Breitling, the Swiss watch brand with a worldwide reputation for luxurious high-performance timepieces, hosted a dazzling celebration of its entry into the Chinese market with a red-carpet gala night.
Breitling, the Swiss luxury watch manufacturer known globally for its prestigious, high-performance timepieces, boldly announced its presence in China with a gala night at Beijing’s Phoenix Center. Illuminated in sparkling blue light recalling Breitling’s corporate color, the Phoenix Center – already an architectural wonder – welcomed some 500 invited guests in style. They entered the venue via a red carpet flanked by lanterns while more than 100 members of the local and international media photographed and interviewed the VIPs as they arrived.
An Atmosphere of Elegance and Intrigue
Inside the Phoenix Center, the stunning decor recalled Breitling’s brand worlds of air, sea, and land and created an atmosphere of elegance and intrigue. Stirring, evocative live music was performed by the Beijing Percussion Art Troupe, which distinguished itself at the 2008 Olympic Games, and by an orchestra selected from among Beijing’s leading virtuosos. The dramatic musical interludes complemented the venue’s aura and punctuated the evening’s festivities.
A Celebration of Breitling’s High-Profile Squads and Its Emerging Presence in China
Breitling CEO Georges Kern got the night off to a rousing start with the introduction of his brand’s celebrity guests, including Australian Surfers Squad member Sally Fitzgibbons and renowned photographer and filmmaker Peter Lindbergh, along with two high-profile members of the Breitling Cinema Squad, Daniel Wu and Brad Pitt.
To round out the evening, Georges Kern, Brad Pitt, and Daniel Wu, in true show business fashion, posed – with photographer Peter Lindbergh, appropriately – for a selfie. As Georges Kern pointed out: “I can’t think of anyone in the world better qualified to take this picture.”
The orchestra and drummers had saved their most dramatic piece for the end of the night, and, as the guests departed, there was no doubt in their minds that Breitling had arrived in China.