MADE FOR A REASON

IWC has launched the next of its eagerly anticipated limited-edition watches produced to raise funds for one of the world’s most influential sports charities. The Ingenieur Automatic Edition ‘Laureus Sport for Good Foundation’ debuted at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Shanghai in mid-April and will shortly be available at Watches of Switzerland’s flagship 155 Regent Street showroom.

IWC has launched the Ingenieur Automatic Edition Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. A percentage of the £4,750 retail price will go to the charity

The watch, which is the ninth in IWC’s Laureus series, was launched at an intimate event in London this week by Laureus Academy Members Sir Steve Redgrave and Sean Fitzpatrick. ‘It’s a real privilege to represent Laureus,’ said Sir Steve, who retired from a glittering 22-year career as an international rower in 2000. ‘I’ve been to projects in places as diverse as Sri Lanka and Brent, and at every one, we see how money raised by Laureus and supporters like IWC is changing children’s lives through sport.’

The case back of the Ingenieur Automatic Edition Laureus Sport for Good Foundation was designed by a 13-year-old from Uganda and is themed ‘Time to Celebrate’

Limited to 1,500 pieces, the watch boasts an automatic movement, a steel case and bracelet, and the now familiar Laureus blue dial. The case back is engraved with a design penned by 13-year-old Nakayenga Zahara from Nakulabye in Uganda, who won a drawing competition with the theme ‘Time to Celebrate’. It costs £4,750, a percentage of which will go towards supporting Laureus projects.

IWC’s ninth Laureus watch was launched in London by Laureus Sport for Good Foundation academy members Sir Steve Redgrave and Sean Fitzpatrick
 

‘I’ve seen the incredible projects and communities around the world which are being supported by the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation,’ said Fitzpatrick, who won the 1987 Rugby World Cup with New Zealand and is also the Vice-Chair of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. ‘The production of this limited-edition IWC Schaffhausen watch will benefit thousands of children from 150 projects in 35 countries around the world, giving them the tools to help themselves and others within their communities.’

For more information about the IWC Ingenieur Automatic Edition ‘Laureus Sport for Good Foundation’, please contact our 155 Regent Street showroom

London Craft Week rolls into town

This week is the first London Craft Week (LCW), a celebration of exceptional crafts and making, backed by fine watchmaker Vacheron Constantin.

The idea behind LCW is to showcase some of the country’s finest craftsmen and women and to give ‘craft’ – in its purest sense – a platform. London has fashion, design and technology weeks, but this marks the first time that craft has been put centre stage.

The inaugural London Craft Week opened at the V&A Museum on Wednesday with an event hosted by Turner Prize-winning artist Grayson Perry

A programme of events kicked off with a grand opening at the V&A Museum on Wednesday evening, hosted by Turner Prize-winning artist Grayson Perry, and continues until Sunday. Events are taking place across London in a number of the capital’s finest retail and creative spaces.

During the event, there’ll be a specially curated showcase at Fortnum & Mason on Piccadilly, featuring 28 craftsmen alumni from Walpole’s Crafted mentoring programme. In one of the areas, a maker will be hand-stitching Sabel leather watch straps on a workbench.

One of LCW’s headline events is COLLECT: The International Art Fair for Contemporary Objects, which begins today and runs over the weekend at the Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea. The exhibition, which is presented by the Crafts Council, brings together finely crafted objects by emerging artists from around the world. Work from some 35 international galleries will be available to purchase, and there’ll be a series of talks from curators, gallerists and many of the exhibiting artists.

'This is a great moment acknowledging that craft is woven into many parts of our lives.'

Vacheron, which is in its 260th anniversary year, is a founding partner of London Craft Week. The company’s reputation for fine watchmaking is built on craftsmanship, which has made it one of the most collectable of the luxury Swiss watch brands.