Press Release: Celebrating 40 years of The Hour Glass Presenting the UR-105 Commemorative Edition in Bronze

URWERK’s gratitude to The Hour Glass takes the form of an original watchmaking creation, unveiled today. The watchmaker’s tribute to its Singapore partner for 15 years is a series of three self-winding watches made in bronze. “Bronze also marks the passage of time,” URWERK’s co-founder, Martin Frei, points out. “Every hour leaves its mark, creating a living patina.”

Press Release: "Silver Spitfire - The Longest Flight" Lands In Iceland

Photo Credit: IWC

"Silver Spitfire - The Longest Flight" Lands in Iceland, with singer JJ Julius Son from rock band Kaleo welcoming the pilots to his home country

PILOT REPORT:

“We couldn’t have wished for a better send-off for the Silver Spitfire from Goodwood. Although it had poured with rain during the morning, we had great weather for the afternoon take-off. A quick stop at the Faroe Islands was followed by a smooth journey to our first layover - Iceland. As well as being stunned by the remarkable landscape, we had the pleasure to catch up with JJ Julius Son, from the Icelandic band Kaleo, who we had already met at the SIHH gala dinner in January. JJ was kind enough to show us the sights of Reykjavik and even found time to take us out for some drinks. It was a great city and we felt really welcome. We even ended up being featured on the frontpage of the Icelandic newspaper Fréttablaðið, which was a great honour. ”

“Adverse weather meant we had to stay a little longer than originally scheduled, but it gave us the chance to enjoy even more of the beautiful scenery, before we eventually bid farewell to that captivating country. With improved conditions, we reached Greenland; flying over the polar cap is something we’ll never forget. We’re currently on the go again and we aim to land at New York’s Teterboro Airport by August 15th.”

NEXT SCHEDULED STOPS: Canada, then New York.

Stay updated and follow the journey live on a dedicated flight tracker: here

Press Release: Chopard & The Hour Glass 40th Anniversary Special Edition

Chopard & The Hour Glass 40th Anniversary Special Edition

In celebration of The Hour Glass 40th Anniversary, Chopard has collaborated with The Hour Glass to produce a special Happy Sport. Available in 50-piece limited edition and numbered, this 36mm watch in stainless steel celebrates the essence of the collection translating the message of joy and free spirit.

Event Report: The Watch Club Asia Facebook Group GTG

The Watch Club Asia (Facebook group) hosted members of the group to a preview of the Bell & Ross 2019 Novelties. The event was well attended and members had a great time checking out the latest timepieces from Bell & Ross. Thanks for the invite, TWCA!

Following are the highlights of the event...

Albert Neo, one of the Club founders, shared the Club's mission statement with the group. 

Press Release by Omega: The Speedmaster Apollo 11, 50th Anniversary Limited Edition

There were many world-changing moments that defined the first lunar landing in 1969. From famous words to dusty footprints, it was a mission that remains unforgettable in so many ways. On the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, OMEGA is proud to unveil a new Speedmaster Limited Edition that pays tribute to those iconic hours. Now, you can wear the first watch worn on the moon and also relive its journey.

Press Release by Rado: Rado Captain Cook Automatic Limited Edition With Travel Case

A vintage look for modern time travellers

All Photographs supplied by Rado

(Lengnau, Switzerland – 2019) We are living in a world of contradictions. In our constantly connected lives, we sometimes find ourselves dreaming of simpler times even as we appreciate the convenience of modern technology. If only we could have one foot in the past and one in the present.

Press Release by Glashütte Original : “Talking About Trees” wins Glashütte Original – Documentary Award 2019

 Director Suhaib Gasmelbari and producer Marie Balducchi with the award trophy

Photo Copyright: Cecile Mella

 Glashütte Original supported the 69th Berlinale as Partner and Award sponsor. 

Glashütte Original offers heartfelt congratulations to Suhaib Gasmelbari, who has won the Glashütte Original – Documentary Award at the 69th Berlin International Film Festival. The Sudanese filmmaker was honored for his film, “Talking About Trees”, a documentary on the history of the Sudanese cinema. The award, donated by the Saxon watch manufactory and endowed with 50,000 euros, was presented Saturday evening during the official award ceremonies at the Berlinale Palace. Glashütte Original also supported the 69th Berlinale as a sponsor this year.

Press Release: SWATCH Group Key Figures 2018

SWATCH Group Key Figures 2018

• Group net sales increased by 6.1% to CHF 8 475 million at current exchange rates (+5.7% at constant rates).

• Operating result increased by 15.2% to CHF 1 154 million. Operating margin increased from 12.5% in the previous year to 13.6%.

• Net income increased by 14.8% to CHF 867 million, with a net margin of 10.2% (previous year: 9.5%).

• Dividend proposal: increase of 6.7% to CHF 8.00 per bearer share and CHF 1.60 per registered share.

• Business slowed in the last three months of the year under review. The month of December in particular was slow, due in part to the very high comparison basis.

• Production companies in the Habillage sector (cases, dials, watch hands, etc.) worked at or even above capacity limits, which led to significant delivery delays, mainly for products for Omega and Longines.

• Record number of 212 new patent applications in 2018.

• Creation of over 1,700 new jobs, mainly in Switzerland.

• January 2019 started with solid growth, even in comparison with the very strong January in the previous year. The Swatch Group expects a positive trend in 2019, both in demand and in elimination of capacity bottlenecks.

IWC 2019 SIHH models

IWC Schaffhausen presented the new Spitfire Pilot’s collection this year.  Following are some of the watches that caught my attention. The Spitfire watches feature IWC's manufactured calibres with designs inspired by the Mark 11.


Photo Credit: IWC

Pilot’s Watch Automatic Spitfire (Ref. IW326801)

Breaking News! OMEGA Reintroduces The Iconic Caliber 321

The original Cal 321

 Press Release from Omega

OMEGA Reintroduces The Iconic Caliber 321
If you ask most watch fans to name a famous movement they'd like to see reborn, you're bound to hear them mention the OMEGA Calibre 321. This robust and elegant chronograph movement has been a favourite since the 1940s and is still highly sought-after by watch collectors around the world. Now, more than 50 years after the last Calibre 321 was produced, OMEGA is bringing the iconic movement back.

Press Release: 2019 Pre-SIHH: Jaeger-LeCoultre Presents The Master Ultra Thin Moon Enamel.

MASTER ULTRA THIN MOON ENAMEL

The Master Ultra Thin charms any watch-enthusiast or devotee with its round shape and pure lines.
Featuring an extremely thin case, these models highlights the arts of guilloche and enameling, two of
the Rare Handcrafts (“Métiers Rares®”) which have been kept alive for generations at the Manufacture in the Vallée de Joux. Jaeger-LeCoultre remains one of the few Manufactures offering gem-setting, engraving, guillochage and enameling at its workshops, artistic techniques that require delicate and subtle work, typically done by hand and with the assistance of machines, more often than not, over a hundred years old. This year, technical and artistic precision takes on a new dimension. The Art of Precision stands out as the signature of Jaeger-LeCoultre.

Press Release by Omega: The Speedmaster Dark Side Of The Moon Apollo 8

Marking the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 8 mission, history’s first ever journey toward the moon, OMEGA is proudly releasing its new Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon Apollo 8 timepiece. 

Press Release by Breitling: Breitling Marks Its Entry Into China With A Dazzling Red-Carpet Gala Celebration

All photos are supplied by Breitling

Breitling, the Swiss watch brand with a worldwide reputation for luxurious high-performance timepieces, hosted a dazzling celebration of its entry into the Chinese market with a red-carpet gala night at Beijing’s breathtaking Phoenix Center on November 20, 2018. International movie stars and Breitling Cinema Squad members Brad Pitt and Daniel Wu were on hand to mark the occasion, along with surfer Sally Fitzgibbons and photographer and filmmaker Peter Lindbergh. They were joined by personalities from the worlds of fashion, high society, sport, music, and film, including Japanese fashion designer Motofumi “Poggy” Kogi, South Korean actress Shin Se-Kyung, Chinese actress Qi Wei, and Chinese actor Li Zonghan.

Press Release by VC: Vacheron Constantin Launches Fiftysix Collection In Singapore At The NCO Club.

Vacheron Constantin hosted guests at The NCO Club for the launch of the Fiftysix® collection in Singapore. Guests were first treated to a series of masterclasses at various locations, followed by a soulful performance by English singer-songwriter Will Heard, tunefully accompanying the presentation of the new Fiftysix® collection.

** Photo Credit: Vacheron Constantin

(From Left) Mr Robin Chua, Mr Aaron Lim and Ms Wendy Ng, Mr Yassin Tag (Managing Director of VC SEA & AU), Ms Lee Zhuan

Press Release by Breitling: The New Breitling Premier Collection.

The Breitling Premier collection reintroduces a name that has a special significance for the prestige watch brand. In the 1940s, Breitling introduced its first collection of truly elegant watches, which were defined by their fashionable flair. The new Breitling Premier collection combines purpose with style, delivering quality, performance, and timeless design that are worthy of the watch brand’s proud legacy.

Press Release by IWC: Filmmaker Bursary Award In Association With The BFI

Photo Credit: IWC - Christoph Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen (extreme right) with Richard Billingham (second from right), the winner of the third annual IWC Schaffhausen Filmmaker Bursary Award in association with the BFI (British Film Institute). 

London, 10th October 2018 – IWC Schaffhausen and the BFI (British Film Institute) revealed Richard Billingham as the winner of the third annual IWC Schaffhausen Filmmaker Bursary Award in association with the BFI. The award was presented during a star-studded gala dinner at London’s Electric Light Station, attended by acting greats Rosamund Pike, accompanied by the sounds of Izzy Bizu. ­Luminaries from the worlds of film, music, fashion and culture joined forces to celebrate this unique bursary, which, at £50,000, is the most significant of its kind in the UK film industry. The gala dinner marked the eve of the BFI London Film Festival opening in partnership with American Express®.

Press Release: Corum Will Not Be Taking Part In The 2019 Edition Of Baselworld

Corum has officially announced that they will not be taking part in the 2019 edition of Baselworld.

Jérôme Biard - CEO of Corum: “We are working hard, with positive results, to get Corum back on the path of its golden age, when Corum took the first position at the entrance of Baselworld. Today, our main objective is to focus on the real “ambassadors” of the brand - retailers, final customers and journalists. We therefore need to change our approach and invest the budget in other ways”.

After 62 years of attendance, this is the end of a major chapter. The La Chaux-de-Fonds brand would now like to concentrate on its clients and watch enthusiasts. To that end, the 2019 and 2020 strategy is to organise more intimate and well-targeted events across three continents.

Press Release: Tangente ‘Red Dot’ 2018 By NOMOS GLASHÜTTE X THE HOUR GLASS.

SINGAPORE, 27 SEPTEMBER 2018 – Following on from the success of our initial collaboration with NOMOS Glashütte, we’ve partnered up again to release a new member to the ‘Red Dot’ collection. This time around, we’re proud to announce the launch of our second watch designed in collaboration with NOMOS Glashütte. The Tangente ‘Red Dot’ 2018. Inspired by the ‘Little Red Dot’, the 38 mm Tangente ‘Red Dot’ is limited to 100 in deep blue and 100 in salmon. Retailing for SGD 3200.

Press Release: The New Horological Machine HM9

SINGAPORE, 24 September 2018 – In the post-war years of the late 1940s and 1950s, aerodynamic principles were just beginning to take root in the field of automotive design. The boxy, carriage-like shapes of previous decades were melting into something more streamlined. At the same time, curvilinear forms became more prominent, carrying the immediate promise of power and speed. The sophisticated computer modelling and wind-tunnel technology we have today were far-off dreams at that time – designers were guided more by their aesthetic sense than by any scientific precepts.

The result was some of the most beautiful man-made objects ever created, epitomised by automobiles like the Mercedes-Benz W196 and 1948 Buick Streamliner. Other industries followed, notably that of aviation, producing aircraft such as the sleek-bodied, snub-nosed De Havilland Venom that patrolled Swiss airspace for 30 years.

Presenting Horological Machine N°9 ‘Flow’, inspired by the dynamic profiles of automotive and aviation mid-century design.

Press Release: Swatch Group Is Again An Innovator In Resistance To Magnetic Fields

Biel-Bienne (Switzerland), 29 August 2018 – Swatch Group continues to push the boundaries of precision and innovation. After silicon, the world’s leading watchmaker is proud to introduce a new balance spring – a key component in mechanical movements – with exceptional paramagnetic characteristics.

Swatch Group, in collaboration with Audemars Piguet, has developed a new nonmagnetic compensating alloy called Nivachron™ for this revolutionary balance spring. With its complex composition, the alloy was developed with the aim of optimizing the resistance of watch movements to magnetic fields.

The Nivachron™ balance spring offers a number of advantages. It allows a considerable reduction in the influence of the residual effect of a magnetic field on the running of a watch (a reduction by a factor of 10 to 20, depending on the caliber). The Swiss-made balance spring, made of a titanium base, is very effective against temperature variations experienced in wearing conditions. In addition, it offers excellent shock resistance. Ultimately, all of these advantages result in a significant improvement in chronometric performance.

Magnetic fields, which are pervasive in our environment, severely disrupt mechanical watch movements. They affect a watch’s operation and its performance and can even, in some cases, stop it completely.

Of all the watch components required to make a timepiece, the balance spring is one of the most critical. Its production requires a high level of know-how and expertise. Swatch Group, in partnership with the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM), has already revolutionized Swiss watchmaking in recent years with its silicon balance springs.