Preview BASELWORLD 2013The 30-year anniversary of the brand CHARRIOL
CHARRIOL, the dynamic, Geneva-based watch and jewelry Maison created by entrepreneur Philippe Charriol is vigorously pursuing a new strategic direction, as 2013 marks the 30-year anniversary of the brand.
The Maison’s energetic campaign will be rolled out across the company and comprises an expanded sales network, enhanced digital communications, the opening of several ‘fifth-generation’ boutiques, and a significant push to create more product presentation materials. This series of significant changes demonstrate CHARRIOL’s commitment to even greater levels of expertise and elegance. A rebranded website, set to be revealed on the first day of BaselWorld 2013, will complement CHARRIOL’s online strategy and showcase the Maison’s growing portfolio.
CHARRIOL is also delighted to announce several significant new product lines, within the premium and entry-level collections. Two notable collections include ‘AEL’ (meaning ‘Angel’, in Celtic), a women’s watch that boasts pure lines and an uncluttered, elegant allure. AEL is designed as a contemporary piece for younger fans of the brand.
2013 also sees a range of novelties for the premium lines, including variants within the COLVMBVS range. Men’s and women’s extensions within this collection showcase increased levels of technicity for the brand, seen in the COLVMBVS™ Power Reserve and COLVMBVS™ Grande Date GMT, together with the COLVMBUS™ Lady Automatic and COLVMBUS™ Lady Precious Automatic. The brand continues to revisit and reinterpret its signature cable icon, whilst strengthening its design offer by including non-braided motifs, which add variety to the range.
Energy and innovation, audacity and elegance: in this, its 30th year, CHARRIOL continues to uphold its founding values whilst displaying resilience and differentiation in the fine luxury goods sector.
More of these collections will be on display at BaselWorld 2013, showcased in a dazzling booth that expresses the DNA of the brand whilst underlining its exhilarating and energetic new direction. This exclusive environment is the perfect location in which to welcome CHARRIOL’s latest and long-standing distributors, together with international press. These visitors can witness CHARRIOL exuberantly bringing the ‘Art of living the difference’ to life.
A Trio of new COLVMBVS™ timepieces shows continuing sophistication of CHARRIOL skills
Just like the intrepid explorer that inspired the collection name, CHARRIOL has new horizons in sight with three ambitious new additions to the men’s range of COLVMBVS ™ watches: the third generation of this popular range, first created in 1988. The today released COLVMBVS ™ Grande Date GMT will be joined by 2 more COLVMBVS ™ models with complicated movements , which reaffirms a complex standard of watchmaking for this Swiss watchmaker. Available in 300, 30 and 3 pieces respectively, these models represent CHARRIOL’s ventures into exciting new territories, offering male customers a trio of elegant, powerful timepieces that embody a spirit of adventure.
COLVMBVS ™ Grande Date GMT
In keeping with the trend for larger watches, the three new styles of COLVMBVS ™ timepieces measure 46mm, and this broad size is the perfect canvas for the wealth of detail that adorns each watch. Reflecting the nautical theme, the case body displays an intricate, interlocking triangular design, which recalls the pointed markings of a compass rose.
Inner mechanics include the Grande Date Technotime 651 with GMT module and decorated oscillating weight, once again visible through the sapphire case back, engraved in honour of the intrepid explorer. Released in 300 models, in a colorway of stainless steel with black crocodile strap, the GMT variant also displays the same harmonious dial, with a trio of finishings including a guilloché sunray motif, sunbrushed central dial, and circular brushed seconds counter. The Grande Date display is indicated via a system of double-discs. Final flourishes on this superb piece include the smart sub-dial, CHARRIOL logo, blue tapered indexes and delicate seconds-hand accented with the CHARRIOL ‘C’ insignia.
Introducing the COLVMBVS™ Lady
Women today navigate a complex world with élan, steering a steady course between the personal and professional, endlessly juggling a myriad of responsibilities. What better companion to their daily routine than a sophisticated timekeeping instrument that marries grace and functionality. The new COLVMBVS LADY™ is an automatic timepiece designed to mark life’s moments, in style.
COLVMBVS ™ Lady Automatic
The COLVMBVS LADY™ (36mm) is offered in monochrome black and pure white, built with a generous, ‘macaroon’ style case in stainless steel. The hallmark of this statement timepiece is the effortlessly intricate interlocking triangular pattern around the case, which recalls the points of a compass rose. This signature detail is a tribute to the adventurer, Christopher Columbus, who inspired the collection name.
Contained inside the sumptuous case is an automatic ETA 2892 movement. The dial displays unique CHARRIOL artistry, etched with a narrow, fluted guilloché pattern, adorned with stylish, outsize Roman numerals, or with fancy Arabic figures at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock. The date display appears at 4h30, along with two tapered indexes and seconds-hand embellished with the CHARRIOL ‘C’ insignia.
Continuing the nautical, adventurer spirit, a subtle sea-faring detail can be seen on the crown, in the detailed ‘clevis’, a motif borrowed from sailboat rigging. Further details are found on the glass case back, where a profile of Christopher Columbus is etched onto the glass, behind which can be glimpsed a personalised oscillating weight. To offset the white colourway, the COLVMBVS LADY™ comes with a coordinating strap in black crocodile leather.