The Swiss watchmaker will partner with the legendary Swiss alpine team competition Patrouille des Glaciers (PDG) in Spring 2014. The PDG is the worldwide biggest ski alpinism race and takes place every two years – starting in Zermatt and leading through Arolla to Verbier in Switzerland. This mountaineering ski race dates back to the 1940s and challenges participants to verify their physical preparedness and technical proficiency in tough high-altitude terrain. In the same way that PDG participants enjoy this challenge, JEANRICHARD has been creating watches since the 17th century for independent spirits who play by their own rules, and rather than just focusing on the destination, also enjoy the road being traveled. This is where two Swiss pioneers meet.

“The Patrouille des Glaciers has been one of the most prominent team sporting events in Switzerland with international acclaim for many years. With Zermatt as its starting point, it perfectly highlights the unmistakable beauty of the typically alpine mountain scenery. Besides its deep Swiss roots, we also share many of the same values: the taste for challenge and peak performance, team spirit and the desire to make every moment count, to name just a few”, says Bruno Grande, COO of JEANRICHARD. “At the same time, the PDG and its participants represent this sense of unique adventure of JEANRICHARD: ordinary people doing incredible and extraordinary things – every day explorers pushing boundaries, who are ready to conquer the world and live life to the fullest.”

The interest to compete in the race has increased steadily during the years. Today, the PDG attracts around 4500 participants from all over the world, while teams of three members are challenged to complete the race in a given period of time, pushing the limits of their physical and mental strength in tough high-alpine conditions. This year’s competition shall also lay a special emphasis on environmental and climate issues.

The JEANRICHARD lifestyle conveys a strong mindset that stimulates new challenges without compromising powerful design or reliable performance, as featured in their four collections: Terrascope, Aquascope, Aeroscope and 1681. These are inspired by earth, water and air respectively – all elements of our nature – to which we have added the fire of passion, reflecting the spirit of the brand and inspiring sophisticated lovers of discoveries every day anew.

Exceptional races deserve exceptional watches. Official watchmaker and timekeeper of the legendary Patrouille des Glaciers, JEANRICHARD, is to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Alpine Skiing competition by launching a limited series of 100 Terrascope watches. In order to accompany the extreme adventurers on the «high road» leading from Zermatt via Arolla to Verbier in the Swiss Alps, the iconic JEANRICHARD model has been given an exclusive light grey dial with engraved altitude curves, a reminder of the heights scaled during the race, as well as a comfortable sturdy bracelet in dark grey rubber. The steel case, housing a self-winding mechanical movement, blends an extraordinary robustness with a magnificently distinctive design, adorned with alternating «vertical satin» and polished finishes. The engraved caseback bears the legend «Patrouille des Glaciers 30ème anniversaire 1984-2014» and the individual series number. The Patrouille des Glaciers, which takes place every year, involves 4500 participants from around the world working in teams of three. The event next takes place in 2014 in late April/ early May. Besides their outstanding physical fitness and extraordinary resistance to the extremes of high altitude, these «everyday heroes» stand out for their love of challenge, team spirit, respect for nature and desire to push back the frontiers of the possible, while living fully in the moment. Values such as these are also firmly at the heart of the JEANRICHARD Philosophy of Life, and make for a partnership full of future promise.

JEANRICHARD, named after Daniel Jean Richard who pioneered the Swiss Watch making industry during the 17th century, offers luxury Swiss Made timepieces to independent minded, creative personalities, who share the brand’s philosophy and love of travel. The JEANRICHARD man assumes his own, unique, Philosophy of Life. In 2012, JEANRICHARD launched their new identity and strategic development based on their communication pillars that are the watchmaking tradition, the land, the water and the air – to which we have added the fire of passion. For each of these environments, JEANRICHARD is looking to tell the stories of people whose passions have driven their life philosophies to do extraordinary things.

Patrouille des Glaciers is an exceptional race from either Zermatt to Verbier or from Arolla to Verbier. This unique event is characterized by its length, high average altitude, as well as by the profile of the route. The participants not only require a real mountaineering experience but also need to master extreme weather, mental and physical conditions. Teams consist of three competitors. The minimum age is 20 years for competitors of Course A and 18 years for participants of Course B. In recent years, the number of participants under 30 years has exceeded 45%. In 1984, turnout averaged just 5%. This proves that ski mountaineering is a dynamic booming sport among young people. This legendary event attracts around 1400 patrols throughout the world (about 4500 participants).