News 192

Traditionally contested in the United Kingdom
during the third week of July, The Open is
the fourth and final tournament that make up
the men’s annual Majors. Associated
with this competition since 1981, Rolex is
today a privileged partner of world golf.

Rolex first partnered with The Championships,
Wimbledon, in 1978. The world’s oldest
tennis tournament is the temple of lawn
tennis and of the original game. It is also
where athletes become legends.

This fall, Lara Fabian goes on an
international tour that will take her to the
United States, Russia, Belgium, Switzerland,
France, and, of course, Quebec, her adoptive
land. It has been quite a ride for this woman
of Italian descent; she came from Belgium in
the early 1990s, and with her unique voice
and outstanding energy, she was able to
conquer the hearts of Quebecers. Millions of
albums sold, numerous tours, and thousands of
shows could not begin to exhaust the passion
and simplicity of this artist. Today, Lara
Fabian enjoys life more than ever.  We
first met in 1991 while shooting the video
“Je m’arrêterai pas de
t’aimer.” I remember you as a
passionate young lady, both enthusiastic and
very friendly. How do you remember your first
steps in Quebec? I remember those moments
very fondly. My career choice is no
coincidence: both my parents were music
lovers. Dad would teach me songs in English
and Mom would always be singing around me.
The moment that you are referring to is
actually the day that my parents came to
visit me, at a hangar in Old Montreal. I
remember very well the moment that they saw
me performing in my first clip, for a debut
album that was being financed by their life
savings. It reminds me of this heritage, this
sacrifice that they made so that their
daughter could fulfill her dream.  I
like the name “50 World Tour.”
Isn’t that number intimidating? Was it
important to outline it? This number is
accurate! To me, it’s a way of making
it look like a simple step instead of a sword
of Damocles. Everybody gets old, and
I’m no exception, but I have a feeling
that I will never be scared of aging, and my
soul will never get old. I’m filled
with so much enthusiasm and innocence, and it
suppresses my fear of aging. Age is just a
number. It does not define who we
are.  What strikes me is your elegance.
The elegance in your relationship with
people, but als

Tissot is very much a modern watch brand, but
it is also a brand with a rich heritage.
Founded by Charles-Félicien Tissot and
his son Charles-Émile in 1853, it
makes it one of Switzerland’s oldest
watch companies. Today, it is known as a
sporty, accessible, entry-level luxury brand
that appeals to all age groups. Le Locle, a
village in Switzerland’s famed
watchmaking district, is where Tissot’s
original factory was founded and the brand
continues to thrive. In the beginning, Tissot
& Fis specialized in gold pocket watches
and pendant watches, with a large part of its
business being ladies’ watches –
Sarah Bernhard was even a client. Many of
Tissot’s watches at the time were
exported to the U.S., but its biggest market
was Russia. In 1885, Charles Tissot,
Charles-Émile’s son, moved to
Moscow to manage the branch his father had
set up there. It thrived until the October
Revolution in 1917, which forced Tissot to
regroup and focus on making their own
movements instead. A few years later, the
brand streamlined its production even more by
merging with Omega under the title SSIH:
Société Suisse pour
l’Industrie Horlogère. Tissot
was an early adopter of the concept of watch
wardrobing, and in the 1930s adopted the
advertising slogan: “A young woman and
three watches.” From sporty models with
leather straps to classic bracelet styles,
Tissot had every occasion covered,
encouraging women to own more than one watch.
In the 1950s and ‘60s, Tissot created
some of the pieces that are now iconic to the
brand, including the sporty Navigator, which
was soon followed by the Astrolon quartz
watch. Then come the 1970s, when Tissot had
begun its extensive involvement in the world
of sports, partnering with teams such as
Ensign Renault and Lotus, and international
racers including Jacky Ickx, Clay Regazzoni,
and Mario Andretti. Still closely associated
with the world of sports, Tissot is the
Official Timekeeper of the

Montreal, 1959. Pino Miserendino, a master
watchmaker and his wife, Pina Giannantonio,
open their very first boutique on St.
Zo­tique East street. Pino had no idea
that 60 years later, his jewelry store would
become a genuine institution in the heart of
Little Italy. As an expert watchmaker, Pino
could design a watch movement from A to Z, as
well as building, cutting and assembling
pieces. Custom jewelry was also another side
of his expertise: watchmaking and
jeweler’s craft are not far off each
other, since mastering the former allows the
latter. The Miserendino family is pursuing
this beautiful heritage to this very day,
with all the passion, professionalism and
know-how Bijouterie Italienne is renowned
for. From its early days as an engagement
ring and watch repair specialist to its
current incarnation as a showcase for current
trends, Bijouterie Italienne experienced a
genuine growth in its 60 years of existence.
The jewelry store features prestigious brands
such as Pomellato, Rolex, Forevermark and
Gucci, to the delight of fashionistas
everywhere. Let us travel back to
1973… The Miserendino family buys a
building located on 192 St. Zotique East
street, in what would become the forever home
of their famed jewelry store. From there,
they would establish a long-lasting,
tremendous partnership with Rolex. The famed
Swiss brand remains one of the crown jewels
of the store to this very day. Bijouterie
Italienne also established itself as one of
the most important importers of exclusive
goods, straight from Italy, throughout the
70s and 80s. The 90s were the era of a new
turn for the store, as Paola and Marco, the
daughter and son of Pino and Pina, took the
lead of the establishment founded by their
parents. Paola and Marco focused on
prestigious brands, especially those renowned
for quality stones and exceptional
craftsmanship. Attentive customer service,
outdoing expectations and a commitment to
excellence are all the hallmarks of
Bijouterie Ital

When you visit the wine cellars of Moët
& Chandon in Épernay, 10 to 30
metres below ground a shiver runs through us.
Not only because of the cold, but also
because of the rich history of this great
champagne house created almost three
centuries ago in 1743. When you roam around
those vast limestone cellars that stretch out
over 28 kilometres, you begin to think that
one of the mazes might lead you to Napoleon
Bonaparte sabering champagne with his friend
Jean-Rémy Moët after having
granted him the Legion of Honour. The emperor
liked champagne, but he also liked the
boldness and business acumen of the
founder’s grandson, Claude Moët.
Napoleon would often visit the estate after
his campaigns, and the champagne Moët
& Chandon Brut Impérial was
created in his honour back in 1869. What can
explain 150 years of such tremendous success?
It’s all about the perfect balance
between three grape varieties: Pinot
Noir, Pinot Meunier, and local Chardonnay,
along with a blend of 200 vintages. Cellar
master Benoît Gouez takes on this huge
challenge every year, and he always succeeds
beautifully. The elegance of this brut
sparkling champagne has been maintained
thanks to the know-how of the artisans, and
nobody can resist it to this day.Long live
Moët & Chandon and the Emperor!