, was initially participated by 10 Argentinian and international teams, including one "King Power" team from Thailand.


The Stainless Steel and Pink Gold Reverso Squadra Hometime, and the piece unique with Argentine Flag engraved and lacquered at carriage, this watch was presented to Adolfo Cambiaso 3 days later on the 4th December 2006.


A better view of the piece unique Reverso Squadra Reverso Hometime.

Compared to the Live-and-death massive Argentine Open, the Diamond Cup matches was top grade but has the atmosphere of a relaxed elite social event. It was attended by 300 to 400 socialites. The Ladies final was between La Hawaiiana and Jaeger-LeCoultre and the men's was between Sao Jose and Loro Piana.




The Diamond Cup trophies.

The players of the teams are (handicap):

WOMEN'S FINAL

La Hawaiiana team:
Marianela Catagnola (1)
Sunny Hale (3)
Mummy Bellande (2)
Dori Whymouth (0)

Jaeger-LeCoultre team:
Clare Milford Haven (0)
Lucy Taylor (1)
Nina Vestey (3)
Clare Tomlinson (1)

MEN's FINAL:

Sao Jose team
Jose Eduardo Kalil (4)
Cristhofer Kansen (6)
Rodrigo Andrade (7)
Calao Mello (5)

Loro Piana team
Alfio Machini (3)
Agustin Nero (6)
Milo Fernandez Araujo (9)
Lucas James (4)

The La Hawaiiana and Sao Jose emerged as champions on the day.

More photos of the matches and the people at later parts.

Jaw

[Jaw]

Adolfo Cambiaso.


Adolfo Cambiaso, note the Reverso Squadra Hometime he is wearing.


Adolfo Cambiaso.


Adolfo Cambiaso.






Clare Milford Haven, one of the Polo player associated with Jaeger-Lecoultre.


Father & Son.


Vogue Latin America Eva Hughes, Jaeger-LeCoultre Spain Country Manager J. Carlos Oyanguren, Central and South America Country Manager Bianca St. George & Le Figaro Fabienne Reybaud.

[Jaw]

Isabelle Gervais & Ariane Dedeyan.

Jaw

[Jaw]

Isabelle Gervais & Ariane Dedeyan.


A young soccer player before the Polo match begun.


Patrick Boutelier, Scandinavian and Benelux Jaeger-LeCoultre Country Manager.


Patrick Boutelier & Isabelle Gervais.






Pete McCormick and Adolfo Cambiaso, the famous player's father.


Salvador Cambiaso, Adolfo's brother, used to be a professional Polo player. A training accident was so bad that the family believes it was a miracle that he survives. He is training hard to come back into the game, although it will take time.


Elena Alexeeva from GQ.


Pete McCormick in a celebration mood.




Getting ready for the matches.

Jaw

[Jaw]

Jaw

[Jaw]

The Loro Piana team.

Jaw

[Jaw]

Table setting in the VIP box.

The Astor Piazzolla Theater was first established in 1931. It was carefully restored recently.



As the Argentinian told us, the Ballroom Tango dance first surfaced in the city of Buenos Aires amongst the lower class, many of them living in communes. The dance gradually gained respectability and spread slowly to the upper classes and was eventually brought to Spain and then Europe(There are conflicting stories in this regards).



Somewhat touristy, the Astor Piazzolla Theater supposedly serves the finest food to the guests in a luxurious setting while providing the most majestic Tango and musical performance. Everyone did enjoy the memorable evening.



For the Jaeger-LeCoultre team, since Reverso was first introduced also in 1931, the choice of hosting the dinner at this theatre was both logical and meaningful.




There must be a reason these 2 photos are here, excuse me, I am trying to recall .
Jaw

[Jaw]

Buenos Aires is a great city, I wish I had more time to look around.

Jaw

[watchculture]

and effort to bring us this insightful report. Looks like MJLC did a great job on this event, Bravo!. I also enjoy the pics of the Polo players in action. Well done Jaw!

[Wei]

I never knew polo could be so stimulating. Must be the visually appealing audience.

Thanks for a great post.

Cheers

Wei

[Jacky]

Thank you Jaw, that was a fantastic report by you. Really appreciate it. Nice city it is and nice people too. Are you the only Asian there?


Regards

[Duncan]

Thanks Jaw for the great, extensive report. It does seem from your photos that the polo ponies were not the primary focus of attention...

Duncan

[Jaw]

Since the Ponies photos are so popular, there will be more on request

Jaw

[Jaw]

Indeed Jacky,

I think I am the only Asian there.

Jaw

[Jaw]

Indeed Jacky,

I think I am the only Asian there.

Jaw