The self-winding Vladimir Kramnik watch
13.11.2005 For a number of years Vladimir Kramnik has done promotionals for the Swiss company Blancpain, manufacturer of high-quality mechanical watches. Now Blancpain has created a special watch with an engraved image of Kramnik on its winding rotor. It will be handed over to him on November 24, before a simultaneous exhibition against 30 watch collectors. We have pictures...
The pioneer work was done by Alexandra Kosteniuk. In 2002 she became the "Ambassadrice
of Balmain", a Swiss watch company that signed a sponsoring agreement
with the then women's world vice-champion. A year later Vladimir Kramnik followed
suit, promoting the Swiss watch company, Blancpain, founded in 1735 and today
a manufacturer of high-quality (and high-price) mechanical watches.
From a Blancpain ad in 2003. The Russian text by Karmnik
says: "Time is precious when you don't have enough of it."
Now Blancpain has created a special watch for the Classical Chess World Champion.
It is a Villeret Time Zone in white gold, with two time displays,
one for local time, the other for home time. It is a self-winding watch, and
the winding rotor bears the image of a contemplative Vladimir Kramnik, created
by a Blancpain’s master engraver.
The transparent back of the special Blancpain watch, with Kramnik engraved
on the winding rotor
This special watch will be presented by Blancpain CEO Marc A. Hayek on November
24 to Kramnik, during a special "day of watches and chess" that will
be held in the Moscow boutique Mercury. Following the presentation
of the Blancpain timepiece Vladimir Kramnik will play simultaneous exhibition
against 30 watch collectors who have been selected by Mercury for this event.
This will take place in the famous Restaurant Gallery (Petrovka str. 27, Moscow).
A Kramnik simultaneous
exhibition in Bonn, Germany, in 2004
A short history of time
20,000 years ago ice-age hunters in Europe scratched lines and gouged holes
in sticks and bones, possibly counting the days between phases of the moon.
The four millennia before our time saw the Egyptians using the moving shadows
of obelisks as a kind of a sundial, and later water clocks (like the one found
in the tomb of pharaoh Amenhotep I, buried around 1500 BC). In the late 9th
century the first candle clocks appeared, in the first half of the 14th century
large weight-driven mechanical clocks began to appear in the towers of several
large Italian cities.
Spring-driven clocks probably appeared first in Europe during the early 15th
century. In 1656 Christiaan Huygens, a Dutch scientist, made the first pendulum
clock. In 1735 Jehan-Jacques Blancpain established the first watch manufacture
as a cottage industry. In 1983 Jean-Claude Biver and Jacques Piguet combined
forces to revive the Blancpain Company. Close scrutiny of all available records
confirmed that there never had been such a thing as a Blancpain quartz watch.
And none will exist in the future.
Here's the original press announcement by Blancpain:
Blancpain To Honour Its Ambassador World Chess Champion
Vladimir Kramnik With A Unique Watch Followed By An Evening of Chess
For Collectors
The Moscow luxury goods speciality boutique Mercury is set to play
host to a very special day of watches and chess on November 24, 2005
at 7 pm, when it welcomes World Chess Champion Vladimir Kramnik, Blancpain
CEO Marc A. Hayek and thirty privileged watch collectors for simultaneous
play taking place in the famous Restaurant Gallery (Petrovka str.,
27, Moscow).
The most celebrated name in all of chess, Vladimir Kramnik has been
reining champion since 2000 when he defeated Garry Kasparov in London.
At times Champion Kramnik likens his chess to a “fighting game”
but more often to an art that is simply “felt”. Drawing
an analogy to a painter he has said that “A painter never asks
people what they want to see. He paints”.
For many years the art on Vladimir Kramnik’s wrist has been
a watch from the Blancpain Villeret series. To honour his continued
successful defenses of his world title, Blancpain has created a special
watch will be presented by Blancpain CEO Marc A. Hayek on November
24. Chosen by Vladimir Kramnik from Blancpain’s collection, he
will receive a Villeret Time Zone in white gold. Kramnik has long been
drawn to the classicism of the Blancpain Villeret series which is personified
in the Time Zone, ref. 6260. Outfitted with two time displays, one
for local time, the other for home time, the Time Zone is an ideal
travel watch. Its 254 individual component automatic movement has been
conceived to deliver a 100 hour power reserve. The hand decoration
and polish of the movement’s components can all be admired through
the sapphire case back.
In recognition of Vladimir Kramnik’s achievements and his many
years devotion to Blancpain, the model to be presented by Marc A. Hayek
will feature a unique winding rotor bearing the image of Vladimir Kramnik
in a contemplative chess pose. This masterpiece was created by Blancpain’s
master engraver in Le Brassus home of Blancpain’s famous farmhouse
atelier, which just re-opened from a year long restoration as the climax
of Blanpain’s 270th year celebration. Following the presentation
of this unique Blancpain timepiece, Vladimir Kramnik will play exhibition
chess match simultaneously against 30 watch collectors who have been
selected by Mercury for this event.
A separate invitation to a press conference with Mr Kramnik and Mr
Marc A.Hayek, organised in the afternoon, will follow.
PR international:
Christel Räber Tel.: +41 21 796 36 36
Fax: +41 21 796 36 37
E-mail: christel.raeber@blancpain.com
Web Press Center www.blancpain.com/e/press |
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