Belgian watchmaker Ice-Watch has announced the acquisition of luxury watch brand Patton Watches. Ice Group CEO Jean-Pierre Lutgen said the decision to acquire Patton Watches was “an obvious choice.”
“This acquisition is more than just a buy-out. It is the start of a genuine partnership,” he said. The sum of the acquisition was not disclosed.
The announcement was made at a press conference in Bastogne. It was attended by the brand’s Founder Jean-Louis Le Bec, who will join the Ice Group team, and Helen Patton, the granddaughter of World War II General George Patton, after whom the brand is named. General Patton led the US Seventh and Third armies in the European theatre of war.
The luxury watch brand was named after General Patton by Le Bec, who spent his childhood in Arromanche, close to the Normandy D-Day landing beaches. He said: “In my view, the name Patton is synonymous with strength and courage – the exact same values that you need to launch a truly challenging watch.”
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From left to right: Patton Watches founder Jean-Louis Le Bec, General Patton’s granddaughter Helen Patton and ICE Group CEO Jean-Pierre Lutgen |
Founded in 2009, Swiss-made Patton watches are available in a variety of colours and materials. The watches, such as the P42 Hyperbare, are said to be known for their robust nature. The P42 Hyperbare model has been submerged in the depths of the Indian Ocean for over five years and still tells the correct time, according to the company.
Other Patton watch collections are Immersion, Chrono, Automatic and Harken.
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Patton Watches founder Jean-Louis Le Bec said he was inspired to name his company after the memory of World War II General Patton |
