RESERVOIR watch unveils a special watch in honor of the 50th anniversary of the special forces GIGN in 2024!

RESERVOIR Watch celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the Groupe d’Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale (GIGN) with the launch of a special watch, a powerful echo of the spirit of precision and resilience embodied by this elite unit since 1974.

A Time for Courage

In the early morning darkness, as the mist gently envelopes the contours of the Périgord forest, Xavier checks his equipment for the last time. On his wrist, the RESERVOIR watch, specially designed for the GIGN, glows faintly under the light of his headlamp. This is the moment when audacity takes flight, when every second counts. The watch, with its black dial and superluminova sword hand, is not only an instrument for measuring time: it is a mission companion. As he prepares himself mentally, Xavier feels the weight of his role, that of protecting and serving, while the steady movement of the hand on his RESERVOIR watch reminds him that every minute could be critical.

The Trial of the Field

As the operation begins, the jumping hour on Xavier’s RESERVOIR watch dial jumps from one moment to the next, as precise and reliable as the strategy in place. In an emergency, his watch reflects more than the time: it indicates the rhythm of his pulse and the flow of his adrenaline. As they move forward, the echo of his footsteps synchronizes with the movement of the retrograde minute. The intensity increases, the pressure reaches its limits. Every detail counts: from the grip of the crown to the transparency of the sapphire crystal designed to perform under pressure. “Never give up,” he whispers, a mantra to remind him of the strength provided by this timepiece, a reflection of his own resilience.

Symbol of daily Audacity

After hours of tension, the mission is successfully completed. As silence falls over the forest, Xavier looks at his watch, symbol of the mission accomplished and the next one to come. The plaque on the case which bears its patent number under the words “Limited series 50 years” recalls the heritage and courage of the men of GIGN. Like him, these veterans now wear this watch in the exercise of their daily duties. It is in these moments of calm after the storm that Xavier fully understands RESERVOIR’s slogan: “Fail or prevail but Make It Bold”. His watch is not just a tool, but an extension of his will, testifying to the spirit of adventure that always guides him towards new challenges.
French Innovation and Swiss Tradition
This new RESERVOIR watch model is designed with a robust 42mm case in 316L stainless steel, offering brushed finishes, and reveals visible screws and bolts. The black dial, enhanced by the GIGN logo in black varnish, reveals the dates 1974 and 2024, two stars and a French flag, testifying to the rich heritage and bravery of the GIGN. This timepiece is also decorated with a domed anti-reflective sapphire crystal and a screw-crown equipped with a grip for easy handling.

At the heart of this watch, the proven RSV-240 caliber, a Swiss-made self-winding mechanical movement, combines the three watchmaking complications in a proprietary and patented module (LJP-G100 base), and illustrates RESERVOIR’s continued innovation watch. Equipped with retrograde minute, jumping hour and 56-hour power reserve functions, this watch guarantees precision and reliability. The complex mechanism, visible through an open case back engraved “Edition Cinquantenaire du GIGN” with a GIGN logo painted under the glass, beats at the impressive rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour, reflecting the high performance expected in fine watchmaking. than in GIGN operations.

Limited Series Exclusives

This limited edition of 192 pieces is specifically reserved for members of the GIGN, demonstrating its exclusive nature. Each watch is presented in a black metal case, inspired by ammunition boxes, and is accompanied by an embroidered badge and a “coin” commemorating the fiftieth anniversary. Owners will also be able to appreciate the versatility offered by two choices of interchangeable straps: one in black leather and technical canvas fabric, and another in midnight blue NATO, both decorated with stitching in the colors of the French flag. This complete set fittingly celebrates the service and commitment of the GIGN over the last 50 years.
About GIGN
The events of 1972 gave rise in many countries to reflection on the problems of combating terrorist attacks. The hostage taking which took place in September 72 at the Olympic Games in Munich (Germany) was the most significant catalyst, and in 1974, the GIGN (National Gendarmerie Intervention Group) was created and left for its first missions. Since the beginning, the men of the GIGN have engaged in famous operations and in multiple crisis zones in France and abroad, freeing or evacuating thousands of hostages and threatened French and foreign nationals. The intervention carried out on December 26, 1994, during which the hostages of flight AF 8969 were released safely at Marseille-Marignane airport, remains an example of the extreme situations that the GIGN is able to manage today. today even more than yesterday.

Heraldry of the badge “The GIGN, commit for life…”

The patent is a circle, a perfect geometric figure, which symbolizes the cohesion and collective strength of the men of the GIGN involved in the intervention, as well as the capacity of the unit to deal with a crisis in all its aspects. The aiming reticle symbolizes the main discipline practiced: shooting and, beyond that, respect for human life and precision in action. The carabiner symbolizes the different crossing techniques including airrope activities. The parachute recalls the GIGN’s membership in the family of airborne troops. The blue color of the background evokes the underwater capacity of the unit. Finally, the two stars symbolize the “second generation” GIGN, as it resulted from the 2007 reform.