IWC Portuguese Chronograph Classic Edition “LAUREUS Sport for Good Foundation”

Schaffhausen, 26 March 2014 – For the eighth time, IWC Schaffhausen is supporting the good work carried out across the globe by the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation with a limited-edition timepiece  in characteristic Laureus blue. With the Portuguese Chronograph Classic, the Swiss manufacturer is using a classically inspired timepiece to sponsor a charitable organization that exists to give children all over the world a chance at a better future.

“The future of children and young people is an issue that concerns us all,” says Georges Kern, CEO of IWC Schaff- hausen. “This is especially true in those parts of the world where the younger generation is denied the right to a normal  childhood by poverty, violence and discrimination.” Laureus  attempts to address these problems with sports projects which use inspiration, hope and values to alleviate the suf- fering these young people are faced with in their everyday lives. Social commitment is firmly anchored in the value system of the Swiss luxury watch manufacturer: “Support- ing the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, which has a posi tive impact on the lives of over 1.5 million children,  is something which is very important to IWC,” explains Georges Kern. IWC Schaffhausen has been a driving force behind the organization since 2005 and traditionally launches an exclusive special edition each year. Part of the proceeds from the sale of these timepieces goes directly to the Laureus Foundation and contributes to the funding of its projects.

A TIMEPIECE WITH A MISSION The unmistakable Laureus blue used for the dial of this eighth IWC “Laureus Sport for Good Foundation” special edition once again makes it clear that this watch has an additional, emotional value. The Portuguese Chronograph  Classic Edition “Laureus Sport for Good Foundation”  (Ref. IW390406) in stainless steel is limited to 1,000 watches  and, with its extraordinary elegance and classically inspired design, dovetails seamlessly into the popular collection. The watch is water-resistant to 3 bar and features the robust IWC-manufactured 89361-calibre movement, which has a flyback function, an imprint at the edge of the dial with a quarter-second scale for recording cumulative times, and an analogue display for longer stop times on an inner subdial.  With its characteristic appliquéd Arabic numerals, railway-track-style chapter ring and slender feuille hands, this sophisticated timepiece retains the identity and cultural  legacy of the legendary original Portuguese, first manu- factured in the 1930s. The traditional arched-edge front glass makes the 42-millimetre diameter appear smaller, and gives the watch a classic, balanced look. The black alligator leather strap by Italian high-end shoe manufacturer  Santoni perfectly complements its stylish flair.

A BACK ENGRAVED WITH  THE DREAMS OF CHILDREN One of the hallmarks of all Laureus special editions is an engraving on the case back. In keeping with a revered tradition, IWC Schaffhausen organizes an annual children’s drawing competition within all the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation projects worldwide. This year, the jury’s verdict went to a drawing by 16-year-old Masha Nikulina from the Russian Federation. Her artistically ambitious picture shows happy children skiing and playing around in the snow. The illustration is a compelling interpretation of the theme of this year’s drawing competition, “Time to play”, and emanates   a sense of harmony. The engraving is a reminder that a portion of the proceeds from sales goes to help Laureus Sport for Good Foundation projects in some of the world’s most problematic regions.

INTEGRATION THROUGH  SPORTS PROJECTS Masha Nikulina, the winner of the children’s drawing com- petition, is a participant in Special Olympics Russia. This organization has taken it upon itself to train children and adults with intellectual disabilities in Olympic disciplines,  and to give them a chance to enter sporting competitions. In Russia, the integration of the intellectually disabled into society is still very much in its infancy. Special Olympics Russia demands that politicians take a stand against in- equality and intolerance, and that they recognize the cap- abilities of people who have intellectual disabilities. The sport organization’s work encourages young people to discover their own talents, to learn what it means to be valued as part of a team and to make friends. By forming mixed teams of athletes, both with and without intellectual disabilities, it helps overcome prejudice and strengthens the participants’ self-esteem. 

In addition to the Special Olympics Russia project, the Lau- reus Sport for Good Foundation supports over 140 projects  worldwide and has so far given around 1.5 million  children the chance to lead a better life. With the help of the  Laureus World Sports Academy, an association of famous sportsmen and women who between them account for over 100 Olympic medals, 100 world champion titles and 200 world records, the Foundation continues to highlight the issue of social inequality. The annual Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony, which is currently taking place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, gives the Foundation a very public platform for its work across the globe.

“Laureus’s mission is to use sport as a means of surmount- ing some of the biggest social problems that confront young people worldwide,” says Georges Kern, summing up the global organization’s recipe for success. “As one of its main sponsors, we are proud to support this inspiring idea and to contribute to the ongoing success of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.”