Indholdsfortegnelse for September 2019 i CROWN Malaysia

Foo Bihzhu Writer Before she morphed into Malaysia’s award-winning songstress, Nicole was a lifestyle journalist plying her trade with men’s fashion and watch magazines. Her love affair with the written word has certainly impacted her songwriting, with which she has enthralled audiences from Beijing to Seoul. Charmian Leong Writer After seven years of full-time employment, four of them spent writing about luxury timepieces, Leong has gone the way of the freelancer and is now fascinated by a different facet of time: having it. When not labouring over a story with a leisurely martini in hand, she plays video games and takes naps in 8-bit. Brian Jones Writer Brian is a freelance writer and editor who was born in the outskirts of Washington, D.C. and currently based in the outskirts of…

Now into its eighth edition, Only Watch has grown to become one of the most hotly anticipated events on the horological calendar, as the industry’s biggest and brightest marques come together for an altruistic cause by donating specially created one-off timepieces to be sold at the charity auction. This year, 52 brands are taking part in the auction, which will be hosted by Christie’s in Geneva this November. Previous editions of Only Watch have raised almost CHF40 million, with all sales proceeds going to scientific and medical research projects that focus on neuromuscular diseases, in particular, Duchenne muscular dystrophy. In the 2017 edition, Patek Philippe and Tudor stole the headlines with the former fetching the highest bid of CHF6.2 million for the titanium-clad Ref. 5208 Triple Complication, while the latter’s…

I feel that we haven’t developed the Malaysia market enough. Not much has happened over the past few years and that’s why we chose FJ Benjamin as our local partner. The company knows the market well, and that will help us grow. They will also invest and make sure the brand is better known among the locals. Malaysia has a large middle class. Amongst them, there is a lot more awareness about luxury brands. Just look at all the amazing malls here. Baume & Mercier is a brand that channels affordable luxury. For many people, it is the first luxury watch that they buy; an entry to Swiss horlogerie. For this reason, we believe that Baume & Mercier is a brand that can succeed in Malaysia. We will continue to…

Whether or not you’re a fan of Corum, the one thing you can’t deny is its impulse for creativity. Unlike many watch brands that stick to a tried-and-tested formula for commercial success, Corum prefers to push boundaries and prides itself on constant innovation. One need only look at the Golden Bridge and Bubble collections for such examples. More recently, the La Chaux-de-Fonds manufacture unveiled its Lab collection—a series dedicated to mechanical creations that disrupt traditional notions of watchmaking. This year, the brand marches out its new Admiral collection with audacious pieces like the AC-One 45 Openworked Automatic—a bold, edgy take on the dodecagonal Admiral that’s come to be one of the most recognisable models of the brand. Fashioned with a breathtaking skeletonised dial, this timepiece perfectly captures the ideology of…

SILICON First Sighting Silicon isn’t the sexiest material. There’s plenty of it, in fact, being the second most abundant element on the planet after oxygen. It’s also not especially pretty, used largely in steel refining, aluminium-casting, and semiconductor electronics. It was only in the early 2000s that watchmakers took notice, when Rolex, Patek Philippe, and the Swatch Group joined forces with the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM) for a research programme exploring the material’s properties. But Ulysse Nardin beat everyone to the punch, delivering the first watch with a silicon escapement, the Freak, in 2001. Why It’s Hot Watchmakers argue that silicon’s properties are beneficial especially for escapement components, such as balance springs, levers and anchor wheels – parts that would suffer the most from the effects of…

Turning heads with audacious aesthetics and ingenious movements since the start of the millennium, no one’s ever accused Jacob & Co timepieces of being shrinking violets. The company, which was founded in 1986 by jeweller Jacob Arabo, hit the stratosphere in the late 1990s when it became the go-to jeweller for red carpet events. Celebrities like Nicki Minaj, Victoria Beckham, Pharrell Williams and Nigo have all been spotted flaunting theirunashamedly extravagant Jacob & Co creations. Along the way, the New York-based Arabo has become a pop culture figure in his own right, earning not one, but two catchy nicknames: ‘Jacob the Jeweller’ and ‘King of Bling’. He is also so beloved by rappers, he is namechecked in at least 68 songs. Case in point: Missy Elliot famously confessed that she…

Omega has a longstanding commitment to saving the world’s oceans, and the Planet Ocean line, launched in 2005 as part of the Seamaster family, not only honours this undertaking, but also represents the brand’s relentless quest to elevate its dive watch heritage to the next level with every release. Whenever a Planet Ocean watch is sold, a percentage of the proceeds is donated to the GoodPlanet Foundation — a non-governmental organisation founded by environmentalist Yann Arthus-Bertrand to support ecology and sustainable development, and with whom Omega has often collaborated over the years. At the inaugural edition of Swatch Group’s Time To Move event, Omega reset the clock with two new models in the Planet Ocean’s signature burnt orange hue, while retaining all the main technical specs, such as 600m waterresistance…

Mikrograph (1916) This is the first stopwatch that is accurate to 1/100th of a second. And if you think about what 1/100th of a second is, it’s impossibly short. But in 1916, they had been able to develop a movement that was accurate enough to show that precision, and that’s amazing. Ring Master (1957) It’s a stopwatch with a glass you can unscrew to change the ring inside and time different disciplines, like a regatta, boxing match or a 100m race. The watch came with seven different rings for six disciplines and one blank one so you could put your own markings and use it to time anything you like, from timing your pasta to something a little sportier. Montreal (circa 1970s) Another one from the 1970s I really like…

To the casual observer, haute horlogerie is the affluent gentleman’s domain; one filled with high-tech, robust materials, refined engineering and designs that range from black-tie sleek to the aggressively masculine. And it wouldn’t be inaccurate to claim that watchmaking’s female clientele is more partial to fastidious gem-setting, rare handcrafts and fairytale-esque aesthetics. But those in the know understand that there are a handful of watchmakers who excel at appealing to both worlds, and fewer still that combine these strengths to offer women timepieces that are as beautiful as they are technically attuned. Patek Philippe is among the rare few that manages to do so, and its 2019 novelties prove that it is attuned to what women want beyond the mere superficial. Such understanding doesn’t happen overnight. Patek Philippe, of course,…

A. Lange & Sohne • Lot G34, Ground Floor Suria KLCC Tel: 603 2166 2181 • Lot 2.01.07, Level 2 Pavilion, KL 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 • Lot G38, Ground Floor Suria KLCC 50088 Kuala Lumpur Tel: 603 2391 9821 Breguet • LL1, Main Lobby, JW Marriott Hotel Kuala Lumpur 183 Jalan Bukit Bintang Tel: 603 2142 3788 Breitling • Lot 2.03.00, Level 2, Pavilion, KL Tel: 603 2141 2571 BRM • BRM Chronographes UG21, Adorn Floor, Starhill Gallery, KL Tel: 603 2148 1616 Cartier • Level 3,…

Here we are, three-quarters of the way through 2019, and it seems time has once again slipped through our fingers. It also means most brands have launched their novelties for the year. And so, our September issue highlights the watches we feel that you, our reader, would like to know more about. Hence, we’ll be exploring what we saw at the various watch fairs in greater detail to give you a better insight. For starters, Corum gives us marvellous additions to its Admiral range, which is the brand’s focus this year. And Bell & Ross surprises with an exciting brand-new range inspired by the urban warrior. We also feel it’s the right moment to offer an overview of where the watch industry is headed. While elegance never goes out of…

For the reigning king of luxury watches to deem it appropriate to christen a bracelet ‘President’, you just know that serious stateliness is the order of the day. The Rolex President bracelet – supple, posh and iconic – is crafted only in 18K white, yellow or Everose gold, as well as in platinum since its introduction in 1956. The semi-circular three-link bracelet, satinbrushed on the flanks and polished in the middle, drapes the wrist like skin with silky ostentation. The refinery is made even more sublime with the concealed clasp system, known as Crownclasp, resulting in a seamless flow from end to end. Created to pair with the Oyster Perpetual Day-Date, which it still does to this day, the President bracelet now also dresses the ladies’ Datejust models in precious…

In May 2019, a team of explorers scaled Mount Everest. But no, they were not part of a long line of moneyed adventure tourists one sees on the news waiting to score another #instamoment. Rather, the team was made up of true-blue environmentalists who were there to install the world’s tallest weather station at 27,600ft above sea level, in order to collect previously unavailable data on the impacts of climate change. Funded by Rolex and led by the National Geographic Society and Tribhuvan University, this expedition may be regarded as the latest salvo of the watch company’s newly launched Perpetual Planet campaign. Though better known for making some of the world’s most sought-after watches, Rolex has also been digging deep to establish itself as a staunch purveyor of environmental causes.…

If there’s one thing we can all agree on in this era of polarisation—aside from the facts that: (1) Die Hard is indeed a Christmas movie, and (2) chunky is clearly the superior peanut butter variety—it’s that ultra-thin watches are undeniably exquisite. Ever since super-svelte watches first took centre stage in the 1950s and 1960s, they’ve been seen in the industry as a mark of technical excellence. Even the most casual of watch fans can appreciate the mechanical wizardry required to squeeze a complicated timepiece—in every sense of the word—into a frame as thick as two stacked coins (if you can even call that thick). Everything And The Kitchen Sink Over the past few years, brands have been trending big, filling their catalogues with generously proportioned watches roomy enough to…

Established 115 years ago, Oris has stayed true to its philosophy of making functional, reasonably-priced watches that adhere to the highest standards. Its most iconic watch upon which it has forged its reputation for mechanical inventiveness is, without a doubt, the Big Crown Pointer Date. First unveiled in 1938 as the Pointer Calendar, it ceased production towards the end of the 1950s but has been brought back at regular intervals ever since, with its last revival taking place in 2013. It may have turned 80, but the Big Crown Pointer Date’s modern vintage spirit is as appealing as ever. Now in its 81st year, we explore the watch’s evolution through the decades. Oris Big Crown Pointer Calendar Original Year Of Issue: 1938 Designed with pilots’ gloved hands in mind, this…

Since breaking into the entertainment scene in 2000, Chinese actress Liu Tao has become a household name through popular TV dramas like My Fair Princess III and Madam White Snake. The A-lister (she ranked sixth on Forbes China Celebrity 100 List in 2017) is Chopard’s Friend of the Brand in China and has a penchant for the Maison’s Happy Diamonds collection, which she also represents. Describe your current state of mind. I want to have an optimistic and positive attitude to enjoy life and the sense of satisfaction and happiness I get from fulfilling work. We shouldn’t stop trying to move forward. Instead, cherish every opportunity to learn and grow, and dare to have a breakthrough. Tell us about your favourite memory. Honestly, I hope I will have a lot…

It is a Swiss tradition that your godfather gifts you a watch. I heard of IWC for the first time when I was in boarding school and a fellow student received an IWC watch from his godfather. We laughed at it because we had never heard of the brand before and thought it was rubbish. He told us off, saying that it was our problem if we didn’t know IWC. I will never forget that. My most challenging time at IWC was when I joined the company in 1972, after being headhunted while working as a commodities trader in a bank. The company was slowly going down the drain because of the quartz crisis. The Swiss franc devalued by 70 per cent against the US dollar and our watches were…

When Bell & Ross unveiled its first timepiece, the BR 01, in 2005, it sent ripples through the industry. The distinctive 46mm case made up of a square and a circle—as inspired by a plane cockpit’s instrument panel—was a bold statement that an independent upstart had arrived, and it was out to challenge horology’s accepted norms. While viewed as audacious, and perhaps even a little crass at the time, the BR 01 was a resounding hit and arguably kickstarted the popularity of oversized pieces, showing no signs of abating almost 15 years later. Looking back, co-founder and creative director of Bell & Ross, Bruno Belamich, appears to imply that the birth of the now-iconic timepiece was by no means accidental. “The model came from the simple idea of turning a…

We’re probably not exaggerating if we say it’s every girl’s dream to be surrounded by shoes. And that’s just the world Catherine Eberlé-Devaux was immersed in for 15 years when she was working at a luxury multibrand footwear boutique in France, developing its digital strategy back in 1999. Pretty revolutionary, considering there was no social media back then, and the Internet was in its infancy. But while Carrie Bradshaw and her posse would have loved to be in her position, Eberlé-Devaux was keen to explore beyond the world of shoes and “wanted to go see something else”. That “something else” wasn’t necessarily moving to another country to work in the watch industry, but it’s what she ended up doing anyway. “I’ve always liked to tell stories, and that’s what I…

A confident woman often lets her wardrobe choices do the talking for her. And if clothes are her armour, then jewellery could be considered her weapons. Arguably, nothing communicates her sense of power to the world better than manchette bracelets. Pop culture is littered with examples of this, from Elizabeth Taylor’s Cleopatra making her political status crystal clear to the Romans in a phoenixinspired gold cape and matching cuffs to Wonder Woman binding her Bracelets of Submission together to absorb the impact of enemy attacks. This year, three brands that are known for their watch- and jewellery-making expertise salute the spirited, independent woman with audacious reimaginings of the manchette watch. First, Cartier embraces the maxi jewellery trend by adding to the ever-evolving conversation of the Panthère de Cartier range. Next…