https://www.scmp.com/rss/329209/feed High horology is a world of continuous movements. Let XXIV be your guide to the people, the brands and the pieces shaping the industry en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Josiah Ng Josiah Ng These days, it is impossible to discuss Chinese watchmaking without highlighting the artistry that Atelier Wen applies to its dials. The brand has become known for collaborating with studios and masters in mainland China that specialise in particular styles of dial art. Atelier Wen’s 2022 release, the Perception, was developed in collaboration with Cheng Yucai, a Chinese master based in Xinmi in Henan province, who is known for using hand-operated rose machines to achieve intricate guilloché... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/xxiv/article/3341327/atelier-wen-spotlights-chinese-watchmaking-masters-through-exquisite-dial-collaborations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/xxiv/article/3341327/atelier-wen-spotlights-chinese-watchmaking-masters-through-exquisite-dial-collaborations?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 18:00:09 +0000 It is a truism that most diver’s watches are far more likely to see the inside of a corporate boardroom than the deck of a schooner, let alone any inky ocean depths. Nonetheless, for those who want a timepiece that’s as rugged as it is stylish, an impressive range of innovative sports watches saw the light of day this year. In particular, it was a bumper year for fans of maritime horology, with a focus on covetable diver’s watches. Chief among the anticipated releases was the Tudor Black Bay 58... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3291016/built-adventure-these-rugged-timepieces-rolex-omega-richard-mille-and-others-are-made-sporty-types?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3291016/built-adventure-these-rugged-timepieces-rolex-omega-richard-mille-and-others-are-made-sporty-types?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Jan 2025 21:00:10 +0000 This year – arguably more than most – saw brands push the absolute boundaries of mechanical capability. Ordinarily, brands need little occasion to release complicated pieces; any release of a moonphase, tourbillon, plural barrels/escapements, chronographs, perpetual calendar, retrograde, etc, is special enough. However, rare is the year that sees a new world’s thinnest watch, as well as a tourbillon piece thinner than a coin, a moonphase accurate to millions of years, a world timer that... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3291018/when-watchmakers-go-all-out-push-horological-boundaries-iwc-schaffhausens-45-million-year-moonphase?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3291018/when-watchmakers-go-all-out-push-horological-boundaries-iwc-schaffhausens-45-million-year-moonphase?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Jan 2025 10:00:10 +0000 If 2023 saw brands dip their toes in smaller, understated options for the wrist, 2024 is the year brands fully embraced the movement. Vacheron Constantin celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Patrimony, Rolex gave us a platinum version of last year’s gangbuster 1908 in April, Jaeger-LeCoultre recently released a Reverso monoface that saw them veer ever closer to the model’s original 1930’s dimensions and Omega gave us a beautiful black-dialled Seamaster Aqua Terra (sans teak stripes even), to... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3291024/return-three-hand-watch-rolex-omega-and-other-big-names-explore-minimalism-dress-watches-smaller?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3291024/return-three-hand-watch-rolex-omega-and-other-big-names-explore-minimalism-dress-watches-smaller?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Jan 2025 21:00:09 +0000 Though watches are broadly leaning towards the understated and subtle, one of the best ways watchmakers can showcase their technical ability and artistic creativity is by taking three left turns to show time in a revolutionary new way. The Andersen Genève Jumping Hours Black Stone is a case in point, using the “jumping hours” complication that shows the hours in a single window in a rotating dial, and going down to one hand for minutes. The piece is an exercise in simplicity – easy on the eye... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3291013/future-timekeeping-patek-philippe-and-more-watchmakers-are-combining-artistry-and-technical-skill?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3291013/future-timekeeping-patek-philippe-and-more-watchmakers-are-combining-artistry-and-technical-skill?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Dec 2024 21:00:09 +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 With brands increasingly mining their archives for ideas, and with the resurgence of classic designs from the likes of Gérald Genta, watchmakers across the world are especially looking to the 1970s for inspiration. Square, tonneau and cushion cases existed long before then – see Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Reverso, or Cartier’s Tank and Santos – but the rise of the “TV dial” has given enthusiasts more chance to wear a square timepiece than ever before. 1. Cartier Santos-Dumont Skeleton Micro-Rotor We... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3245864/going-square-flair-6-watches-bringing-1970s-tv-dial-back-cartiers-santos-skeleton-and-tag-heuers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3245864/going-square-flair-6-watches-bringing-1970s-tv-dial-back-cartiers-santos-skeleton-and-tag-heuers?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jan 2024 03:00:08 +0000 It’s been a monumental year for watches – from celebrating key anniversaries for seminal collections to record-breaking pieces at auction, the year has seen enthusiasm for watches bounce back in full force. Collaborations abounded, independents and established brands alike released bold statement pieces and brands made business moves that could shape the watch landscape for years to come. As we call time on 2023, here are our highlights for the year in high horology. 1. Blancpain Fifty Fathoms’... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3245850/2023-review-24-biggest-moments-watchmaking-rihannas-blinged-out-jacob-co-choker-cristiano-ronaldos?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3245850/2023-review-24-biggest-moments-watchmaking-rihannas-blinged-out-jacob-co-choker-cristiano-ronaldos?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 31 Dec 2023 02:00:16 +0000 Gérald Genta is one of the 20th century’s most celebrated watch designers, the man behind iconic models like the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak of 1972 and the Patek Philippe Nautilus of 1976. Yet another classic – though less well known – sports watch of the era by the late designer (he died in 2011) was the IWC Ingenieur SL, which itself was an update of a 1950s design. Back in bronze: watches rewind to one of man’s earliest decorative metals The model disappeared from IWC’s repertoire for decades... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3245762/heritage-watches-are-finding-new-fans-2024-cartier-tank-and-van-cleef-arpels-ludo-audemars-piguets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3245762/heritage-watches-are-finding-new-fans-2024-cartier-tank-and-van-cleef-arpels-ludo-audemars-piguets?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 Dec 2023 02:00:11 +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 Watch any mainstream hip-hop music video, and you’ll likely spot one if not all of the following tropes: heavy gold chains with blinged-out pendants; a hot set of wheels, often a classic low rider; and a performer with their watch of choice fully in view. All of these elements nod to the notion of flaunting excess wealth that, some say, is at the root of hip-hop culture. Like jazz and blues, hip-hop rose as a response to the oppression and marginalisation of Black communities across the US. Its... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3245732/how-hip-hop-got-serious-about-watches-tupac-and-snoop-doggs-blinged-out-rolexes-jay-z-and-pharrells?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3245732/how-hip-hop-got-serious-about-watches-tupac-and-snoop-doggs-blinged-out-rolexes-jay-z-and-pharrells?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Dec 2023 02:00:10 +0000 Speak to a watch aficionado in Hong Kong, and chances are they’ve been to The Lavish Attic. An exotic independent creature swimming amid a sea of branded boutiques, the shop is an unlikely haven for characterful watches and jewellery in a city in love with labels. This unlikely outpost began 10 years ago, when the venture was born amid several world-renowned galleries in Central’s Pedder Building. That first boutique felt more like a private club or a friend’s handsomely appointed home; those... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3245616/inside-hong-kongs-exclusive-watch-boutique-lavish-attic-timepiece-collecting-communitys-beloved?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3245616/inside-hong-kongs-exclusive-watch-boutique-lavish-attic-timepiece-collecting-communitys-beloved?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Dec 2023 04:00:14 +0000 In May this year, Bloomberg reported that Swatch sold more than a million MoonSwatches in 2022. Analysts at Morgan Stanley estimate sales of around 1.8 million this year. Costing US$260 a pop, the MoonSwatch comes in 12 colours, each representing a planet, and is a nod to its sister brand Omega’s flagship sports timepiece, the Speedmaster Moonwatch. For days, people around the world lined up outside Swatch boutiques, some braving extreme weather, and most witnessing chaos and even violence as... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3245595/swatch-x-blancpain-patek-x-tiffany-watch-collaborations-are-here-stay-super-brands-louis-vuitton?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3245595/swatch-x-blancpain-patek-x-tiffany-watch-collaborations-are-here-stay-super-brands-louis-vuitton?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 Dec 2023 04:00:10 +0000 It’s hard not to look back in awe at the sheer variety of watch types that the industry has targeted at women in recent months. Timepieces across the board are becoming more unisex, with smaller case sizes in vogue, already increasing the options for more slender wrists. Meanwhile, celebrities – like Rihanna with her Jacob & Co. watch choker, Michelle Yeoh’s undying loyalty to Richard Mille on every red carpet and Hong Chau becoming the first woman to wear a Panerai at the Oscars – were but... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3245568/9-best-womens-watches-make-impact-2024-rihannas-weighty-jacob-co-michelle-yeohs-undying-loyalty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3245568/9-best-womens-watches-make-impact-2024-rihannas-weighty-jacob-co-michelle-yeohs-undying-loyalty?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Dec 2023 06:00:19 +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 When Louis Vuitton retired 80 per cent of its watch line-up this July, it caused quite the stir in horological circles. A hint of its new direction came with the simultaneous release of a thinner and more elevated design of the brand’s signature Tambour. By returning to its first foray as a high-end horologer – the original Tambour was released back in 2002 – this signalled LV’s renewed commitment to the fine watchmaking space. Shifting focus from bold aesthetics, like the mechanically bonkers... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3242149/which-luxury-brands-tried-watchmaking-first-and-got-it-right-chanels-premiere-paved-way-louis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3242149/which-luxury-brands-tried-watchmaking-first-and-got-it-right-chanels-premiere-paved-way-louis?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Nov 2023 07:00:10 +0000 If, like Daft Punk and Kanye West, you’re looking for something harder, better, faster and stronger, this year was awash with watches that boast better durability, lighter weight and stronger cases thanks to the use of titanium. Normally used as either grade 2 pure titanium or in the grade 5 alloy that is even more durable, the material is an all-round boon for all kinds of watches, from sport and tool watches to luxury models. Here are some of our favourite titanium picks from the year. 1.... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3242163/6-titanium-timepieces-every-watch-collector-should-clock-2023-classic-rolex-yacht-master-42-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3242163/6-titanium-timepieces-every-watch-collector-should-clock-2023-classic-rolex-yacht-master-42-and?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Nov 2023 09:00:11 +0000 Josiah Ng Josiah Ng If you were a watch collector pre-pandemic looking for places to share your passion, seek insights from other collectors or just hang out to talk about your favourite pieces, you might have not known where to start. There were limited organised avenues of engagement with Hong Kong’s most prominent watch-loving communities of the time. Vintage Rolex Club and Hong Kong Watch Club, for example, may still be posting wrist shots on Instagram today, but when we messaged them to inquire further, we... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3241895/inside-hong-kongs-newly-inclusive-watch-collecting-community-how-members-clubs-watch-ho-co-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3241895/inside-hong-kongs-newly-inclusive-watch-collecting-community-how-members-clubs-watch-ho-co-and?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Nov 2023 00:00:34 +0000 With luxury brands getting more serious about watches – think the horological wizardry at the likes of Chanel, Hermès and Gucci – it can be easy to forget the fun of a “fashion watch”. Yes, it might not have an in-house movement but a fashion watch can still be a great piece of design. This is as relevant to the charming Miu Miu crystal and pearl watches from a few years ago as it is to the sculptural creations of Issey Miyake. The latter brand regularly collaborates with creatives and the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3239116/fashion-watches-are-having-moment-demnas-balenciaga-choker-fendis-mary-jane-pumps-luxury-brands-are?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3239116/fashion-watches-are-having-moment-demnas-balenciaga-choker-fendis-mary-jane-pumps-luxury-brands-are?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Oct 2023 08:30:08 +0000 Earlier this year the Horological Society of New York staged “Pocket Genius”, an exhibition spotlighting over 50 pocket watches. The pieces on display spanned from the 1690s – when they were mounted on a chain or leather fob and worn inside a waistcoat pocket – to contemporary classics of the 1990s. In June this year, a pocket watch handmade by British watchmaker Roger W. Smith, a man of such stature in horological circles he’s known to leave enthusiasts starstuck, sold at auction by Phillips... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/article/3238344/how-pocket-watches-got-cool-again-watchtok-peaky-blinders-first-invented-1510-and-treasured-james?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/article/3238344/how-pocket-watches-got-cool-again-watchtok-peaky-blinders-first-invented-1510-and-treasured-james?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Oct 2023 06:05:04 +0000 As the leaves change colour, we expect horology enthusiasts all over the world to change colours on the wrist – and nothing is more autumnal than a tastefully done red dial. While not as prevalent as the green dial trend – brands tend to release red dials as just one of several colour variants rather than as its own thing – red dials have come a long way. Here are eight of the most iconic uses of the colour in watchmaking this year. 1. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo 16202 XT There’s no better... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3233445/8-bold-watches-owning-red-dial-trend-2023-audemars-piguets-royal-oak-jumbo-fume-burgundy-and-grand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3233445/8-bold-watches-owning-red-dial-trend-2023-audemars-piguets-royal-oak-jumbo-fume-burgundy-and-grand?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 Sep 2023 08:00:18 +0000 A Richard Mille Co. watch is a powerful symbol of wealth for anyone who’s in-the-know enough to recognise its familiar contours. The French company produces only about 5,300 a year, which cost an average of US$250,000. Designed to withstand high gravitational forces, they’re worn by athletes at Formula One races, golf tournaments and yachting regattas. They also grace the wrists of musicians, including Pharrell Williams and Ice-T. It’s easy to spot a Richard Mille in the wild. Many of them take... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3232949/why-richard-mille-watches-are-billionaires-handshake-swiss-luxury-timepiece-brand-has-become-symbol?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3232949/why-richard-mille-watches-are-billionaires-handshake-swiss-luxury-timepiece-brand-has-become-symbol?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 31 Aug 2023 11:00:11 +0000 Swiss luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet has unveiled its latest Royal Oak launch: a collaborative collection with American fashion designer Matthew Williams. The line released today at an exclusive launch party in Tokyo. Williams, who is the founder of contemporary streetwear brand 1017 Alyx 9SM, is also the current creative director of French luxury brand Givenchy. He oversees both the men’s and women’s lines. Williams’ previous stints include working with Lady Gaga and Kanye West as well as... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3232112/audemars-piguet-just-collaborated-givenchys-creative-director-matthew-williams-four-sleek-royal-oak?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3232112/audemars-piguet-just-collaborated-givenchys-creative-director-matthew-williams-four-sleek-royal-oak?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Aug 2023 03:51:51 +0000 A gorgeous timepiece is crucial to any ensemble for a night out, and it stands to reason that the more special the occasion, the more sparkling the timepiece must be. For the team this year, there are few better choices for a dazzling watch than these six picks. Any of these showstopping pieces – many of which come from some of the finest jewellery houses in the world – more than deserve the place as the crown jewel of your collection. 1. Graff Classic Butterfly Diamond Graff revisits its... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3205863/6-most-dazzling-diamond-encrusted-ladies-watches-rolexs-oyster-perpetual-lady-datejust-cartiers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3205863/6-most-dazzling-diamond-encrusted-ladies-watches-rolexs-oyster-perpetual-lady-datejust-cartiers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Jan 2023 01:00:13 +0000 There’s something inherently masculine about watches. Perhaps it’s the precision engineering that goes into them or maybe it’s simply the obsession with performance. Starting centuries back though, watchmakers sought to soften this effect, beautifying their creations with feminine touches, transforming timepieces into coveted jewellery, all in the name of masking the stigma of the once unladylike act of wearing a watch. Today, timepieces doubling as jewellery remain an important segment in the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3205843/how-luxury-watch-brands-work-jewel-artisans-queen-elizabeths-pearl-bracelet-patek-philippe-timepiece?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3205843/how-luxury-watch-brands-work-jewel-artisans-queen-elizabeths-pearl-bracelet-patek-philippe-timepiece?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Jan 2023 00:00:17 +0000 Watches are pieces of art in themselves, albeit in miniature form. While there are similarities between classical artistic crafts and watchmaking, ranging from gold sculpting and engraving to miniature painting, it does not end there. Although steeped in tradition and expertise developed over centuries, watchmakers are not afraid of drawing inspiration from contemporary references. Watch dials sporting contemporary art and pop culture offer a unique juxtaposition of tradition and the pushing of... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3205822/why-watches-and-pop-art-are-match-made-luxury-heaven-lebron-james-and-serena-williams-own-marvel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3205822/why-watches-and-pop-art-are-match-made-luxury-heaven-lebron-james-and-serena-williams-own-marvel?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Jan 2023 06:54:24 +0000 “I began my interest in watches when I had to stop tinkering with cars as I moved back to Asia,” says Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH) chief adviser Carson Chan. It was the disassembly and reassembly of kit watches that appealed to Chan’s love of mechanics and jump-started his almost 20-year career in horology, across various roles in the auction, watch house and now advocacy spaces. “I’m very blessed to work in an area which I enjoy,” Chan muses. “As soon as I saw the opportunity to... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3204806/how-luxury-watch-industry-has-changed-50-years-according-carson-chan-chief-adviser-fondation-de-la?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3204806/how-luxury-watch-industry-has-changed-50-years-according-carson-chan-chief-adviser-fondation-de-la?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Dec 2022 00:00:12 +0000 Carl Sagan, the late American scientist and author, once described books as “proof that humans are capable of working magic” – recognising their unique ability to place a reader in the mind of a writer, possibly dead for thousands of years, breaking through the shackles of time. For Kirstin Chen, author of the recent hit novel Counterfeit, time’s connection to writing is less fanciful, more personal. “I am a slow writer. It takes me four to five years to write a book,” she says. “When I was... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3204791/bestselling-author-kirstin-chen-regenerative-gift-time-her-hit-third-novel-counterfeit-explores?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3204791/bestselling-author-kirstin-chen-regenerative-gift-time-her-hit-third-novel-counterfeit-explores?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Dec 2022 00:00:17 +0000 CEOs don’t often conflate philosophy and business outside of Randian discourse on the benefits of self-interest and the merits of unfettered profit – a philosophy best exemplified in Gordon Gecko’s classic line that “greed is good”. Speak with Aaron Lau, founder and CEO of Gusto Collective, for any length of time and it quickly becomes apparent that he feels the need for a loftier motive. Lau talks about how his business needs “a reason to exist”. Perhaps this is unsurprising given Lau has... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3204780/gusto-collective-founder-aaron-lau-business-raison-detre-meet-hong-kong-tech-ceo-who-explains-why?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3204780/gusto-collective-founder-aaron-lau-business-raison-detre-meet-hong-kong-tech-ceo-who-explains-why?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Dec 2022 06:11:18 +0000 “I didn’t like myself five years ago,” Sarah Vee says starkly. “I would never have sat with myself five years ago for dinner, for a drink or even for breakfast.” It’s an odd sentiment for someone who founded an empowering networking initiative whose membership now numbers in the thousands. But for Vee it has always been about the journey rather than the destination. With the Women of Hong Kong, she brings to bear all of the tools and knowledge she has gained from past stints as a nightlife event... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3204396/meet-community-builder-extraordinaire-sarah-vee-founder-women-hong-kong-and-partner-muay-thai-champ?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3204396/meet-community-builder-extraordinaire-sarah-vee-founder-women-hong-kong-and-partner-muay-thai-champ?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Dec 2022 00:00:12 +0000 Few things encapsulate time’s role as creator better than wine. And few people understand that better than James Suckling, who embarked on his career as a wine critic more than 40 years ago and is today one of the busiest and most influential critics in the world. “A bottle of great wine is a time capsule,” he says. “You open a bottle and drink it and it takes you back to the moment the grapes were harvested and when the wine was made. There’s no other consumable product that can do that, except... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3204409/40-years-wine-tasting-renowned-critic-james-suckling-how-bottle-1966-chateau-lafite-rothschild-his?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3204409/40-years-wine-tasting-renowned-critic-james-suckling-how-bottle-1966-chateau-lafite-rothschild-his?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Dec 2022 00:00:15 +0000 The incredible smile of Julia Roberts, the actress who is the face of Chopard’s Happy Sport and its latest models, says a lot about the joyful mood those free-floating diamonds inspire as they whizz around between the dial and outer sapphire crystal of this iconic sports watch. Roberts personifies the joie de vivre motto of the Happy Sport collection, which was launched in 1993, just three years after she made her name in Pretty Woman. The watch, with its dancing diamonds on a stainless steel... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3204380/who-says-ladies-watches-have-be-teeny-and-cutesy-women-seek-bolder-gender-neutral-looks-luxury?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3204380/who-says-ladies-watches-have-be-teeny-and-cutesy-women-seek-bolder-gender-neutral-looks-luxury?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Dec 2022 00:00:12 +0000 “Having prominent parents is a double-edged sword,” says Emily Lam-Ho. “People do constantly compare me, but I think it’s important not to compare myself because they succeeded in their own right, whereas I’m paving my own road.” Lam-Ho’s parents – and her husband’s parents – are all prominent figures in various key Hong Kong industries. She is the daughter of Lai Sun Development chairman Peter Lam and actress-turned-painter Lynn Hsieh. Her husband Kent Ho – himself the founder of venture... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3204224/meet-hong-kong-activist-and-heiress-emily-lam-ho-founder-green-initiatives-8shades-and-ecodrive-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3204224/meet-hong-kong-activist-and-heiress-emily-lam-ho-founder-green-initiatives-8shades-and-ecodrive-says?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Dec 2022 00:00:14 +0000 He dropped out of school to play chess, then he dropped chess to trade stocks … and then his life changed forever. Now Nikhil Kamath is one of India’s youngest billionaires thanks to Zerodha, the disruptive trading platform he co-founded with his brother, as well as True Beacon, an investment management firm for ultra-high net worth investors – and he is not oblivious to the impact time has had on his success. Boss babe billionaire heiress: inside Isha Ambani’s momentous 2022 “Timing is... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3204089/zerodhas-nikhil-kamath-becoming-self-made-billionaire-meet-chess-nerd-who-co-founded-indias-largest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3204089/zerodhas-nikhil-kamath-becoming-self-made-billionaire-meet-chess-nerd-who-co-founded-indias-largest?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Dec 2022 00:00:11 +0000 Few Hong Kong bands are culturally ubiquitous in a music scene dominated by solo singers – Supper Moment, Beyond and now Mirror come to mind – and even fewer have punk rock quartet Dear Jane’s longevity. The group have been continually active since forming in 2003. “After the almost 20 years we’ve been together, I still enjoy sitting down with my bandmates to interact and create something together,” bassist Jackal Ng says. “You have to make music and decisions based on what makes you happy, and... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3203980/dear-jane-bassist-jackal-ng-how-band-stays-together-cantopop-dominated-music-scene-hong-kong-punk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3203980/dear-jane-bassist-jackal-ng-how-band-stays-together-cantopop-dominated-music-scene-hong-kong-punk?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Dec 2022 00:00:15 +0000 Christine Chiu will never forget the day she and her plastic surgeon husband Gabriel Chiu were approached to help develop an all Asian and Asian-American ensemble cast for a planned Netflix docu-series. “It was poised to be the first of its kind in American mainstream media, and we could not refuse,” Chiu says. The show, of course, became the monster reality TV smash Bling Empire, and Chiu became an overnight celebrity. “Although I had previously declined opportunities for reality television, I... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3203844/christine-chiu-bling-empire-and-family-life-dr-gabriel-chiu-and-baby-g-netflix-producer-was-inspired?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3203844/christine-chiu-bling-empire-and-family-life-dr-gabriel-chiu-and-baby-g-netflix-producer-was-inspired?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Dec 2022 19:00:12 +0000 Gwei Lun-mei can truly appreciate how time can change and shape a character. Over the course of a 20-year career that has turned her into one of the most recognisable faces in Asia, Gwei has embodied all kinds of characters, including a time traveller in Secret, a cafe owner in Taipei Exchanges, a femme fatale in The Wild Goose Lake and a student activist in the award-winning Girlfriend, Boyfriend. In her new hit streaming series, Women in Taipei, she plays out the 20-year evolution of a woman... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3203586/women-taipei-star-gwei-lun-mei-her-20-year-career-award-winning-taiwanese-actress-debuted-youth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3203586/women-taipei-star-gwei-lun-mei-her-20-year-career-award-winning-taiwanese-actress-debuted-youth?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Dec 2022 01:00:16 +0000 The devil is normally in the details, but horologists revel in the minuscule but overwhelming assembly of delicate, crucial components in a mechanical watch. In some cases, this assembly begs to be shown off as these six picks reveal as much of the energy and excellence these maisons have poured into these pieces as possible. 1. Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Self-winding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph This limited-edition piece employs a double-curved sapphire crystal that gives ample depth for the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3203563/devil-details-6-most-stunning-intricate-watches-2022-hublots-42mm-big-bang-and-taiko-inspired-grand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3203563/devil-details-6-most-stunning-intricate-watches-2022-hublots-42mm-big-bang-and-taiko-inspired-grand?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Dec 2022 00:00:18 +0000 In 1957, Piaget launched the first of many very seriously skinny movements. The 9P measured just 2mm and was rightfully dubbed the thinnest hand-wound mechanical watch in the world at the time. The design and functions of these ultra-thin pieces have often been simple: a three-hand round watch with hair-thin baton hour markers punctuating the dial. The skinny watch has become a big part of Piaget’s watchmaking identity. In 2018, the 4.3mm thick Altiplano 910P, fitted with a peripheral rotor, was... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3203288/inside-race-create-worlds-thinnest-watch-bulgaris-latest-richard-milles-rm-01-ferrari-and-audemars?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3203288/inside-race-create-worlds-thinnest-watch-bulgaris-latest-richard-milles-rm-01-ferrari-and-audemars?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Dec 2022 01:00:17 +0000 Mechanical and functional timepieces have followed and supported us through history to the ends of the earth and the depths of the sea. They have followed us as we broke records in speed, set records above water and in the air, and followed us as we soared ever higher, even into space. Though technology has caught up with the times and watches are no longer the sole piece of precision equipment used to break such records, maisons have found ever more creative ways to remind us of just how... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3203270/6-most-macho-luxury-watches-2022-iwcs-top-gun-pilots-timepiece-breitlings-cathay-partnership-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3203270/6-most-macho-luxury-watches-2022-iwcs-top-gun-pilots-timepiece-breitlings-cathay-partnership-and?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Dec 2022 08:28:28 +0000 For watch connoisseurs and novice enthusiasts alike, a timeless, classic design is unmistakable. These are the pieces that one remembers from childhood as a treasured possession of a family member to be passed down, or that lure the curious into the deep world of horology. If a design is recognisable, chances are that it has seen years – maybe decades or centuries – of history. So, naturally, each house wants to create the enduring timepiece of tomorrow. These are the six pieces from 2022 that... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3203134/6-most-classic-and-timeless-watch-designs-2022-breitling-chronomat-gmt-40-and-patek-philippes-latest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3203134/6-most-classic-and-timeless-watch-designs-2022-breitling-chronomat-gmt-40-and-patek-philippes-latest?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Dec 2022 09:23:48 +0000 When your Apple iWatch or smartphone can act as a stopwatch, track multiple time zones, relay your messages, take calls, and – above all – tell you the time via the atomic clock which won’t lose even one second of accuracy over the course of 15 billion years, it’s perhaps more sensible to view even the most precise mechanical wristwatches as more art pieces for the wrist than a serious timekeeping device. So, when it comes to art, here are six of our hottest picks from 2022 that have taken the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3202686/6-most-stunning-art-inspired-watches-2022-patek-philippes-italian-scenes-series-and-richard-milles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3202686/6-most-stunning-art-inspired-watches-2022-patek-philippes-italian-scenes-series-and-richard-milles?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Dec 2022 02:00:21 +0000 In 2018, Charles Beamish founded Beamish International, a private client advisory business for those wanting to invest in, collect, gift or consume the finest rare single malt whiskies. He also advises on the acquisition, disposal and verification of collections, and organises travel to iconic Scottish distilleries. Beamish has built a team of respected industry professionals, including world renowned expert Charles MacLean; Jeremy Parsons, formerly CEO of Berry Brothers & Rudd; Alan Wong,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3170409/whisky-investment-advisor-charles-beamish-lessons-distilled?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3170409/whisky-investment-advisor-charles-beamish-lessons-distilled?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Mar 2022 02:00:20 +0000 Former fashion buyer for Givenchy, Celine and Lane Crawford, Jacqueline Au founded bridal boutique Loft (Lab of Fairy Tales) in Hong Kong four years ago, when she couldn’t find a wedding dress she liked for her own big day. She now sources and offers exceptional one-of-a-kind gowns from design houses such as Alex Perry, Vivienne Westwood Bridal and Toni Maticevski to create fashion moments for brides looking for a statement piece. In 2021, Loft recently moved to a new 1,600 sq ft space on... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3170164/luxury-fashion-buyer-wedding-brand-owner-jacqueline-au?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3170164/luxury-fashion-buyer-wedding-brand-owner-jacqueline-au?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Mar 2022 00:00:11 +0000 There are times in one’s life when a few short minutes feel stretched to an eternity. For British Royal Air Force pilot Nathan Jones, one such time was an in-flight accident in a Voyager aircraft in which he saved the lives of the more than 200 personnel on board, but was left with severe spinal injuries. A former professional sportsman, he was determined to recover his fitness and eventually went on to compete in several Invictus Games – the British sporting event for injured Servicemen... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3169883/meet-nathan-jones-royal-air-force-pilot-who-co-founded?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3169883/meet-nathan-jones-royal-air-force-pilot-who-co-founded?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Mar 2022 00:00:13 +0000 Lindsay Jang is a serial entrepreneur in Hong Kong known for co-founding the popular Japanese yakitori Yardbird and seafood-focused izakaya Ronin (with former partner Matt Abergel), as well as curated convenience store Sunday Grocery and boutique beverage company Sunday Spirits. The couple came to Hong Kong in 2009 from Canada thinking they would stay only for a short time, but the city is now home and the base for a creative agency, Hecho. They’ve done it all this in their 10 years in the city,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/article/3169611/yardbird-founder-lindsay-jang-finding-time-family-hong-kongs-best?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/article/3169611/yardbird-founder-lindsay-jang-finding-time-family-hong-kongs-best?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Mar 2022 00:00:20 +0000 Chef Agustin Balbi came to Hong Kong in 2016 to helm Japanese restaurant Haku under the guidance of Hideaki Matsuo of three-Michelin-star Kashiwaya. Balbi had gained experience as a fine dining chef in Japan for several years in restaurants such as two-Michelin-starred Zurriola, three-Michelin-starred Nihonryori Ryugin and the now-closed two-Michelin-starred Cuisine[s] Michel Troisgros. Born in Argentina to a Spanish and Italian family, Balbi’s love for food started around his grandmother’s... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/article/3169444/andos-chef-agustin-balbi-planning-second-his-hong-kong-restaurant?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/article/3169444/andos-chef-agustin-balbi-planning-second-his-hong-kong-restaurant?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Mar 2022 08:49:10 +0000 A decade ago, Kate Crofton-Atkins could scent a change in the air. Newly married, she’d just moved to Ho Chi Minh City in southern Vietnam and was struck by the timeless elegance of the city, where beautiful architecture and greenery sat side by side, pavement cafes were bathed in dappled sunlight, and everywhere, the scent of jasmine and frangipani permeated the air. “I loved the blend of cultures, and there was something completely captivating and romantic about the city, the people and the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/article/3165787/how-vietnam-inspired-cochines-trademark-scent-now-based-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/article/3165787/how-vietnam-inspired-cochines-trademark-scent-now-based-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Feb 2022 04:07:04 +0000 As managing director at UBS Wealth Management and a mother to three children, Belinda Koo also makes time for other passions that are close to her heart, such as the NGO she founded, the One Ten foundation, a social enterprise that empowers the next generation with tools to build emotional literacy. “Youth empowerment is dear to my heart. That’s why One Ten foundation, a charity I founded a few years ago, is picking up the pace to nurture a generation of emotionally intelligent and resilient... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/well-being/article/3165386/meet-belinda-koo-hong-kong-entrepreneur-and-healer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/well-being/article/3165386/meet-belinda-koo-hong-kong-entrepreneur-and-healer?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Feb 2022 01:00:23 +0000