‘Proud to be Russian’ is a new collection conceived by independent luxury Swiss watch manufacturer CVSTOS GENÈVE and endorsed by Gérard Depardieu – the French-born superstar actor that carries Russian citizenship since 2013 and who, as an ambassador, embodies that pride. Every timepiece in the ‘Proud to be Russian’ collection is highlighted by an open-worked dial featuring a finely cut 3-dimensional double-headed eagle representing the Russian coat of arms. Gérard Depardieu has been wearing the ‘Proud to be Russian’ timepiece and that inaugural ‘Proud to be Russian’ watch has evolved into a range that now includes four automatic timepieces, a tourbillon watch, a minute repeater tourbillon watch and jewellery versions. The see-through sapphire crystal on the case-back bears Gérard Depardieu’s signature and CVSTOS plans on further expanding the collection with chronographs, complicated masterpieces and special series. The association between CVSTOS and Gérard Depardieu started in February, 2014, and deserves to be disclosed in detail. Sassoun Sirmakes asked a close friend, Frederik Mahler to introduce him to the renowned French actor; the CVSTOS CEO thought the newly proclaimed Russian citizen could be the perfect partner in a joint venture regarding a Russian dedicated collection. Frederik Mahler suggested a meeting in Paris while Gérard Depardieu was shooting the ‘Welcome to New York’ movie and the first rendez-vous took place at the Royal Monceau hotel, where Sassoun Sirmakes had the opportunity to present a timepiece bearing the Russian coat of arms to the legendary star and introduce him to the CVSTOS ethos. It was a fruitful meeting and the foundation of a future project involving watchmaking and Russia was laid. Coincidentally, Gérard Depardieu was wearing that day a vest featuring the Russian coat of arms; on that same day, he was given a CVSTOS timepiece with a dial bearing a matching crest. Back in Geneva, Sassoun Sirmakes developed the concept of a collection that from then on bore the name ‘Proud to be Russian’ (trade mark). When a picture of both surfaced in the media and social networks with the French actor sporting the double-headed eagle timepiece on the wrist, it created such a buzz that the CVSTOS CEO was immediately flooded with calls from all over the world asking for further information regarding the timepiece. Gérard Depardieu could witness himself all the buzz around his new watch; on a Paris-Moscow flight, it created quite a stir: “I could have sold 40 pieces on the plane, everyone was looking at my watch!”, he disclosed. The second rendez-vous took place at Gérard Depardieu’s home in Paris and was crucial in defining the main axis supporting the ‘Proud to be Russian’ project. A goal was set: to promote a revival of the Russian watchmaking. They would meet yet another time during the Cannes Film Festival in May 2014, further closing the ties that led to the official establishment, during a meeting in Brussels last month, of Gérard Depardieu as the CVSTOS testimonial for the ‘Proud to be Russian’ collection and watchmaking project presented in Moscow on 17th of December.

• published: 18 Dec 2014
• views: 67