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October 29, 2014

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Time for a little luxury

THE Watches and Wonders show returned to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center for the second straight year with companies eager to promote their latest timepieces in the growing Asian market.

The chief executive officers of 13 watchmakers attended the event, which ended on October 2, and some companies even arranged to showcase several heritage pieces.

“It might take years to produce a timepiece,” said Fabienne Lupo, chairwoman and managing director of the Geneva-based Foundation for Fine Watchmaking, organizer of the event. “It almost goes without saying that they have a long-term perspective on things.

“At the foundation, we also take a long view. Our mission is above all to impart the culture of this world. We are here to showcase watches, yes, but also to transmit their heritage, to let people glimpse the history, the passion, the care and the time that has gone into creating these beautiful instruments.”

A. Lange & Sohne

A. Lange & Sohne used this year’s Watches & Wonders to spotlight the 20th anniversary of the launch of its first wristwatch collection. Five limited-edition watch pairs consisting of the Lange 1 and the Little Lange 1 were shown. The Langematik Perpetual combines a white-gold case and a black dial that helps the moon phase indicator stand out.

Audemars Piguet

Audemars Piguet unveiled a special edition Royal Oak Offshore Self-winding Tourbillon Chronograph with forged carbon for the middle case, ceramic for the bezel, along with titanium and ceramic for the push pieces.

Baume & Mercier

Baume & Mercier launched its Promesse collection for modern, independent women. Among the timepieces launched was Promesse 10165, featuring a 34mm steel case set with 61 diamonds and a white mother-of-pearl bezel. It is also available in an elegant black version.

Cartier

Cartier showcased a collection of 70 watches. A dragon makes an appearance on the Pasha de Cartier 42mm skeleton watch, a salute to China.

IWC

IWC used Watches and Wonders to debut a new collection within the Portofino family — the Portofino Midsize Watches. The collection contains 37mm and 40mm automatic models, including the Portofino Midsize Automatic Moon Phase. This white gold watch is set with 174 diamonds against a jet-black lacquer dial.

Jaeger-LeCoultre

Jaeger-LeCoultre unveiled its Master Grande Tradition Grande Complication. This limited edition piece boasts a minute repeater, a flying tourbillion and a zodiac calendar.

Montblanc

Taking center stage for the brand this year was the Montblanc Boheme Collection for women. The watches boast a self-winding caliber, date and perpetual calendar. The extremely complex movement means it will require no manual adjustment until the year 2100.

Officine Panerai

Several limited-edition Panerai watches were released. The Radiomir 1940 Marina Militare 3 Days Acciaio was limited to 1,000 units while the Tourbillon GMT Oro Rosso is limited to just 30 units. This special edition luxury sports watch was aimed at enthusiasts looking for a high level of technical content combined with great design and history.

Piaget

Piaget launched the Altiplano 38mm 900P — the thinnest watch in the world today at only 3.65mm. It is Piaget’s highlight at this year’s Watches and Wonders show.

Richard Mille

Richard Mille unveiled the RM 56-02 Sapphire Tourbillon with a new movement that takes it cue from the mechanical architecture of the RM27-01 Rafael Nadal model. Only 10 units are available.

Roger Dubuis

The Hommage Double Flying Tourbillon features incredible precision with quality craftsmanship to create an endlessly fascinating watch.

Vacheron Constantin

Vacheron Constantin brought delight to those with a taste for pure, understated dials with two new models for the Collection Excellence Platine. The Traditionnelle World Time Collection Excellence Platine is a self-winding watch indicating 37 world time zones, including those offset by a half-hour or quarter-hour. Only 100 units are available.

Van Cleef & Arpels

Check out the Midnight Planetarium Poetic Complication, inspired by 18th-century planetariums in which revolving solar-system replicas were run by clockwork. The 44mm pink gold case houses a dial in which aventurine, serpentine, chloromelanite, turquoise, red jasper, blue agate and sugilite create a colorful collection of planets. A shooting star is used to indicate time. The sun and the star are in pink gold. The self-winding movement, which sets the planets of the solar system in motion, has a Christiaan van der Klaauw module developed exclusively for Van Cleef & Arpels.

 

 




 

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