Longines Opens Shop in New York City

NEW YORK, Jan. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Tennis legend, philanthropist, and Longines Ambassador of Elegance Stefanie Graf joined the Swiss watch company Longines and Tourneau on January 24th, 2012, at Tourneau's flagship location in New York City for a special ribbon cutting ceremony to unveil Longines' brand new shop within Tourneau.  The generously sized space will exclusively showcase Longines watches, providing the client with an extensive range of Longines product in an atmosphere that reflects the brand's elegant style.

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To celebrate the highly anticipated opening, Longines hosted a private preview of the shop for top U.S. press, followed by an intimate cocktail reception for VIP clientele with DETAILS magazine. As part of the festivities, invited media and guests were able to view Longines' newest collections of elegant watches including The Longines Master Collection Moon Phases, Longines DolceVita Steel/Gold, and The Longines Column-Wheel Chronograph.

The one-of-a-kind Tourneau is ever evolving to provide the best luxury watch buying experience and watch service to their customers.  The company currently holds an unrivaled presence in the luxury watch retail market, with 38 stores throughout the country.

"As a company we are looking to modernize the experience of watch purchasing, by using new technologies and ways of engagement to shape the customer's experience," said Jim Seuss, Chief Executive Officer at Tourneau.  "We are excited to partner with such an esteemed brand  as Longines to create a destination where visitors can experience and look at discovering, purchasing and collecting watches in new ways."

In addition to the ribbon cutting ceremony, for a small donation guests had a chance to win a HydroConquest watch in stainless steel with a blue dial.  The HydroConquest series is part of the Longines Sports Collection which combines the elegant look of Longines with the required functions for sporting watches.  Proceeds from the donations will benefit Stefanie Graf's honorable charity "Children for Tomorrow." A non-profit organization focused on helping children and their families who are victims of war, persecution or organized crime, "Children for Tomorrow" has helped countless families throughout the years.

Stefanie Graf has been a brand ambassador for Longines since 2008. Stefanie graced the tennis courts, and built a career that spanned 17 years with 902 victories. With her dedication towards helping the lives of children and further benefitting their future, Ms. Graf is the perfect match for the 180-year-old Swiss watch brand that has always encouraged philanthropic endeavors.

Since 1832, Longines has stood for elegance, with a strong devotion to tradition, making the brand a natural fit for Tourneau.  Tourneau Time Machine has been open since 1997, and Longines is proud to be part of this prestigious store. 

Longines
Longines has been based at Saint-Imier, Switzerland, since 1832. It is celebrating 180 years of non-stop craftsmanship in 2012 and its watchmaking expertise reflects a strong devotion to tradition, elegance and performance. It has generations of experience as the official timekeeper at world championships and as a partner of international sports federations. Over the years, the brand has built strong and long-lasting links with the equine sports.

Longines is a member of The Swatch Group S.A., the world's leading manufacturer of horological products. With an excellent reputation for creating refined timepieces, the brand, whose emblem is the winged hourglass, has outlets in over 130 countries.

About Tourneau
Established in 1900, Tourneau is the leading retailer of luxury watches in the United States, offering more than 100 world famous brands in more than 8,000 unique styles. The company's thirty-plus stores also sell Certified Pre-Owned timepieces and watches under the Tourneau brand. Considered "the watch authority," Tourneau is known for its extensive selection and unparalleled customer service.

Children for Tomorrow
"Children for Tomorrow" is a non-profit that provides assistance to children and families who have become victims of war, persecution, and violence by helping to heal the psychological wounds within. The Foundation was established 1998 by Stefanie Graf in cooperation with the Outpatient Clinic for Refugee Children and their Families at the University Clinics of Hamburg-Eppendorf. Learn more at www.childrenfortomorrow.de/en-index.html

About DETAILS
With thought-provoking humor, unbeatable style, and breathtaking photography, DETAILS defines the modern man of our times. DETAILS is published by Conde Nast, a division of Advance Publications, which operates in 25 countries and is the world leader in exceptional content creation. For more information, visit DETAILS.com.

SOURCE Longines