iW Magazine Fall 2018 | Page 129

BLANCPAIN AND ECONOMIST LAUNCH WORLD OCEAN INITIATIVE IN LINE WITH ITS COMMITMENT to the exploration and preservation of the oceans, Blancpain has supported the World Ocean Summit since its first edition in 2012. On March 7 to March 9, the fifth Summit met at the Riviera Maya in Mexico. This year’s event marks an increased phase of cooperation between Blancpain and event sponsor The Economist, which together have launched the World Ocean Initiative to accelerate measures and tan- gible results on behalf of stewardship of the oceans. Under the Initiative’s new Protectors program, six individual projects will be supported. Over a 24-month period, the public will have an opportunity to discover the work and achievements accomplished by six key ocean preservation figures through a series of short movies, discussion panels and an interactive digital campaign. IWC OFFERS WATCH TO BENEFIT CHARITY IWC AUCTIONED its Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII Edition, a limited edition of 1,500 made with a black ceramic case and a blue dial. Like every Laureus special edition, the timepiece features an engraving of the winning entry of the drawing competition that IWC organizes each year within the organization’s supported programs. The theme for 2017 was “Time to Be Healthy,” and the jury selected 11-year-old Ana Claudia’s drawing out of more than 1,000 submissions. Priced at $5,650, the watch’s sale benefits Laureus Sport for Good, which helps to improve the living conditions of Brazilian children and adolescents through education and sport. FALL 2018 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | 129