IWC Schaffhausen honours Jacques- Yves Cousteau on his 100th birthday
11 June 2010 marks the 100th birthday of Jacques-Yves Cousteau. No other individual in the 20th century has promoted and influenced research of the world’s oceans as significantly as this legendary personality. Swiss watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen, partner and sponsor of the Cousteau Society for many years, is proud to dedicate a fifth special edition to “Le Commandant” on this historic anniversary: the Aquatimer Chronograph Edition Jacques-Yves Cousteau.
But IWC Schaffhausen plans to honour Cousteau’s birthday with more than just a special model. On this particular occasion, the company will also be sponsoring a research voyage to be carried out by National Geographic, which will be putting to sea in the wake of Jacques-Yves Cousteau in his second research ship, the Alcyone. The aim of this expedition is to compare Cousteau’s findings regarding the condition of the underwater world back then with new data. Setting out from Marseilles, the crew will pass through the Corsican marine nature reserve of Scandola on the northern side of the Gulf of Porto. The researcher’s next stop is the Medes Islands on the Costa Brava. The area surrounding the islands has been a strictly protected
marine reserve since 1990. The final destination for research purposes is the Cabrera archipelago, which in view of its enormous scenic and ecological importance has been declared a marine reserve and national park. Apart from researchers, camera crew and photographers, another man on board the Alcyone is Patrice
Quesnel, long-time companion of Cousteau himself. Cousteau had the rotor ship – a combination of sailing ship and engine-powered vessel – designed and built in the early 1980s. The Alcyone embarked on its maiden voyage in 1985. Over the past ten years, Quesnel has held the captaincy of the rotor ship, the only one of its kind in the world, on behalf of the Cousteau Society and is also project manager in charge of the restoration of the famous Calypso. The National Geographic expedition will be under way in summer 2010 and, with this research voyage, gives the sub aquatic projects of “Le Commandant” a new and resounding
immediacy.
Ref. IW376706
Features
Diver’s watch in stainless-steel case with external rotating bezel, mechanical chronograph movement, day and date display, small hacking seconds and bracelet quick-change system**, engraving of portrait of Jacques-Yves Cousteau on the case back.
Movement
Calibre: 79320
Beats: 28,800/h
Jewels: 25
Power reserve: 44 h
Winding: automatic
Case
Materials: watch in stainless steel with slate-coloured dial and rubber strap
Glass: sapphire, convex, antireflective coating on both sides
Crown: screw-in
Water-resistant: 12 bar
Diameter: 44mm
Height: 15mm
* IWC Schaffhausen is not the owner of the Trademark Super-LumiNova®.
** The Aquatimer bracelet quick-change system has been developed by IWC under a patent license
from Cartier.
IWC Press
But IWC Schaffhausen plans to honour Cousteau’s birthday with more than just a special model. On this particular occasion, the company will also be sponsoring a research voyage to be carried out by National Geographic, which will be putting to sea in the wake of Jacques-Yves Cousteau in his second research ship, the Alcyone. The aim of this expedition is to compare Cousteau’s findings regarding the condition of the underwater world back then with new data. Setting out from Marseilles, the crew will pass through the Corsican marine nature reserve of Scandola on the northern side of the Gulf of Porto. The researcher’s next stop is the Medes Islands on the Costa Brava. The area surrounding the islands has been a strictly protected
marine reserve since 1990. The final destination for research purposes is the Cabrera archipelago, which in view of its enormous scenic and ecological importance has been declared a marine reserve and national park. Apart from researchers, camera crew and photographers, another man on board the Alcyone is Patrice
Quesnel, long-time companion of Cousteau himself. Cousteau had the rotor ship – a combination of sailing ship and engine-powered vessel – designed and built in the early 1980s. The Alcyone embarked on its maiden voyage in 1985. Over the past ten years, Quesnel has held the captaincy of the rotor ship, the only one of its kind in the world, on behalf of the Cousteau Society and is also project manager in charge of the restoration of the famous Calypso. The National Geographic expedition will be under way in summer 2010 and, with this research voyage, gives the sub aquatic projects of “Le Commandant” a new and resounding
immediacy.
Ref. IW376706
Features
Diver’s watch in stainless-steel case with external rotating bezel, mechanical chronograph movement, day and date display, small hacking seconds and bracelet quick-change system**, engraving of portrait of Jacques-Yves Cousteau on the case back.
Movement
Calibre: 79320
Beats: 28,800/h
Jewels: 25
Power reserve: 44 h
Winding: automatic
Case
Materials: watch in stainless steel with slate-coloured dial and rubber strap
Glass: sapphire, convex, antireflective coating on both sides
Crown: screw-in
Water-resistant: 12 bar
Diameter: 44mm
Height: 15mm
* IWC Schaffhausen is not the owner of the Trademark Super-LumiNova®.
** The Aquatimer bracelet quick-change system has been developed by IWC under a patent license
from Cartier.
IWC Press