Shrine of the times
How best to store a superb watch collection? The Piaget collector's trunk by Pinel&Pinel provides watch lovers with a customised solution. Up to 51 timepieces can be housed within, with 15 lighted alcoves to showcase favourites. The central alcove holds a mechanical watch winder, gentle enough for the most delicate movements. It takes more than 800 hours of work to craft one of these trunks, clothed in full-grain calfskin leather, with mirror-polished nickel-plated brass for the hinges, knobs and name plates. Wheels add mobility, and there's a mini travel trunk inside. Made-to-measure trunks are available at Piaget boutiques (HK$570,000).
At your fingertips
For Officine Panerai, 2010 has turned out to be a digital milestone year. Hot on the heels of the release of its first iPhone app, the Italian watchmaker has unveiled an application for iPad, exclusively created for its boutiques, and containing the brand's complete multimedia catalogue. The app allows customers in Panerai boutiques in Hong Kong - among the first countries worldwide to enjoy the privilege - to use the iPad touchpad on display to simply and quickly sweep through realms of information, high-resolution pictures and videos of the watches and the movements manufactured by the Officine Panerai in Neuchatel.
Winding python
Created by House of Buben&Zorweg, the eye-catching Python V8 watch winder (available at Timeless Gallery for HK$668,000) is influenced by the design of luxury sports cars and yachts. Decked in brown or cream-coloured hand-stitched Italian leather and a rich, high-gloss walnut, the Python V8 houses a Buben&Zorweg timepiece at its centre, while four lockable 'Time Mover' watch-winding units to both the left and right keep wristwatches in top condition. The optional lower part holds a weather station complete with thermometer, barometer and hygrometer as well as - depending on the selected version - a further 32 or eight watch-winding units and a humidor and bar.