Interview: IWC NA President Edouard d’Arbaumont TalksTribeca Film Festival, Unveils New Watch

A USA initiative, IWC spends its fourth year as a key supporter of the Tribeca Film Institute – underscoring the brand’s commitment to the role of film in our lives. This year marks the fourth year of the brand as the Official Festival-Time Partner for the Tribeca Film Festival.

This year, to honor that relationship, the brand does several things a bit differently than it has in the past. First, instead of creating a one-of-a-kind watch to be auctioned — with proceeds benefitting the Tribeca Film Festival, as in the past – IWC has created a special boutique-only limited edition watch: the IWC Portugieser Annual Calendar Edition Tribeca Film Festival 2016.

The watch, a tribute to the renowned New-York-based festival, is being built in a limited edition of 50 pieces, to be sold exclusively at IWC boutiques within the United States. Housing the automatic movement, caliber 52850, with Pellaton winding and power reserve display, the Annual Calendar shows day, date, month and small hacking seconds at 9:00. The high-precision mechanics of the piece, with Glucydur beryllium alloy balance with adjustment screws on balance rim and Breguet spring, can be seen through the sapphire caseback, which is further equipped with an 18-karat gold rotor with the medallion and Tribeca Film Festival logo.

The dial of the watch is slate gray, recalling the New York City streets, and features Bordeaux subdials symbolizing the red carpets. The calendar offers American indication – showing the month, date and day in three separate, semicircular windows, and paying homage to Florentine Ariosto Jones, the brand’s American founder. It closely resembles the original Portugieser of 1939. The new watch retails for $21,500.

In additoin to creating the watch as a limited edition instead of a one-of-a-kind, IWC has also built a new stainless steel and stone-based IWC Filmmakers Award trophy – meant to resemble film reels – that will be awarded to a single filmmaker at the IWC “For the Love of Cinema” Gala dinner on April 14. The award this year is a $50,000 (previous years it was a $25,000 award) grant meant to serve as finishing funds for the maker to complete his or her feature-length film. It is part of a $100,000 donation by IWC to the Tribeca Film Institute (half for the TFI and half for the winner, selected from a jury of peers).

In honor of the festival and gala this week, Edouard d’Arbaumont, North American President of IWC Schaffhausen, shares his thoughts on the brand and the TFF in an exclusive interview.

Can you tell us why IWC has upped the grant this year?

“This will be the fourth year that IWC has held their “For The Love of Cinema” Gala dinner, but this year part of the $100,000 is a $50,000 grant which will be awarded to one filmmaker. After three amazing years of young talent, we wanted to continue to support and create opportunities for these filmmakers who are pushing the medium and giving audiences an interesting experience. At IWC, we feel film is a successful medium to reach the masses on a variety of different topics.”

Why do you feel the relationship between IWC and TFF is a match? What is it about the cinema that is the tie in with the brand?

“It is important to us at IWC Schaffhausen to continue our tradition of supporting the Tribeca Film Festival and the Tribeca Film Institute by fostering the young talent and creating awareness for their amazing creative work.  The filmmaking and watchmaking industries also share similar qualities, as both rely on the appreciation of time and require the effort of thousands to make the final product come to life. IWC Schaffhausen is proud to be a part of the support system creating opportunities for young filmmakers to further their careers.”

Why did you decide this year to make the watch available in boutiques in a limited edition as opposed to auctioning a one of a kind watch?

“Though the auctions were very successful and a crucial part of IWC’s commitment to Tribeca, we decided to change our approach this year and show our dedication to young filmmakers by donating $100,000 to the Tribeca Film Institute (TFF). In the past, proceeds of the auction went to TFI, but this year IWC showed commitment by donating the entirety of the funds to TFI.”

Other than the “tribute” watch, which watches best correlate to the world of art and cinema?

“In my opinion, our Portugieser Chronograph captures old Hollywood glamour. The timepiece has a sleek and elegant design, but still feels modern in its aesthetic.”

Are there any other US Exclusive initiatives planned for this year in either film or other realms?  

“Well, as you know, at IWC we have many partnerships including our support of the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galapagos, as well as our role as the official engineering partner for Mercedes AMG Patronas Formula 1.  This year however, we will show our continued support of the Antoine de St. Exupery Foundation with the re-launch of our pilot’s collection.  Several new pieces in the collection honor St. Exupery and his exceptional work of La Petit Prince.  We are excited to continue on this tradition.”

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