FeatureCarpe Diem, Prescribes Festina, The 100-Year-Old Spanish Watch Manufacturer

An oft-quoted phrase in Latin is festina lente, which in the English language translates to ‘make haste slowly’, implying the act of proceeding expeditiously but prudently when confronting a challenge. One watchmaker that lives by this oxymoronic adage is Festina – the Spanish manufacturer of high-quality watches for over a century. We present to you the stunning smorgasbord of watches for men and women by Festina that are all about elegance, style, functionality and a sporting spirit.

Founded in 1902 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, this trendy brand was acquired by Spanish industrialist Miguel Rodriguez in 1984. Rodriguez went on to build an empire comprising the following five watch brands – Festina, Lotus, Jaguar, Candino and Calypso – and two jewellery brands – Lotus Style and Lotus Silver. The group’s head office is situated in Barcelona and its major production centres are in Switzerland and Spain. With around five million watches being sold annually, Festina is constantly raising the bar for themselves.

Festina’s Watchmaking Philosophy

Advocating a strong watchmaking philosophy, the group believes in prescribing emotional value for every minute that goes by. For them, time is a precious commodity and they strive to fill each watch and each collection produced by them with a multitude of emotions that add value to the lives of the watch buyer.

Now recognised as the largest brand under the umbrella of the Festina group, Festina is best known for being the official timekeeper and sponsor of major international sporting competitions that include the Tour de France, La Vuelta, Giro d’Italia, Tour de Pologne and marathons such as Berlin, Hamburg, and Karsthand and BMX events in France. Embellished with a carpe diem attitude, Festina enjoys a long history spanning over 25 years with the world of competitive cycling.

The brand enjoyed immense recognition owing to the feats of the Festina cycling team who were active from 1989 to 2001. Even after the team disbanded, the watch company continued its association with the Tour de France. In addition to this, in the UK, Festina is known for sponsoring events like the Tour Series that kicks off in May, The Women’s Tour, and The Tour of Britain.

With a strong hold on the market in France and Spain, Festina is one of the top-selling brands in the midrange watch segment in several European countries. Competitively priced between Rs 6,000 and 24,000, Festina imparts a sporty look through its distinct designs.

The Brand’s Different Faces

In tune with their eclectic and timeless designs, Festina is represented on a global scale by brand ambassadors such as actor Gerard Butler, for men’s watches, and Miss France 2018, Maëva Coucke, for women’s watches.

The Scottish actor, producer and singer is leading the brand’s new campaign called ‘Time to live’, in which he is filmed sharing some intimate moments of his life with the world. Butler is regarded as the ultimate embodiment of masculinity, versatility and leadership, making him the perfect match for a brand like Festina.

On the other hand, Coucke effortlessly radiates glamour, femininity and sophistication – the best concoction needed to make exquisite watches for women. Former French professional road-racing cyclist Richard Virenque is the face of Festina’s legendary cycling-inspired chronographs – the Chronobike range – that made a comeback recently. All in all, the brand is now attaining newer heights and positioning itself higher in the domain of fashion watches.

Every Watch Makes A Difference

Festina’s watches denote myriad universal emotions such as love, freedom and passion. Their repertoire for men comprises the Chronobike, The Originals, Extra, Prestige, Elegance, Automatic, Chronograph, Multifunction, Retro, Ceramic, and Junior collections, along with other Special Editions.

The ladies have interesting choices like Boyfriend, Ceramic, Extra and Mademoiselle. With options galore, Festina truly leaves one spoilt for choice.

Talking about their designs that boast of striking aesthetics, Festina’s watches exude a timeless yet trendy look, making their appeal much stronger. Ensuring the highest quality, accuracy and precision, these watches are fitted with Japanese quartz mechanisms. Laden with unique design elements, these commercially successful timepieces transcend short-lived fashion trends and are an elegant exhibition of the watchmaker’s 100-plus years of watchmaking history.

To pre-order any watch featured above, please call +91 8725028890