Indholdsfortegnelse for December 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…

Taking eight-and-a-half years from conception to completion, Swatch Group’s swanky new headquarters in Biel, Switzerland, was finally inaugurated in October 2019. The environmentally friendly building, designed by renowned Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, boasts a striking honeycomb design and timber elements inspired by its surrounding landscape. It houses, among other divisions, the Swatch brand centre—an innovative, five-storey, 240m-long building—and the Cité du Temps—a 28m-high reptilian-like structure with approximately 1.5 million mosaic tiles on its facade. The latter featues a conference hall and two museums that detail Swatch and Omega’s history. Some 6,234 Swatch watches, of the 9,154 produced since its inception in 1983, are also displayed. From a sustainability standpoint, groundwater is used to heat and cool the building, while solar power is harvested from photovoltaic panels. Spruce was chosen for…

We are not as well-known as Rolls-Royce. There are still people who have never heard of Lange. We are well-known to collectors and those who are into the art of fine watchmaking, but we are not known to those who are not. However, our aficionados are growing. Compared to a decade ago, people today are keener to understand what they are paying for. The Lange 1 epitomises A. Lange & Söhne. I am very proud of my team, who have managed to come up with many different iterations of the Lange 1 that are all easily recognisable as part of the Lange 1 family, especially the Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar, where they’ve put everything in the watch. When you look at it, you can tell immediately that it’s part of the…

At the time of writing, Laurent Ballesta, who has been described as France’s Captain Nemo, is plunged somewhere deep in the Mediterranean Sea, spending 28 days underwater with three other divers as they attempt to gather information about the area’s little-known marine life. The adventure, which took place in July is, as Ballesta calls it, “the biggest expedition of my life”. The idea of spending one month underwater with three other guys, exploring the ocean depths and returning to a living capsule that measures a mere five square metres (that’s an area slightly larger than a king-sized bed) sounds crazy enough, but Ballesta isn’t one to do things in half measures. “Our sponsors invest money in my project, and the least I can do is to do my best for…

Omega has emerged as one of the trailblazers in combining technical brilliance with state-of-the-art composite materials. Over the last decade or so, the Biel-based company has, among other achievements, pioneered new 18K gold alloys and ceramic technologies, as well as introduced the very futuristic-sounding Liquidmetal to fine watchmaking. Obvious aesthetic appeal aside, the ability to boost a watch’s robustness and performance in the toughest conditions is an absolute must. Let’s take a closer look at a few milestones in Omega’s skilled application of innovative materials before meeting the latest alloy to be brought into the fold: Gamma Titanium. Fluid Expressions Omega’s first success at an experimental union, Liquidmetal, debuted in 2009. The bulk metallic glass alloy, which is three times as hard as stainless steel, consists of five elements: zirconium,…

Despite its relative youth, having been founded only in 1988, Frederique Constant has shown its acumen by producing some of the most desired complications, like a world-timer, perpetual calendar and tourbillon—but all at competitive prices. As a result, the company has successfully carved out a niche for itself in the accessible luxury segment. This year, the brand is re-launching its regatta timer, first released in 1997. It is an important piece from the archives, not only for the specific function that it fulfils, but also because it was one of the first watches introduced by the company when it had been in business for barely a decade. Formerly part of the Yacht Master collection, and now part of a line rechristened Yacht Timer, the Regatta Countdown is inspired by founder…

Like any venerable Maison with a storied history, Cartier’s standard-issue releases tend to abide by a strict design code. The railroad track chapter ring, Roman numerals and sapphire cabochon crown: these are all familiar hallmarks of the Parisian watchmaker’s conservative aesthetic. Once in a while, however, its design team is given free rein to breach these boundaries—to delightful results. Let’s Play The Libre collection for ladies, first unveiled at SIHH 2018, is a spirited lesson in disruption that challenges prescribed norms. Its main pillar is perhaps what is a less well-known aspect of the Cartier heritage: an enduring love affair with unusually shaped timepieces. As befits the meaning of ‘libre’ (‘free’ in French), pieces are “stretched, shrunk and transformed into objects of fantasy with unbridled creative licence”. The five watches…

Mention Chopard and images of silver screen celebrities draped in megawatt jewellery strutting down the red carpets of the Cannes Film Festival come to mind. The glamourous film festival, of which Chopard is an official partner since 1988, is undoubtedly one of the luxury brand’s biggest calling cards. For watch buffs, however, the marque’s legacy stretches much further than that. Some may argue that Chopard’s reputation for jewellery today outshines that of its timepieces, but the brand’s roots lay resolutely in horology. Founder Louis Ulysse-Chopard, who established his company in 1860 in a farming town in Switzerland, and was known for making ultra-thin pocket watches, which he supplied to customers in Easter Europe and Scandinavian countries. After Louis-Ulysse’s passing, the company relocated to La Chaux de Fonds and subsequently to…

Powering the Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Chronograph Ivory Enamel is the Calibre 26M5R, the first chronograph movement to feature in the brand’s iconic collection. The movement’s exquisite hollowed out gold rotor that draws attention to the stunning Geneva stripe finish with sunray-motif is but the icing on a very sumptuous mechanical feast. The mono-pusher chronograph movement with column wheel is built to host the Grand Seconde’s unique figure of ‘8’ dial interface, with a lower sub-dial to house the 30-minute register and retrograde date, and a central chronograph hand. Additionally, the movement is supported by a cast of high-performance components, including a single-barrel promising 40 hours of power reserve and a silicon balance spring.…

As one year draws to a close and excitement builds for the next, we hope 2020 brings a clearer vision to the horology world on how best to overcome the economic malaise of the past 12 months. Whatever lies ahead, though, we’ll be sure to bring you the best of what’s out there. Although the industry played it safe for the past few years, we saw a smattering of impactful designs, and even a few brand-new collections from several tastemakers in 2019. And whether you loved or loathed them, the fact is this helped to jolt the market, reigniting consumers’ imaginations and serving as a reminder why they should still be enamoured of analogue watches. For starters, Bell & Ross launched its BR05 collection in September, which graces this issue’s…

“It is important that we take time to talk to people,” says the ever-affable Thierry Stern. In Singapore to preside over the Patek Philippe Watch Art Grand Exhibition, an epic two-week exhibition at Marina Bay Sands, the 49-year-old’s schedule is packed with appointments, from fielding interviews with the media to entertaining high-net-worth collectors who have flown in from all over the world for the showcase. The Patek Philippe Watch Art Grand Exhibition in Singapore, the fifth instalment after Dubai, Munich, London and New York, is the biggest to date. The entire Marina Bay Sands Theatre was transformed into a horological wonderland, featuring 10 thematic rooms that allowed guests to not only view historic timepieces at close quarters but indulge in once-in-a-lifetime experiences, from chatting with artisans and watchmakers, to engaging…

Alvin Wong, Editor-In-Chief ROLEX Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 42 How about some props for this OTHER nautically inspired Rolex? A child of the 1990s, I love how the Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 42, powered by the new-gen Calibre 3235 with 14 patents, exudes stealthy confidence and class despite its relative youth. Its 18K white gold case, sized at 42mm, lends regal heft. Meanwhile, the suitably pared-down black dial, bidirectional Cerachrom bezel insert in matte black with raised and polished indexes and numerals, and Oysterflex bracelet accord quiet, yet assertive nonchalance. At a time when Rolex’s sports models are occupying collectors’ thoughts, the Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 42 adds a delightful conundrum. TAG HEUER Monaco 4th Limited Edition It was a tough call between the third and fourth TAG Heuer limited edition, but in…

You wouldn’t be here without a deep appreciation of the intricate mechanisms that make up precious complications, or the details that go into every edge and curve of a watch case. But sometimes, people don’t want to have to see the zeroes add up under a loupe. Sometimes, people just want the wonderful, crazy, downright irresponsible opulence of it all to be staring them in the face and searing their retinas with the brilliance of a thousand diamonds. This is why the partnership between watchmakers and jewellers is so invaluable – haute horlogerie wouldn’t be quite as bewitching without the glamour jewellery watches provide. Here are four we love. HARRY WINSTON Precious Emerald Despite its name, the watch doesn’t actually use any emeralds. It is actually a reference to Harry…

The term ‘in-house’, often proudly bandied by upper strata watchmaking houses to invoke ultimate authenticity, is very much like the horological equivalent of farm-to-table dining, in which the chef is also the farmer. While it is rare to find brands that make in-house movements – that is, movements conceived, designed, with components produced and assembled entirely by themselves – it is even less common to find brands that offer in-house quality certifications. Just to be clear, not all brands that produce in-house movements also provide in-house quality certifications. After all, there are well-established institutions that do the job well. Organisations such as Switzerland’s Controle Officiel Suisse des Chronometres (COSC), possibly the most common industry-rated watch-certifying organisation, and Timelab, the Geneva Labortory of Horology and Microengineering, which issues the prestigious Geneva…

I went into watchmaking because of my love for art. My dream was to study sports, but I injured myself and couldn’t take the examination. I liked the idea of doing something in the arts, like jewellery making. Then I met a friend who is a watchmaker and he asked me to give it a try since I also love watches. Because I was open to anything, I did and here I am today! It’s great to be the founder of a watch company, especially if you have an idea in mind and a dream team behind you that follows your direction and strategy. It’s a long journey; you experience ups and downs, which is normal. With each year, we take a step forward, and that is good. We are…

Loud. Bold. Ostentatious. Attention-grabbing. These adjectives are apt whether one is describing Bugatti or Jacob & Co. After all, both brands share a design philosophy and spirit of boldness that challenge the limits of what seems possible. So, it seems a no-brainer that the world-famous jeweller should forge a long-term partnership with one of the world’s most celebrated high-performance sports car manufacturers (previously associated with Swiss watchmaker Parmigiani) for a series of exclusive co-branded products. Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti, said it best when he announced the partnership at Baselworld 2019: “For this project, we found the right partner in Jacob & Co, because we are both absolutely dedicated to innovation and super technology, absolute beauty, craftsmanship and the highest quality of materials.” Jacob Arabo, founder of Jacob & Co,…

SevenFriday took the market by surprise in 2012 when its arrival offered something that was previously missing: fantastically futuristic watches that won’t leave you out of pocket. Founder Daniel Niederer took a risk and it has paid off handsomely. New Horizons The new kid on the block has two things going for it. First, its aesthetics are like no other. The cushion-shaped watches boast wonderfully complicated multi-layered dials—especially the skeleton ones—that are usually seen in high-end watches. Second, Japan-made mechanical movements and assembly in China mean competitive pricing, which, in turn, makes SevenFriday approachable, affordable and fun. The company’s success over a relatively short period of time has seen it grow into an ambitious lifestyle entity centred on watches, that also now includes jewellery, apparel and eyewear. In September, SevenFriday…

If you’re a fan of the Chinese period drama, Story of Yanxi Palace, Wu Jinyan should be a very familiar face. As the protagonist of the show, Wu has seen her fame skyrocket to great heights, thanks to the show’s incredible popularity both in China and the rest of Asia. In fact, it was streamed over 15 billion times from July to August last year and was the world’s most Googled TV series in 2018. But Wu didn’t always set out to be an actress. Born in 1990, she started ballet lessons just three years later. At the age of 13, Wu enrolled in a school affiliated to the Beijing Dance Academy and began training as a professional ballerina, eventually joining the prestigious National Ballet of China. Sadly, she suffered…

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,…