bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Abid Rahman

Still more than a week to go until Baselworld, the world’s biggest watch fair, and my excitement levels are somewhere between mild indifference and tepid antici­pation.
In my previous column, I outlined why enthusiasm is down for Baselworld, so I won’t rehash things here, but I’m trying to rouse myself so, this week, I’m dipping my toe back into the world of fashion watches, a place that is all about style, even if the pieces are often lacking in substance.
Fashion watches, that is, watches made by fashion brands, don’t provoke the same anguished groans from me as they used to.
Perhaps I’ve mellowed and become more accepting in my dotage. Perhaps the fashion brands have got better at making watches. Whatever the reason (it’s definitely not the first one), the fashion watches that come across my desk these days are none too shabby.
Watches for Crazy Middle Class Asians
Gucci, the brand, is most certainly cool at the moment, it’s so cool that I recently stopped myself from buying something as I felt I wasn’t cool enough. Yes, I had cool anxiety. Me! Imagine!
Any­way, Gucci watches used to be very uncool, but then something happened and nowadays they are must haves, not least for the affordable pricing. Actually I do know what happened – the brand started giving its watches as much design attention as it did its clothes and the results are pieces such as the G-Timeless (above), which fully encapsulates all the codes of the house, looks super on-trend and exudes luxury.
I just love this piece; it has touches of old-world elegance but also the playful idiosyncrasy of a cat head to mark the 12 o’clock position and moths and stars hour markers, and a midnight-blue guilloché dial, which lend it a sort of Midsummer Night’s Dream vibe.
I never thought I would describe a Gucci watch as Shakespearean, but they’ve come a long way – plus I’ve mellowed. It’s all about the looks with this timepiece, so functions are simple and inside is a 2895 ETA automatic movement. The 40mm steel case comes with a blue leather strap and the watch is priced at HK$14,200 (US$1,809).

I’m doing myself a disservice. I probably could, just about, pull off wearing the Gucci G-Timeless, but there’s no way I could wear the Diesel DZ4500.
This watch is massive and I have tiny, childlike wrists. Diesel makes a bewildering number of watches but it’s complex pieces like the DZ4500 that are the cornerstone of its watch business.
These watches are an acquired taste, of course, but if you’re into big statement timepieces that don’t cost a fortune then this could be right up your alley.
The case is sized at 51mm, which is huge, but this watch sits on the wrist in such a way that it looks even bigger. Despite all the dial space, Diesel has kept features to a minimum (a chronograph with sub dials, date window) which isn’t the case for its other big watches but that’s a good thing, as it gives the blue/grey colour scheme room to breathe. The watch costs HK$2,450 (US$312), the price no doubt kept low by the use of a quartz movement.

Finally, we have a fashion smart­watch from Emporio Armani. Smart­watch design has been mostly uninspiring, probably rightly, focusing on the functionality of the watches and battery life. Also, when the dial has to be a black screen, the room to create distinctive design is limited.
However, slowly but surely watches such as the Emporio Armani Connected ART5017 are chal­leng­ing the status quo with original design that also echoes the brand’s image.
I really like the look of the aluminium case, with the exaggerated wire lugs at either end reminiscent of military watches from 1930s and 40s. The rubber strap and the black-on-black colour scheme are also great. When it comes to features, this watch runs Wear OS, so it has everything a modern smartwatch has and it will cost you HK$3,500 (US$446).


Style Edit: Audemars Piguet reveals new Royal Oak Minis and Neo Frame Jumping Hour

How luxury watchmakers such as Audemars Piguet are redefining the retail experience for clients

3 characterful jewellery picks from Van Cleef & Arpels, Vhernier and Roxanne First

Style Edit: How Breguet CEO Gregory Kissling is steering the heritage brand into a new era

Timepieces

Three fashion watches of horological distinction from just US$310

Gucci’s G-Timeless watch is almost ‘Shakespearean’ in its appeal.

Postmag March 10, 2019 Watches

Postmag March 10, 2019 Watches DSL2589372 Tom D.

It’s time: innovation helps fashion brands get smart about watches

The new connectable Louis Vuitton Tambour Horizon smartwatch. Photo: Louis Vuitton

*** ONE TIME USE ONLY *** This handout image shows a TAG Heuer Connected Modular 45 Smartwatch. [05APRIL2017 FASHION FEATURES]

CUPERTINO, CA - SEPTEMBER 12: The new Apple Watch Series 3 is displayed during an Apple special event at the Steve Jobs Theatre on the Apple Park campus on September 12, 2017 in Cupertino, California. Apple held their first special event at the new Apple Park campus where they announced the new iPhone 8, iPhone X and the Apple Watch Series 3. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Louis Vuitton Tambour Horizon

apple series 3

HKT PREMIER

Luxury fashion brands get serious about mechanical watches

Artisans hand-paint the intricate dials of the Escale WorldTime for Louis Vuitton, featuring 38 colours and 24 time zones. Photo: Florence Joubert

Dior timepieces are about timeless elegance, says Laurence Nicolas. Her goal is to create pieces which women would want to pass on to their daughters. 

ABOVE

RIGHT

Louis Vuitton has proven that its watches are highly complicated. The Escale WorldTime Minute Repeater features a very technical, multilayered movement.

BELOW

Chanel J12 Skeleton Flying Tourbillon is a prime example of the brand's complicated timepieces.

Hermès Le Temps Suspendu was named Best Men's Watch in 2011.

The Galerie des Glaces in Versailles is the inspiration behind the Dior VIII Grand Bal Fil D'or Ceramique Noire (below right) which features beautiful gold thread embroidery. Photo: Michel Urtado 

The Premiere collection from Chanel features a bracelet mirroring the straps of the brand's popular handbag.

Louis Vuitton acquired La Fabrique du Temps in 2011 and merged all its watchmaking facilities under one roof, but Chatti does not put too much emphasis on this move. Photo: Gerard Uferas

Meticulous details in the making of Dior timepieces.

Watch enthusiasts launch own brand in Malaysia, and it’s an instant hit

Ming was started by a bunch of friends to make watches of the sort they would want to buy. Their first model sold out within hours; their second is in line for a prize at the Oscars of watchmaking

Ming 19.01

Ming 17.03 watch model

!7.03 in ultra blue

The Ming 17.03 developed by Ming, a Malaysia-based collective of six watch enthusiasts.

Magazines

PostMag

Lifestyle

Fashion & Beauty

Gucci, Diesel and Emporio Armani have upped their game with elegant, well-built and classic timepieces


Gucci, Diesel and Emporio Armani have upped their game with elegant, well-built and classic timepieces.


Three fashion watches of horological distinction from just US$310

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Gucci, Diesel and Emporio Armani have upped their game with elegant, well-built and classic timepieces

Gucci, Diesel and Emporio Armani have upped their game with elegant, well-built and classic timepieces