The New Face of Tradition
New York, NY (April 2012) – Girard-Perregaux, iconic luxury Swiss watch brand, is proud to announce the unveiling of an industry first, the print and online journal: The New Face of Tradition, Eight Young Watchmakers and the Art of Making Time. Not assuming brilliance and lightning strike in one place, Girard-Perregaux observed these young watchmakers not only in their own Atelier, but also in their time with friends, family and alone. What are their other passions beyond making time? What makes them tick
The New Face of Tradition will be a first in the luxury watchmaking industry, highlighting not only the work of the incredibly talented watchmakers in their famed Manufacture based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, but also the diversity of passions these artisans possess. From rock & roll stars to puzzle masters and international alpine horn champions, the young watchmakers are as multi-faceted as the Girard-Perregaux luxury timepieces they create. They are following in the proud tradition of the iconic craftspeople that have kept Girard-Perregaux at the forefront of watchmaking for 221 years: Jean-François Bautte, Constant Girard-Perregaux, Luigi “Gino” Macaluso, and now Dominique Loiseau.
In addition to the printed version, the journal will be hosted at www.TheNewFaceofTradition.com, an online site where people may further explore the interests, passions and “extra-curricular activities” of each young watchmaker.
The journal will be launched on tour with a special event at Cipriani Dolce in New York City, where guests will have the opportunity to participate in an in-depth one-on-one workshop with the watchmakers. The workshops will demonstrate the intricacies of the movements and include hands-on lessons on how they are built. In addition, Girard-Perregaux will feature the latest 2012 novelties and Museum pieces from its historical archives.
“Too often brands hide their talented watchmakers behind the curtains of their manufactures”, says Michele Sofisti, CEO of Sowind Group (Girard-Perregaux and JeanRichard). “We are proud of the young artists we share our passion for watchmaking with and are excited to show to the world who they are. The New Face of Tradition seeks to break away from the current image many people have of the craft. It is not an antique (and certainly not a dead) art; it is young, revitalized and constantly evolving, much like the people behind it”.
New York City is only the first stop of The Girard-Perregaux Young Watchmakers Tour. Later this year the international tour will move on to Beijing, Paris and several other cities.
ABOUT FREDERIC KUZNIAK – YOUNG WATCHMAKER
“I realized I had a passion for solving mechanical enigmas when I was 15. My friends designated me their personal mechanic especially when they had problems with their scooters and needed to quickly get on the road again. At 19 I joined the army and in 4 years I managed to upgrade from scooters to airplanes. It was fascinating to fix the insides of these beautiful flying machines. I was presented with new challenges every single day.
Once, one of the military planes got stranded during a mission. We tried for hours to fix the problem, but I came to the realization that one of the parts of the motor needed to be replaced. It would have taken a few days until the new part could arrive where we were stranded.
The first few hours were a bit frustrating but the whole experience turned out to be one of the best of my life. With nothing else to do but wait, my colleagues and I started talking about our lives and sharing the experiences that, up to that time, had defined us most. The engulfed motor of the airplane opened our hearts. On that day, I met some of my best friends and no mechanical problem can take away.”
Favorite Movie: Le Coeur des Hommes
Favorite Quote: “What would I do if I were less stupid?”
Favorite Band: I’m not a music fan.
On My To-Do List: To buy a house and redecorate it entirely.
I Am: perfectionist, patient, organized, responsible, stubborn and provident.
If I Weren’t a Watchmaker I Would Be… a cabinet-maker
In 30 Years I’ll Be… a watchmaker responsible for the after sale service.
Favorite GP Watch: GIRARD-PERREGAUX 1966 ANNUAL CALENDAR
ABOUT GIRARD-PERREGAUX
Girard-Perregaux is a Swiss high-end watch manufacturer tracing its origins back to 1791. The history of the brand is marked by legendary watches that combine sharp design with innovative technology such as the renowned Tourbillon with three gold bridges presented by Constant Girard-Perregaux in 1889 at the Paris Universal exhibition where he was awarded a gold medal.
Devoted to the creation of state-of-the-art Haute Horlogerie, Girard-Perregaux is one of the very few watchmakers to unite all the skills of design and manufacture under the same roof including the forging of the “heart” of the watch, the movement. With over 80 registered patents, Girard-Perregaux is fully committed to research and development to constantly fuse its unique heritage into modern watchmaking. Girard-Perregaux is majority owned by PPR.
