core sector communique

LIBERTY ENLIGHTENING RJ-ROMAIN JEROME Autumn 1886. In New York, all eyes are turned towards Liberty Island. The President of the United States, along with hundreds of handpicked guests as well as several thousand spectators, have all gathered for the inauguration of a work such as the world has never yet seen. Signed by the French artist Bartholdi, this monument bears a name that is destined to become a legend: Liberty Enlightening the World. A gift from France to celebrate the centenary of the Declaration of Independence of the United States, the exceptionally sized work of art was to become a symbol of human rights. For millions of immigrants over several decades, this victorious figure towering over the bay of New York would be the first image of their American dream and the embodiment of all their hopes. It has asserted itself, across time and oceans, as the ambassadress of all those who proclaim their attachment to independence and to that most precious of all values: liberty. On the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty, RJ-Romain Jerome is unveiling the fruit of an unprecedented collaborative endeavour with The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation and Gold Leaf Corporation. This encounter has resulted in a new RJ-Romain Jerome timepiece merging the brand DNA with that of Miss Liberty, thereby giving shape to a new symbolic legend: Liberty-DNA. Loyal to the aesthetic of the Statue of Liberty, the bronze bezel of this 125-piece limited-edition timepiece is adorned with 12 spikes reminiscent of the statue’s famous crown. It will acquire a delightful patina as it ages over time, thereby adopting the colour of the original, whose precious DNA is featured on the dial[1]. Particles of Miss Liberty have been incorporated into the verdigris dial which also evokes the colour of oxidised copper. The facetted hands are bronze coloured and the vintage brown alligator leather strap sets the perfect finishing touch. The medallion on the case-back of the watch depicts the flame of liberty lighting up the stars and stripes of the American flag. The watchmaking Maison thus pays tribute to the most iconic of all emblems of liberty. In placing its watchmaking expertise at the service of Lady Liberty, RJ-Romain Jerome bears testimony to history and plays its part in striving to ensure that liberty continues to enlighten future generations. [1] Fragments of the Statue of Liberty were recovered during the restoration work undertaken for its centenary. In partnership with The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Gold Leaf Corporation supplied the historical artifacts to RJ-Romain Jerome, which then incorporated it into the dial. The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization founded in 1982 to raise funds for and oversee the historic restorations of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, working in partnership with the National Park Service/U.S. Department of the Interior. In addition to restoring the monuments, the Foundation created a museum in the Statue’s base and the world-class Ellis Island Immigration Museum, The American Immigrant Wall of Honor®, the American Family Immigration History Center® and its newest project The Peopling of America® Center scheduled for completion in 2013. Its endowment has funded over 200 projects at the islands.

Gold Leaf Corporation Gold Leaf was established in 1984 and is the exclusive partner of The Statue of Liberty – Ellis Island Foundation, Inc. for artifacts preserved from the centennial restoration of the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island. Gold Leaf is dedicated to utilizing the artifacts preserved from The Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island in specially designed programs to perpetuate the idea and spirit of “Liberty Enlightening the World”. RJ-Romain Jerome Air, earth, sea: RJ-Romain Jerome offers the raw energy of imagination to those who are capable of nurturing their most secret dreams. Born at the dawn of the 3rd millennium, RJ-Romain Jerome creates the watches of the new horological era. The magic of the moon, the power of lava, and underwater mysteries are the poetic driving forces behind this creative explosion. Whether through recovering steel from the Titanic or from the Apollo 11 space shuttle, mingling silver with moon dust or sculpting volcano lava, RJ-Romain Jerome asserts its iconoclastic spirit and electrifies tradition by celebrating contemporary legends. Its approach is characterised by a blend of raw character and elaborate refinement, drawing as much on the roar of an erupting volcano as on the writings of H.G. Wells. A taste for adventure, an all-conquering spirit and visionary avant-gardism merge with the realm of the imagination in the “Titanic-DNA”, “Moon Dust-DNA” and “Eyjafjallajökull-DNA” collections. These three worlds exalt contemporary horizons through a resolutely masculine and contemporary touch. From the ocean depths to the immensity of space, from incandescent lava to age-old minerals, the RJ-Romain Jerome collections are far more than just astonishing watches: they define a new era in watchmaking. Offering every man a chance to explore a dreamlike new dimension, they also embody the values of their times: a sense of distinctiveness, a need for speed, and a spectacular yet discreetly sophisticated aura of virility. Air, earth and sea: it is now up to everyone to find his own universe, and to give substance to his dream and to his own vision of Time.