IWC Schaffhausen Celebrates “Timeless Portofino” during Art Basel Miami Beach with Emily Blunt

Miami, December 4, 2014 – During the world-renowned art fair Art Basel in Miami Beach, Swiss luxurywatch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen showcased its new Portofino Midsize collection. ActressEmily Blunt was joined by supermodels Karolina Kurkova and Adriana Lima for the US openingof the “Timeless Portofino” exhibition, the result of an exclusive photo shoot by famous photographer Peter Lindbergh which involved a host of stars and was organized by IWC especially for the watch launch. To celebrate the occasion, IWC CEO Georges Kern welcomed guests to an elegant gala dinner with special host Jason Alexander.

Art Basel in Miami Beach offered the ideal tropical setting for the US premiere of the “Timeless Portofino” exhibition organized by IWC Schaffhausen, which features photo¬graphs of Hollywood stars and supermodels from the com¬pany’s family of brand ambassadors. Known worldwide as the most prestigious art show in the Americas, Art Basel in Miami Beach gathers the most discerning art connoisseurs,and these individuals were in attendance with IWC for an exclusive private dinner celebrating the pictures shot by legendary photographer Peter Lindbergh. Golden Globe winner Emily Blunt as well as supermodels Adriana Lima and Karolina Kurkova joined IWC CEO Georges Kern for the exhibition of almost 60 images. Together with fellow actors Cate Blanchett, Christoph Waltz, Ewan McGregor, and Zhou Xun, the three posed for photographer Peter Lindbergh, who stylishly captured the new Portofino Midsizetimepieces with the stars in the picturesque harbor town of Portofino, Italy. A team of 120 people worked on the set of the 3-day photo shoot during which Lindbergh took a total of 21,000 pictures. “IWC is thrilled to be in Miami dur¬ing such an expressive festival, celebrating the artwork of Peter Lindbergh and our new Portofino Midsize collection through our ‘Timeless Portofino’ exhibition,” said Georges Kern, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen. “My friend Peter Lindberghhas succeeded in capturing these very special moments and in showing both our cast and our watches in their very best light.”

PORTOFINO IN MIAMI 

The esteemed IWC guests – among them actor James Marsden as well as famous athletes Lennox Lewis and Martina Navratilova – gathered for the “Timeless Portofino” cocktail exhibition and dinner at the well-known W South Beach hotel. Situated in the magical Grove at the W, they were transported to Portofino by the Italian canapés and the musical stylings of Trio Bella Nota, an Italian group. Toward the end of the cocktail reception, guests were introduced to the evening’s Master of Ceremonies, actor Jason Alexander of “Seinfeld” fame, who sang a lovely song introducing everyone to the evening’s program of celebrating Portofino in Miami. Throughout the dinner he treatedguests to conversations with three of the participantsat the Portofino event – Emily Blunt, Adriana Lima and KarolinaKurkova – who chatted about the shoot, their work, and the partnership with IWC Schaffhausen. Adriana Lima and Karolina Kurkova discussed working together in Italy, while Emily Blunt talked about her experiencein Portofino: “To work together with Peter Lindbergh in Portofino was an experience I will not forget, because his magnificent sense of beauty and attention to detail allowed us as cast mem¬bers to truly transcend time and space.” After the dinner, the guests were transported under the moonlit Miami sky to the plush private Lawn at the W for an exclusive after-party where they were surprised by a special musical per¬formance from Solange Knowles. The singer concluded her electrifying set and was followed by the renowned DJ Jack E from Saint-Tropez while guests danced in the enchanting setting.