First ‘Watches&Wonders’ expo attracts strong interest in Asia

The 13 exhibitors took part in the expo were A. Lange & Sohne, Audemars Piguet, Baume & Mercier, Cartier, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Montblanc, Officine Panerai, Piaget, Richard Mille, Roger Dubuis, Vacheron Constantin and Van Cleef & Arpels.

All the Chief Executives of the participating maisons were present in person to acknowledge the region’s many collectors and connoisseurs.

Madame Fabienne Lupo, Chairwomen and Managing Director of the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FIHH), the organizers of “Watches&Wonders”, said that this is the first event of its kind in Asia to feature 13 great maisons of Europe. “Watches&Wonders” is more focused on the culture, know-how and expertise of the participating maisons.”

Fabienne emphasized on the great interest and appreciation of the Chinese and Asian people for the fine watchmaking and the unique opportunity of this event to showcase the rare Swiss timepieces and complex mechanical complications, craftsmanship and creativity.

A special highlight of the “Watches&Wonders” was an area set aside for many professions and artisans that contributed their rich variety of savoir faire and talent to the field of fine watchmaking.

Sponsored by different exhibitors, this allocated space allowed a number of highly skilled professionals to demonstrate their know-how and expertise such as the enamel technique, the gems setting and caliber functionality and designs among many other specialized haute hologram techniques.

Another unique element of the event was The Mastery of Time, a stunning exhibit tracing the history of timekeeping through time. This unique and educational exhibit presented a unique opportunity for watch lovers to understand better the travelling of time from sundial to wristwatch with the adventure and fascination that marks a long journey of innovations and creativity.

The participating companies exhibited - among the recently launched during the January 2013 SIHH innovations and few other timepieces - to show to the Asian consumers their commitment to forge closer relationship with the Asian markets.

Montblanc
Montblanc introduced at inaugural Watches&Wonders exhibition “ExoTourbillonRattrapante”, which is part of the Montblanc Collection Villeret 1858 and a masterpiece of watchmaking with a plethora of complications.
These complications include a large balance positioned outside the tourbillon's rotating cage, a chronograph with split-second function, and a three-dimensional regulator dial in gold and grand feu enamel. The "rattrapante", or split-second chronograph, is a grand complication much desired by collectors. They require almost 70 per cent more components and greater delicacy in handling.
In an 18ct white gold case, the ExoTourbillon's operations can be viewed through the sapphire crystal viewing window on the back. Only 18 of the timepieces will be made, as the craftsmanship required is laborious and time-consuming. To maintain this extraordinarily high standard, output is constrained.
Another highlight from the maison is the Star Special Edition Carpe Diem collection, which Montblanc presented at Watches&Wonders before the official October launch of the three models - the QuantièmeComplet, the Chronograph UTC with a 42mm case, and a three-hand mechanical timepiece with a 39mm case.

Vacheron Constantin
The Swiss brand exhibited the red gold quarter-repeater pocket watch from 1812 that features the mastery of the gongs combined with the wonderful guilloché dial work for which the company is well known. Other timepieces that highlighted the company's skills are the ultrathin minute repeater with an entirely open-worked and hand-decorated movement. Vacheron Constantin also brought the Patrimony Contemporaine Ultra-Thin Calibre 1731 and the Patrimony Traditionnelle 14-day Tourbillion Collection Excellence Platinum.

A. Lange & Sohne
The Saxon manufactory introduced itself at the first Asian haute horlogerie show in Hong Kong with the most complicated German wristwatch ever made and with two limited-edition debuts. The GRAND COMPLICATION is an exceptional instrument that defines new benchmarks in 21st-century precision watchmaking. The LANGE 1 TOURBILLON PERPETUAL CALENDAR HANDWERKSKUNST unites the two eponymous complications with the characteristic design of the LANGE 1. The pink-gold SAXONIA AUTOMATIC OUTSIZE DATE debuts with the legendary self-winding SAX-0-MAT calibre and the convenient ZERO-RESET function as well as the outsize date in a double aperture, which has become a hallmark of the brand.

Baume & Mercier
Baume & Mercier unveiled an entirely new tourbillon from its famous Clifton collection in Hong Kong - the Clifton 1892 Flying Tourbillon. The Clifton 1892 Flying Tourbillon pays homage to the achievements of the Baume & Mercier maison of the 19th century. The Clifton 1892 Flying Tourbillon, in a limited edition of 30 pieces, is also an example of Baume & Mercier's excellence in the art of établissage, an ancient watchmaking practice dating back to before the start of the first manufacture in the Jura region. It is driven by a manually wound mechanical calibre controlled by a flying tourbillon produced by ValFleurier.

Jaeger-LeCoultre
The Swiss manufacturer showcased the DuomètreSphérotourbillon Blue. Featuring an 18ct white gold case crowned with baguette-cut diamonds, the DuomètreSphérotourbillon Blue plays with light and shade to set the complication. A revolutionary dual-wing concept is reflected on the dial by the presence of two separate zones and the arrangement of baguette-cut diamonds accentuates the duality. Jaeger-LeCoultre introduced the "Jubilee" collection in which it celebrates its 180thanniversary, it includes the “Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon 3 Jubilee , the 10th watch in the HybrisMechanica collection, dedicated to the Grande Complication models from the manufacture, the Gyrotourbillon, has a flying tourbillon, a blued gold balance and a spherical-shaped balance-spring. It also combines the precision of the spherical tourbillon with the first instantaneous digital-display chronograph, which makes it stand out from the rest of the novelties.

Van Cleef & Arpels
Van Cleef & Arpels showcased the Poetry of Time™ collection. Among the fabulous Lady Arpels Jour/NuitCerfs-Volants watch, a young man and a young woman make a secret wish by launching a kite into the air. Also to celebrate the union of two fields of expertise – the measurement of time and the excellence of Van Cleef & Arpels’ High Jewelry workshops, the new PavotMystérieux High Jewelry watch has been created using the Mystery Setting™ technique, a signature of the Maison since the 1930s and to maintain the tradition of convertible jewellery, the Pavot flower can be removed and worn as a clip to suit the occasion.

Piaget
Piaget brought exceptional pieces from its newest collections, to show in-situ some of the best-kept secrets of movement and watchmaking. Among them is the High Jewellery Minute Repeaterthat was represented as a special gesture to the Asian market. Piaget also launched the Limelight Gala, its latest collection of jewellery watches to coincide with the worldwide launch.

IWC
IWC introduced new triple formation for its TOP GUN Pilot’s Watch squadron with three new Boutique models. The Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar TOP GUN Boutique Edition comes with red hands and indices, the Big Pilot’s Watch TOP GUN Boutique Edition with green and the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN Boutique Edition with blue represent haute horlogerie for the cockpit. Equipped with high-tech ceramic cases with the back and crown made of titanium, the timepieces are extremely rugged, skin-friendly and relatively light.

Audemars Piguet
Any new release from Audemars Piguet is eagerly awaited by the world’s watch aficionados. The Swiss manufacturer released two new models: The Millenary Minute Repeater and the Royal Oak Offshore LeBron James Chronograph Limited Edition. The new Millenary Minute Repeater pink gold model blends the long-standing tradition of minute-repeater construction, with the manufacturer’s very latest technical breakthroughs. The LeBron James Chronograph "is the first limited edition the brand made in collaboration with the NBA star, who has been our ambassador since 2011.

Cartier
Cartier brought its SIHH2013watch collection. Tank MC in several variations, including cases in all-steel or pink gold, and dials in white or chocolate. Highlights include a diamond-set version and a skeletonised timepiece in palladium. Cartier also exhibited Cartier ID One the first adjustment-free watch and Cartier ID Two an energy-efficient watch. Among the highlights is the Rotonde de Cartier Double Mystery Tourbillon, and the extraordinary Métiers d'Art pieces, a limited-edition series of watches of which each piece is a genuine work of art in itself. The dials were created by skilled craftsmen such as enamellers, sculptors, engravers and specialists in marquetry. As well as the One Ronde Louis Cartier watch depicts a clown fish and seascape rendered in glowing enamels and mother of pearl, surrounded by a bezel of diamonds, while a prancing horse on another model requires 40 hours of expert enameling. And a Santos Dumont model uses high-relief hand engraving and champlevé enamel to depict a falcon.

Panerai
Panerai exhibited seven timepieces at Watches&Wonders. Among them is the special edition of Radiomir 1940 ChronoMonopulsante in its Oro Rosso (red gold) and Oro Bianco (white gold) versions, limited to 300 and 150 units, respectively. Panerai also took opportunity to introduce its new in-house movement, P.5000 with eight-day power reserve. Collectors saw it in the Luminor Marina 8 Days and Luminor Marina 8 Days Oro Rosso.

Roger Dubuis
Roger Dubuis displayed its latest collection, highlighted by the Excalibur Quatuor in pink gold. It’s stemming from seven years of research and development, and inspired by the manufacturer’s 2005 invention of the Double Flying Tourbillon. The Velvet collection for women also attracted attention with exquisite high-end jewellery pieces, including a sparkling watch paved in baguette-cut diamonds.

Richard Mille
One of the brand’s highlights at Watches&Wonders was the RM26-01 Panda Tourbillon.
A gorgeous high-end jewellery timepiece with strong technical content, the RM26-01 is cute, ostentatious and whimsical. Capped at 30 pieces each in full diamond-paved white or red gold cases, the watch features a dial anchored by a gem-set, white gold panda festooned with black and white diamonds, surrounded by a hand-painted "bamboo forest".