Lionel Messi for Audemars Piguet

TSWatches recently found this press release about the commitment of Lionel Messi with Swiss high-end brand Audemars Piguet.This is a fantastic, new celebrity in the wide range of members of the AP Family. For example: Jay-Z, Whoopi Goldberg, Meryl Streep, Scarlett Johansson and Daniel Radcliffe are already members of the Audemars Piguet Family.

Lionel Messi joins the world of Audemars Piguet and its 135 years of history. Understandably proud to be welcoming him, Audemars Piguet CEO Philippe Merk salutes the arrival of this exceptional personality who has successively overcome life's various trials to reach the peak of his art.

Lionel Messi did not always had an easy life.  When he was 10 years old, a doctor diagnosed a hormonal disease that affected the growth of this budding player. After researching which Argentinean club could help him to develop his football career, Leo's family enrolled him for recruitment testing at FC Barcelona in Spain. He was admitted to the Masia, the Barça training centre, which agreed to cover his training as well as his medical care expenses.

The 135-year history of the Manufacture has also been punctuated by many obstacles. Audemars Piguet has overcome them and in doing so as acquired the kind of competence it now sees in Lionel Messi. Keenly aware of what such knowledge entails and of the power to effect change that it encompasses, both Lionel Messi and Audemars Piguet are concerned with passing it on to younger generations in preparing for the future. Lionel Messi does so through his new "Fundacíon Leo Messi" created in 2009, and Audemars Piguet through its own foundation. This shared vision will be the driving force behind several social projects that the two partners will be jointly developing over the coming years.

As Messi explains, "I am trying to use my fame to raise public awareness of the distress of women and children around the world! You have to believe in yourself and never lose sight of your dreams... but sometimes our dreams need a little helping hand."Discreet, humble and committed, as of 2010 he is serving as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador.In its undisputed leadership role within the field of Haute Horlogerie, Audemars Piguet naturally surrounds itself with strong and powerful personalities embodying excellence and daring in their own field – be it sport, art, or technology. These partnerships owe nothing to chance; they serve to reaffirm the authentic values conveyed by the Manufacture and centred on the passion for exceptional watches and the expertise they enshrine.

Such is definitely the case for Lionel Messi, who has found a prime partner in Audemars Piguet: "It's a real joy and a great honour for me to join a prestigious family such as that of Audemars Piguet, which I have long admired. This is the start of a beautiful human adventure based on strong shared values and visions". Friends of the brands will thus enjoy the tremendous privilege of rubbing shoulders with him at various exclusive events. In joining the Audemars Piguet "family", Leo Messi thus becomes the first footballer to associate his name with that of a prestigious Swiss watch brand (Audemars Piguet, 2010).

For the full story, visit: http://www.audemarspiguet.com/www08/en/news/ap_messi.php

Noblesse Watches & Jewellery

As a number one source for haute horlogerie we also look at nice jewellers all over the world. We are searching for exclusive and new concepts. This time we found the interesting jeweller Noblesse in Ukraine. Noblesse is founded in 1999 and is the largest Ukrainian distributor of high-end Swiss watches and jewellery. It is the largest Ukrainian network of first-class boutiques (the boutiques are situated in downtown districts of Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa). 

Noblesse owns multibrand boutiques and monobrand boutiques. An example of a multibrand boutique is the Louvre jewellery boutique in Kyiv (the left shop on the picture). It has a rich brand portfolio that includes the best of Italian and German jewelry producers only. Well known brands like Jacob & Co, Damiani, Pasquale Bruni, Schreiner and Stefan Hafner are available at this boutique. Noblesse owns monobrand boutiques from Jaeger-LeCoultre, IWC, Franck Muller, Ulyssee Nardin, Damiani, Bvlgari and Buben & Zorgweg. 

Almost all exclusive brands are available at the Noblesse luxury company. Even brands which are not so famous, like Romaine Jerome, de LaCour, Cvstos and Thomas Prescher are available at Noblesse. Noblesse has massive advertising campaigns, carries out presentations and VIP-events, organizes press-conferences, introduces new brands to Ukrainian audience and publishes three glossy magazines and one newspaper. 

What is really exclusive about Noblesse is their DELUXE Noblesse store. The location and phonenumber of this boutique is secret and has an private exclusive format. This lounge boutique boasts its club system which is featured with "by appointment" type of service. The only possible way to visit this boutique and become a client is by invitation of a sales manager or Noblesse company President and also by recommendation of regular customers. The cozy large sofa's in combination with creme colours and large mirrors are giving the perfect atmoshpere to buy a stunning masterpiece. Only Haute Horlogerie and Houte Joaillerie masterpieces are presented in this unique private atmosphere. On the picture below you see some shots of the interior and exterior of the Private DELUXE Noblesse store.

Our conclusion: Noblesse is a unique store/concept and has a lot of famous and quality brands. If you are close to or in Ukraine, the stores of Noblesse are definetly worth a visit (Noblesse, 2010). 

Written by: Tobias. S