August 11, 2008

Blancpain Completes Acquisition of Vica Sàrl and Vincent Calabrese

PAUDEX LE BRASSUS – Blancpain SA, a company of The
Swatch Group Ltd., is announced that it acquired the company Vica Sàrl and, with this acquisition, the Vincent Calabrese brand.

Vincent Calabrese, who created the first of his famous watches,
the Golden Bridge, in 1997, also co-founded the AHCI Horological Academy of Independent Creators in 1985. At the birth of this renowned academy he created and exhibited his first Tourbillon, according to the principle of his “spatial watchmaking”. This Tourbillon, which is entirely handcrafted and made in 18-carat gold, is suspended in a case of sapphires and therefore seems to float in space. It is a piece full of poetry, the purity and esthetics of which transcend its mechanical and technical complexities.

When Jacques Piguet, who at the time was the owner of Frédéric
Piguet SA and Blancpain SA, discovered this watch, he asked Vincent Calabrese to create a Tourbillon for Blancpain.

Vincent Calabrese has now decided to expand his creative
opportunities and production facilities by selling the company Vica Sàrl to Blancpain SA, according to Blancpain in a statemetn.

The Vincent Calabrese brand name as well as the facilities, developments and patents will pass into the ownership
of Blancpain SA. Vincent Calabrese will join the team at Blancpain managed by Marc A. Hayek, Managing Director, and become a member of the Executive Management Board. .

With Vincent Calabrese, Blancpain SA will enhance its creative
capabilities in relation to highly complex watches, Blancpain said.