Franck Muller presents the perfect Mother’s Day gift

Looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift? Franck Muller brings you the Cintrée Curvex Asia Exclusive and Talisman jewellery collections. Both collections symbolise elegance and femininity, making them an ideal gift for your mom. The Cintrée Curvex model is sold exclusively in Asia.

The classic Cintrée Curvex dial has bold numbers, the number eight has been designed with diamonds. A map of Asia is engraved on the back, together with the hand-sewn alligator strap, it complements the delicate silhouette of the diamond case.

The signature numbers in the Talisman jewellery collection combine the ancient art of numerology with earthy elements like gold, diamond, and enamel to create iconic pieces, which showcase the strong connection between Franck Muller and numerals.

PHOTOS: Stars adorned in jewellery steal the show at Hong Kong Film Awards

Crime thriller The Trivisa was the big winner at the Hong Kong Film Awards, the city’s version of the Oscars, but a number of celebrities tried their best to steal the show.

The Trivisa is based on a true story of Hong Kong mobsters and scooped awards for best film, director, actor, screenplay and film-editing.

Co-directed by Frank Hui, Jevons Au and Vicky Wong, the film is banned in mainland China due to its subtle political messages.

Gordon Lam was named best actor for his role in The Trivisa, while the best actress award went to Kara Wai for her role in Happiness.

Eric Tsang won best supporting actor and Elaine Jin won best supporting actress for their roles in Mad World.

Stars such as Zhou Dong Yu, Zhao Wei, Miriam Yeung, Wong Chun and Gordon Lam dazzled in jewellery by Bulgari, Harry Winston and Chopard, and watches from Montblanc at the awards show.

Check out how the stars looked in our slideshow above.

Watchmakers show off their latest timepieces at Baselworld

With the ubiquity of smartphones and the unfettered progress of mobile technology, many previously vital products and pieces of personal technology have begun falling by the wayside. Digital cameras are a case in point. Particularly those of the point-and-shoot variety, which have seen sales plummet as mobile phones with built-in cameras have become the norm. Even the almighty iPod – a revolutionary product that seemed irreplaceable in its heyday – has lost favour with consumers increasingly relying on their smartphones for their on-the-go needs. But for true luxury watch aficionados everywhere, no manner of smartphone or Bluetooth-coupled wearable tech will ever fully replicate or replace a timepiece of finely crafted elegance.

Testament to this is the ever-growing popularity of the Baselworld watch and jewellery show. Held every spring in the city of Basel in Switzerland, Baselworld is arguably the highlight of the haute horlogerie and joaillerie calendar. It sees watch and jewellery makers everywhere gather to exhibit their latest creations, and has grown from a handful of exhibitors at its inaugural show almost a century ago to now featuring over 2,000 exhibitors from across the globe. This year is tipped to attract close to 100,000 discerning watch lovers.

We take a look at some of the more noteworthy creations to debut at this year’s show from some of the industry’s more traditional names as well as some more modern ones.

Long synonymous with quality, luxury watches is Omega. As much a status symbol as a watch, Omega has been gracing the wrists of the stylish and famous for centuries. This year they have taken an iconic model and given it a revamp – albeit retaining an unmistakeable classical aesthetic. The Speedmaster is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year and as such, Omega has taken the watch made famous by surviving a trip to the moon, to new heights. Instantly recognisable, the Speedmaster is a benchmark in the world of luxury watches. The new Speedmaster is available in a dynamic duo of models: the simple yet elegant Speedmaster 38, and the superbly functional Speedmaster Racing Master Chronometer.

“For true watch aficionados, no smartphone or wearable technology will replace a timepiece of finely crafted elegance”

Ideal for both men and women, the Speedmaster 38 is made from stainless steel and 18-carat Sedna gold with a leather strap. The watch features a diamond paved bezel complete with tachymeter scale that frames the bi-colour dial with unique oval subdials. Powered by the Omega calibre 3330, the watch comes with Co-Axial technology and a silicon balance spring.

Another iconic timepiece from one of the biggest names in luxury watches is the Rolex Yacht-Master, which has also been given a make-over in time for this year’s Baselworld. The Yacht-Master 40 has been crafted for the first time in Everose Rolesor (a combination of 904L steel and 18-carat Everose gold). Carrying the superlative chronometer certification means you are guaranteed superior performance. Waterproof to 100 metres, the Yacht-Master is tough, reliable and classically refined. Featuring the bi-directional, self-winding calibre 3135, the chronograph has a 48-hour power reserve.

Another watch that has been released in time for Baselworld is the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe by Blancpain, which has a distinctly vintage essence. First presented in 2013, the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe range has been extended with the inclusion of the newest Fifty Fathoms model – a 38mm timepiece in a striking shade of blue that recalls the deepest blue oceans.

The steel bezel features a blue ceramic insert while the hour markers are made of Liquidmetal. Note this is not the same stuff that Liquid Metal Guy in Terminator II is comprised of, but rather an alloy prized for its long-term stability. As par for the course for any good diving watch – if we dare be so bold as to mix our sporting metaphors – the Fifty Fathoms has a unidirectional bezel that rotates counter clockwise.

Water resistant to 30 bar (approximately 300 metres), it is powered by the calibre 1150, ensuring an impressive 100-hour power reserve.
Next, we have a timepiece specifically designed for women: the Breguet Classique Phase de Lune Dame 9088. Striking a pure and clean aesthetic with its simple lines and elegant curves, the watch is made of white gold and is sized at 30mm in diameter. The minutes track is made up of tiny stars, together with stylistic fleur-de-lis for the five-minute fractions.

The ceramic dial features a moon-phase aperture at six o’clock. The chronograph is subtly decorated with brilliant-cut diamonds that adorn the bezel and lugs. Housing the Breguet 537L calibre, a self-winding mechanical movement, it is equipped with silicon escapement and balance spring.

From Audemars Piguet comes the new Royal Oak self-winding QEII Cup 2017 limited edition watches, made especially to commemorate the 19th edition of the Queen Elizabeth II Cup – a Group One thoroughbred horse race sponsored by the watchmaker and held in Hong Kong in co-operation with the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

A delicate mix of titanium and platinum, the new editions pay respectful homage to the original Royal Oak timepiece, adhering to the design codes of the Royal Oak collection. Powered by the manufacture self-winding calibre 3120, these special watches have a 60-hour power reserve. The 37mm edition of the new models feature a diamond-set bezel and a total of 40 stunning brilliant-cut diamonds.

Last but most certainly not least is a name that might be relatively new to the world of haute horlogerie but has nonetheless crafted some stunning timepieces. More akin to a work of art than a watch, the Jacob & Co. Astronomia Sky watch is stunningly eye catching and is almost otherworldly in appearance.

Taking a unique approach to time display with the use of ‘satellites,’ this timepiece is strikingly creative. Despite this, it remains very easy to use and set and is as practical as it is beautiful. Sized at 40mm and with a 60-hour power reserve, the watch even displays celestial indicators such as sky and stars as well as a month indicator.

Text: Hans Schlaikier

A look at the hottest new luxury timepieces that will debut at this year’s Baselworld

One of the highlights of the luxury watch industry’s calendar will soon be upon us. Arguably the most important event for luxury watch and jewellery makers everywhere, the Baselworld trade show has been an annual staple as far back as 1925. From humble beginnings – when only a handful of watchmakers were invited to exhibit their wares – today’s Baselworld features 2,100 exhibitors from over 45 countries and attracts 94,000 discerning visitors, hoping to catch a glimpse of the very latest – and best – in the world of haute horlogerie and joaillerie.

Held in the birthplace of luxury watchmaking, the city of Basel in Switzerland, this year’s iteration will run from the 23rd to the 30th of March. As always, in the run-up to the show, luxury watchmakers from across the globe have been busy working on the models to be featured. We take the opportunity to look at some of the hottest new models you can expect to see hitting stores this spring from some of the world’s most renowned names in luxury timepieces.

Long synonymous with high-end chronographs, Omega has been crafting luxury watches since 1903. From a certain fictitious British secret agent to the first man to walk on the moon, Omega watches have graced the wrists of some of the world’s most iconic and influential people. For this year’s Baselworld show, Omega’s line-up will include a new take on a classic model, the Omega Speedmaster. One of the world’s most recognisable chronographs, the Speedmaster has been part of the Omega line-up for over 60 years.

The latest incarnation of the Speedmaster remains true to its roots while incorporating new aesthetic touches. Sized at 38mm and suitable for both men and women, the Speedmaster 38 is available in a variety of colours. The case is made from stainless steel and 18-carat Sedna gold and comes with a classic leather strap. One of the most interesting features is the diamond-paved bezel that also includes a tachymeter scale on the aluminium ring. Deceptively simple and unmistakeably stylish, the Omega Speedmaster 38 is a triumph of design and aptly pays tribute to a timeless model.

From classic models to the epitome of modernity, part of Bulgari’s pre-Basel line up is the updated edition of the Octo Ultranero. Intensely black and undeniably masculine, the Octo Ultranero has a black Diamond Like Carbon (D.L.C.) case and comes in a purely black edition or with red hands and hour markers for a deft splash of colour. Housed in the case is the bidirectional self-winding Calibre BVL 193 with twin barrels, which allows for a 50-hour power reserve.

Moving with the times, Bulgari has also created a new model for women – increasingly being catered for in the Bulgari universe. Hot on the heels of the recently released Serpenti women’s timepiece comes a new edition of the Lvcea watch. Drawing on a heavy celestial influence, the latest edition of the Lvcea has been upgraded with a moon-phase indicator. In addition to enriching the aesthetics of the watch face the moon-phase indicator also precisely marks a new moon, first quarter moon, full moon and last quarter moon.

The watch has a mother-of-pearl dial and is available in different variations: one with dazzling diamond hour markers on the dial, another with brilliant-cut diamonds on its strap lug and bezel, and a third white gold version with a bezel set with brilliant-cut diamonds. Available in an 18-carat pink or white gold case, each watch features 45 brilliant-cut diamonds and is powered by the Calibre BVL 191, which has a 42-hour power reserve. Water resistant to 50m, ladies can choose between a purple, blue or red glossy alligator leather strap.

High-flying watchmaker Breitling has also been busy updating a model first launched in spring of 2016. The Avenger Hurricane is a chronograph built for extremes, as evidenced by its rugged construction with protective reinforcements and supreme functionality. At 50mm in diameter, this timepiece is no shrinking violet and features a case made of Breitlight, an exclusive high-tech material that is 3.3 times lighter than titanium and 5.8 times lighter than steel, while being considerably harder.

“Today’s Baselworld features 2,100 exhibitors from over 45 countries and attracts 94,000 discerning visitors”

The Avenger Hurricane is a triumph of innovation. It’s exceptionally resistant to scratching, traction and corrosion and is thermally stable, anti-magnetic and non-allergenic. Powered by the Manufacture Breitling Calibre 01 – which has been certified by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute) as testament to its precision – the Avenger Hurricane has an impressive 70-plus hour power reserve. Available with a cobra yellow or volcano black dial, the watch features a unidirectional rotating bezel that is equipped with four rider tabs that serve to memorise time. A perfect combination of comfort and sturdiness, the strap has a rubber lining and sides made of anthracite high–resistance military-grade fibre.

Another lunar-inspired design comes from Swiss watchmakers IWC Schaffhausen and their 2017 Da Vinci collection. Smaller and slimmer than the original Da Vinci watches that debuted in the 1980s, the Da Vinci Automatic Moon Phase 36 is a work of feminine elegance. Striking a simple but brilliant aesthetic, the wristwatch comes in either a stainless-steel case or an 18-carat red gold case with a silver-plated dial and is sized at a comfortable 36mm for female wrists.

Last but certainly not least in our pre-Basel round -up is a watch that is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Introduced in 1997, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph has been given a fresh new look for 2017 and will be available in seven different models. Steel versions of the watch are offered with a choice of “Grande Tapisserie” dials in black, silver or blue and are fitted with classical stainless-steel bracelets. All of the new Royal Oak watches feature a two-tone dial design and subtle-yet-ingenious details such as larger chronograph counters and an additional luminescent coating for better readability. The Royal Oak Chronograph 2017 is powered by the Audemars Piguet calibre 2385 with 37 jewels and has a power reserve of 40 hours. It’s water resistant to 50m. All in all, something for everyone – and a tantalising sampler of the calibre of watches that will be on display at this year’s Baselworld.

Text: Hans Schlaikier

Italdesign partners with Roger Dubuis to launch limited-edition car

Italdesign is teaming up with Swiss watchmaker Roger Dubuis to launch its “Italdesign Automobili Speciali”, its first ultra-limited series car with only five units scheduled to be built this year.

Motor enthusiasts will receive an eight-piece limited edition cutting-edge Roger Dubuis Excalibur line, the Excalibur Spider Single Tourbillon if they purchase the car.

Developed around a modular chassis in carbon fibre and aluminium, the car boasts a powerful naturally aspirated 5.2 litre V10 engine which enables 0-100 km/h acceleration in just 3.2 seconds, together with a top speed in excess of 330 km/h.

The bodywork is made out of carbon fibre and the car measures 190 inches in length, 77 inches in width, and 47 inches in height.

Expect to see the first Italdesign supercar at the Geneva Motor Show this month. According to the company, the car will come with an equally exclusive eight-piece set from Roger Dubuis.

Together, they’ll cost about $1.6 million (HK$12.4million).

George Clooney, Omega take one giant leap for Speedmaster’s 60th anniversary

George Clooney has starred in a couple of films about space, including Gravity and Solaris, but few know that his affinity for the cosmos goes beyond the big screen. The American actor and Omega brand ambassador has appeared in a series of new videos to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Omega Speedmaster – the first watch to go to the moon.

“The astronauts when I was growing up were of course heroes. We knew all the astronauts’ names. We even ate the food that the astronauts ate,” Clooney says in the video, describing what it was like as a child growing up in the age of space exploration. When Apollo 11 landed Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the moon in 1969, Clooney remembers walking outside and looking up into the sky “to see if we could see the lunar landing from outside.”

Clooney says that in addition to consuming ‘astronaut food’ like the powdered drink Tang and Space Food Sticks, the kids in his neighbourhood also knew that the astronauts wore Omega watches.

“Omega was absolutely part of the space programme when I was growing up,” he says. “Omega was about precision time… and it seemed like the space programme was a natural progression.”

Perhaps it comes as a surprise, then, that the Speedmaster was not originally intended for space travel. It was built for speed, as the name suggests, and intended to be worn by race car drivers. However, many of the features that made it popular on the race track – the ability to withstand intense vibrations and shocks – also proved suitable for astronauts. The Speedmaster was the only watch to pass every test ordered by NASA when it started looking for a chronograph to use on its manned space missions in 1964.

Today, it is still qualified for space and is also a permanent fixture on the International Space Station. Omega’s more modern iteration, the Moonwatch, is essentially the same as the one Omega released prior to the lunar landing – a testament to the model’s timeless design and durability.

PHOTOS: Stars sizzle at the Oscars

This year’s Oscars will go down in history for all the wrong reasons after actors Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway awarded the Best Picture prize to the wrong movie.

The producers of La La Land were in the middle of their acceptance speech at the Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles, when the error was spotted and the award was eventually handed to Moonlight.

Monumental mix-ups aside, Hollywood’s best and brightest once again wowed the crowds with their outfits.

Check out our slideshow to see some of the best-dressed stars from this year’s Oscars.

Winners:

Best Picture: Moonlight

Actor: Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea

Actress: Emma Stone, La La Land

Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali, Moonlight

Supporting Actress: Viola Davis, Fences

Animated Feature: Zootopia

Hit top Gear with Samsung’s new smartwatch

Last year, trusted tech brands such as Apple and Sony hoped their respective smart watches would woo consumers. Instead, they faced a widespread drop in wearable tech sales and speculation over whether smart watches were merely a passing fad. But with new products on the horizon, will 2017 be the year that buyers finally put their faith in intelligent wrist assistants? That remains to be seen, but Samsung has certainly made a convincing case with its newest release, the Gear S3.

The watch, equipped with a built-in speaker, allows users to make or answer calls even if they’ve left their smart phones at home. Athletes may take interest in another incorporated feature, a GPS system. This provides the navigational guidance that many have come to rely on while rendering it wholly unnecessary to lug around a phone in a backpack or tummy-hugging exercise belt.

To answer calls, read messages and open apps, one merely has to turn the Gear S3’s bezel. The watch also includes an altimeter, barometer and speedometer, as well as a heart rate sensor. Perhaps the most impressive feature, though, is the fact that the battery lasts about four days, or so Samsung says.

For those who still want to keep their phone on hand, especially for lengthy calls that could be cumbersome on a watch, fear not – the device is compatible with smart phones that run on Android 4.4 and higher.

www.samsung.com

Watch out for Breitling’s recently launched Colt Skyracer

Watchmaker Breitling is soaring to new heights with the recent launch of its Colt Skyracer, a mix of business and style rolled into one.

Not only does the name Colt Skyracer sound dynamic and punchy, but it also looks good. The Swiss watchmaker hasn’t cut any corners in their effort to create an affordable watch that offers so much and comes in a slick black colour.

Named after Breitling’s aerobatic racing plane, the Colt Skyracer has a thermocompensated calibre 74 SuperQuartz movement, a battery that lasts eight years and a dial that screams simplicity and prestige.

In addition to this, it is also water-resistant up to 100 metres and boasts an AR-coated domed sapphire crystal over the dial.

To ensure the watch stands the test of time, it is made of Breitlight, a futuristic material that is over three times lighter than titanium and an incredible six times lighter than steel. It is also extremely resistant to scratches, traction and corrosion.

With 24-hour military time, a volcano black dial and a strap you can use as a ruler, aviation and military enthusiasts will fall in love with this watch’s bad boy look and stylish colour scheme.

Also, only costing $2,000 (HK$15,521), this watch is not on the expensive end of the spectrum, which is fairly rare for new releases from high-end watchmakers with as much grace and prominence as Breitling.

www.breitling.com

Double time: Watches for loved-up couples

The horological connoisseurs at Franck Muller have launched a timely addition to their range in the form of two sets of couples’ watches.

Designed and crafted with care, the timepieces make the perfect gift for loved-up duos. The first set includes the Vanguard Lady and the Vanguard Automatic. The former features a sun-stamped dial, embellished with coloured appliqué relief numbers; the latter comes with diamonds and a grey index.

Alternatively, the Cintrée Curvex collection blends feminine elegance with mechanical characteristics and classic relief numbers.

The Curvex also comes with the eponymous designer’s signature on the back of the case.