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A founding forefather of Swiss Horology... 
If a watch can be resplendent in it's honoring of time, then
Gevril timepieces are some of
the most beautiful creations to
ever mark it's passing.Born in La Chaux-de-Fonds in the Le Locle Valley, Jacques Gevril began his career in the mid-1700s as a restorer of timepieces. He was a most sought - after master of horology at a time when Swiss Watchmaking was just getting started. He was also a peer to some of the most famous names in watchmaking history including his good friends DanielJean Richard and Jaquet-Droz. Gevril began as a restorer of timepieces in La Chaux-de-Fonds where he left his name on numerous movements within both clocks and watches as he rode to success. In 1743 Gevril created his first Chronometer and in 1744 his first Repetition Dial. Perhaps in his most notable achievement, Mr. Gevril became the first exporter of Swiss Timepieces when he was called upon by Spain in the year 1758 to produce a timepiece for His Majesty, the King. Gevril set out with the famed Pierre Jaquet-Droz on an historic journey to Madrid to present his masterpiece. The king was so impressed with Gevril's creation that he appointed Gevril watchmaker to the crown. Gevril became known for his impeccable craftsmanship and for creating timepieces of unmistakable quality. Gevril went on to achieve international success in his art while passing on his expertise to his children. The name Gevril found success once again in 1784 when Jacques's son, Moyse Gevril achieved the status of "Master Clockmaker." During the 1800's the Gevril family expanded their skill to include enameling as well as the creation of dials for their watches and clocks. Today the name Gevril can be found in numerous European Museums and history books that attest to the strong influence of Jacques Gevril on Watchmaking history. Jacques Gevril was recognized as an important contributor to the history of fine Swiss Watchmaking by author Alfred Chapues in his 1959 book Grand Artisans De La Chronometrie. Gevril's dedication to the fine works of art that he created caused his timepieces to find their way into the salons of the royal and rewarded Gevril with a position of prestige in the history of the very measurement of time itself. 
Through the years, the name Gevril has
always carried with it traits of
grandness and good taste that
come only with fine workmanship
and design. When first discovered
by Mr. Samuel Friedmann,
a man with a long and
successful history in horology
whose lifelong passion had
been to acquire a watch brand
of his own, he knew that he
had found his dream. Gevril
had all the inherent qualities
Friedmann had been searching
for. It also lived up to one of
his toughest criteria: Gevril was
not an imitation of anything else.
Today under Mr. Friedmann's
direction, the Gevril brand combines a
sense of history with a style of grandeur
that collectors are quick to admire. Friedmann has infused Gevril with his boundless
enthusiasm and business sense, which has propelled the brand into a renaissance
the likes of which it most probably has not known since Jacques Gevril
dazzled the world with his horologic genius some 250 years ago. Gevril is headquartered
in the United States; however everything is conducted in true Swiss style,
like the 6000, sq. ft. villa in the hills of New York, which is Gevril's home office.Gevril is proudly available in 40 of the most upscale watch and jewelry stores across the United States and merchandised alongside the most elite of names within the timepiece industry. Gevril's advertising graces the pages of more than 100 publications including names like Town & Country, Vanity Fair, GQ, L.A. Confidential and W just to name a few. Gevril's impressive collection is at once current and timeless. Every Gevril timepiece is a handmade, limited edition that is expertly crafted at their Tramelan factory. The current Collection 2004 is a sublime combination of the romance of Gevril's past with the finest materials and craftsmanship available today including: 18 carat gold, 316L Stainless Steel, Top Wesselton Diamonds calibrated by CNC machines, the most precious Mother-of-Pearl and Louisiana Crocodile Leather bands. Gevril's movements are expertly finished by their own craftsmen. 
For 2004 Gevril builds upon its
fantastically popular Avenue of
Americas Collection with the introduction
of the Avenue of Americas
"Mini", "Glamour" and "Serenade."
The new "Mini" collection boasts a
fabulous assortment of sleek, colorful
designs that cater to the woman of
discernable taste and style. The
timepiece is available with several dial variations, including; 4 exquisite colors of
Mother-of-Pearl, with raised numbers and hands, in either stainless steel or rose
gold. The "Mini" is studded with brilliant Top Wesselton diamonds and is complemented
by a choice of 19 variations of colorful bands or a classic stainless steel
bracelet. It is powered by an exclusive Gevril quartz movement with 10-year battery
that measures both date and time.Another recent addition to the Avenue of Americas Collection is the "Glamour." The "Glamour," espouses a rare sense of femininity, which is surprisingly bold yet feminine. Like the "Mini," the "Glamour" is available with a choice of 4 different exclusive Mother of Pearl dial colors, including: pink, white, green and blue. The "Glamour," as with the "Mini" also offers a choice of 4 different diamond combinations on bezel and case sides, but that is where the similarity ends. The Glamour is as technically advanced, as it is beautiful, it is powered by a Gevril automatic, not quartz movement. Bezels are available studded with up to 2.25 carats of Top Wesselton Diamonds. Such diversity and style are rarely seen in watches of this caliber and elegance. The Gevril Watch Company's masterpiece in progress, which, when completed later this year, will surely be sought after by true timepiece collectors, is the "Serenade." The Serenade elicits a feeling of wonder as its two time zones with day and night indicators monitor the flow of time from dawn to day, dusk to night, all the while keeping accurate track of hours, minutes and seconds as if scripted in dance. A rare and unique patented Gevril movement with 23K gold rotor powers the Serenade through time. Sapphire crystals cover both the beautifully guilloched curved dial as well as the GV-AOASE movement. Available in a selection of 18K Rose Gold, 18K White Gold or Platinum the "Serenade" is produced in a very limited edition of just 50 pieces in each precious metal. The Serenade is secured to the wrist via a luxurious Louisiana Crocodile leather band with either 18K rose gold, 18K white gold or platinum deployant buckle. The timepiece is water resistant to 5 atm. 
Gevril's New York Collection is comprised of
several stunningly handsome round cased
automatics that possess timeless elegance and
include: the Soho, housing a 25-jeweled
automatic movement water resistant to 50
meters; the Chelsea with sophisticated
Roman Numerals on the face of this 50-
meter water- resistant day, date,
moon; the Madison with its beautifully
guillochéd dial and 30-jeweled
automatic movement and the Gramercy,
a "Regulator" highlighting an intricately
assembled bracelet. The Sea
Cloud collection, Gevrils' exciting hightech
sports line, is water- resistant to
200 meters. The Sea Cloud is available
in either an automatic date, GMT or
Chronograph. All 3 models are equipped with unidirectional bezels in either 18
karat gold or 316 L stainless steel.Hollywood has also taken note of the grandeur of Gevril. Turn on a television just about any night in America and you will find the Gevril enthusiasts including; Sting, Mario Andretti, Joan Collins, Brad Garrett of "Everybody Loves Raymond", Federico Castelluccio of the "Sopranos", Joe Mantegna of "Joan of Arcadia", Martin Sheen of "The West Wing" and Joan Rivers of "The Fashion Police." In addition this Spring Gevril will be worn on the cover of two of our industries most respected publications with acting legend Martin Sheen on the cover of WatchTime and Joe Mantegna on the cover of Watch Aficionado. 
For the future, Friedmann will continue his
relentless pursuit of combining technical innovation
with aesthetic beauty in restoring Gevril to its former
glory. As Friedmann explains " a prince might leave
the royal palace for a period of time, however he is
still the prince and when he decides to return the
kingdom will surely be his once again."
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