Indholdsfortegnelse for December 2017 i CROWN Malaysia

Ong Weisheng Stylist Formerly an in-house stylist for a high-society magazine, Weisheng brings eight years of experience to his freelance work. Fond of constructing mini sets for his shoots, Weisheng believes in tailoring his style to suit the subject matter. Yeo Suan Futt, Writer Suan Futt started out as a trade journalist covering the timber and woodworking industry, before moving on to writing on a host of topics in the lifestyle press, including men’s interest, motoring, cuisine, travel, technology and timepieces. He has also authored several volumes on local true crime. Celine Yap, Writer Having spent more than 10 years in luxury watch journalism, Celine Yap has been around long enough to fluently recite the alphabet in watch brands. Celine cut her teeth at Singapore’s most eminent watch titles, then…

TIFFANY CHOONG ARTIST Bitten by the travel bug when she was young, Choong remembers visiting a new destination every school holiday while growing up. “Summer holidays, Christmas, Easter, even if it was only a road trip down to Singapore, my family and I were always on the go. Although both my parents have passed on, it feels like I’m carrying their memory with me when I travel.” A professional artist, Tiffany picked up her love for watches from her mother. “In the 1970s and 1980s, people didn’t seem to collect watches quite like today. Serious timepieces were more like heirlooms; you inherit rather than buy them." TAG Heuer F1 Ladies “This was the first watch I bought. I had just started diving and this was the most affordable dive watch…

Nelson who? For those who aren’t fans of contemporary art, Nelson de la Nuez is one of the most sought-after artists of this generation. Known for hand-painted works that depict pop culture imagery with humour and a dash of social commentary, Nuez is also listed on the ‘Who’s Who List of the Most Collected Artists of Our Time’; his art often selling out quickly in galleries and auction houses worldwide. It is not surprising then, that Corum finds a kindred spirit in Nuez. An iconoclastic brand in its own right, Corum is famed for its progressive and out-of-the-book approach to horology, expressed through truly unique creations like the Golden Bridge and Bubble collections. In fact, it is the latter that Corum has enlisted Nuez to work on. The Nuez Bubble…

11 October 2017, Slate by The Row, Kuala Lumpur On a recent trip to Kuala Lumpur, Hublot’s CEO Ricardo Guadalupe played host with Michael Tay, group MD of The Hour Glass, to show off Hublot’s 2017 collection, including the much-touted Ferrari Collection and its piece de resistance, the Techframe Ferrari 70 years Tourbillon Chronograph. Held at the hip and trendy Slate by The Row in Jalan Doraisamy, the space was perfect for Hublot to showcase their collection of exquisite timepieces. Watch display cases and exhibition towers were placed all around for guests to admire the timepieces while a booth was set up for those interested to have their gifts engraved. Slate was packed to the brim with VIP Hublot enthusiasts and the evening kicked off with welcome speeches from Ricardo…

At the time of this interview, A. Lange & Söhne had about 16 new in-house movements that were under development. Now let’s take a moment to let that sink in for a bit. An in-house movement typically takes between three to five years to be conceived. For a niche marque that makes approximately 5,000 watches a year for a very select group of aficionados, having 16 movements in the oven is a lot. Lange’s product development director, Anthony de Haas, agrees that the company is always working way ahead of schedule. “We are working on watches that will be ready in 2022,” he says. In fact, for him to present the novelties that we will soon see at next year’s SIHH will be “like a flashback”. “It is new for…

As the story goes, on a quaint afternoon in 1971, the Royal Oak’s iconic design was hatched in a matter of minutes. Inspired by a traditional diver’s helmet, the quick sketch by the late, legendary watch designer, Gerald Genta – the same creative genius behind Patek Philippe’s Golden Ellipse and the Omega Constellation – would go on to become one of the most recognisable timepieces of the 20th century. Conceived against the backdrop of strife – back then, the Swiss watch making industry was grappling with the start of the quartz crisis – the Royal Oak was Audemars Piguet’s ticket out. In fact, those who saw the design, including then CEO Georges Golay and Jacques-Louis Audemars (who sat on the board of directors), didn’t take kindly to Genta’s creation. The…

This might come as a surprise, but some of Patek Philippe’s earliest fans were actually women. Long before Patek even met Philippe, the company then known as Patek, Czapek & Cie was already making timepieces for women. One of the oldest known watches signed ‘Patek’ is an elegant small pocket watch decorated with miniature engraving, sold to a Princess Zubów of Russia in 1839, the year the company was founded. According to Patek Philippe’s archives, women in the 19th century wore timepieces very prominently, although the watch dials were often concealed. Chatelaine-style watches were popular with the aristocratic set, as were secret watches designed as brooches, bracelets or rings, often elaborately decorated with miniature painting or engraving. It would appear that women from the European courts were among Patek Philippe’s…

BREGUET Marine Équation Marchante 5887 One may question the everyday relevance of an equation of time feature, but the mechanical complexities involved in measuring the difference between civil and true solar time is undeniable. Therein lies the appeal of the Marine Équation Marchante 5887, armed with a central minute hand adorned with a facetted sun that indicates the running solar time. Coupled with a perpetual calendar, as well as a tourbillon, this watch is pretty much irresistible to discerning lovers of technical watches. Equipped with an in-house automatic movement, it is available in platinum or 18K rose gold. CHRISTOPHE CLARET Maestro The Maestro is Christophe Claret’s crack at making an ‘entry-level’ watch, at least by his standards. Even so, he hasn’t scrimped on the haute horlogerie finishing or the signature…

BREGUET Reine de Naples Princesse 8965 Carolina Murat was quite the trendsetter back in the day, commissioning Breguet to create the first-ever watch to be worn on the wrist in 1810. The timepiece went on to inspire an entire collection named after the Queen of Naples, and modern-day influencers ought to include the latest model on their #lustlist. A mélange of contrasts, the graphic lines and bold Roman numerals on its white mother-of-pearl dial are set against the soft, harmonious curves of its diamond-set oval-shaped case in 18K rose gold. Fitted with an automatic movement, it comes with an alligator leather strap or matching bracelet. BULGARI Lucea Tourbillon Bulgari is giving us the best of two worlds by combining haute horlogerie and exquisite jewellery making in one watch. At first…

Is it just me or is it that as you get older, time passes by much faster? Age notwithstanding, many magazine editors will tell you that working on the December issue always quickens our perception of time. It is as if the year is already ending in October. Over the last couple of months, a slew of exciting watch events sprang up in our calendar—a great indicator of where the industry is going. We saw one of the biggest exhibitions in KL with vintage Cartier pieces flown in from afar, and also travelled to Langkawi for Omega’s Aqua Terra launch, playing hosts to our friends from across the Causeway. It was great fun and always a delight seeing enthusiasts and friends gathering to celebrate a passion for timepieces. In this…

US$17,752,500. That’s the winning bid for the legendary Paul Newman Daytona, once owned by the late actor/racecar driver/philanthropist himself. The lucky (and clearly deep-pocketed) winner? A bidder on the phone who sealed the deal after a 12-minute bidding war. At that price, the Paul Newman Daytona has set a record for achieving the highest price for any wristwatch at an auction. As early as June this year, we got wind of the Phillips ‘Winning Icons’ auction that would take place in October where the legendary timepiece would go under the hammer. It was significant not least because, prior to this, no one could be sure where Paul Newman’s Daytona was. It only emerged, when the watch was offered for auction, that it was in the possession of Nell (Paul’s daughter)…

They’re nothing quite like MB&F. I have worked with other watch companies before when I was running my own marketing agency. The big watch companies take a long time to make a decision, often involving a lot of people with multiple meetings. At MB&F, it’s just Max (CEO Maximilian Büsser, founder) and a couple of others. Things move very fast here. We always push ourselves harder. Working with Max is a challenge but in a good way. He thinks really fast and he is always churning out ideas. Sometimes we have to ask him to slow down for the rest of us to catch up. There must always be room for beautiful accidents. Like our collaboration with L’Epee 1839, which happened purely by chance. I attended an event with the…

SILVER LINING AT LAST? After a prolonged slump for the business – particularly for Swiss luxury watch brands – that stretched all the way back to 2012, tentative signs of recovery are starting to show. According to reports by the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry, barring a slight dip in February, export figures have climbed steadily for consecutive months. Observers attribute the rally to a resurgent Chinese market, which ironically contributed to the slump in the first place due to the country’s anti-graft campaign. The rebound is not for all, though. For instance, some key markets like the United States and Japan are still reporting a decline, while closer to home, Singapore retailers are cautiously optimistic after seeing a slight bump in revenue. Nobody is feeling particularly bullish just…

This year has turned up some truly distinctive timepieces that testify to the adage ‘two heads are better than one’. While it may be a challenge for watchmakers today to constantly – and consistently – push the limits of their craft, help is close at hand for those who are brave enough to operate outside of the box. We look at how three esteemed watch companies joined forces with a famed fabric house, a legendary car marque, and a time-honoured clockmaker to create outstanding timekeepers that can only be borne out of open-minded creative collaboration. THE SIDE EFFECT A serial collaborator - and we mean it in a good way – MB&F has worked with other watchmakers, artists, and jewellery houses for highly coveted one-off collections. This year’s tie-up with…

When Jehan-Jacques Blancpain founded the watch company bearing his name in Villeret, Switzerland, back in 1735, little must he have predicted that centuries on, not only has his name endured as amongst horology’s greatest, but so too, has the spirit and style that defined his earliest timepieces. One of the most iconic creations from Blancpain is the Villeret collection, its name taken from the town where the brand started, and where its headquarters continue to stand today. Suffice to say, the Villeret collection has since been elevated to a benchmark collection not just for the brand, but for the watch industry at large. It has also gained a steady following of watch connoisseurs whose hearts beat for intricate constructions that run the gamut from the deceptively simple to the richly…

Driven by the ethos to “seize the day”, SevenFriday’s founder Daniel Niederer explains that the name of his watch brand is inspired by the last – and happiest – day of the work week. It is a name that inspires one to have seven happy days, he says. Niederer, who started SevenFriday in 2012, had previously lived all over Asia for more than a decade, working as a watch distributor. In that time, he noticed a gap in the market for reasonably priced and modern watches. Going against the grain, Niederer then enlisted an international team to make his watches. The design team is based in Switzerland, and the watches, which are made in China, use Miyota movements from Japan. The first SevenFriday watch, the P1/01, was unveiled to instant…

Ok, let’s be real: most diving enthusiasts would much rather strap on an advanced electronic wrist-computer than a topdollar luxury dive watch for their deep sea excursions. In fact, however superbly constructed they may be, most mechanical dive watches will never make it anywhere near the water; their athletic swag most likely exercised on dry land, perhaps at a yacht party or weekend hang. That is not saying that mechanical dive watches are just for show. Quite the opposite, we believe they are the epitome of tool watches – engineered to insanity, and armed with ultra-robustness and myriad features that not only help brave the elements, but accompany you to the ocean depths if need be. Think of it as a little like owning a supercar. You can brag about…

BLANCPAIN Villeret Semainier Grande Date 8 Jours Grand feu enamel dials possess a certain je ne sais quoi that endears them to lovers of classical timepieces. And they are sure to flock to this watch like bees to honey – the enamel-painted markers and logo are attractive, but the slightly recessed day-ofthe-week sub-dial seals the deal. Modern watch pundits will also be thrilled by the automatic movement that endows the watch with a week-of-the-year and large date displays, as well as an eight-day power reserve, courtesy of three mainspring barrels. Aptly, its 42mm rose gold case has a sapphire caseback to showcase its inner beauty. BULGARI Octo Ultranero The Octo is not an obvious choice when it comes to dress watches, as its 41mm case with 110 separate facets establishes…

A. Lange & Sohne • Lot G34, Ground Floor Suria KLCC Tel: 603 2166 2181 • Lot 2.01.07, Level 2 168 Jalan Bukit Bintang Tel: 603 2141 8418 Audemars Piguet • UG29, Adorn Floor, Starhill Gallery, KL Tel: 603 2144 8639 Bedat & Co • UG32, Adorn Floor, Starhill Gallery, KL Tel: 603 2141 7881 Bell & Ross • Lot 106A, Level 1 Suria KLCC Tel: 603 2164 5175 Blancpain For enquiries, please call • Cortina Watch · KLCC Tel: 603 2164 5175 • Sincere Watch · Pavilion Tel: 603 2141 8418 Breguet • LL1, Main Lobby, JW Marriott Hotel Kuala Lumpur 183 Jalan Bukit Bintang Tel: 603 2142 3788 Breitling • Lot 2.03.00, Level 2, 168 Jalan Bukit Bintang Tel: 603 2141 2571 BRM • BRM Chronographes UG21, Adorn…

“HOPEFULLY WE ARE ALL INTELLIGENT ENOUGH.”Nayla Hayek, Harry Winston CEO, on recognising the importance of respecting tradition. “We didn’t get to where we are today by being boring.”Felix Baumgartner, co-founder of Urwerk, reflects on his brand’s avant-garde reputation. “I wouldn’t be doing this if I were doing it for money.”Lin Yong-Hua, independent watchmaker from China, describing his motivation in watchmaking. PEOPLE IN THIS BUSINESS ARE FOND OF HYPE AND OVER-DOING THINGS. IT DOES NOT BODE WELL FOR THE LONG TERM.Thomas Meier, Glashütte Original CEO, on staying cool. “It is nice to be old-fashioned.”Pascal Raffy, Bovet CEO, on making a stand for preserving traditional watchmaking crafts. “DOUBLE-Y, TRIPLE-LY HARD.”Bart Grönefeld, co-founder of independent brand Grönefeld, on the challenges of being a Dutch watchmaker. “Why be afraid of opinions?”Matthias Breschan, Rado CEO, believes that you…

If you are a Speedy lover, there is no better model to get your hands on this year than the new Speedmaster 38mm ‘Orbis’. And we are not just talking about the iconic stature of the timepiece, or the fact that it is even more versatile than ever in a re-sized 38mm case, making it a watch that both you and your partner can share. Rather, it is the fact that a portion of its sales proceeds will go to furthering the cause of Orbis International, a nonprofit ‘flying eye hospital’ that aims to bring eye care to the world’s most remote regions. The special edition watch features the Orbis teddy bear logo – the likeness of the stuffed toy that Omega gifts each Orbis patient undergoing critical treatment –…

We manufacture dreams. Hublot is not just a luxury brand that makes exclusive and high quality watches, we make products that people dream about. That's why we need to create a good environment for the brand to thrive. Asia is where it’s at. Take China, it is the world’s biggest luxury consumer market. Hublot may not be on the Chinese’s radar yet, but we aim to be soon. We have no problem growing in Southeast Asia though. Consumers here are sophisticated, which is perfect for us. We have been growing since the rebirth of the brand in the early 2000s. Malaysia, for example, has understood our ‘Art of Fusion’ concept since day one. We need patience. The difference between customers in China and Southeast Asia is their level of maturity.…

Since the 2005 launch of its now-iconic BR 01 collection, Bell & Ross has enamoured the world with its unique square-casedround-dial aesthetic. Drawing inspiration from the instrument panels of fighter planes, the company has constantly injected aviation motifs into its designs, making it very much an integral part of its DNA. But Bell & Ross doesn’t just look to the skies for inspiration. In fact, it has recently been taking inspiration from the road, drawing from the world of motor racing, as seen in the BR 01-97 Power Reserve and the BR 01-94 Chronograph, inspired by the retro-futuristic B-Rocket motorcycles. Last year, we also saw the BR03-92 Aero GT Automatic and the BR03-94 Aero GT Chronograph, which referenced the AeroGT, a supercar of aeronautic roots. This year, the company makes…

FOR DADS Apple Watch Series 3 As purists bicker back and forth on the eligibility of smartwatches, the Apple Watch sees its third iteration this year. Packed with a slew of upgrades the latest version features a barometric altimeter, a new W2 wireless chip, a faster processor and cellular capabilities (meaning it can operate without your iPhone being within Bluetooth range). Ideal for the tech-savvy dad. A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Annual Calendar The 1815 Annual Calendar continues to perpetuate A. Lange & Söhne’s tradition of classic, high quality, and austere timepieces. The sleek black Arabic numerals are complemented by the railroad-style minute scale (a nod to their old school pocket watches) and enhanced by trims of gold and blue on the case, dial and hands. A classical beauty with…

Cartier has always embodied the classic, cool and chic. And after over 170 years of historical refinement, the name continues to be as desirable as ever, none more so now with the re-launch of their 1980s classic, the Panthère de Cartier. This collection dates back to 1983 and has always exuded style from every inch of its square case, screwed-down bezel and linked brick-lay bracelet. Interestingly, the Panthère was named for its lithe, articulated link bracelet mimicking the sensual slink of the jungle cat. Cartier’s feline icon has a history that can be traced back to 1914 when founder Louis Cartier commissioned renowned French illustrator George Babier to paint an invitation for a Parisian jewellery exhibition. Named Dame à la Panthère or Lady With A Panther, the watercolour depiction of…

It is puzzling that Oris watches are not ranked in the best-of-year lists as often as they should be (not us, though, check out this issue’s Editors’ Picks). Surely a brand that boasts 113 years of heritage, a strong lineage of mechanical novelties, and a consistent track record of marching out watches that are easy on the eye and wallet ought to gain more traction than it currently enjoys. A battle-hardened survivor of the 1980s quartz crisis, Oris is among the few Swiss watch companies that didn’t sell out by turning to cheap, battery-operated wristwatches to haul themselves out of commercial challenges. In fact, Oris’ trademark of a red winding rotor, proudly displayed via open casebacks, is testament to its mechanical watches-only philosophy. Although the trademark appeared only in 2002,…

BREITLING Navitimer Rattrapante Already one of the most iconic aviation-inspired watches on the market, the Navitimer is more covetable than ever as its latest iteration bears Breitling’s new manufacture movement. This automatic in-house calibre is notable not only for its chronometer certification by COSC, but more importantly, it elevates the marque as one of the select few to offer a proprietary split-seconds movement. The 45mm watch is available as a 250-piece limited edition in 18K red gold with a ‘Panamerican bronze’ dial, as well as a regular steel version with the same distinctive dial colour. BLANCPAIN Fifty Fathoms Bathyscape This could very well be this year’s most wearable dive watch. Thanks to its ‘vintage inspiration’, its case diameter is kept to a very sensible 38mm, and it’s only 10.77mm thick,…