Gevril, the luxury Swiss watch brand, launched “Serenade,” its newest patented limited edition timepiece, at a crowded, star-studded party Sept. 28 at the “Tourneau TimeMachine” watch store in New York City.

Despite strong, gusty winds and heavy rains (the last of Hurricane Jeanne), some 475 guests attended (including Tourneau A-list customers, leaders in New York society and business, local celebrities and dignitaries) to see Oscar-winning movie star legend Paul Newman, actress Joan Collins, race car legend Mario Andretti (racing’s most decorated driver of all time), Jesse Palmer of the New York Jets, Mario Dominguez, champion lead driver of the Herdez/Gevril racing team, and members of the team. Journalists and photographers from scores of local and national consumer print and TV media covered the event.

Invitations for the event billed it as an “extreme cocktail party” (the bad weather not withstanding), but the theme of the evening was “The Serenade of Speed and Time.” The focus was on auto racing, including Gevril’s sponsorship of the Herdez racing team, participation by Andretti, racing enthusiast Newman and the Herez/Gevril racing team.

Highlights of the night, besides the race car and film celebrities, included a silent auction of art inspired by racing to benefit Newman’s Hole in the Wall children’s camps charity; vintage Gevril watches, including a rare pocket watch from 1800, and the Herdez/Gevril champ race car.In addition, guests could win a Gevril timepiece, and anyone who bought a Gevril watch reviewed a “Gevril treasure chest” of gifts, valued at $2,000.

Gevril’s new Serenade, part of its Avenue of the Americas series, is an intricate timepiece with dual time and light zones. A patented, automatic Gevril movement with a 23 Karat gold rotor powers it. The limited edition timepiece is available in 18 K rose gold (50), 18K white gold (50) and platinum (50). The timepieces will retail from $25,000 to $35,000. Gevril owner Samuel Friedman presented the first in Serenade’s rose gold series to Andretti.Gevril is named for Jacques Gevril, watchmaker to the King of Spain in 1758. The company manufactures its luxury timepieces in Switzerland. Each Gevril timepiece is handmade, numbered, and part of a limited edition.

JCK