Pryngeps was founded in Milan in 1956 by Leonardo and Michele Farinola. The 1980s and 90s marked several notable releases, including the “Gettone Telefonico” telephone token watch, sponsorship of the Italian goalkeeper Walter Zenga during the 1990 FIFA World Cup, and the colorful quartz-powered Jamaica collection.
Today, the brand is owned by the Esani family, who had acquired Pryngeps in 2016.
Grand Prix Line
At some point during the 1980s and 90s, Pryngeps also had a product line called Grand Prix. While it’s unclear if there was any concrete connection with Formula 1, there are product listings of a promotional sticker that features a vintage style illustration of a Grand Prix car, as well as the words “Pryngeps Grand Prix” and “Quartz Suisse Team”.
Eddie Irvine
Eddie Irvine held a brand ambassadorial role for the Pryngeps Chrono line. The four-time Formula 1 race winner has made appearances on Pryngeps ads, such as ones in 1998 issues of La Gazzetta dello Sport as well as in full color publications. The ads featured a red dial Pryngeps chronograph (ref. CR 816), accompanied by the tagline “my second passion is Pryngeps”.
While details are not well documented, this may have been a personal endorsement deal since the brand logo does not seem to have been on his race suit or helmet during the season.
Eddie Irvine on the 1998 Canadian Grand Prix podium with Michael Schumacher and Giancarlo Fisichella. (Photo: Rick Dikeman, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
World Superbike
Pryngeps served an Official Timing role in the Superbike World Championship in 1997. Its logo also appears on event programs in both 1997 and 1998 alongside brands from a variety of industries, including Alpinestars, Corona Extra, Ford, and Cycle News. Pryngeps has also run relevant ads, such as one on the front page of the October 13, 1997 issue of La Gazzetta dello Sport.
References
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBHX6AnyHnI
https://www.ebay.com/itm/142880038193
https://picclick.it/Rara-Gazzetta-Dello-Sport-8-Giugno-1998-Marco-176256579720.html
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114043692704
https://picclick.it/Pubblicit%C3%A0-1998-PRYNGEPS-orologi-Eddie-Irvine-Advertising-354588436185.html
https://picclick.es/Gazzetta-Del-Sport-13-De-Octubre-De-1997-177500773086.html
https://picclick.es/Gazzetta-Dello-Sport-20-Octubre-1997-Juventus-Zidane-Schumacher-Brescia-Inter-177449134793.html#&gid=1&pid=1