improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page . learn how and when to remove these template messages this article relies too much on references to primary sources . please improve this by adding secondary or tertiary sources . march 2009 learn how and when to remove this template message a major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject . it may require cleanup to comply with wikipedia s content policies particularly neutral point of view . please discuss further on the talk page . august 2012 learn how and when to remove this template message learn how and when to remove this template message charriol type privately held industry fashion founded 1983 founder philippe charriol headquarters geneva switzerland number of locations 187 boutiques 1 products jewellery watches website www.charriol.com charriol is a swiss manufacturer of jewellery watches leather goods and fashion accessories . the company was founded in geneva by philippe charriol a french entrepreneur . founded in 1983 by philippe charriol in geneva charriol is an international luxury brand that specializes in fine swiss timepieces jewelry and accessories . it is currently distributed through a global network of 3 200 retailers 490 corners and more than 180 boutiques . philippe charriol a devotee of art and history drew inspiration from the celtic culture in order to create his maiden collection in 1983 the celtic collection . citation needed he was the first to use gold cable or steel cable as a decorative motif and as a watch bracelet . this unique concept is patented and charriol still holds exclusive worldwide rights over it . the watch collection consists of several distinct lines with 18kt gold or steel models . these are the actor alexandre colvmbvs rotonde by charriol saint tropez and parisii . the brand has sold over 1.35 million watches 2.4 million pieces of jewellery and 550 000 belts . citation needed since 1988 charriol has also marketed 600 000 handbags and more than 500 000 writing instruments . citation needed contents 1 history 2 the philippe charriol foundation 3 sports sponsorship 3.1 motorsports 3.2 polo 3.3 golf 3.4 basketball 4 see also 5 references 6 external links history edit philippe charriol charriol was founded in 1983 when philippe charriol decided to launch the company all across the americas asia and europe . 1983 philippe charriol launches his own philippe charriol brand . inspried by celtic torcs he creates the signature cable watch also known as celtic . 1984 the first celtic jewellery was created in vermeil . additionally the celtic belt was created . 1985 the alexandre watch was created . swiss and hong kong companies had been founded . 1988 the christopher columbus watch was invented . 1989 the st tropez line of watches the celtic ballpen and the first ch teaux de france bags and small leather goods . 1990 extra large celtic and automatic yucat n watches were launched . in the same year the first boutiques opened in hong kong and singapore taking up the colums boutique concept . 1992 a wider boutique network with 10 more openings in asia and the middle east plus corners in the usa . in 1992 the philippe charriol group was operating in nearly 60 countries . 1993 new lines were launched new celtic watches new celtic fountain pens and roller pens celtic bags and glasses . 1994 first step of the brand in the no cable world . 1995 upgrading of the celtic line in the haute horlogerie with 18kt celtic le tourbillon watch . enlargement of the celtic jewelry watches full paved with 18kt cascade bracelet precious stones and a larger collection of 18kt celtic jewelry . development of the automatic chronograph venturi and upgrading of the st tropez collection with the launching of the round silver . 1996 the philippe charriol supersport trophy in car racing gave birth to the supersports automatic chronograph . opening of the first boutique in china . 1997 launching of the colvmbvs rectangular st tropez 18kt with 18kt bracelet silver celtic jewelry coralys bags and opening of the first boutique in tokyo . 1998 the no cable part of the collection is extended with the reinforcing of the colvmbvs line . launching of the diablo automatic chronograph in relation with the lamborghini diablo . 1999 launching of colvmbvs xl automatic and quartz mini integral colvmbvs colvmbvs tonneau chronograph quartz colvmbvs silver jewelry colvmbvs bags and small leather goods . the new charriol corporate color becomes prune to replace the dark grey . in asia 5 new brqnches join the worldwide boutique network . 2000 launching of megeve watch and jewelry collection colvmbvs xl chronograph quartz celtic carre watch azur watches on cable bracelet azur and st tropez silver with diamonds . 2001 megeve 18kt watch jewelry and ladies pen collection coralie 18kt jewelry new colvmbvs round watch collection colvmbvs round astroblade millenium limited edition and presentation of the celtica watch concept . 2002 20th anniversary of charriol brand . launching of bonbons collection from coralie 18kt jewelry with colored precious stones colvmbvs round concept 18kt jewelry collection gold and steel colvmbvs rectangle collection all colors and all black colvmbvs collection 20th anniversary armilliaire watch celtic black cable jewelry collection colvmbvs lady jet set with cognac diamonds megeve watch on colored leather straps . 2003 launching of celtic 3 new supersports chrono steel & rubber actor s watch collection st tropez all steel round rectangular and by night model . at that time he was already in hong kong making investments on wine . in 1989 he would go on to later open the first charriol boutique in geneva followed by three others in hong kong . in 2008 the company celebrated its 25th anniversary . the philippe charriol foundation edit philippe charriol artistic and cultural tastes and his desire to encourage promising painters and sculptors inspired him to set up the philippe charriol foundation in countries such as hong kong singapore malaysia thailand and in preparation in many other countries . every year a competition is held in these countries to select three winning painters and three winning sculptors with the top awards entitling the holders to a scolarship to study in paris . citation needed sports sponsorship edit motorsports edit race of champions charriol took part in the race of champions held in beijing china in 2010 . among the best pilots in the world compete including michael schumacher david coulthard sebastian vettel mikko hirvonen and mattias ekstrom . charriol sponsored christophe bouchut in 2005 . charriol sponsors sbk world superbike championship rider loris baz . official time keeper of andros trophy 2002 official time keeper of lamborghini supertrophy 2001 polo edit polo masters tour in st tropez meg ve and le touquet with charriol polo team . golf edit mission hills golfathon from 2007 to 2008 regional golf tournaments in switzerland basketball edit charriol became official sponsor of the phoenix suns from 2007 to 2008 . see also edit list of watch manufacturers list of swiss companies references edit http charriol.com stores external links edit international website retrieved from https en.wikipedia.org w index.php title charriol & oldid 707144658 categories watch manufacturing companies of switzerlandluxury brandscompanies established in 1983watch brands1983 establishments in switzerlandhidden categories articles lacking reliable references from march 2009all articles lacking reliable referenceswikipedia articles with possible conflicts of interest from august 2012all articles with unsourced statementsarticles with unsourced statements from april 2015 navigation menu personal tools not logged intalkcontributionscreate accountlog in namespaces article talk variants views read edit view history more search navigation main pagecontentsfeatured contentcurrent eventsrandom articledonate to 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