In September 2010, Gucci Timepieces signed a three-year partnership with The Recording Academy, organizers of the world-renowned GRAMMY Awards, launching a GRAMMY special edition luxury watch and jewelry collection designed by Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini. One goal of the partnership is to support the Music Preservation Program, a central mission of the GRAMMY Museum and a key initiative that seeks to preserve important musical recordings that are vital to our collective cultural heritage. In honor of the launch of the program, Oscar and Grammy winner Jennifer Hudson will perform at a special event on February 11, at the Grammy Museum.Gucci Timepieces and Jewelry has committed to identifying and preserving recordings in need of digital restoration. Many months were spent exploring the Muzak archives, as the works of four key musicians will be released and re-mastered throughout the partnership. Giannini, together with senior executives of Muzak and The GRAMMY Museum, selected the genres and artists that will benefit from the support of the luxury watch and jewelry maker.

The first year of the partnership was named the Year of Jazz with the works and performances of legendary jazz performer and musician Thomas Fats Waller (1904 – 1943) to be digitally re-mastered and preserved. Throughout 2011, more than 30 of Fats Waller's recordings and nine original compositions were digitized and made available for a new generation to enjoy. These newly restored music gems were officially presented by the luxury watch maker at the GRAMMY Museum on Saturday February 11th. GRAMMY Museum Executive Director Bob Santelli interviewed Jennifer Hudson, who performed an unplugged set of songs to officially kick off the Music Preservation Program. She wore one of the fine luxury watches by Gucci. Gucci truly has an all inclusive vision of music, they believe that good music is a luxury that defies classification. It is there to inspire people. Musical icons have always had a strong influence on the minds of people and Fats Waller has the luxury of being the most influential of them. Together with Muzak and the GRAMMY Museum, the luxury watch maker set out to unearth some of Wallers great works with the purpose of restoring them with the attention they deserve. These recordings mark an historic moment in music and will give future musicians the luxury of discovering the works of important past generations. Music has been, and continues to be, a fundamental part of Guccis heritage and this initiative is in tune with the luxury watch makers wider commitment to the arts and its sponsorship in other cultural areas, such as cinematography and scholarships for talented youths.

Over the years some of the worlds leading musicians have avidly collected Gucci's luxury watches and jewelry. Some of these include Eric Clapton, Jennifer Lopez, Mary J. Blige, Madonna, Rihanna, Barbra Streisand and Justin Timberlake to mame afew.

Editorial | Image Courtesy Of Gucci