de Grisogono Lipstick SQ S12

February 19,2010 – de GRISOGONO is pleased to announce they dressed the stars last night during the fantastic charity fashion show held at Somerset House for Naomi Campbell’s Fashion For Relief™ benefiting Haiti.

Fashion For Relief™ took center stage at the British Fashion Council’s official London Fashion Week show venue. This year it was held in aid of The White Ribbon Alliance as it advocates for the health needs and rights of women and girls around the world, especially supporting its partners in Haiti at this time to rebuild the health care system for mothers and babies.

Funds raised at Fashion For Relief™ will go towards making sure mothers and babies are at the heart of the Haiti’s new health system, and to ensuring that this essential work continues in other countries where women are at risk of dying when they give birth.

Fashion For Relief™ brought together on the catwalk, top international faces of fashion, music, film, TV, sports and society. The show featured glamorous clothes by the world’s most renowned and respected fashion designers including Vivienne Westwood, Jaeger, Dolce & Gabbana and Alexander McQueen. On behalf of de Grisogono, Founder and President Fawaz Gruosi was very saddened with the news of Alexander McQueen’s passing – a true innovator of British and International Fashion.

Those wearing de Grisogono included the likes of David Gandy, Jo Wood, Sinita, Pixie Geldof, Valerie Campbell, Jamelia, Freddie Flintoff, Piers Morgan, Zaha Hadid , Violetta Gruosi (daughter of founder and president of de Grisogono, Fawaz Gruosi) and of course Naomi Campbell.

Naomi Campbell wearing a de GRISOGONO Lipstick watch

de Grisogono is proud to be one of the prominent brands supporting this year’s Fashion For Relief. Known for his designs, Fawaz Gruosi began designing watches in 2000 with his Instrumento Uno – today has more than 20 collections incorporating the spirit of the brand, boldness and creativity. ‘I am proud to be once again supporting my dear friend Naomi and her great efforts towards this cause’.

As well as the array of stunning watches seen on the catwalk, de Grisogono also participated in the charity auction. The luxury Swiss watchmakers gave away two pairs of beautiful matching ‘His and Hers’ watches for the winner of the amazing auction lot.

Famed for creating watches of exquisite beauty – the first set auctioned was the FG One N03 Blackened Steel Retrograde Dual Time Zone for him and an Instrumentino N12/A, also Blackened Steel, with Diamonds for her. The second set was an Instrumento No. Uno DF N12 a Platinum cased dual time zone watch, with a Sapphire crystal back for him and hers is the diamond-laid bracelet, Steel watch, the Instrumentino N07/B.

de Grisogono Instrumento Grande Chrono N01

Acclaimed at its launch, it’s back today in a striking updated version featuring a series of unusually arrayed functions.

In 2005, when it first came out, it made quite a splash. With its oversized case and calendar aperture plus the galuchat strap that matched the dial’s bright and cheerful colours, the Instrumento Grande was welcomed with friendly, even enthusiastic applause.

Five years later, here it is again. This time in a Chrono version — but what a Chrono! While the Instrumento Grande’s case is as grand as ever, its 2010 dial displays a full measure of the uninhibited creativity that makes any de Grisogono watch stand out in the crowd.

A reader’s guide to the black, silvered or brown dial

While the watch face’s engine-turned concentric wave pattern and oversized hour markers both recall the original Instrumento Grande, the retrograding date calendar arrayed in twin arcs gives the Instrumento Grande Chrono’s dial its vibrant personality. The current day’s date stands out bright and clear, outlined by a set of tinted sapphire lenses.

Since no mechanical chronograph is thinkable without totalisers, this chronograph’s sub-dials give classic horological tradition a little jolt. The 30-minute version is white, square and situated at 9 o’clock while the 12-hour sub-dial is larger, round, black and positioned at 6 o’clock. Together with the black-and-white center seconds hand, they respond to push-pieces located on either side of the setting crown.

The time of day is shown on an hour circle that is circular enough to boast two right angles – a signature touch from a master of the creative surprise. At 12 o’clock, a discreet sub-dial for the running seconds adds a more familiar feature.

de Grisogono Instrumento Grande Chrono N02

The revealing asides of a magnificent case

Fashioned in 18 ct pink 5N gold, the Instrumento Grande Chrono is water-resistant to 30 m (~ 100 feet). Featuring smoothly rounded bracelet links, its generously proportioned case houses a self-winding mechanical movement that provides 42 hours of reserve power.

Revealing by design, the case allows connoisseurs of mechanical wizardry to observe the movement’s steady beat through a sidelight on the 9-o’clock side of the case. The to-and-fro movement of the rotor, inscribed with the de Grisogono crest, is visible through the clear sapphire porthole of the screw-secured case back – exactly as on the 2005 model, the first watch ever to feature a transparent side panel.

Black or brown depending on the dial colour, an alligator strap with pink gold deployment clasp retains the Instrumento Grande Chrono and its unforgettable face securely on the wrist.

Anti-Counterfeiting Campaign at the SIHH

1. Anti-Counterfeiting Campaign at the SIHH: Fake Watches Are For Fake People!

The Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie and the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry has unveiled its anti-counterfeiting campaign at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie 2009. more »

2. Smithsonian Uncovers Secret Message Inside Abraham Lincoln’s Watch

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History announced it has found a “secret” message engraved in President Abraham Lincoln’s watch by a watchmaker who was repairing it in 1861 when news of the attack on Fort Sumter reached Washington, D.C. more »

3. BASELWORLD 2009 boosts the global watch and jewellery industry

After eight successful days, BASELWORLD 2009 closed its doors, once again reaffirming its position as the leading international watch and jewelery trade show. On a site covering approximately 160,000 m2, 1,952 exhibitors from 45 countries showcased their latest products and innovations. Exhibitors and visitors alike spoke enthusiastically about their experience at the show and the business they did. Thanks to this sense of positi­vity, both exhibitors and visitors forecast new prospects for the industry as a whole. more »

de Grisogono Meccanico dG - Titanium and rubber

4. de GRISOGONO Meccanico dG

In fine watchmaking, you can decide to reinterpret existing concepts or choose to steer a pioneering course. Founder and CEO of de Grisogono, Fawaz Gruosi has deliberately chosen the second approach. With the Meccanico dG, the Geneva based manufacturer’s most recent entry, de Grisogono presents a design stemming from the purest watchmaking tradition and projects it into the future. With a total of 651 components, the Meccanico dG’s mechanical movement is one of the most complex ever made. A masterpiece of fine watchmaking, designed to display the time in two time zones, it ranks as the world’s first watch with a mechanical digital display as well as an analogue face. This world first – based on a de Grisogono patent – places a startlingly complex mechanism in a very contemporary design. more »

5. Exclusive Breguet Patronage of the Louvre

Exclusive Montres Breguet SA patronage for the remodelling of the Conseil d’Etat rooms and salon Beauvais, known as the Louis XIV wing, at the Louvre museum as part of the renovation of the museum premises devoted to 18th century furnishings. more »

Greubel Forsey DT30° Vision Red gold case Silvered-gold dial

6. GREUBEL FORSEY Double Tourbillon 30°

The watchmaker-inventors Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey, based in their atelier in La Chaux-de-Fonds, wished to surpass the accomplishments of existing movements by plunging deeper into the subject and inventing a Tourbillon which significantly improves the functioning of a wristwatch.

After four years of effort, they created a Tourbillon within a tourbillon, in such a way that this new complication permanently compensates the gravity-related errors of rate in all wristwatch positions. more »

7. JAQUET DROZ Rouge & Noir

True to its vanguard spirit, Jaquet Droz presents three flagship timepieces from Baselworld 09 – with a Numerus Clausus of 88 – that highlight the absolute black of the Grand Feu enamelled dial, the black matt of the rubber and the red gold of the case. more »

8. HUBLOT Unico Technical Specifications

The UNICO movement, a chronograph developed entirely by Hublot’s Research & Development department, is now in its “functional prototype” stage until the end of 2009. more »

Vacheron Constantin Historiques American 1921

9. Vacheron Constantin Historiques American 1921 Wins Watch of the Year 2009 Prize

Just two years after being awarded the 2007 Watch of the Year Prize (for the Patrimony Contemporary Retrograde Date and Day model), Vacheron Constantin once again takes the top spot on the winner’s podium with the 2009 Watch of the Year Prize, this time for its ‘Historiques American 1921’ model. more »

What were the events that you think should have been included in this article? Please leave a comment and share with us your thoughts.

de GRISOGONO boutique in Las Vegas at Crystals

December 15th 2009 — de GRISOGONO has opened a boutique in Las Vegas at Crystals, the new premier luxury shopping destination at the City Center. A new space filled with baroque touches that reflect all the magic and creativity of the jewelry and watch making brand created by Fawaz Gruosi.

After Geneva, London, Gstaad, Hong Kong, Rome, Porto Cervo, Paris, St. Moritz, Kuwait, New York, two in Moscow, Tokyo, Saint-Barthélemy, Dubai and New Delhi, it is in Las Vegas that de GRISOGONO has chosen to open a second boutique in the United States, which brings its worldwide total to 17. Those who already know the de GRISOGONO “style” will be surprised upon entering this new boutique, because unlike the rest, it will have a new décor. Faithful to the brand and closely following Fawaz’s vision, this new treasure trove will appear as a more modern version of the other boutiques around the world. All in a space of 85 square meters, in the most luxurious of style, the interior highlights the company’s traditional yellow and grey walls, dark cherry hardwood floors and imported furniture from Florence. The exterior is in sleek black and modern, shining the company’s brand name in gold.

For more information contact:

de Grisogono Las Vegas
Crystals at CityCenter
3720 Las Vegas Boulevard South Suite #205
Las Vegas, NV 889109

de Grisogono Meccanico dG - Titanium and rubber

The first watch in the world with a dual analogue and mechanical digital display

In fine watchmaking, you can decide to reinterpret existing concepts or choose to steer a pioneering course. Founder and CEO of de Grisogono, Fawaz Gruosi has deliberately chosen the second approach. With the Meccanico dG, the Geneva based manufacturer’s most recent entry, de Grisogono presents a design stemming from the purest watchmaking tradition and projects it into the future. With a total of 651 components, the Meccanico dG’s mechanical movement is one of the most complex ever made. A masterpiece of fine watchmaking, designed to display the time in two time zones, it ranks as the world’s first watch with a mechanical digital display as well as an analogue face. This world first – based on a de Grisogono patent – places a startlingly complex mechanism in a very contemporary design.

To celebrate his company’s 15th anniversary, Fawaz Gruosi decided to explore an area where no watchmaker had ever been: the digital display driven by a mechanical system exclusively. Despite the considerable audacity and the measure of recklessness this extraordinary project demanded, Fawaz Gruosi never looked back. For him, watchmaking goes hand in hand with innovation. With its patented dual analogue and mechanical digital display, the Meccanico dG springs from a totally innovative concept in the world of traditional horology. A single mechanical movement, two time zones, two types of display: the Meccanico dG breaks truly new ground; for the first time in watchmaking history, a digital display and mechanical power come together successfully.

de Grisogono Meccanico dG - Titanium and rubber

In the meantime, traditional watchmaking has undergone radical change; through wave after wave of innovation and increasingly impeccably finished products, it has conferred on the most highly complex timekeepers the status of objets d’art. But watchmakers had up to then never challenged the digital display’s basic technical principle. Meccanico dG has now achieved this, making history as it propels Haute Horlogerie to a stunning new level.

The Meccanico dG is an assemblage of microsystems featuring highly sophisticated cam and gearing mechanisms. A proprietary de Grisogono calibre, its hand-wound movement comprises 651 components. It offers an analogue display of the hours and minutes on the upper dial and the digital display of a second time zone on the lower section. The latter features the tens of hours, the hours, the tens of minutes and the minutes. The mechanism is activated via movable micro-segments driven by a set of 23 cams combined with gears plus a triggering and synchronization device.

23 horizontal and vertical micro-segments are involved in displaying the time digitally. The vertical segments are 4.55 mm high and the horizontal segments have a display length of 1.80 mm. Each segment has four faces: two visible faces opposite each other with coloured inserts and two invisible faces, also opposite. One or more segments rotate 90° to turn one time indication into the next. The jump is instantaneous while anywhere from 1 to 12 segments move, depending on the time being displayed.

de Grisogono Meccanico dG - Pink gold and rubber

Despite the power required for the dual mechanical and digital display and the torque essential for the instantaneous rotation of the micro-segments, the proprietary de Grisogono hand-wound calibre fitted in the Meccanico dG has a power reserve of some 35 hours. The latter is displayed by a hand in a 90° sector on the back of the movement and is visible through a shaped crystal caseback giving a glimpse of the brand’s famous emblematic scrolls.

The Meccanico dG case matches its outstanding movement. Imposing in size (56 x 48 mm), innovative in design, water-resistant to 30 metres, it comes in a choice of pink gold, titanium, titanium and rubber, titanium and pink gold or titanium and platinum. In keeping with the watch’s futuristic character, its correctors and crown cover are vulcanised rubber. A crown at 3 o’clock controls the analogue time display. Two correctors serve to reset the second time zone; the left-hand one controls the hours, the right-hand one the tens of minutes and minutes. The strap is also fashioned in natural vulcanised rubber and features a deployment clasp adorned with the de Grisogono emblem.

An outstanding design enhancing an exceptional de Grisogono watchmaking year, the Meccanico dG is being fashioned in a limited edition of 177 watches.

de GRISOGONO Occhio Ripetizione Minuti

de GRISOGONO’s Occhio Ripetizione Minuti, introduced in 2005, proved a milestone in Haute Horlogerie design. Today, its maker is issuing a new limited series featuring a splendidly adorned case set with a multitude of baguette diamonds.

The novel styling approach unveiled by de GRISOGONO is meant as a salute to one of its most ambitious and exclusive creations, the Instrumento Occhio Ripetizione Minuti. Undisputed Queen of Complications, this exceptional minute repeater’s new and masterful interpretation features a mechanism inspired by a reflex camera’s. Formed by twelve mobile titanium blades, the diaphragm opens and closes at will, revealing the movement for the duration of the chimes.

While up to now the repeater has only been available with cool, understated styling, de GRISOGONO has just given its personality a dazzling makeover, setting 154 baguette-cut diamonds (totalling 18 carats) on the bezel, case flanks and lugs. This spectacular “suit of lights” contrasts dramatically with its highly complex mechanical systems.

An exclusive mechanism
The technical features that make the Occhio Ripetizione Minuti such an exceptional timepiece remain the same. Although it works on an identical principle, its exclusive diaphragm subassembly is more compact and resistant than those of cameras, opening and shutting instantaneously. It opens by the simultaneous movement of all twelve blades the instant the minute repeater is triggered, closing as soon as the hours, quarters and minutes have sounded on three gongs.

Mechanical wizardry
Since it is designed to display its mechanical wonders, the watch has nothing to hide. Its curved sapphire case back secured by six screws reveals the movement of the three hammers on the gongs and the movement’s exclusive decorative patterns. On the front, a sharply curved sapphire crystal, not unlike a camera lens, reveals the play of racks, levers and springs. Testifying to the movement’s meticulous finish, its bridges and plates are anthracite gray and screwheads brightly polished, while moving parts retain the natural colour of the material they are made of – all visual refinements enhanced by the case’s splendidly shimmering dress. Elegance reigns supreme.

With its ingenious, stunning and stylish “at-a-glance” calendar, Fawaz Gruosi’s new design, the Instrumento Grande Open Date, will delight everyone with an eye for the unusual. Not only has its dial revealed its every secret, its heart can also be observed through an opening at 9 o’clock in the case rim. Protected by a sapphire crystal, it provides a penetrating view of the movement from an unexpected angle.

Movement

Ref.  no.: de Grisogono GD 15-89 (Grande Date)

Movement: Selfwinding

Functions: Hours-minutes, date

Special features: “Large” skeleton dial revealing the units and tens discs (forming the Grande Date at 6 o’clock)

Case

Metal: 18 kt 5N pink gold

Weight: Case without movement + clasp
18 kt 5N pink gold, estimated at 145.5 g (95.5 g + 50 g)

Shape: Rectangular

Dimension(s): Length 48.30 mm

Width: 41.11 mm

Thickness: 12.51 mm

Case middle: Polished

Fasteners: Two movable fasteners via an integrated hinged mechanism, colour-matched with the case middle

Crystal: 4 sapphire crystals
- 2 rectangular, shaped (bezel and caseback)
- 1 shaped according to case middle profile, flat (side)
- 1 shaped according to profile of units and tens discs, flat (linked to the dial)

Caseback: Open, shaped, fastened by four     screws, engraved (dG)

Crown: at 3 o’clock, stamped corporate     emblem, time and date setting

Water resistance: 30 m (3 atm)

Strap: Grained calfskin, slightly rounded, crocodile for the S25D

Clasp: Triple folding, colour-coordinated with the case

Dial

Dial: “Skeleton” open, with large date transfer aperture at 6 o’clock, visible discs, stamped guilloché pattern

Four versions
- Brown with brown discs and white numerals
- Black with white discs and black numerals
- Silvered with white discs and black numerals
- Black with white discs and black numerals, set with white baguette-cut diamonds

Hour markers: Large appliqué markers at 3, 9 and 12 o’clock

Colour: 5N pink with Superluminova overlay

Hands: Dauphine style, colour 5N pink with Superluminova overlay matching the case

Fawaz Gruosi's new Instrumento Grande Open Date © De Grisogono

An enhanced dial adds to an original timepiece

De Grisogono Pre Basel 2009 – Always one step ahead of trendiness, Fawaz Gruosi now proposes the Instrumento Grande Open Date – originality on the wrist from an explorer of tomorrow’s moods and currents. A man’s watch with an open dial? Normal – it has nothing to hide and everything to show.

This updated version of the Instrumento Grande Open Date can be defined by its elegant, easy-to-read dial. The 2, 4, 8 and 11 o’clock hour markers have been removed and the de Grisogono logo shifted to 9 o’clock, improving on the original Instrumento Grande’s readability and functionality. With its open dial displaying two exceptionally large discs forming the date, the Instrumento Grande Open Date combines utility and elegance. Just like earlier designs by Fawaz Gruosi, it’s a brilliant blend of technical innovation and daring design.

Challenging the rules of geometry

Two perfect circles meeting in a strict rectangle, triangles contrasting with the case’s right angles – de Grisogono reinvents geometry with the Instrumento Grande Open Date, a harmonious combination of curves, straight lines and angles. The guilloché brass dial opening, divided into quarters, reveals two large date discs, with the current date appearing in a transfer aperture at 6 o’clock, where the discs overlap.

Offset towards 3 o’clock, the two large discs add to the originality and stylishness of this modern, refined timepiece. Several original details contribute to the perpetual-movement design of the Instrumento Grande Open Date. Its large dauphine hands are coated in Superluminova to match the pink gold case, as are the beveled-arrow markers at 3, 9 and 12 o’clock, arrayed around the slowly rotating discs.

Fawaz Gruosi's new Instrumento Grande Open Date © De Grisogono

Unveiling its innermost secrets

Like the Instrumento Grande, the Instrumento Grande Open Date features an exceptionally large case. A well proportioned horizontal rectangle, it displays generously rounded hinged strap connectors. With its ingenious, stunning and stylish “at-a-glance” calendar, Fawaz Gruosi’s new design will delight everyone with an eye for the unusual. Not only has its dial revealed its every secret, its heart can also be observed through an opening at 9 o’clock in the case rim. Protected by a sapphire crystal, it provides a penetrating view of the movement from an unexpected angle.

Available in pink gold only, Instrumento Grande Open Date comes in a choice of four masculine dial styles: brown with brown discs and white numerals, black with white discs and black numerals, silvered with white discs and black numerals or set with baguette-cut white diamonds. For any man on the lookout for a dash of originality, this is the watch of choice.

Click here for technical specifications.

Photo: de Grisogono

He is the soul of the Company, its founder and creator. He leaves his daring mark on every single piece designed by de GRISOGONO. For Fawaz Gruosi, everything began one day in 1952…

President, owner and founder of the company de GRISOGONO, nothing predestined Fawaz Gruosi to become one of the most sought-after watchmakers and jewellers of his generation. Born on the 8th of August 1952, he spent his childhood in Florence with his mother. Driven by the need to find a job, but also out of interest in beauty and art in general, he left school at 18 in order to train as a sales assistant with a famous Florentine jeweller. Seven years later, the latter asked Fawaz Gruosi to oversee the opening of a new store in London, first as a consultant to the firm, a position that quickly saw him evolve into store manager for a period of four years.

At only 30, he was noticed by the Alizera family, official agent to Harry Winston, who offered him the position of representative in Saudi Arabia. Enterprising and dynamic, Fawaz Gruosi agreed to take up the challenge. After three years, he returned to Europe, where he was immediately contacted by the Bulgari company. Gianni Bulgari, a cult name in the world of jewellery, created a new position for him within Bulgari Precious Trading, putting his complete trust in him. He thus became the first within the group to have access to the brand new high-jewellery collections, which he would be responsible for selling worldwide, except for the Bulgari stores, of which there were only eight back then. A fantastic field of opportunities opened up before Fawaz Gruosi, enabling him to fill up his address book with the numerous relationships he built up. It was a unique and extremely enriching experience, but when Gianni Bulgari left the company, he decided to follow suit and stand on his own two feet. In 1993, without any commercial strategy, he founded de GRISOGONO with two associates. Based in rue du Rhône in Geneva, Fawaz Gruosi offered his customers exclusive art objects and began to express his creativity through inventive and precious jewellery. Shortly after, the de GRISOGONO style took shape through ever more surprising designs and volumes.

1996: Inventiveness rewarded
In 1996, not even a year after Fawaz Gruosi parted company with his two associates, a new chapter opened for de GRISOGONO. Driven by a continuous urge to anticipate trends without fearing to stray from the beaten track, Fawaz Gruosi restored the prestige of black diamonds, which had been neglected by jewellers for decades. Indeed, he discovered a 190 carat gem called “Black Orlov” as he came across it by chance whilst reading. Fawaz Gruosi was literally fascinated by this black diamond. He then decided to dedicate to it an absolutely unique jewellery collection, which met with rapturous acclaim. Only three years after its launching, the per carat price of the black diamond literally exploded on the precious stones market – quite an unprecedented event! Today, these black diamonds adorn necklaces, earrings, rings, and bracelets, wonderfully enhancing voluptuous pearls, blazing rubies, deep emeralds, or quite simply white diamonds. Encouraged by his unexpected success, Fawaz Gruosi kept trusting his instincts. His jewellery creations, recognizable amongst thousands, seduced the customers and surprised the professionals.

An extraordinary creative talent
In 2000, after acquiring considerable experience as a jeweller, Fawaz Gruosi chose to enter the world of watchmaking and presented his first-ever watch at BaselWorld. He called it Instrumento N°Uno. It was only the first in a series of successes. Thanks to Fawaz Gruosi’s inventiveness, the de GRISOGONO company launched 23 watch collections between 2000 and 2008, all distinguishing themselves on exclusive and original designs. At the same time, de GRISOGONO’s jewellery collections were enriched with new designs using stingray (galuchat), opalescent diamonds – “Icy Diamonds” – or a new shade of gold with a brown glint called “Browny Brown Gold”. All these inventions have been praised by the customers and are a testimony to Fawaz Gruosi’s insatiable inspiration.

Fawaz Gruosi has always been inventive. Neither gemmologist nor designer, he owes his success in the first place to his passion and curiosity and, no doubt, to his genuine creative talent. Avoiding fashionable gimmicks, he plays with trends, sometimes against the tide, only listening to his inspiration. “Everything I see around me, in nature or in everyday objects, is a source of inspiration”, he confides.

A man of passions
He trusts his intuitions, always refusing to give way before what others would deem impossible. He follows no commercial rules, and still succeeds in everything he does. A hard worker whose uncompromising, demanding nature is here to serve the highest standards, Fawaz Gruosi willingly admits to being impatient. “I like reactivity, I want things to move fast”, he confides. “The people who work with me must accept that”. Also, he never takes a holiday! “ I find it very hard to relax, some people even think that I am a maniac”. He also has very few spare-time activities, but many passions, such as dogs, good wine and good food; alas, too often unquenched, due to a lack of time. Still he manages to keep some spare time for his daughters, Allegra and Violetta. Fawaz Gruosi is also on the watch when it comes to acquire antiques – preferably Florentine – or works of art. “As far as my collections of objects or paintings are concerned, I trust my intuition, as for everything else. It doesn’t matter whether it is a classical or a contemporary piece, I am simply an aesthete.” An implacable truth that has been evidenced for 15 years, through the watch and jewellery collections by de GRISOGONO, revealing with every piece the daring passion of their creator.