iW Magazine iW Magazine Summer 2017 | Page 22

Dialed In HOROLOGICAL NEWS AUDEMARS PIGUET BEGINS MUSEUM CONSTRUCTION udemars Piguet this spring installed the cornerstone for what will become the watchmaker’s new historical museum building. Three years ago in Le Brassus, home to the watchmaker within the Vallée de Joux, Audemars Piguet presented the winning project of the architectural competition for the new museum. Imagined by Danish architect Bjarke Ingels, the new “Maison des Fonda- teurs” pairs the original museum established in the historical Audemars family house with a futuristic spiral emerging from the fields, entirely supported by curved glass walls. At the ceremony, two watchmakers placed the 333 parts needed to assemble a Royal Oak in a waterproof case, before sealing it and burying it under the foundations of the future building. This was done for the atten- tion of the future generations of watchmakers who might one day discover the building. A CITIZEN NAMED TITLE SPONSOR OF NAISMITH AWARD CITIZEN WATCH IS NOW THE TITLE SPONSOR OF THE Naismith College Player of the Year Awards and also becomes an official marketing partner, with the designation as the “Official Watch of the Naismith Trophy.” The Naismith Trophy, presented since 1969 annually to the most outstanding men’s and women’s college basketball player nationwide, will now focus on those in contention for the award, with a ‘watch’ announcement to emphasize player movement. Players will be announced throughout the season in a fifty watch list, thirty midseason team, ten national semifinalists, four finalists and the winner. Next year when the Naismith Trophy celebrates its fiftieth anniversary, Citizen will spearhead a “moments in time” campaign, honoring the players and moments that shaped and established the trophy as the most prestigious individual college basketball player award, culminating at the 2018 Men’s Final Four in San Antonio when the Citizen Watch Naismith Trophy will recognize all previous winners over the last 50 years. Earlier this year, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Kelsey Plum (top left), all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I women’s basketball history, and University of Kansas senior, Frank Mason III (left), as the winners of the 2017 Citizen Naismith Trophy. 22 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | SUMMER 2017 iWMAGAZINE .COM