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F1 Chief Bernie Ecclestone, pictured top right, signs the exclusive watch licensing deal with Jacques Lemans CEO Alfred Riedl. The new watch collection will include a special airline edition which will be available for sale only on selected airlines and duty free shops. Pictures courtesy of Jacques Lemans | |
AUSTRIA. Jacques Lemans has gained the exclusive licence for Formula 1 watches from F1 Chief Bernie Ecclestone – the first time in the history of Formula 1 that a company has received the exclusive right to use the F1 brand name.
Under the deal, the exclusive watch collection will include a special airline edition which will be available only on selected airlines and duty free shops, said Karl Stoiber, Managing Director of Jacques Lemans’ duty free agent, Duty Free Services.
Stoiber will introduce the F1 range to the trade at the TFWA Asia Pacific show next month (Stand number: D9).
Ecclestone signed the licence agreement on 20 January 2006 after arriving by helicopter at the Jacques Lemans-arena in St Veit/Austria, near the European headquarters of Jacques Lemans watches.
The Austrian watch producer expects to sell 500,000 watches worldwide in the first year. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Mimicking the materials used in F1 cars, the company will use carbon, rubber, titan and ceramics in its sportive-exclusive watch collection. The price segment will be between €190 and €390.
The chronographs will have useful functions for Formula 1 fans, such as a display of the 24 time zones of the race venues. They will be available in international selected watch and jewellery shops.
Jacques Lemans gained the first ever F1 licence thanks to the partnership between the company owner and CEO Alfred Riedl and the Formula 1 legend and ex-owner of a racing team Walter Wolf.
In a statement, Riedl said: “We are very happy that the contract with Mr Ecclestone was accomplished. This poses a challenge to our designers and sales department, and also to our production.”
Bernie Ecclestone, CEO of Formula One Administration, said: “Jacques Lemans is an amazing brand, the co-operation is brilliant. The watches of our F1 collection have an adapted design to Formula 1 and look very sportive. This contract is a good cause for both companies.”
Ralph Kutting, Senior Designer at Jacques Lemans, commented: “Central design elements are abutted to F1. High-tech materials like carbon, titan, ceramics and rubber are used. The same materials are used for the Formula 1 race cars.”
For details on Jacques Lemans watches, contact Karl Stoiber, Duty Free Services, on fax: +43 7242 35278 or e-mail: k.stoiber@duty-free-services.com.
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