https://www.scmp.com/rss/323645/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Anders Modig Davin Anders Modig Davin Visitors to Patek Philippe’s salon on Geneva’s luxurious Rue du Rhône in April could observe unique timepieces in the making at the brand’s métiers d’art exhibition. Watching the in-house artisan cutting wood with a foot-operated jigsaw into marquetry pieces depicting a Geneva Harbour scene from the 18th century was jaw-dropping – a display of the patience of a saint and the precision of a maestro. The artisan went on to explain that for one dome clock, he had cut 2,191 veneer parts of different... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3343498/how-luxury-watch-brands-are-reinventing-art-marquetry-hermes-patek-philippe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3343498/how-luxury-watch-brands-are-reinventing-art-marquetry-hermes-patek-philippe?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 22:00:08 +0000 Anders Modig Davin Anders Modig Davin At LVMH Watch Week in January 2025, Bulgari unveiled the BVS100 Lady Solotempo movement – the result of three years of research. The automatic movement’s oscillating mass is decorated with the Bulgari logo and snake scale patterns, which makes sense for the collection it was released for: the Serpenti, with slithering snake designs enhanced by sparkling diamonds. What is most notable are its dimensions – a 19mm diameter and 3.9mm height – making it a viable option for other creations that... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3340006/smaller-watches-are-making-it-big-bulgari-omega-and-others-follow-queen-elizabeths-lead?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3340006/smaller-watches-are-making-it-big-bulgari-omega-and-others-follow-queen-elizabeths-lead?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 22:00:13 +0000 Anders Modig Davin Anders Modig Davin Scratch resistant, heat-resistant, non-corrosive – what’s not to love about ceramics? Used by humankind for some 25,000 years – and by the watch industry since the 1970s – the material is now becoming a ubiquitous material for high horology, appearing on timepieces in a wide variety of textures, colours and finishes. Audemars Piguet and Chanel are among the brands releasing new-school ceramic pieces. An example from the latter is the J12 Bleu collection of nine watches in a deep blue, nearly... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3312295/how-modern-ceramic-techniques-are-revolutionising-high-horology-watches-and-wonders-2025-showcased?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3312295/how-modern-ceramic-techniques-are-revolutionising-high-horology-watches-and-wonders-2025-showcased?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 May 2025 20:00:14 +0000 The year 2024 may have been a generally challenging one for many watch brands, but it hasn’t stopped Omega from going all in on meteorite dials – a match made in heaven for a brand intrinsically linked with space. It was, after all, the first watch brand to be worn on the moon, back in 1969. “Meteorite dials are unique, which adds a lot of value,” says Raynald Aeschlimann, president and CEO of Omega, which has made full meteorite dials since 2016. In 2024, it has now dialled up the colour, with... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3290981/why-meteorite-dials-are-taking-rolex-and-omega-microbrands-luxury-watchmakers-are-tapping-love-space?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3290981/why-meteorite-dials-are-taking-rolex-and-omega-microbrands-luxury-watchmakers-are-tapping-love-space?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Jan 2025 21:00:10 +0000 Since the dawn of mechanical timekeeping, legendary watchmakers have grappled with the need for accuracy in timekeeping while being up against the limits of a watch’s functionality. Myriad complications that have ever more closely addressed that accuracy dot the history of high horology. Today, in an era when the atomic clock and precision instruments remove the need for the traditional mechanical functions of many complications, brands nonetheless continue to add them, connecting horology’s... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3262202/watches-and-wonders-2024-boldest-complications-revealed-iwc-jaeger-lecoultre-hermes-ulysse-nardin?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3262202/watches-and-wonders-2024-boldest-complications-revealed-iwc-jaeger-lecoultre-hermes-ulysse-nardin?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 May 2024 02:00:15 +0000 Do you want ice with that? New York jeweller Jacob & Co. is one of the go-to brands for iced-out watches, as could be seen in June when Rihanna wore the 47mm Jacob & Co. Brilliant Flying Tourbillon watch choker. But did you know that bejewelled watches are arguably the oldest horological trend there is? One of history’s first-known wristwatches, gifted to Queen Elizabeth I in 1571, was held in place by an armlet garnished with diamonds and pearls. Here Style weights up eight more blinging jewel... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3252575/8-jewellery-watches-guaranteed-turn-heads-celebs-rihanna-michelle-yeoh-are-bringing-bling-add-your?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3252575/8-jewellery-watches-guaranteed-turn-heads-celebs-rihanna-michelle-yeoh-are-bringing-bling-add-your?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Feb 2024 06:00:21 +0000 As watch buyers become more sophisticated, so has visibility and demand for pieces that give you the time in new and unexpected ways. After all, why settle for three hands rotating around a circular dial? Here are some of our favourite pieces with complications like the retrograde where hands snap back to reality, or where time literally jumps back and forth with wandering or jumping hours. Some have alternative calendars, and there is – yes – a high horology, high fashion digital watch. 1.... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3245863/7-watches-are-beyond-three-hands-and-dial-audemars-piguet-and-vacheron-constantin-longines-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3245863/7-watches-are-beyond-three-hands-and-dial-audemars-piguet-and-vacheron-constantin-longines-and?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jan 2024 06:00:10 +0000 Black onyx and mother-of-pearl in an angular white gold setting, sparkling spheres covered with white or black diamonds or – if you really want to stand out – enamelled parrots, frogs or skiing ice bears. The diverse cast of Ronald Abram’s attention-grabbing cufflinks – easily combined with House of Abram’s angular-cut diamond rings – are catering for a growing number of men who enhance their appearance with glittering jewels. And why not? In ancient history, men were more adorned than... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/jewellery/article/3246956/men-wearing-womens-jewellery-harry-styles-and-marc-jacobs-were-rocking-pearls-years-ago-and-now-g?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/jewellery/article/3246956/men-wearing-womens-jewellery-harry-styles-and-marc-jacobs-were-rocking-pearls-years-ago-and-now-g?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Jan 2024 08:00:22 +0000 As dress watches saw more time in the spotlight this year, one of the great shifts we noticed here at Style was that formal timepieces are often paying more ouvert homage to days past – we’re talking mid-century-esque, time-only pieces, in precious metal case, a la the Vacheron Constantin Patrimony or Patek Philippe Calatrava. Whilst the brief for a dress watch is still an elegantly designed piece that discreetly matches your outfit for a formal occasion, 2023 saw boundaries pushed in design... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3245867/7-dress-watches-pushed-boundaries-2023-rolex-1908-historic-cartier-tank-and-grand-seikos-recreation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3245867/7-dress-watches-pushed-boundaries-2023-rolex-1908-historic-cartier-tank-and-grand-seikos-recreation?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Dec 2023 06:00:11 +0000 Sometimes more is more. Using two rather than one balance wheel improves precision. While having unique technical solutions, the twin escapements are connected. Thus the error in rate that all mechanical watches have is mechanically or physically averaged out – and hey presto, your watch is more precise while having a distinct and spectacular feature. 1. Czapek Place Vendôme Complicité Czapek’s Place Vendôme Complicité is a collaboration by two fathers who got to know each other in a schoolyard... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3245860/6-timepieces-twin-balance-wheels-2024-mbfs-futuristic-hm9-flow-armin-stroms-shot-perpetual-motion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3245860/6-timepieces-twin-balance-wheels-2024-mbfs-futuristic-hm9-flow-armin-stroms-shot-perpetual-motion?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Dec 2023 00:00:12 +0000 Kaleidoscopic mirrors and vintage jewellery watches at Audemars Piguet, podium discussions with Chopard’s co-CEO Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, a collector’s lounge, artisanal workshops and a hall with more than 50 brands ranging from Armin Strom to Vanguart. Alongside about 25 launches of new timepieces, these were some of the attractions that made thousands of international collectors, industry people and press gather for the sixth edition of Dubai Watch Week, a public event held under the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3242415/6-timepiece-highlights-dubai-watch-week-louis-vuittons-tambour-and-sister-brands-breitlings-avenger?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3242415/6-timepiece-highlights-dubai-watch-week-louis-vuittons-tambour-and-sister-brands-breitlings-avenger?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Nov 2023 08:00:36 +0000 “If brands focus on one collection they get more visibility, especially in the digital arena – one of the best examples being Parmigiani [Fleurier],” says Swiss watch expert Alexander Friedman, founder of AF. Luxury Consulting. Ever since its inception in 1996, Parmigiani has been revered for its watchmaking capabilities, but scattered offerings in the brand’s early days made it difficult for collectors to fully grasp the brand. Fast forward to 2021, when then-new CEO Guido Terreni decided to... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3218741/why-watch-brands-should-focus-one-collection-tag-heuer-carrera-iwc-ingenieur-and-tudor-black-bay?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3218741/why-watch-brands-should-focus-one-collection-tag-heuer-carrera-iwc-ingenieur-and-tudor-black-bay?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 May 2023 00:00:09 +0000 Pun alert: métiers d’art are a time-honoured tradition – especially in Swiss watchmaking, where they remain as highly coveted by collectors as ever. Popular techniques that commonly earn the lofty moniker – literally “masters of art” in English – include bas relief, plique-à-jour enamelling and miniature enamel paintings, all forms of detailing which can take months of full-time work to finish, demanding delicate engraving, intricate marquetry or day-long sessions making guilloche at the rose... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3196202/what-are-metiers-dart-watches-and-why-are-collectors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3196202/what-are-metiers-dart-watches-and-why-are-collectors?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Oct 2022 05:04:49 +0000 At the end of March 2022, Vacheron Constantin launched the Traditionnelle Perpetual Calendar Ultra-thin with a mother-of-pearl dial. This slim timepiece, a mere 4.05 millimetres thick, is “a response to women’s growing desire for complex mechanical timepieces”, the brand stated. The complex function here, which needs no setting for another 78 years, is surrounded by a bezel and lugs set with 77 flawless diamonds – proof that sparkling jewellery watches are becoming far more evolved. A year... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3192616/why-do-more-jewellery-watches-feature-mechanical-movements?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3192616/why-do-more-jewellery-watches-feature-mechanical-movements?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Sep 2022 09:54:43 +0000 Experimented with since the 1990s, silicon made its horological breakthrough in the Ulysse Nardin Freak in 2001, which used two escapement wheels in the material. The Swiss watch industry quickly jumped on the silicon bandwagon, and today you have to look hard to find watches that are not using silicon for escapement parts, shock resistance or hairsprings. Rolex, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Vacheron Constantin, Patek Philippe, Girard-Perregaux, Swatch Group brands from Breguet to Zenith, Hublot, IWC,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3186876/has-silicon-won-over-swiss-watchmakers-rolex-jaeger?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3186876/has-silicon-won-over-swiss-watchmakers-rolex-jaeger?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Jul 2022 08:10:18 +0000 The Rolex Daytona, Patek Philippe Nautilus and Audemars Piguet Royal Oak are three of the world’s most popular watches at the moment – with waiting lists up to 10 years long at many retailers. In fact, the way things are, you won’t even get on a list unless you are already a VIP client with a substantial purchase history or are extremely well connected in other ways. For these highly desirable brands, substantial waiting periods are also spilling over into many other, if not all models – and the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3181586/why-are-waiting-lists-luxury-watches-getting-even-longer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3181586/why-are-waiting-lists-luxury-watches-getting-even-longer?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Jun 2022 03:22:39 +0000 The timepieces shown at Watches and Wonders went beyond those worn on the wrist, with these table clocks also impressing with their mechanical complexity, artistry and elegance. 1. Van Cleef & Arpels Fontaine aux Oiseaux Automaton Automatons could be described as mechanical theatre, and few today can rival the creations of Van Cleef & Arpels, exemplified by the Oiseaux Automaton, which took more than 25,200 hours to complete. On demand, you can activate the golden male and female birds that are... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3175826/3-best-most-ornate-table-clocks-watches-and-wonders?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3175826/3-best-most-ornate-table-clocks-watches-and-wonders?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Apr 2022 04:00:20 +0000 Legendary watches can live on for decades or even centuries, but creating such longevity takes work, meaning new materials, design updates and technical improvements to stay relevant. Here are five pieces continuing to evolve. 1. Vacheron Constantin 222 The 222 is back! Originally designed by Jorg Hysek and launched in steel in 1977, gold and bimetal versions soon followed. For the 2022 relaunch, Vacheron Constantin opted for full yellow gold, joining other brands that have opted to bypass rose... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3175688/5-iconic-watches-just-got-modern-design-updates-rolex-yacht?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3175688/5-iconic-watches-just-got-modern-design-updates-rolex-yacht?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 Apr 2022 09:06:06 +0000 Green dials are here to stay as what used to be a niche market has become a staple in regular collections, and the colour is offered in an increasing number of ways and materials. Here are five watchmakers’ takes on the eye-catching hue ... 1. H. Moser & Cie What do you do when everyone is following in your footsteps? The team at H. Moser & Cie, the undisputed pathfinder in the last few years’ return of fumé dials – must have asked themselves this very question before Watches and Wonders. With... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3175686/watches-and-wonders-2022-5-new-timepieces-riding-green?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3175686/watches-and-wonders-2022-5-new-timepieces-riding-green?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 Apr 2022 09:05:13 +0000 At too many watch brands, the designers are men with limited ideas about how to make women’s watches attractive. Often they take a man’s watch and simply reduce the size, or if designing from scratch, they are still stuck on the idea that women want tiny timepieces. But at Watches and Wonders, we saw five watches that are strong, solid and bold, yet still elegant and sophisticated. 1. Cartier Cartier – the world’s third-largest watch brand – showed off some bold and funky challenges to the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3175589/power-watch-new-it-womens-timepiece-watches-and-wonders-2022?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3175589/power-watch-new-it-womens-timepiece-watches-and-wonders-2022?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Apr 2022 11:09:17 +0000 The overall value of Swiss watch exports into the Middle East in 2021 was over US$2.2 billion (2.1 billion Swiss francs), or about 10 per cent of global exports by value, according to FH, the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry. Close to half of that goes to the UAE, making it the eighth most important single country market. This says a lot about the buying power of the Gulf nation, considering the total population is only eight million people. Other statistics for the Middle East correlate... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3171804/dubai-next-global-luxury-watch-hub-rolex-and-cartier-are?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3171804/dubai-next-global-luxury-watch-hub-rolex-and-cartier-are?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Mar 2022 06:00:19 +0000 Quite simply, bridges are essential – and overlooked. “Without bridges you have no movement,” says Clémence Dubois, Girard-Perregaux’s chief marketing officer, hailing the watch movement’s key supporting actors, without which the mechanical story would simply fall apart. Girard-Perregaux created the Three Bridges, one of the industry’s most coveted designs, 154 years ago. Since then, the symmetrical concept has undergone several stages of evolution – the most radical coming in 1991, when the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3156322/what-do-real-timepiece-collectors-look-watch-bridges-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3156322/what-do-real-timepiece-collectors-look-watch-bridges-and?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Nov 2021 02:55:23 +0000 When Gucci released its collection of high-end timepieces in the spring of 2021 – a mix of understated elegance and flamboyant élan – it joined a select band of big fashion houses now making haute horlogerie. Most fashion brands have a collection of fashion watches, often through licensing with groups like Timex, Movado or Fossil. Higher up at the haute horology level, some brands even have their own manufacturing, producing complicated watches with exquisite artisanal finishes that reflect the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3148303/can-fashion-brands-ever-be-taken-seriously-watchmakers-louis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3148303/can-fashion-brands-ever-be-taken-seriously-watchmakers-louis?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Sep 2021 07:00:19 +0000 The ever-changing universe of timepieces has recently embraced an emerging trend of monochromatic, densely textured dial designs with minimalistic or architectural patterns, delivered with the help of artists and architects alike. The most eye-catching is an in-house creation of Ulysse Nardin. Aptly named Freak X Razzle Dazzle, its geometrical pattern is inspired by wildlife camouflage and the patterns used to confuse observers trying to track the movements of warships during WWI. The vibrant... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3142542/2021s-most-unlikely-design-trend-hublot-bulgari-luxury?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3142542/2021s-most-unlikely-design-trend-hublot-bulgari-luxury?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jul 2021 02:00:14 +0000 With Luminor Due Goldtech, Panerai joins the phenomenon of brand-exclusive gold alloys, which has from other brands previously given us alluring metal cocktails like Everose and honey gold. Panerai’s 18ct offering contains a hefty serving of copper for a rich, saturated, sunset-evoking colour, as well as platinum. The platinum works as a chemical stabiliser, preventing any change of colour over a long period of time because of oxidation. Luminor Due was released in 2016. Luminor refers to the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3047514/how-panerai-authored-its-own-exclusive-gold-alloy-sleek?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3047514/how-panerai-authored-its-own-exclusive-gold-alloy-sleek?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Jan 2020 18:00:10 +0000 Greubel Forsey has entered the haute horlogerie field with its GMT Sport for 2020. The 45mm titanium case, water-resistant to 100 metres, has an ergonomical arch, which follows the shape of your wrist. The shape requires an unusual construction, in which the curved hour and minute hands are mounted on an equally curved bridge above an inclined gear train. Alarm bells are ringing for Patek Philippe, Richard Mille & Co “We thought it could be interesting to have a GMT with a concentric display,”... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3045041/check-hour-all-24-time-zones-greubel-forseys-new-gmt-sport?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3045041/check-hour-all-24-time-zones-greubel-forseys-new-gmt-sport?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Jan 2020 07:00:18 +0000 The current hipster craze for handmade stuff has officially entered horology. Handmade artisanship has always been part of high-end watchmaking, but the Hand Made 1 from Greubel Forsey really deserves its name. Ninety-five per cent of the parts – 272 in the movement and 36 in the case – are produced using only hand-operated tools. Each one takes 6,000 hours to execute, which works out to about three years in terms of man-hours. The goal of the project is to resurrect the forgotten skills of the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3042404/how-bulgari-jaeger-lecoultre-and-others-are-rediscovering?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3042404/how-bulgari-jaeger-lecoultre-and-others-are-rediscovering?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Dec 2019 18:00:13 +0000 “I studied economics, and I could probably have a better salary in finance. But the opportunity to earn a living through my passion – collecting historic Italian cars – is the best way to spend my precious time.” Milan-based Duccio Lopresto’s earliest object of desire was a 1901 Isotta Fraschini, made by a firm famous for supplying kings, emperors and Hollywood stars with groundbreaking automobiles. In 2016 Lopresto turned heads with it at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. “It is basically... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3043678/alpha-romeo-chopard-duccio-lopresto-famed-lopresto?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3043678/alpha-romeo-chopard-duccio-lopresto-famed-lopresto?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Dec 2019 02:00:17 +0000 “When I started working as a jeweller at the age of 18 in the Gold Souk in Dubai, I did not know watches – at all. The first two years we did not even have the tools to open the casebacks – so we opened the watches with a hammer, discarded the innards and sold the gold by weight.” Claude Sfeir, today one of the world’s top collectors of vintage, modern, independent and historical watches, laughs at the memory. The son of a cab driver, Sfeir was adamant about making a good living for himself and... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3043638/who-claude-sfeir-one-worlds-top-watch-collectors-who-once?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3043638/who-claude-sfeir-one-worlds-top-watch-collectors-who-once?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Dec 2019 18:00:10 +0000 A mechanical watch is more than a refined style statement. It can also be a functional object with useful everyday complications that go well beyond measuring time – such as the mechanical alarm. In the past decade the alarm function may have been neglected, but we are starting to see a change in status for this niche market but extremely useful complication. Chanel, Dior and luxury watch maisons who are always full of surprises Earlier this year, Patek Philippe released the Calatrava Alarm... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3041640/why-alarm-bells-are-ringing-patek-philippe-richard-mille?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3041640/why-alarm-bells-are-ringing-patek-philippe-richard-mille?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Dec 2019 18:00:12 +0000 This November saw the fourth edition of Dubai Watch Week, a public event which attracts watch aficionados from around the world. The venue – the shiny, black marble plaza of Dubai International Financial Centre, one of the world’s top 10 financial hubs – features pavilions and pop-up restaurants for one of the global biennial celebrations of horology, Dubai Watch Week. Not only are 44 watch brands – ranging from big houses such as Breitling, Grand Seiko and Bulgari to independents such as Armin... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3041638/how-vacheron-constantin-patek-philippe-and-other-luxury?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3041638/how-vacheron-constantin-patek-philippe-and-other-luxury?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Dec 2019 04:00:10 +0000 Earlier this year, Audemars Piguet released the new collection Code 11.59, which at first glance seemed to be a completely new direction for the brand that first took on the art of watchmaking back in 1875. But Code 11.59 is actually flirting a little bit with Audemars Piguet’s heritage – especially with the 1970s, the era of the Royal Oak designed by Gérald Genta. This was the first luxury steel sports watch with an integrated bracelet, and it featured an octagonal bezel held in place with... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3040930/why-breitling-audemars-piguet-chopard-and-others-cant?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3040930/why-breitling-audemars-piguet-chopard-and-others-cant?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Dec 2019 08:00:12 +0000 When English actor Nicholas Hoult, star of the X-Men movie Dark Phoenix, walked the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival, the paparazzi went crazy, responding not only to the 29-year-old’s chiselled looks, but also to what he was flaunting on his wrist: a Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date. Which of these 5 luxury watches is the thinnest in the world? The watch is equipped with two crowns and a rotating inner bezel to measure dive time. And despite its elegance, the Polaris is really a diver’s... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3030658/jaeger-lecoultre-polaris-date-watch-good-enough-x-men?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3030658/jaeger-lecoultre-polaris-date-watch-good-enough-x-men?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Sep 2019 02:00:07 +0000 When it comes to diamonds, we always talk about the 4 Cs: cut, clarity, colour and carat. But here’s a look at the fifth: chronos, the Greek word for time. Diamonds can add an inordinate amount of value and aesthetic to luxury timepieces, some of which are the most expensive and spectacular in the world. The light catches the cushion, emerald, radiant, marquise, pear and princess-cut diamonds of the 2014 Graff Hallucination, transforming the timepiece into a kaleidoscopic marvel showcasing the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3030684/floyd-mayweather-jay-z-why-exclusive-diamond-watches-are?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3030684/floyd-mayweather-jay-z-why-exclusive-diamond-watches-are?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Sep 2019 08:00:14 +0000 Chinese contemporary artists have been making a splash in the international art scene. Their works include modern-day references and classical painting, as well as the introduction of uniquely Asian techniques into contemporary art. Why Chinese artist Wu Guanzhong’s works still sell for millions Check out five artists that deserve your attention. 1. Lu Yang, Human Machine Reverse Motion Capture Project  How can the human body overcome its limitations, even to the extent of Buddhist teachings... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people-events/article/3020183/move-over-ai-weiwei-5-chinese-contemporary-artists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people-events/article/3020183/move-over-ai-weiwei-5-chinese-contemporary-artists?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Jul 2019 06:00:07 +0000 The independent watchmaking scene could be defined by strong-minded individuals making between 15 and 1,500 unique watches with extremely artisanal content and unusual designs. At SIHH they have a dedicated hall – the Carré des Horlogers. What is independent watchmaking? Think in terms of haute couture. Just as in fashion, you can also make a timely statement with a watch. The unique Moser Nature Watch is nothing short of a miniature garden for your wrist. It comes with a positive message... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3002859/sihh-2019-independents-allow-creativity-shine-through?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3002859/sihh-2019-independents-allow-creativity-shine-through?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 Mar 2019 18:00:07 +0000 This year sees several extensions of the Clifton Baumatic, which made quite a splash when it arrived last year. With chronometer precision, five-day power reserve and anti-magnetism starting at just over €2,000 (HK$17,770), this collection is democratising functions that often belong in a higher echelon of horology. Baume et Mercier shows off its own mechanical self-winding calibre in five Clifton models In the first decade of the new millennium, several brands turned away from this segment.... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3002716/sihh-2019-baume-et-mercier-take-baumatic-range-further-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3002716/sihh-2019-baume-et-mercier-take-baumatic-range-further-and?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Mar 2019 18:00:13 +0000 Hermès is one of few fashion brands also capable of making haute horlogerie combining traditional artisanal techniques with contemporary technology. A shimmering example of this is the Hermès Arceau L’Heure de la Lune. In a patent-filed execution of the moon phase, two rotating white or anthracite lacquered dials revealing the shape of the moon as seen from both the northern and southern hemispheres. The moons made of mother-of-pearl are fixed on a backdrop of rough-textured meteorite or... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3002685/sihh-2019-hermes-wolf-howls-and-moon-star-arceau-lheure-de?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3002685/sihh-2019-hermes-wolf-howls-and-moon-star-arceau-lheure-de?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Mar 2019 10:00:05 +0000 When a Greubel Forsey watch arrives, you can sense a shift of atmosphere in the room. Even though the audience members – 25 watch journalists – are used to handling haute horlogerie watches, there is a perceptible change of mood when Greubel Forsey pieces start arriving for a touch-and-feel session. Whispered “wows” and affirming nods spread throughout the room. SIHH 2019: 6 of the best women’s timepieces unveiled in Geneva Personally, I wish I had worn a hat, because I simply wanted to chapeau... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3002666/sihh-2019-greubel-forsey-takes-it-all-way-focusing-value?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3002666/sihh-2019-greubel-forsey-takes-it-all-way-focusing-value?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Mar 2019 08:00:09 +0000 Reggie Ho,Anders Modig Davin Reggie Ho,Anders Modig Davin One of the most talked-about topics in the luxury goods industry is, “what do the millennials want?”. To answer that question, we need to first define “millennials”. There is no consensus on exactly how old millennials are, but Pew Research Center has drawn a line “in order to keep the millennial generation analytically meaningful”. Men and millennials fuel sales boom at Kering’s Balenciaga The institute will use 1996 as the last birth year for millennials, which means they are 22 to 37 years... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/2149088/what-do-luxury-brands-think-millennials-want?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/2149088/what-do-luxury-brands-think-millennials-want?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Jun 2018 07:03:41 +0000 Just like Peter Parker was bitten by a spider, a growing number of contemporary pop culture lovers have been bitten by a watch bug of a different sort: RJ-Romain Jerome.  Its latest creation, RJ x Spider-Man, is a hand-wound ticking marvel bearing a red hand-lacquered spider on top of the skeletonised movement. The web symbol of the superhero is metallised onto the inside centre of the caseback sapphire crystal glass – giving the visual impression of a net holding the see-through creation in... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/special-reports/topics/sihh-2018/article/2138229/spider-man-web-slings-his?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/special-reports/topics/sihh-2018/article/2138229/spider-man-web-slings-his?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Mar 2018 04:01:55 +0000 The brand co-founded by Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey in 2004 is on a roll – 2017 was “a very good year” for the maison, according to Forsey. Greubel Forsey completed 111 timepieces, while also presenting its milestone Grande Sonnerie after 11 years of R&D. That is the kind of company this is: roughly 100 employees make about 100 timepieces per year. Each piece features at least one of the company’s seven major inventions, and each is painstakingly finished by at least 450 hours of handwork.... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/2138183/greubel-forsey-unveils-nano-concept-watch-sihh-2018?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/2138183/greubel-forsey-unveils-nano-concept-watch-sihh-2018?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Mar 2018 02:04:09 +0000 SIHH director Fabienne Lupo is upbeat about the future of watchmaking, saying: “The very existence of independent ‘new school’ watchmaking proves that the industry is driven by new ideas. It shows that fine watchmaking isn’t stuck in the past, but instead a highly innovative segment”. One of the five newcomers to Carré des Horlogers is Armin Strom, a 21-person company that produces  around 600 timepieces per year. “Chronometry is very important; we are really pushing chronometry,” says Claude... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/special-reports/topics/sihh-2018/article/2138071/independent-watchmakers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/special-reports/topics/sihh-2018/article/2138071/independent-watchmakers?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Mar 2018 02:01:56 +0000 In a sinfully red boudoir chamber, three of the 18 red-gold and platinum Classic Voyeurs sat on velvet pedestals. The erotic watches – a tradition dating back to the 18th century and proof that sex has long been a driver of new technologies – were surrounded by whips and other tools you’d find at Mr Gray’s.  Demonstrated by an extremely red-lipped, somewhat risqué hostess, the watches feature two Jaquemart automaton couples, caught in erotic acts coinciding with the movements of the hammers of... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/special-reports/topics/sihh-2018/article/2137344/sihh-2018-ulysse-nardins?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/special-reports/topics/sihh-2018/article/2137344/sihh-2018-ulysse-nardins?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Mar 2018 02:00:30 +0000 Many independent brands raised pulses in the watch scene when they showed exciting pieces at the newLes Ateliers area at Baselworld this year. Fiona Krüger, the Scottish designer in the limelight since 2013 for her mechanical, automatic Swiss-made skull watches and other designs for Speake-Marin, Ulysse Nardin and Fabergé, has taken another step into collaborative efforts. Her new collection features guilloche dials from masterful Finnish watchmaker Kari Voutilainen. With strong colours, using... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches-jewellery/article/2120875/indie-watch-brands-show-creative-edge-baselworld?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches-jewellery/article/2120875/indie-watch-brands-show-creative-edge-baselworld?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 31 Dec 2017 02:04:02 +0000 Urwerk unveiled the UR-210 Amadeus, an eye-catching sci-fi inspired design mixed with 18th century baroque. Named after legendary composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and released at Baselworld to coincide with the brand’s 20th anniversary, the timepiece is a rendition of one of Urwerk’s flagship models. Flung into a temporal particle accelerator, this futuristic watch collides with the past to emerge transfigured as a flamboyant anachronism. The avant-garde brand was founded by brothers Felix and... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches-jewellery/article/2120876/avant-garde-urwerk-continues-journey-sputnik?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches-jewellery/article/2120876/avant-garde-urwerk-continues-journey-sputnik?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 Dec 2017 02:33:57 +0000 After almost two years of sinking exports for Swiss watches, 2017 sees a positive trend. November 3 witnessed the opening of Omega’s new factory in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, a state-of-the-art facility designed by Shigeru Ban combining the latest robotics and machine operation with artisanal handwork and rigorous testing. It will now consolidate the assembly of the annual output of an estimated 600,000-700,000 watches under one roof – and with room to grow. “Our productivity will definitely... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches-jewellery/special-reports/topics/timepieces/article/2119798/why-swiss?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches-jewellery/special-reports/topics/timepieces/article/2119798/why-swiss?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Nov 2017 04:53:52 +0000 Before Christmas arrives, a number of important watch auctions are scheduled to take place in Hong Kong, and auction houses are expecting to see an increase in sell-through rates compared with recent watch auctions. A world record for watches has already been broken – a stainless steel Patek Philippe Ref. 1518 fetched CHF11,002,000 (approx. HK$ 86,112,503) when it went under the block at Phillips Bacs & Russo in Geneva on November 12. Phillips auction house started with watches in 2015 – and in... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches-jewellery/topics/timepieces/article/2046862/time-bid-inspired-timepieces-feature?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches-jewellery/topics/timepieces/article/2046862/time-bid-inspired-timepieces-feature?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Nov 2016 04:45:30 +0000 Which are the five most creative indepen-dent brands to buy in 2016? We take a look at five brands that push the envelope, from a technical point of view and design sense. The independent brands don’t adhere to the rules. They are rebels in a traditional industry. They keep reinventing themselves and horology at its core, and they are often the first to apply solutions picked up by mainstream brands years later. This rock ’n’ roll attitude applies to these brands, whether they are reinventing... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches-jewellery/topics/timepieces/article/2046864/independents-day-five-creative?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches-jewellery/topics/timepieces/article/2046864/independents-day-five-creative?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Nov 2016 04:45:15 +0000 How was Baselworld 2016 for Patek Philippe?  The new World Time Chronograph ref: 5930 with our new base calibre was very popular. Each new model has been successful. Every market is ordering everything. But times are a bit shaky, aren’t they? Yes, 2015 was not a record year, but what is important is the stock level is very low.  Most of the distributors and retailers are asking for more pieces. It is a fantastic situation. I hope it will continue, but I have no idea how 2016 is going to... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/article/1948361/patek-philippe-ceo-thierry-stern-talks-about-seizing-opportunities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/article/1948361/patek-philippe-ceo-thierry-stern-talks-about-seizing-opportunities?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 May 2016 02:45:00 +0000