For the second consecutive year, Eberhard & Co. is the official timekeeper of the Genoa Boat Show, renewing an unbreakable bond with the marine world which has been taken to another level by the Scafograf collection. (Here all our posts about Eberhard & Co.)
Eberhard & Co.: a new Scafograf 300 MCMLIX
A new version of the Scafograf 300 MCMLIX with a unique brown dégradé dial. It’s just the latest episode, chronologically speaking, in a journey that started in 2016, the year the brand from La Chaux-de-Fonds decided to revive an important chapter in its long watchmaking history. A history that’s awash with the flowing, boundless contours of the sea.
First introduced in the 1950s, the Scafograf collection showcased the brand’s technical expertise in developing reliable instruments to be used during scuba diving, an activity that at the time was starting to grow in popularity. Today, just as then, there are many factors contributing to the success of this family of watches, not least their reliability as well as that vintage look that still characterizes their aesthetic. But the bond that exists between this watchmaker and the sea is now further enhanced by the presence of Eberhard & Co., for the second consecutive year, as the official timekeeper of the Genoa Boat Show. On the eve of this boat show in the Italian region of Liguria, we got to meet Mario Peserico, Managing Director of the Swiss watchmaker, as he gave us the opportunity to conduct this interview.
Let’s start with Genoa. How would you assess your involvement at this boat show?
It was a decision that has been very useful in terms of visibility, as well as in terms of results. This is because, at the show, our stand wasn’t designed to be a simple showcase for our products, it was intended to be an area for watch lovers to enjoy as well as one that would pique the interest of the show’s other visitors. It was also an opportunity for us to gauge how much interest there is in the brand. And in this regard, thanks to the excellent work done by our official retailer in Genoa, Luigi Codevilla, we also achieved some exceptional results in terms of sales.
An additional facet that further enriches a story marked by many decisive moments with that unmistakeable smell of the sea.
Sure. Without going too far back, it was just 40 years ago that we partnered with Azzurra during the America’s Cup. It was a major sporting moment in general, but it was more so for sailing specifically, because it was the first time that an all-Italian boat had ever participated in this event. Other important chapters followed, such as Eberhard & Co.’s participation in the Class 1 World Powerboat Championship, the queen of offshore powerboat competitions. Choices that, if we think back to that time, weren’t all that common. I believe it’s safe to say that we helped to break new ground.
All evidence of the brand following a somewhat pioneering approach – what direction is that approach taking today?
As always, making sure that we’re fully respecting and adhering to the brand’s values. Hence the decision to embrace those worlds, like vintage motorsport, where the human element is always of greater importance than any sporting accomplishment. They were once in the headlines alongside the names of those fearless drivers who used to race them; today, these vintage cars are living a second life thanks only to the passion and care of those who collect them. Objects that even now, in the digital era, continue to arouse emotions. Just like a mechanical timepiece.
Matteo Zaccagnino
