Juan Martín Nero
A new player on the Jaeger-LeCoultre “Squadra”
Jaeger-LeCoultre is associating with an up and coming polo player by supporting Juan Martín Nero of Argentina. Recognised as one of the world’s top three players, this youthful prodigy with an amazing career behind him already has distinguished himself on European polo fields by winning one of the three major tournaments on the international circuit, the British Open, and will be carrying the Jaeger-LeCoultre colours at the Sotogrande tournament.
Jaeger-LeCoultre could not have hoped to choose a finer ambassador for a new partnership than the 27 year-old currently considered as the “little prince of polo”: Juan Martín Nero, or “Juanma” as he is known among friends. Driven by a wish to establish ever closer ties with the world of polo, Jaeger-LeCoultre has decided to support this talented young player from Argentina who is proving fully worthy of his elders, and to thereby broaden its team of professional players.
Handling risks with cool-headed elegance, he is one of the most brilliant players currently on the scene. Having already earned a 9-goal handicap, this young man who began his career at a relatively late stage shows every sign of achieving greatness in this noble sport. Extremely fast and highly adaptable within the various teams on which he plays, this youthful prodigy has a surprising track record. He first tasted victory in Europe seven years ago, before making a name for himself in his native land.
This year, Jaeger-LeCoultre will be right beside him in his quest for a 10-goal handicap. As a special emissary of the brand and of its new Reverso Squadra collection, he is to play with his fellow countrymen Adolfo Cambiaso and Eduardo Novillo Astrade in Spain at the prestigious Sotogrande tournament on August 24th.
Juan Martín Nero’s ongoing quest for performance reflects that of the Manufacture. The imperious need to constantly take up new challenges and a decided taste for risks are the kind of fundamental values shared by Jaeger-LeCoultre and “Juanma”.
Jaeger-LeCoultre and Polo, since 1931.
British colonial army officers in India used to train by playing polo. However, the rough and tumble of the game frequently caused irreparable damage to their watches with their fragile glasses. They therefore challenged Jaeger-LeCoultre to create a watch that was both elegant and yet sturdy enough to stand up to hard knocks and survive a match. Its stainless steel case slid in its carrier and swivelled completely… The Reverso was born. Ever since, Jaeger-LeCoultre has consistently been associated with numerous polo events around the world. In 2006, the Reverso celebrated its 75th anniversary and unveiled a Reverso with a square case: the Reverso Squadra. Today, Jaeger-LeCoultre presents a collection dedicated to women featuring the Reverso Squadra signature features, along with a refinement reserved exclusively for feminine wrists.
Reverso Squadra, the polo watch
With its swivel case and sports-inspired design, the Reverso Squadra embodies all the fundamental traits of character of the original 1931 Reverso. Intended for contemporary men, the Reverso Squadra is THE watch dedicated to polo players skilled in taking risks with an approach that is both cool-headed and elegant. Radiating strength, endurance and resistance, it combines an exceptionally expressive design with functions that have become inseparable from our contemporary lifestyle.
Through the centuries, the legend of polo lives on – and today more than ever in the daring shapes and colours of the Reverso Squadra. It represent a tribute paid by the Grande Maison in the Vallée de Joux to the sport that led to the most legendary success in watchmaking history. The iconic Reverso remains such an amazing innovation that its simple yet brilliant swivelling system continues to accompany the feats of the finest athletes practising one of the world’s toughest sports, in which the combined forces of the rider and horse are transcended by a tremendous team spirit.
Juan Martín Nero was born into a family of polo players in Argentina on April 14th 1981, but was only “discovered” in his own country at a relatively late stage, some time after his initial triumph in Europe at the age of 20.
Often affectionately nicknamed “Juanma”, he is unanimously considered one of the world’s best polo players, clearly following in the footsteps of Adolfo Cambiaso and Facundo Pieres.
In 2001, at the age of just 20, he won his first major prizes in Europe: the Deauville Gold Cup and the Sotogrande Gold Cup. The following year, his season was marked by several major victories including the Paris Open and the Deauville Silver Cup. While 2003 brought its own crop of wins with the Loro Piana team, he generally admits that he was truly ‘revealed’ in 2004 when he joined the Azzura team alongside Marcos Heguy – a move that allowed him to express the full measure of his talent and to win the Prince of Wales Trophy and the British Open. Progressing from victory to victory, he gained vital experience with the Chapaleufú team that enabled him to win elite tournaments during the world’s toughest season of all: the “temporada” in Argentina. This year, he will be joining the famous Ellerstina team to compete in these famous tournaments from September to December 2008 with a view to winning the Argentine Open in Buenos Aires, as well as improving to a 10-goal handicap.
Argentina, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Spain are all countries where Juan Martín plays with unfailing and passionate enthusiasm, constantly pushing his own limits. While his frequent travels often take him away from Argentina, his home there is in Trenque Lauquen, a town 445 kilometres west of Buenos Aires.
His main qualities are his speed and his impressive ability to adapt to the various teams on which he plays.
Press release
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