| |
Patek Philippe to postpone all watch releases until 2021; Expo 2020 Dubai to be postponed by one year; Sotheby's Modern & Contemporary African & Middle Eastern Online Auction
|
|
|
| |
|
Market News
|
Patek Philippe to postpone all watch releases until 2021
Patek Philippe to postpone all planned new releases for this year until 2021 in response to the continued slowdown and turmoil in the watch industry caused by the coronavirus pandemic. According to Watch Pro, Patek Philippe shared the news directly with their retail partners recently, and there is considerable speculation that Rolex will follow suit and push their planned releases to 2021 as well. News of the delay in new releases was provided to Watch Pro off the record by retailers (there has been no official announcement from Patek Philippe), but the consensus seems to be that the postponement has been welcomed by cash-strapped retail partners, who are struggling to sell luxury goods at a time of great economic uncertainty.
|
| |
Expo 2020 Dubai to be postponed by one year
Expo 2020 Dubai will explore the possibility of postponing the event by one year in order to allow the world recover from coronavirus pandemic, organisers announced. In a statement issued, Expo 2020 said the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) will now work with its member states and Expo 2020 Dubai organisers to establish a change in dates. “A final decision on postponement can only be made by the BIE’s executive committee and the General Assembly,” the statement said, adding a two-thirds majority vote from member states of the organisation is required.
|
| |
Sotheby's Modern & Contemporary African & Middle Eastern Online Auction
Recently converted from a live to an online-only auction, Sotheby’s sale of Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern art totalled £2,193,625 / $2,679,294, towards the end of its pre-sale estimate of £1,714,000-2,371,000, with 60% of lots exceeding their pre-sale high estimates, often by multiple factors. The auction was led by Morocco’s modernist master Mohamed Melehi, as The Blacks (Lot 7), a radical work from 1963 inspired by the iconic cityscape of New York but imbued with the cultural richness of Morocco soared to £399,000 / $487,339, nearly seven times its estimate – after 30 bids were placed on the piece.
|
| |
| |
Company News
|
Gucci announces €2 Million donation in support of two Crowdfunding Campaigns to fight the Covid-19 pandemic
Gucci will stand with its global community to fight the COVID-19 pandemic by making two separate donations to crowdfunding campaigns locally and globally. In Italy, €1 million will be donated to the valiant efforts of the National Civil Protection Department through Intesa Sanpaolo’s ForFunding crowd-funding platform. Internationally, Gucci will contribute €1 million to the United Nations Foundation’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund in support of the World Health Organization (WHO) through a Facebook US$10 million matching fundraiser. The House’s social media channels and Gucci.com will feature links to donate to both crowdfunding initiatives.
|
| |
Parmigiani Fleurier welcomes Amanda Lui as Friend of the Brand
Amanda remarks, “I am most honoured to join the family of PARMIGIANI FLEURIER as Friend of the Brand. PARMIGIANI FLEURIER has always worked in harmony with traditions, presenting timepieces that harness excellence, innovation, quality, and holistic beauty from inside out, values that I appreciate and look upon in my life. PARMIGIANI FLEURIER’s timepieces embody rich heritage in exceptional modern-looking designs and such a momentous timepiece on the wrist is like a life companion, constantly reminding me to treasure every second in life and live life to the fullest.” A highly commended career woman and one of Hong Kong’s best-loved socialites, Amanda interprets beauty in many facets.
|
| |
| |
Product Launch
|
Roger Dubuis unveils Excalibur Twofold
Playing with the highest standards of Haute Horlogerie, Roger Dubuis presents a new interpretation of its signature movement, the double flying tourbillon. The Excalibur Twofold is a perfect illustration of its expressive singularity and know-how that is even more striking in the dark. This incredible horological creation represents three world premieres. With a 45mm case, the glacial touch of Excalibur Twofold is enhanced by the bezel and the case created in Mineral Composite Fiber (MCF), an ultra-white composite material made of 99.95% silica and, specifically developed by Roger Dubuis. A never-yet seen prowess in the world of Haute Horlogerie. The Sheet Molding Compound (SMC) process mastered by Roger Dubuis engineers enables the Manufacture to play with this unique Mineral Composite Fiber.
|
| |
BOVET 1822 presents Virtuoso VII
Created by Mr. Pascal Raffy, the owner of BOVET 1822, the Virtuoso VII timepiece shows the date, day of the week, month, and leap year cycle. Other indications include power reserve and hours, minutes, and seconds displayed on both faces of the timepiece. The 2020 Virtuoso VII collection is being expanded with a new model available as a limited edition in red or white gold with a sumptuous green guilloché dial. Once again, the dial makers have displayed great virtuosity in creating not only the two dials but also the various display elements in a reduced size. Despite the reduced thickness of both the hours and minutes dials, they still boast the delicate, unique guilloché pattern designed by Mr. Raffy.
|
| |
Tiffany & Co. releases new T Collection, Tiffany T1
Tiffany & Co. has launched the next chapter of their Tiffany T legacy, with the introduction of Tiffany T1. The collection honors the iconic ‘T’ motif, which has been featured in Tiffany designs since the early 1980s. Designed by Reed Krakoff, Tiffany’s Chief Artistic Officer, Tiffany T1 will be unveiled with a year-long series of global launches, beginning with a curated edit of nine 18k rose gold key styles that include rings, bracelets and a high jewelry necklace. All 18k white and yellow gold styles will follow in Summer 2020. Encircling the wrist, finger or neck, the ‘T’ motif forms an unbroken circle that represents individual strength and self-empowerment.
|
| |
Czapek launches Aurora Borealis new model
Czapek & Cie unveiled the Quai des Bergues Aurora Borealis and Blue Aurora, perfect illustrations of the brand’s ‘Horizontal Manufacture’ and of the ‘We Collect Rare People’ concept. The Quai des Bergues Aurora Borealis comes with a 42,5 mm steel case and the bombé guilloche dial is handcrafted on Czapek’s ‘secret alloy’, made of gold, silver, palladium and platinum. The dial is available in two different colours, both refined and sophisticated: silver, for the Aurora Borealis, and, naturally, dark blue, for the Blue Aurora. Both are equipped by Czapek SXH1 proprietary caliber, with two barrel springs delivering a 7-days power reserve, developed in collaboration with Chronode. The two new models are limited to 10 pieces each.
|
| |
Oris Art Blakey Limited Edition
Oris returns to its long-running series of jazz watches with a piece inspired by the American jazz drummer and bandleader Art Blakey. Art was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1919, and made his name in the 1940s and 1950s playing alongside fellow icons of jazz Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, all of whom Oris has previously celebrated with limited edition watches. The watch, which is a time-only automatic, features a dial decorated with the eight claws from Art’s bass drum, and a case back with a cymbal inlay. The watch is limited to 1,000 pieces.
|
| |
DELMA presents new Oceanmaster Antarctica
With the design of the new Oceanmaster, the brand set out to apply their experience to creating a timepiece that calls on nature for inspiration and supports its future. The Antarctica admirably joins the collection of sailing inspired timepieces to celebrate the discovery of one of the most unique places on earth. The new model conceived to assist Nick Moloney, Ocean adventurer and DELMA Ambassador, and his team on their expedition to Antarctica in February 2020 to commemorate its discovery 200 years ago. The cool blue dial is inspired by the colors of the ice as it meets the surrounding water while the raised texture represents the unique structure of the frozen landscape. The timepiece is limited edition of 200 pieces.
|
| |
Emile Chouriet introduces the Heritier Weekly Date
True to the brand’s philosophy of reinterpreting Swiss watchmaking heritage in a contemporary context, the Heritier Weekly Date is at once classical and original. In addition to the central hours, minutes and seconds hands, the Heritier Weekly Date features two windows or guichets, which display the day of the week and the date. The white dial is embellished with three diamond-set markers at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock, while the other hour markers are polished flat batons. Circling above are two faceted, lance-shaped hands, finished in a striking blued hue recalling the traditional decoration of Swiss watches from past centuries. Easily legible yet balanced with the rest of the dial, the day of the week is display in an arched opening at the top of the dial, while the date is positioned at 3 o’clock.
|
| |
MKS Jewellery presents ‘Sea Signs’ from the Al Otaiba Collection
Drawing inspiration from H.H. Sheikha Mariam bin Khalifa bin Saif Al Nayan’s great grandfather, Al Otaiba translates in English to ‘The King of Pearls’ and the new collection looks to tell stories of Sheikha Mariam’s ancestry, honoring UAE heritage and bringing it to the present through modern interpretations. Proudly using Emirati pearls as well as the classic mother of pearl, the handcrafted creations are a marriage of past and present through the stories they tell and through their thoughtful design. The collection; comprised of necklaces, rings, bracelets and earrings, incorporates five storylines that reference back to the nation’s pearl heritage and reflect on Otaiba in different ways, all the while keeping a contemporary feel and elevated aesthetic in order to speak to new generations.
|
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
Be constantly updated on the latest Watch & Jewellery Business markets of the Middle East, as well as information on competitors, promotions, product trends, industry analyses, appointments, new product introductions & developments and market research.
Our weekly 'Arabian Watches & Jewellery Business Newsletter Broadcast' is distributed to over
22,000+ industry executives, Watch & Jewellery manufacturers and distributors,
retailers, investors and media consultants globally.
Unsubscribe / Submission of News / Open Forum / Obtaining our news distribution / Confidentiality
Important Copyright Notice / Disclaimer
Developed by We Do Web |
| |
| |