(news) Ermenegildo Zegna and Girard-Perregaux present centennial limited edition watch

(text and pictures submitted by GIRARD-PERREGAUX)

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CENTENNIAL LIMITED EDITION WATCH

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Ermenegildo Zegna and Girard-Perregaux




2010 marks the Centennial year of Ermenegildo Zegna, one of Italy’s longest standing family driven enterprises. Four generations of the Zegna family have pioneered the company’s activities, in the creation of a truly global brand with stores in eighty six countries throughout the world.

To celebrate this anniversary, the prestigious Italian brand is launching a limited edition watch, created by a manufacturer which shares its passion for excellence: Girard-Perregaux, one of the flagships of Swiss "Haute Horlogerie".

This watch is the fruit of a close relationship between two brands whose names are associated with the quest for perfection and global mastery of a distinct expertise. The relationship between the Zegna family and the Macaluso family, at the head of the prestigious Swiss Manufacture, is founded on a common approach in which the quest for excellence and passion for fine craftsmanship prevail.

“As Angelo Zegna my Great Grandfather, was first in watches then in textiles, we felt that creating a Centennial Watch had a significant meaning.” Gildo Zegna CEO of the Ermenegildo Zegna Group said “I was first introduced to Gino Macaluso, through a shared friend. Immediately a spark of collaborative activity was born. We share a common ground as we both have an affinity for craftsmanship and for precision instruments, our brands have a family vision with long-standing heritage, and we are both obsessed by nothing but the finest quality.”

"It seemed spontaneously right to dedicate a special watch specifically designed and thought of for Ermenegildo Zegna on the occasion of their Centennial.” Gino Macaluso CEO of Girard-Perregaux said “Ermenegildo Zegna is one of the most prestigious artisan manufacturing companies in the world, with its 100-year history of passion, social engagement and commitment, it confirms Italy’s typical values. Girard-Perregaux, with its 219 years of history in ‘Haute Horlogerie’, is proud to be able to participate in these important celebrations "

As a product of this expertise, the centenary watch accurately expresses the Ermenegildo Zegna style whilst maintaining the quintessential spirit of a Girard-Perregaux. It also pays homage to the group's origins, as Angelo Zegna the father of the founder Ermenegildo, was a watchmaker by trade. As an essential part of masculine elegance, it is an enduring piece which weaves a link between the players of the past, the present and the future – reverence for the founders, harmony with the fashion designer's latest creations, a testament to their beauty for generations to come.

It’s round, pink gold case has an air of timeless elegance, perfectly designed according to the great tradition of Girard-Perregaux. It houses a mechanism equipped with an annual calendar, notable for its highly original display. The date appears in a counter with the numerals delicately reproduced on the dial. The month is indicated in a window at 5 o'clock. The mechanism automatically allows for months of different lengths and only needs to be corrected once a year at most.

The design expresses a refined character – the fine leaf-shaped hour and minute hands, the baton indices and the small seconds counter at 9 o'clock make this model very easy to read. As if echoing the harmonious dial, the complexity of the self-winding Girard-Perregaux movement is revealed through the sapphire glass case-back adorned with the Ermenegildo Zegna centenary logo.

Naturally exclusive, the Centennial watch is only available as a limited edition – 100 pieces, individually numbered to celebrate 100 unforgettable years. Available exclusively in the Top 20 Ermenegildo Zegna flagship stores worldwide.





Technical specifications

Case: Pink gold case
Diameter: 40 mm
Height: 10.74 mm
Sapphire crystal
Sapphire case-back adorned with the Ermenegildo Zegna centenary logo
Water resistance: 30 metres

Girard-Perregaux 3300-0042 movement
Mechanical with automatic winding
Calibre: 13’’’
Frequency: 28,800 vibrations/hour (4 Hz)
Jewels: 42
Balance: Microvar, variable inertia
Functions: Hour, minute, small second, annual calendar
Power reserve: minimum 46 hours

Alligator strap with clasp buckle adorned with the Ermenegildo Zegna logo

Limited and numbered edition of 100 pieces










Background Information:

Ermenegildo Zegna and Girard-Perregaux are two brands at the pinnacle of their respective arts, propelled to the top of their professions by the efforts of several generations of the family. Each has succeeded in achieving unequaled quality by striking a delicate balance between craftsmanship and technology and combining it with exclusive use of the highest quality materials, in-depth research and extreme attention to detail.

Founded in 1910 by the young entrepreneur Ermenegildo, the Lanifico Zegna is situated Trivero in the Biellese Alps.  Ermenegildo had an international vision, ahead of his time, to source the best quality natural fibres, directly from their country of origin and to procure technologically advanced machinery in order to produce unequalled woven fabrics.  This vision laid the foundations of a fully vertically integrated company, which today produces and distributes, luxury men’s wear, women’s wear and fine fabrics through an international network of over 500 stores.

Beyond the commercial success, the Ermenegildo Zegna name is also associated with its core values of respect and ethical responsibility. The Zegna family has always fervently believed that the quality of finished product is intrinsically linked to a positive relationship with the local environment and the people who live in it.

Transfer of expertise from one generation to the next, authenticity, flawless quality, innovation, sumptuous materials – these notions are always at the heart of Ermenegildo Zegna's philosophy. To create its centenary watch, Ermenegildo Zegna has selected a partner which operates according to similar values and which has an undisputed reputation for watchmaking expertise: Girard-Perregaux. The relationship between the Zegna family and the Macaluso family, is founded on a common approach in which the quest for excellence and passion for fine craftsmanship prevail.

Girard-Perregaux has been enhancing the magic of this unique artisan industry for over two centuries. The origins of the company can be traced back to the genius of watchmaker and jeweller Jean-François Bautte, from Geneva, who created his first watch in 1791. In 1884, Constant Girard-Perregaux, known for his sense of innovation, patented a design representing a movement with three arrow-shaped bridges set in parallel. Awarded with a gold medal at the Universal Exhibition of 1889 in Paris, his Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges design has become an emblem of Haute Horlogerie. This icon of Haute Horlogerie is still made in various modern versions.

Girard-Perregaux is one of the few authentic Swiss watchmaking Manufactures – it designs, develops and produces both the external components of a watch and its "heart": the movement. It brings together the most advanced production centres and a great number of different skills, from engineers to master-watchmakers, and from enamellers to movement decoration specialists. This global approach allows the company to offer a comprehensive portfolio of movements and remarkable timepieces.

Through a combination of tradition and cutting-edge developments, each and every Girard-Perregaux watch is given that extra spark by the meticulous attention paid by its creators. Each watch receives the utmost care and attention. It is conceived, manufactured, engraved, hand-decorated, assembled and subjected to stringent quality tests. The brand takes a unique approach to design, and has filed almost 80 patents. Its innovative spirit has been the driving force behind several well-known watchmaking inventions.







edited by marks : changed picture hosting



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/30/2010 08:50AM by MarkS.

It is interesting to see two established brands work together and launch a limited series like this watch. IMVHO collaborations do not work out as well all the time.

The only thing I am not sure a 100% is the position chosen up there at 10 o'clock on the dial for the "Ermenegildo Zegna". Perhaps it would also fit between 7 and 8 o'clock in a circular manner like the shape given between 4 and 6 o'clock by the month indication.

All other details have been carried out with a lot of care: the specific engraving on the crown, the engraving on the back and the "décalque" in the middle of the back glass.

I believe EZ will not have any problems to find customers for those 100 pieces. I'd be proud to wear one .

MarkS

Love the dial composition, the orchestration of gold and blue --very lovely and the tie in with Zegna seems a very natural one. Thanks Peter and GP I like his one very much.

Jack

Ciao Peter,
thanks for sharing....It is always a pleasure to see such an incredibly fine watch like this !
Only remark....I am not sure that the EZ name on the dial works fine.

As already said by MarkS, it makes the whole dial a little bit unbalanced from an aesthetical point of view.
Additionally, for a so elegant watch, i am convinced that it would have been sufficient to put the EZ engrave on the case back.
Perhaps a more understated way to show the "partnership".
In my very personal opinion, logos are well accepted on sporty watches; much less on elegant timepieces.

Regards from Milano,
slide68

Thanks for the interesting news and great pictures. While I think this is an excellent design, I really disagree with the branding on the dial and total absence of GP on the dial or crown. I think the discreet approach on the case back would have been sufficient. To me, moves like this and the old Ferrari arrangement seem to take away from the brand image.