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ONE THING HONGKONGERS can't get enough of is watches. In a city where looks are revered, everyone from high-powered businessmen to local business owners have been known to match their watches to their Gucci suits to create a polished look.
The once humble watch has evolved from a practical accessory to a status symbol that reflects personal style - while flashing your bank balance to the world.
As a fashion accessory, watches are ideal for low-maintenance fashion phobes whose basic wardrobes can be given an instant update with the season's latest timepieces. Slip on a new watch, and no one will ever notice that your oversized shirt doesn't match your trousers.
The latest trends in men's watches are sporty and practical, blending fashion with technological know-how. To appeal to men with an adventurous lifestyle, designs are chunkier and athletic and come with trendy, colourful leather straps, which make a welcome change from boring steel bracelets.
Men can choose from simple or more complicated styles, which include sophisticated movements ranging from perpetual calendars and split-second chronographs to tourbillons, which eliminates time-keeping errors caused by gravity. The newest designs include multiple dials synchronised to adapt to different time zones.
Many men like to stick with classics, whereas collectors can go for more limited designs and special movements. Water resistance ranges from 10 to 100 metres, which is common for sports watches. Expect to pay anywhere between $10,000 to $100,000 for a luxury watch.
Watch collectors shouldn't miss out on Baselworld, the world's largest watch fair, where brands from Cartier to Piaget, Vacheron Constantin, Fossil, Burberry and Swatch will showcase their styles for the upcoming year. The fair runs until April 7 and draws more than 2,100 exhibitors from 42 nations, in an area covering 160,000 square metres. The show attracts more than 90,000 visitors from all over the world.
Baselworld is followed by another premiere watch-trade event, the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in Geneva from April 7 to 10. It's restricted to trade members and reserved for registered guests of the exhibiting brands.
1 Speedy Automatic Chronograph ($41,900) from Louis Vuitton, the Landmark, Central, tel: 2736 6100
2 Panhard M6D ($25,800) from ECW, Shop 28, G/F Central Building , 13 Pedder Street, Central, tel: 2522 2529
3 Renaissance Turbo ($50,000) by Gerald Charles from Lane Crawford, Pacific Place, Admiralty, tel: 2118 2118
4 Hampton Spirit Chronograph XL ($33,000) by Baume & Mercier from Chow Tai Fook Jewellery, Manning House, G/F 44-46 Queen's Road, Central, tel: 2524 3376
5 Graham Chronograph Swordfish ($43,800) by British Masters Watch from Oriental Watch Company, 133 Des Voeux Road, Central, tel: 2545 4577
6 Evidenza Chronograph ($39,000) by Longines from Fine Asia Watch, 1/F Sogo Department Store, 555 Hennessy Road, tel: 2834 3789
7 Luminor Marina ($30,600) from Panerai, Prince's Building, Central, tel: 2522 9373
