https://www.scmp.com/rss/323813/feed Swiss luxury watch and jewellery brand en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Josiah Ng Josiah Ng The watch world is waiting with bated breath for Watches & Wonders in April, but March was not short on high horology highlights. At the Oscars, stars stepped out in stunning pieces, from Zendaya wearing Rolex to Ryan Coogler flashing a Cartier watch. Grand Seiko named a new, almost inevitable ambassador, Tag Heuer picked its new CEO, and even the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève’s (GPHG) jury sees itself under new management. Independent brands shone this month, with pieces from black-and-gold... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3348151/5-watch-moments-march-2026-zendayas-rolex-oscars-tag-heuers-new-boss?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3348151/5-watch-moments-march-2026-zendayas-rolex-oscars-tag-heuers-new-boss?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 06:00:20 +0000 Josiah Ng Josiah Ng The year is off to a running start for the world of high horology. LVMH, as always, kicks things off with a monumental LVMH Watch Week featuring nine brands and their stellar releases. Meanwhile, corporate moves abounded as Frederique Constant was named official timekeeper for Pro Padel League, and Richemont shook hands with the Damiani Group for the latter to acquire Baume et Mercier. Major releases include “reverse panda” Omega Speedmaster models and a Russian watch with a wood case operated... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3341806/5-biggest-watch-moments-january-2026-new-omega-models-lvmh-watch-week?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3341806/5-biggest-watch-moments-january-2026-new-omega-models-lvmh-watch-week?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 06:00:13 +0000 Joshua Hendren Joshua Hendren Gold has always been a symbol of prestige in watchmaking, but over the past century it has shared the spotlight with other materials. In the mid-20th century, the rise of steel sports watches from brands like Rolex, Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe reshaped ideas of what luxury could look like. During that shift, decorative goldsmithing techniques such as engraving, chiselling and hand-texturing became less visible. Now, as collectors search for pieces that celebrate artistry as much as... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/xxiv/article/3340426/gucci-and-patek-philippe-are-reviving-intricate-goldsmithing-techniques-their-watches?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/xxiv/article/3340426/gucci-and-patek-philippe-are-reviving-intricate-goldsmithing-techniques-their-watches?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jan 2026 08:00:09 +0000 Vincenzo La Torre Vincenzo La Torre Four of today’s most prominent actors are now able to add “watch brand ambassador” to their list of roles. Zhang Ziyi – Jaeger-LeCoultre Jaeger-LeCoultre has named Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi as a global ambassador. Zhang, who rose to fame with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) and also starred in other films such as The Grandmaster (2013), appears in an elegant campaign wearing the Swiss watchmaker’s signature timepiece, the Reverso. Jun Ji-hyun – Piaget Jeweller and watchmaker Piaget... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3338457/newly-minted-watch-ambassadors-henry-cavill-and-aaron-taylor-johnson-jun-ji-hyun?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3338457/newly-minted-watch-ambassadors-henry-cavill-and-aaron-taylor-johnson-jun-ji-hyun?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Jan 2026 20:00:10 +0000 Joshua Hendren Joshua Hendren For more than a century, the dress watch has represented the most refined form of traditional horology. It was created to be worn with formal clothing, designed to complement rather than command attention. Typically made in precious metal – often gold or platinum – with a plain dial and a leather strap, its strength has always been its slim, elegant and mechanically straightforward approach to watchmaking. The first true dress watches appeared in the early 20th century, but their origins reach... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3335701/how-dress-watches-have-evolved-and-why-theyre-coming-back-rolex-and-cartier-hermes-and-louis-vuitton?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3335701/how-dress-watches-have-evolved-and-why-theyre-coming-back-rolex-and-cartier-hermes-and-louis-vuitton?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Dec 2025 23:00:09 +0000 Annie Brown Annie Brown High jewellery season is, to be sure, the most exhilarating romp through the world’s most glamorous and exotic locations as the top maisons set out to woo their top clients. With good reason too. In a luxury slump, jewellery – and especially high jewellery – remains a bright (and glittering) spot. According to research released by global consultancy Bain as well as the Altagamma Foundation, an association of Italian luxury brands, luxury spending as a whole declined by 1 to 3 per cent in 2024.... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/jewellery/article/3319294/biggest-high-jewellery-drops-2025-louis-vuittons-virtuosity-and-chanels-reach-stars-cartiers-en?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/jewellery/article/3319294/biggest-high-jewellery-drops-2025-louis-vuittons-virtuosity-and-chanels-reach-stars-cartiers-en?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Jul 2025 22:00:09 +0000 Divia Harilela Divia Harilela Calligraphy is having a moment in the spotlight – and you can thank the internet for it. Over the past few years social media feeds have been dominated by influencers showing off their latest brushstroke techniques on Reels, while online courses have brought traditional forms of decorative writing to a new audience looking to express themselves creatively. “I was initially attracted to calligraphy because it looked so beautiful. I ended up learning everything online and am completely... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/design/article/3307713/discovering-calligraphy-china-cartier-how-traditional-form-writing-experiencing-resurgence-thanks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/design/article/3307713/discovering-calligraphy-china-cartier-how-traditional-form-writing-experiencing-resurgence-thanks?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 May 2025 03:00:09 +0000 It’s shaping up to be a good year for A$AP Rocky. The rapper was recently found not guilty on all charges in a felony assault trial, where he faced up to 24 years in prison for allegedly shooting his former collaborator, A$AP Relli. In court, a relieved Rocky – whose real name is Rakim Athelaston Mayers – embraced his legal team upon hearing the news, and it was hard to miss the gleaming gold timepiece on his wrist: a vintage Patek Philippe Nautilus. That watch, sure to become a good-luck piece... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3306496/inside-aap-rockys-luxury-watch-collection-rolex-and-piaget-jacob-co-he-wore-patek-philippe-worth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3306496/inside-aap-rockys-luxury-watch-collection-rolex-and-piaget-jacob-co-he-wore-patek-philippe-worth?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Apr 2025 21:00:07 +0000 Blame the mob wife trend, or perhaps the shift from minimalism towards ‘‘boom boom‘’ fashion – coined earlier this year by trend forecaster Sean Monahan to refer to the bold and bougie fashion we’re seeing make a comeback. Either way, gold watches are back. Not that a gold watch – a perennial symbol of those who’ve truly made it – has ever completely lost its appeal. It’s just that at this year’s Watches and Wonders – the annual gathering of the horology industry in Geneva, held this year in the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3306460/gold-watches-van-cleef-arpels-cartier-chanel-bulgari-piaget-and-others-stole-spotlight-watches-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3306460/gold-watches-van-cleef-arpels-cartier-chanel-bulgari-piaget-and-others-stole-spotlight-watches-and?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Apr 2025 09:00:14 +0000 Walking through the Palexpo in Geneva during the annual Watches and Wonders event is a veritable sensory overload. There are just so many booths, and so many watches. A visit to the Van Cleef & Arpels booth is something of a reprieve. As though you’ve wandered into a magical forest. As the then chief executive of the French maison Nicolas Bos (now chief executive of Richemont) once told me, at Watches and Wonders you’re surrounded by boys and their toys – cars, boats – and “here we are with our... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/jewellery/article/3302847/jewellers-watchmakers-chanel-hermes-bulgari-and-van-cleef-arpels-are-venturing-further-hallowed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/jewellery/article/3302847/jewellers-watchmakers-chanel-hermes-bulgari-and-van-cleef-arpels-are-venturing-further-hallowed?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Mar 2025 22:00:17 +0000 As ever, this year has seen brands digging deep into their archives, as some much-loved maisons remind us what made these signature models horological fan favourites in the first place. Of course, there’s also no better time than the present to revisit time-only models. The Grand Seiko SLGW005 recalls the high beat rate, precision Grand Seiko 45GS from 1968, including a return to printing both Seiko and Grand Seiko logos from that era. Leaning more towards the designer side of revivalist... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3290997/luxury-watchmakers-explore-their-archives-revive-vintage-classics-grand-seiko-and-piagets-time-only?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3290997/luxury-watchmakers-explore-their-archives-revive-vintage-classics-grand-seiko-and-piagets-time-only?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Dec 2024 21:00:09 +0000 High jewellery is most often brought out and worn during special or festive occasions, which means that in addition to being a work of art, each piece becomes associated with precious memories. And just as some occasions call for colourful, even flamboyant, outfits and others demand a more neutral, understated look, it pays to curate a collection balanced with loud, bold designs and well as quieter more subtle pieces. Opulence for auspicious occasions Any collection inspired by the city of Rome... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/jewellery/article/3289489/high-jewellery-all-occasions-how-balance-your-collection-bold-and-colourful-quiet-and-elegant?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/jewellery/article/3289489/high-jewellery-all-occasions-how-balance-your-collection-bold-and-colourful-quiet-and-elegant?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Dec 2024 08:15:17 +0000 When it comes to high jewellery, the juxtaposition in tone and texture produced when a piece includes a humbler material alongside precious stones and metals is an intriguing one. It’s also one that showcases the skill of designers and artisans able to pair diamonds and white gold with materials like feathers, coral and even plastic. Among the high jewellery collections launched earlier this year, High Fluid by Brazilian designer Fernando Jorge stands out for its ingenious use of unusual... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/jewellery/article/3267970/high-jewellers-turning-humble-materials-cartier-beads-boucheron-rock-crystal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/jewellery/article/3267970/high-jewellers-turning-humble-materials-cartier-beads-boucheron-rock-crystal?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Jun 2024 04:00:12 +0000 The past few months have certainly been a boon for jewellery that tells the time. Or indeed jewellery that stops time. Such as the watch choker Taylor Swift wore to the Grammys earlier this year with the hands set to midnight. Swift, no stranger to Easter eggs, left her fans breathlessly pondering the meaning behind the choker and its midnight setting. The piece itself was a vintage Concord watch on a choker by Lorraine Schwartz. Swift isn’t the only celebrity getting in on the trend. Rihanna is... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/jewellery/article/3266297/how-celebs-are-driving-pendant-watch-trend-taylor-swift-and-rihannas-blinging-chokers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/jewellery/article/3266297/how-celebs-are-driving-pendant-watch-trend-taylor-swift-and-rihannas-blinging-chokers?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Jun 2024 07:00:09 +0000 Whether we attribute it to the growing appetite for vintage timepieces, the TikTok favourite “mob wife” trend, Ken in the Barbie movie, or a satisfying revival of the excess of the 1980s, yellow gold watches are having a moment, again. After the enduring reign of stainless steel sports watches (which, to be clear, aren’t going anywhere) something rather more glam, of the high voltage variety, has captured the zeitgeist. Some of the buzziest watch launches of the year so far have been crafted in... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3263078/high-voltage-why-yellow-gold-watch-retaking-crown-kens-3-tag-heuer-carreras-barbie-and-tiktoks-mob?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3263078/high-voltage-why-yellow-gold-watch-retaking-crown-kens-3-tag-heuer-carreras-barbie-and-tiktoks-mob?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 May 2024 21:00:20 +0000 For retailers, brands, makers, enthusiasts, collectors and fans, all eyes were on Geneva this past week, where the 2024 edition of Watches and Wonders took place at Palexpo. An impressive 54 maisons presented the latest horological wonders at the world’s biggest watch fair, which wrapped its weeklong run yesterday. “Our mission is to promote watchmaking worldwide, to showcase the industry with one voice – 54 brands speaking together,” said Matthieu Humair, CEO of the Watches and Wonders Geneva... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3259189/watches-and-wonders-2024-kylian-mbappe-and-gisele-bundchen-bring-star-power-geneva-while-top-brands?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3259189/watches-and-wonders-2024-kylian-mbappe-and-gisele-bundchen-bring-star-power-geneva-while-top-brands?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Apr 2024 09:15:29 +0000 Quiet luxury has become the defining fashion trend of 2023, and while the concept is offering a tranquil touch to how people approach their personal style, this doesn’t mean there isn’t a time and place for the bold and colourful. Just as sunshine-yellow summer dresses and bright-pink jumpsuits can exist alongside a wardrobe of beige and cream cashmere separates, for those days when you want something more dramatic, the same can be said for statement-making jewellery on days when you want to... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/jewellery/article/3247215/maximum-impact-how-bold-and-colourful-high-jewellery-brightening-season-brands-louis-vuitton-gucci?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/jewellery/article/3247215/maximum-impact-how-bold-and-colourful-high-jewellery-brightening-season-brands-louis-vuitton-gucci?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jan 2024 09:00:20 +0000 Fashion typically operates in 20-year cycles. That’s why, in the 1990s, Tom Ford was so successful with reviving disco style, and why, in the present day, we’re seeing a renaissance of trends from the Y2K era of the early 2000s – think glitzy minidresses, low-rise boot-cut denim, and midriff-bearing crop-tops. Things move a little more slowly in the world of jewellery. In this rarefied realm, the retro focus is just now beginning to fall on the 1980s – at least, if the latest collection from... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/jewellery/article/3245736/how-high-jewellery-designers-fell-retro-culture-coco-chanels-30s-jazz-age-collection-tiffany-co-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/jewellery/article/3245736/how-high-jewellery-designers-fell-retro-culture-coco-chanels-30s-jazz-age-collection-tiffany-co-and?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Dec 2023 08:00:13 +0000 Time-telling jewels are turning away from the traditional watch in favour of stunning non-wrist alternatives that promise to elevate your style game. Earlier this year, at the Watches and Wonders trade fair in Geneva, the 16th-century style pendant watch was all the rage, with the likes of Van Cleef & Arpels, Chanel, Jaeger-LeCoultre and Piaget offering unique takes on the precious style, from tasselled sautoirs set with Zambian emeralds to dials suspended from diamond-set chains. Now, as 2024... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3245056/time-ring-how-fine-jewellers-are-reviving-ring-watch-playful-barbie-themes-fossil-embedded-rolex?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3245056/time-ring-how-fine-jewellers-are-reviving-ring-watch-playful-barbie-themes-fossil-embedded-rolex?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Dec 2023 04:00:11 +0000 When choosing a watch, women have long sported designs made for men. Hollywood royal Salma Hayek, for example, regularly favours a 44mm PAM 104 from Florentine watchmaker Panerai, a heritage brand known for its chunky, bold, purpose-built designs. Meanwhile, global style icon Victoria Beckham has been photographed on many occasions wearing traditionally masculine timepieces, like an all-gold Patek Philippe Nautilus or Rolex Presidential geared with a champagne dial. 6 celebrity kids with... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3236909/male-celebrities-wearing-womens-watches-lionel-messi-and-bad-bunny-sport-patek-philippe-timothee?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3236909/male-celebrities-wearing-womens-watches-lionel-messi-and-bad-bunny-sport-patek-philippe-timothee?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Oct 2023 07:00:08 +0000 From Cartier’s grand soirée at the Palazzo Corsini in Florence with actor Adrien Brody playing DJ, to a performance in one of the world’s oldest open-air theatres – the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens – for Louis Vuitton, this year’s high jewellery presentations from the top luxury houses were fittingly sumptuous. The strength of this rarefied category is reflected in many ways – typically lush gala dinners and exclusive experiences to court high-net-worth clients and media in far-flung... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3226792/biggest-high-jewellery-launches-2023-so-far-new-collections-louis-vuitton-dior-gucci-cartier-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3226792/biggest-high-jewellery-launches-2023-so-far-new-collections-louis-vuitton-dior-gucci-cartier-and?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Jul 2023 01:00:25 +0000 They may look like diamond bracelets, bold titanium cuffs, or pearl or onyx sautoirs, but these precious pieces of jewellery hide something else – they also tell the time, for they are secret watches. Today these exquisite timepieces are fashionable as an expression of style and individuality, but a century ago they were conceived as a discreet way for a lady to keep an eye on the time. 5 of the best watches at the Met Gala 2023, from Simu Liu to Michelle Yeoh From the 1920s right through into... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3221671/what-are-secret-watches-and-why-are-they-trending-again-2023-high-jewellery-maisons-chanel-dior?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3221671/what-are-secret-watches-and-why-are-they-trending-again-2023-high-jewellery-maisons-chanel-dior?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 May 2023 00:00:13 +0000 The return of the sautoir watch, one of the most glamorous trends from this year’s Watches and Wonders fair in Geneva, makes complete sense. In the age of the smartphone, when we scarcely need a watch to check the time, well, why not wear a timepiece as a glittering jewel? It’s certainly not the first time necklace watches have made an appearance. The style originated in the 16th century, a precursor to the pocket watch, and was typically the domain of wealthy women. In the 19th and early 20th... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3218739/necklace-watch-2023s-hottest-timepiece-trend-watches-and-wonders-saw-400-year-old-chain-and-pendant?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3218739/necklace-watch-2023s-hottest-timepiece-trend-watches-and-wonders-saw-400-year-old-chain-and-pendant?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Apr 2023 00:00:09 +0000 We may expect our watches to show us the time, date, day and month of the year, but a timepiece that can account for leap years and the number of days in any given month without adjustments requires a great deal more sophistication. So impressive is a watch with a perpetual calendar function, in fact, that it won’t need to be adjusted until the year 2100 – a dream piece for collectors. Here are some of the most impressive perpetual calendar watches on the market: 1. Audemars Piguet Crafted in... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3214441/5-best-luxury-timepieces-perpetual-calendar-functions-audemars-piguets-royal-oak-and-jaeger?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3214441/5-best-luxury-timepieces-perpetual-calendar-functions-audemars-piguets-royal-oak-and-jaeger?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Mar 2023 01:00:15 +0000 Ever since the term haute horlogerie came about, watchmakers have been obsessed not only with accurate timekeeping, but also with creating pieces with ever more sophisticated movements and intricate complications. This has resulted in watches that are hefty and sometimes even uncomfortable to wear. While these robust cases – some upwards of 12mm thick – may be necessary to protect the movement against the elements (think pilot and dive watches) and ensure reliability, most of the time they serve... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3208191/race-make-worlds-thinnest-watch-how-richard-milles-us188-million-01-ferrari-inched-record-bulgari?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3208191/race-make-worlds-thinnest-watch-how-richard-milles-us188-million-01-ferrari-inched-record-bulgari?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Jan 2023 07:14:53 +0000 Feel the traditional white diamond engagement ring is a touch staid? If a colourless stone just doesn’t capture your colourful personalities, there’s no reason you can’t go against convention and go for a gemstone that better hews to your style. You’ll find high jewellery brands are now more creative than ever, with a smorgasbord of choices outside the conventional engagement ring category that could be just the thing to grace your loved ones finger. “We see coloured gems becoming more popular... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3200724/colourful-gems-wear-alternative-engagement-ring-skip-traditional-white-diamonds-unique-wedding?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3200724/colourful-gems-wear-alternative-engagement-ring-skip-traditional-white-diamonds-unique-wedding?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Nov 2022 09:42:36 +0000 Twinkling like the night sky, sapphires are mysterious, serene and stellar. The precious gem comes in a surprising variety of colours including yellow and even black, but it is that particularly brilliant, deep shade of blue that usually springs to mind whenever the stone is mentioned. Here we have selected an array of rings that show off the gemstone to spectacular effect. 1. Bulgari The Magnifica High Jewellery collection sources outstanding gems from all corners of the world. This ring... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3178210/5-spectacular-sapphire-rings-chanel-bulgari-van-cleef-arpels?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3178210/5-spectacular-sapphire-rings-chanel-bulgari-van-cleef-arpels?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 May 2022 09:05:57 +0000 House of Gucci was the hottest film of the last quarter of 2021 and its lead actress, Lady Gaga, delivered a stellar performance as Patrizia Reggiani. While she wore head-turning outfits throughout the film, it was her flamboyant jewellery that really tied the outfits together, giving them that extra touch of luxury befitting the elegant socialite. As we settle into another uncertain-looking new year, it’s inevitable that we’re still trying to hold onto the holiday cheer we felt mere weeks ago.... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3163381/channel-house-guccis-lady-gaga-these-5-dazzling-jewellery?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3163381/channel-house-guccis-lady-gaga-these-5-dazzling-jewellery?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Jan 2022 07:11:51 +0000 It’s been an unprecedented award season, staged and streamed online, but at least we got to see the looks of celebrities strutting the red carpet, showing that the glamour of Hollywood never fades. What also never fades is the everlasting charm of jewels. This season, we especially saw statement stones appear as beautiful droplets, as seen in Beyoncé’s one-of-a-kind Schiaparelli earrings, worn to this year’s Grammys, and Dua Lipa’s Chopard earrings at the 29th annual Elton John Aids Foundation... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3133643/awards-season-saw-beyonce-and-dua-lipa-dripping-gems-you-can?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3133643/awards-season-saw-beyonce-and-dua-lipa-dripping-gems-you-can?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 May 2021 04:00:15 +0000 Joe Biden chose to wear a classy US$7,000 stainless steel Rolex Datejust when he was sworn in as US president on January 20, giving the upmarket Swiss watch brand a fillip after a diabolical year for luxury watches. Unlike a number of his predecessors who chose to wear utilitarian brands as men of the people – both Bill Clinton and George Bush wore Timex watches – Biden chose to have his wrist clasped by a statement of Swiss luxury. After years of success, Switzerland’s luxury watch industry... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3121096/rolex-winners-swatch-losers-after-swiss-luxury-watch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3121096/rolex-winners-swatch-losers-after-swiss-luxury-watch?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Feb 2021 10:45:14 +0000 Watch influencer Austen Chu, founder of Instagram account Horoloupe, has quickly risen to become an important voice in the world of watch collecting. The 24-year-old boasts 119,000 followers, and a quick scroll through his Insta page makes you feel like a child in a sweet shop: you are met with image after image of wrist shots showing limited editions and hard-to-find timepieces. But not many know that Chu launched Horoloupe when he was 17 – “out of desperation and loneliness”, in his own... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3112609/how-horoloupes-austen-chu-went-instagram-influencer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3112609/how-horoloupes-austen-chu-went-instagram-influencer?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Dec 2020 04:00:20 +0000 When the world shut down early this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it seemed like trips to the local watch retailers – and indeed almost any shops – would be impossible. But were they? Products from the Richemont maisons, such as Cartier and Jaeger-LeCoultre, were already available on various e-commerce platforms. In 2019, Richemont and Alibaba Group formed a strategic partnership with the opening of the Net-a-Porter flagship store on Alibaba’s Tmall Luxury Pavilion. The joint venture put... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3104260/cartier-piaget-iwc-jaeger-lecoultre-join-alibabas-tmall?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3104260/cartier-piaget-iwc-jaeger-lecoultre-join-alibabas-tmall?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Oct 2020 22:00:15 +0000 In ancient Egypt, malachite was used to ward off evil. The Aztecs regarded turquoise as the “stone of the gods”, and a 15th-century legend has it that turquoise would lose its colour when its owner was in danger or unwell, and regain its brilliance when the peril or illness had passed. In antiquity, carnelian was thought to have a calming effect on blood and anger. In Chinese medicine, lapis lazuli was sometimes placed on injured parts of the body, or used in powdered form for ailments. And the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3085076/can-hard-stones-really-heal-and-ward-evil-gems-and-minerals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3085076/can-hard-stones-really-heal-and-ward-evil-gems-and-minerals?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 May 2020 18:00:15 +0000 Being stuck at home because of the coronavirus should not limit our imagination – or our spending. With collections from luxury watchmakers easily available through online retail platforms, indulging in something sparkly and new can be just a few clicks away. Here are some of the most expensive watches you can access online. As part of the Richemont group – home of subsidiary brands Cartier, Jaeger-LeCoultre, IWC and Piaget – Net-a-Porter is the go-to place if you want to drop money on the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3052480/coronavirus-lockdown-most-expensive-watches-you-can-buy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3052480/coronavirus-lockdown-most-expensive-watches-you-can-buy?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Feb 2020 18:00:18 +0000 Yellow diamonds are having their moment in the sun. Lady Gaga stole the show with the stunning 128ct fancy yellow Tiffany Diamond she wore to the Academy Awards this year, while Anna Hu set an auction world record – US$5.78 million – for her 100.02-carat fancy intense yellow diamond necklace at Sotheby’s Hong Kong last month. The haute joaillerie collections in Paris in July were overflowing with them. Lady Gaga is only the third person to have worn Tiffany & Co.’s cushion-cut yellow diamond,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3045035/why-rich-chinese-lady-gaga-anna-hu-and-other-celebrities-are?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3045035/why-rich-chinese-lady-gaga-anna-hu-and-other-celebrities-are?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Jan 2020 18:00:10 +0000 Michael Tay owns just one smartwatch – the first version of the Apple Watch. But it remains unused in its original packaging, the shrink wrap still intact. “It's embarrassing to say but it's still in the box. I kind of figured I would experiment but was never motivated to unwrap it,” confesses the group managing director of Singapore-based luxury watch retail group The Hour Glass. “I think in time to come this could be kind of an interesting collectible.” It is possibly the most modestly priced... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3044369/why-e-commerce-isnt-threat-luxury-watch-stores-hour-glass?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3044369/why-e-commerce-isnt-threat-luxury-watch-stores-hour-glass?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Jan 2020 10:00:05 +0000 Derived from the Latin word for the colour blue (sapphirus), sapphires are believed to be the gems of the heavens. The saturation of the blue hue is key to determining the value of this coveted gemstone, one of the big three alongside rubies and emeralds. “Invest in untreated sapphires of high quality and of Kashmir or Burmese origin, where most the world’s most beautiful and highly valued sapphires were mined,” says Vickie Sek, chairman, Jewellery Asia, Christie’s auction house. Kashmir... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3043687/why-do-high-jewellers-louis-vuitton-and-cartier-want-kashmir?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3043687/why-do-high-jewellers-louis-vuitton-and-cartier-want-kashmir?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Dec 2019 06:00:06 +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 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 When it comes to timepieces today, the thinner the better. Vacheron Constantin The Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin is housed in an 8.1mm-thick, 18ct pink gold case with an alligator leather strap. The dial features a moonphase and dials for date, month and days of the week for accuracy, HK$610,000 Audemars Piguet With an 8.85mm-thick case, a glare-proof sapphire and crystal caseback, and baguette-cut diamonds on the bezel, the Royal Oak Tourbillon Extra-Thin is a hand-wound watch with a... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3022706/which-these-5-luxury-watches-thinnest-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3022706/which-these-5-luxury-watches-thinnest-world?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Aug 2019 18:00:07 +0000 Bond 25, the 25th instalment in the James Bond series, will reportedly debut in cinemas in 2020. Despite being a few months away, fans are hyped about the new release and the killer (literally) outfits that Daniel Craig will wear in his final appearance as James Bond – outfits which are sure to include impeccable suits, cool sunglasses and his signature Omega Seamaster watch. The British secret agent will wear that specific watch model in the movie as part of the franchise’s long-term... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches-jewellery/article/3019124/5-mens-watches-wouldnt-look-amiss-james-bonds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches-jewellery/article/3019124/5-mens-watches-wouldnt-look-amiss-james-bonds?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Jul 2019 05:00:09 +0000 The eighth edition of Only Watch auction, a highly anticipated sale that takes place every two years, has just unveiled unique pieces from participating watchmakers that are set to go under the hammer on November 9 in Geneva. Hosted in collaboration with Christie’s, Only Watch invited 52 watchmakers to create one-of-a-kind timepieces for auction this year, with all proceeds from the sales going to scientific and medical research on neuromuscular diseases in general and on Duchenne muscular... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3018303/only-watch-charity-auction-10-strikingly-identical?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3018303/only-watch-charity-auction-10-strikingly-identical?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Jul 2019 07:00:06 +0000 George Daniels Space Traveller I pocket watch sold for record price, fetching US$4,561,507 at a Sotheby’s auction in London on July 2. Rising interest in pocket timepieces and the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing could be contributing factors to the record price achieved for an English timepiece. The complication timepiece, described by Daniels as “The kind of watch you would need on your package tour to Mars”, was inspired by the 1969 moon landing. It’s the first time the watch... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches-jewellery/article/3017377/george-daniels-space-traveller-1-pocket-watch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches-jewellery/article/3017377/george-daniels-space-traveller-1-pocket-watch?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jul 2019 07:00:10 +0000 A great wristwatch is sometimes all it takes to elevate an outfit. Here are some of the actors at the 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival this year and the timepieces that helped complete their looks for the red carpet and soirée. Piaget spokesman and Chinese superstar Hu Ge sported a sleek, high jewellery rendition of the Altiplano ultrathin watch set with 304 white diamonds at the world premiere red carpet and Vogue Film after party. While statement earrings are often reserved for actresses, Hu... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches-jewellery/article/3011926/cannes-film-festival-which-timepieces-did-hu-ge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches-jewellery/article/3011926/cannes-film-festival-which-timepieces-did-hu-ge?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 May 2019 05:00:10 +0000 The natural beauty of semi-precious gemstones is beguiling those looking for high jewellery that merges modern glamour with innovative technical and imaginative prowess. STYLE Edit: Nature Triomphante helps Boucheron return to its roots Craftsmanship is integral to working with semi-precious gemstones, which need to be meticulously selected before being carefully carved or cut to fit a specific design. From custom-cut malachite and mother-of-pearl to red agate and rock crystal, tourmalines to... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches-jewellery/article/3008147/why-are-cartier-chopard-and-qeelin-using-semi?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches-jewellery/article/3008147/why-are-cartier-chopard-and-qeelin-using-semi?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 May 2019 08:00:06 +0000 Gems continue to be a source of inspiration for watchmakers this year. From blinding, full-pave dials to rainbow gems-set bezels, we take a look at the sparkling timepieces that have caught our eye. 1. Jaeger-LeCoultre The Rendez-Vous is a contemporary design that has quickly become one of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s flagship ladies’ watches. It’s the perfect counterpart to the brand’s iconic Reverso, with its round case and playful interpretation of a round dial. With or without a moonphase, or in some... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3007814/11-dazzling-high-jewellery-watches-tell-time-fabulous?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3007814/11-dazzling-high-jewellery-watches-tell-time-fabulous?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 May 2019 02:00:17 +0000 If there is one takeaway from Piaget at this year’s SIHH, it is that it would not be the house as we know it today were it not for gold and diamonds. Piaget is in a unique position to bring together know-how from the world of jewel making and haute horology; over the years, it has produced plenty of iconic timepieces, the Altiplano, Polo, Emperador, the Limelight Gala, among many more. But what Piaget proves is that it is a master of bringing a level of refinement and opulence to its watches... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3003115/sihh-2019-what-makes-piaget-tick-diamonds-more-diamonds-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3003115/sihh-2019-what-makes-piaget-tick-diamonds-more-diamonds-and?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 Mar 2019 10:00:12 +0000 Chinese heartthrob Hu Ge has been out of the limelight, but the award-winning actor is poised for a comeback with some meaningful projects, and is expected to perform on Chunwan, CCTV’s Lunar New Year extravaganza. The star of such critically acclaimed series as Chinese Paladin and Forty-Nine Days: Memorial popped in to the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie 2019 where STYLE caught up with him for a chat. Have you always been a watch aficionado? I think men are born with an affinity to... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people-events/article/2184961/chinese-paladin-star-hu-ge-due-perform-chunwan-talks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people-events/article/2184961/chinese-paladin-star-hu-ge-due-perform-chunwan-talks?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Feb 2019 06:30:39 +0000 The pig’s position as the 12th and last animal of the Chinese zodiac – according to fable – reflects its lazy persona. Legend has it that the pig got hungry on its way to join the other animals in a race to be inducted into the zodiac, and took a nap after stopping to satiate its gluttonous desires. While keeping track of time was not that particular pig’s strong suit, the same cannot be said for these luxury swine-inspired timepieces. Leading watchmakers have put their imaginations to work,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/2183875/7-year-pig-luxury-watches-you-would-want-flaunt-lunar-new?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/2183875/7-year-pig-luxury-watches-you-would-want-flaunt-lunar-new?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Feb 2019 02:02:38 +0000 The 29th Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie wrapped up in Geneva with a number of watches emerging as the year’s best highlights. We take a look at some of the most talked about men’s timepieces this year and share some of our favourite novelties from top luxury watchmakers. 1. Code 11.59 One of the most talked about watches at SIHH is Audemars Piguet’s Code 11.59. The watchmaker had been alluding to the new collection for a while before the launch. The pre-SIHH release was met with... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches-jewellery/article/2183423/top-11-timepieces-men-sihh-2019?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches-jewellery/article/2183423/top-11-timepieces-men-sihh-2019?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Jan 2019 03:10:53 +0000