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The fourth DFS Galleria Masterpieces of Time exhibition at the Venetian Macau promises to be a visual treat for Hong Kong’s fans of mechanical timepieces, writes Robert Reid Cartier will be displaying its incredible Rotonde de Cartier Cadran Lové Tourbillon in Macau HKGOLFER.COM
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N Taking cues from Second World War flight watches IWC’s Big Pilot Top Gun Miramar is a 48mm monster – a real must for any aviation enthusiast
aturally, Switzerland is home to the very best watch shows. Every year at SIHH and Baselworld the industry comes to together to present it’s latest offerings and carve out the trends for the coming months Switzerland’s own watch market may be buoyant but Hong Kong, perhaps more than other city, has a real love affair with timepieces. Yet, despite thousands of eager shoppers and passionate retailers, Hong Kong doesn’t really have much of a watch exhibition. There is, of course, the annual watch convention in Wanchai but for anyone looking for something other than OEM manufactures of Chinese movements and straps, it’s a bit of a disappointment. Demonstrating its blossoming status as Hong Kong’s fastest growing – and quickest witted – retail rival, Macau is currently gearing up for the fourth annual DFS Galleria Masterpieces of Time exhibition. Taking place at the Venetian Macau on the 10th December until the last week in February, this year’s event is focused around a central theme of ‘Pinnacle Moments’. In marketing speak, this is supposed to conjure images of the most important times in a person’s life. For watch fans, though, it means that most of the 33 prestigious watch brands in attendance will be showcasing their premier timepieces alongside one-of-a-kind and limited edition creations.
DFS is boasting that some 400 watches will be on display, giving Hong Kong’s watch community a rare opportunity to get close to some outstanding works of horology. Among the brands guaranteed to please is IWC. The watchmaker is famed for its dramatic exhibition stands. At last year’s SIHH for instance, IWC installed a For watch fans it replica aircraft carrier, complete means that most of with jet fighter simulator. Whilst the the 33 prestigious Masterpieces of Time event may not deliver anything quite as spectacular, watch brands in the brand will definitely be out to attendance will be impress. T h e p inna cl e fo r any IWC showcasing their collector has to be the Big Pilot. premier timepieces Taking design cues from the Second alongside one-ofWorld War flight watches that IWC a-kind and limited actually helped design in the 1930s and 40s; this timepiece is a 48mm edition creations monster. No other watch really compares in terms of sheer presence and, on display at Masterpieces of Time will be the Big Pilot Top Gun Miramar. This particular limited edition has been designed to celebrate the Top Gun flight school in California and it carries a host of maverick design details. The small red fighter jet that caps the sweeping hand is particularly exciting and a real must see for any enthusiast. Another local favourite – and arguably the brand that started Hong Kong’s love affair with CONTINUED ON PAGE 86
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watches – is Cartier. The brand will be showcasing of that fusion of beauty and technical excellence. its incredible Rotonde de Cartier Cadran Lové Richard Mille will be presenting a very special Tourbillion, which seamlessly blends the Asian edition designed in association with Hong Kong desire for opulence and the western love of based-actress Michelle Yeoh. Adorned with complications. Limited to just 100 pieces, this 18kt hundreds of flawless diamonds and constructed white gold masterpiece features an off-centre from a mix of platinum, onyx and rose gold this dial, tourbillion complication and numeric indices timepiece will be a serious contender for the sculpted from the watch case itself. most extravagant on display at the Masterpieces Also on display is the Santosof Time event. Limited to just 18 Dumont Skeleton Pink Gold watch pieces, it will also be one of the which also features numerals Short of buying rarest most visitors are likely to carved from solid gold. In this case, see. airfare to the numerals act as a supporting Fans of more traditionally Switzerland, structure to a brand new curved styled timepieces may prefer movement. This has been designed the watches being presented you're unlikely by Cartier to allow this particular by Vacheron Constantin. One of to have such timepiece to have an unparalleled the world’s finest watchmakers, an opportunity the brand will be showcasing level of transparency. Even for long time lovers of all things Cartier, this t w o t i m e p i e ce s f ro m i t s to view such a is a very special timepiece. legendary Patrimony range. fine collection In terms of its shape, the watch First launched in the 1940s, the of horological itself bares similarity to another movement in this timepiece brand presenting at the event, heavyweights and has long been celebrated for Richard Mille. Famed for highly one of the thinnest, most rare examples of being technical timepieces, Richard complex ever produced. watch making Mille also works with fine artisanal On show will be the craftsmen to create tonneauTr a d i t i o n n e ll e Pe r p e t u a l mastery. shaped watches that aren’t just Calendar Chronograph and mechanically sophisticated but Contemporaine Perpetual extremely elegant as well. Calendar timepieces. Strikingly similar with their The RM 051 Phoenix Tourbillon is the epitome pink gold finish, the later timepiece continues the 86
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ultra thin tradition with a thickness of under 9mm. Even for a Vacheron Constantin, it has just that little bit more class. At the other end of the spectrum, though, is Panerai. Favoured by men of action including Sylvester Stallone, the brand has real machismo appeal. The watch on show will be the Luminor 1950 Tourbillon GMT Ceramic. This complex timepiece is oversized at 48mm and finished in black ceramic. It looks tough and, for the lucky owner, it’ll make them look tough too. For watch aficionados in Hong Kong, the Masterpieces of Time is one of the few opportunities to get hands on with some of the greatest timepieces in the world. Hong Kong might have missed the boat for luxury watch exhibitions, so make sure you don’t. Short of buying airfare to Switzerland, you’re unlikely to have such an opportunity to view such a fine collection of horological heavy weights and rare examples of watch making mastery. Well, until next year at least. Clockwise from top: the oversized Luminor 1950 Tourbillon Ceramic; the Rotonde de Cartier Cadran Lové Tourbillon; the Contemporaine Perpetual Calendar from Vacheron Constantin; Richard Mille’s RM 051 Phoenix Tourbillon and the Santos-Dumont Skeleton Pink Gold watch from Cartier HKGOLFER.COM
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