For the third year running, the fine Swiss watchmaking manufacturer Jaeger-LeCoultre held a charity polo game for nearly 300 guests. The UK Brand Director, Guillain Maspetiol, welcomed international and local celebrities at the Ham Polo Club in Richmond. The event featured two exhibition games with the world’s best polo players and an auction for two charity organisations “Ideas del Sur” and “Maggie’s Centres”.
The People
Fabio Capello, England´s soccer team coach and friend of Jaeger-LeCoultre, took a relaxing day-off after the recent matches of the World Cup qualification. He was wearing his favourite watch: a Jaeger-LeCoultre Squadra World Chronograph.
Special guests included Princess Beatrice and Dave Clark, Yasmin Le Bon, wearing a Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso duetto Duo and her daughter Amber Le bon, Pippa Middleton, Astrid Harbord, Henry Conway, Olivia Inge, Marissa Montgomery, Elizabeth Von Guttman, Alexia Niedzielski and Veronica Echegui.
The Matches
The Reverso Squadra by Jaeger-LeCoultre and the best professional polo players joined their forces in raising funds on a day dedicated to sport and humanitarian values. The first exhibition was a ladies match, featuring Jaeger-LeCoultre brand ambassadors: Clare Milford Haven and Lia Salvo from Argentina both wearing their Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Squadra Lady watches. A close match, in which Jaeger-LeCoultre White beat Jaeger-LeCoultre Purple team 6-3. Nina Clarkin, UK best polo player, was named MVP.In the afternoon, another gentlemen polo game followed, featuring the world's best polo player and Jaeger-LeCoultre brand ambassador, Adolfo Cambiaso wearing his Reverso Squadra watch. The opposite team was lead by Argentinean professional Lolo Castagnola. His team partner Rachid Albwardy also sporting his Reverso Squadra Hometime. The game was a hard battle between teams which ended in a 2-2 tie.
The Auction
The auction was held with unique prizes and all proceeds went to ‘Ideas del Sur’, an Argentinean Charity devoted to underprivileged children and the British charity, Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centers.Prices included :- a Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Squadra Lady,- a polo clinic with Clare Milford Haven and helicopter ride,- an Adolfo Cambiaso’s personal horse to be chosen at his ranch in Argentina,- a Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Squadra Hometime Steel,and several other gifts.
Aside from the unveiling of the Reverso Squadra Lady, the brands ties with polo go back over 75 years. The Reverso watch appeared in 1931, at the request of British polo players residents in India, who were looking for a watch that would stand up to the blows of the sport. The firm created this watch, whose revolving case prevents the glass from breaking. Nowadays, the manufacturer Jaeger-LeCoultre has undoubtedly become one of the main actors in the polo world through the sponsorship of international tournaments and some of the best polo players worldwide.
