DFS Master of Time goes on a time travel journey

Like the famous quote ‒ “time and tide wait for no one,” the horology industry has continued to change drastically over centuries. The events and trends of a particular period had a significant impact on the creation and development of timepieces. The 11th edition of DFS Master of Time exhibition will be emphasising on it with displays of watches and jewellery that highlight the horology industry’s discoveries through different periods ‒ the 19th century, the 1920s, the 1960s, the 2000s, Today and Tomorrow.

In line with the theme, the DFS’ merchant team has curated a selection of timepieces and jewellery that is reminiscent of the past, present and future. There will be 120 unique watches and 20 fine jewellery pieces from more than 25 brands including Blancpain, Bulgari, Cartier, Franck Muller and more.

Embodying the 19th century, the Villeret Tourbillon Volant Heure Sautante Minute Retrograde by Blancpain reinterprets the brand’s flying tourbillon technique. It includes new features like jump hours and retrograde minutes. Apart from its technical aspects, it is stylised with grand feu enamel dial handcrafted by Blancpain.

Moving on to the 1920s, World War I had a huge impact on the creations in the haute horology industry. This was the time, wrist watches replaced pocket watches. Sports watches and chronographs originated. Representing the 1920s is the Master Gyrotourbillon 1 by Jaeger-Lecoultre. This watch has a calendar on it. While the date is shown on the upper side of the dial using two retrograde hands, the month is shown using a retrograde hand at 8 o’clock.

Four decades later, the 1960s became a very defining period in the watch industry. Minimalism started becoming more fashionable thus leading to the creation of simple and elegant watches by brands like Vacheron Constantin and Piaget. Representing this period is the Serpenti Seduttori by Bvlgari with its stylish drop shaped dial and hexagon shaped bracelet.

Fast forward to the 21st century, maximal fashion became popular with the rise of hip hop. Bigger dials and watches with more details were more in the tastes of the people. Franck Muller’s Rainbow Invisible Setting Tourbillon In White Gold represents the detail orientated aspects of this period with its dial that features 122 baguette-cut diamonds and 21 baguette-cut coloured sapphires.

On par with the present, there is the Classic Fusion Ferrari GT King Gold by Hublot. This Hublot X Ferrari collaboration gave raise to a watch that takes inspiration from the «Gran Turismo» universe.

With the endless changes and creations that the haute horology has gone through, the future leaves so much room for imagination and prediction. Zenith‘s Defy Inventor features the brand’s new “Zenith Oscillator” control system. This represents all the new inventions that one can expect in the future.

Give Joy: Emphasising on the joy of shopping and gifting with DFS Group

In time for the holiday season, DFS is back with its annual Give Joy campaign to celebrate the festive mood and the happiness of gifting. From November 15th to December 31st, customers can enjoy shopping from a selection of more than 90 brands including Johnnie Walker, Prada, Dior and more. The specially-curated 2019 collection for Give Joy has a variety of more than 150 products across the retailer’s luxury product pillars, including watches, accessories, wines, cosmetics and much more besides.

Moreover, with the campaign taking place in downtown T Galleria and airport locations worldwide, the luxury travel retailer has set up pop-up stores that allow customers to add a personal touch to the items purchased. Take, for instance, one can stop at a Christian Dior counter in one of the aforementioned locations and get unique gift boxes with personalised ribbons, bespoke name engravings and customised wrapping papers enhanced with evocative fragrances.

Furthermore, the DFS stores will also showcase theatrical events that range from visits by Santa and his crew to performances by local musicians to highlight more on the festiveness of this most joyful time of the year.

“The holiday season is all about sharing and spreading joy. Every year, we are delighted to be able to excite and inspire our customers with an array of heart-warming experiences, pop-ups and activations that celebrate the pleasure of gifting,” said Ariel Gentzbourger, DFS Group Executive Vice President, Merchandising.

For more information on this festive promotion and the wonderous gifts of the Give Joy campaign, visit www.tgalleria.com.

Beauty bonanza as DFS’ First Class Beauty campaign takes off

The sixth edition of DFS Group’s annual First Class Beauty campaign kicked off in true style at T Galleria Beauty by DFS, Causeway Bay.

Fashionistas, style icons and beauty queens thronged to the venue to explore the latest assortment of makeup, skincare and fragrances from over 40 premium brands. The venue was transformed into a veritable “beauty disco” as Hong Kong’s crème de la crème indulged in such beauty-themed entertainment as glitter hairstyling and eye makeup application. Some also tried their hand at the beauty workshop where guests were taught how to make their own personalised makeup and skincare kits. Check out the exclusive footage from the event.

Binge Watch: Seven standouts from Macau’s Masters of Time exhibition

Duty-free retailer DFS opened its ninth Masters of Time luxury watch exhibition in Macau in extravagant fashion. There were interactive pop-ups, whisky and caviar tastings, and live performances by Hong Kong songstress Jade Kwan and violin DJ Olivia Dawn.

But even without the flash and panache, it’s clear that DFS has its ear to the ground, following the latest haute horlogerie trends in a bid to give high-end watch collectors exactly what they’re looking for.

Over 450 pieces from 30 luxury brands were assembled for this year’s showcase, which runs until 28 February at T Galleria by DFS inside the Shoppes at Four Seasons.

Christophe Chaix, Senior Vice President of Global Merchandising at DFS, says there is no real equivalent to Masters of Time. “Of course there are trade shows like Baselworld and SIHH, but there is no other exhibition like this in the world dedicated to the end consumer,” Chaix says.

His confidence is not misplaced. In just nine years, the annual exhibition has become one of Asia’s premier watch events, drawing collectors from China, Singapore, Australia and beyond.

In that time, discerning women collectors have become one of the industry’s fastest-growing segments. No longer satisfied with simple watches in frilly decorative packaging, the fairer sex is now demanding mechanical complications on par with their male counterparts. And Masters of Time has risen to the challenge.

One of the best models from its selection of women’s watches is Jaquet Droz’s Lady 8 Flower, a perfect blend of beauty and complexity. Fitted with a self-winding mechanical movement, the design’s centrepiece is a lotus perched atop a blue sapphire-studded bezel. A press of the button opens its petals to reveal a faceted diamond briolette rotating on its axis.

Another women’s watch that may appeal to collectors is Breguet’s individually numbered and signed Tradition 7038, the first model for ladies in its Tradition collection. Although slightly on the large side at 37mm, it owes its unmistakable femininity to a diamond-set bezel, mother-of- pearl dial and white alligator leather strap.

While complex timepieces for ladies are still relatively rare, Masters of Time is a horological treasure trove for the discerning male collector.

Classic craftsmanship never goes out of style, and Jaeger-LeCoultre is playing to its strengths with the Master Gyrotourbillon 1. Boasting a dual-axis tourbillon movement, this elegant timepiece also shows the date and includes a perpetual calendar and an equation of time complication. The dial’s intricate mother-of-pearl lacework and aventurine stone marquetry evoke images of a clear night sky.

Heritage watches also feature prominently at Masters of Time this year, such as Ulysse Nardin’s Marine Grand Deck Tourbillon. Paying tribute to the brand’s nautical history, the handcrafted marquetry on its pine oak dial imitates a ship’s deck, while the arching minute hand resembles a ship’s boom. Add to that a visible flying tourbillon and this 18-piece model is a guaranteed conversation starter.

Another homage timepiece is Blancpain’s limited-edition Tribute to Fifty Fathoms Mil-Spec. The original Fifty Fathoms debuted in 1953 as the world’s first automatic diving watch, and fortunately, the current model retains that vintage vibe while still meeting modern divers’ needs with its uni-rotational bezel and water tightness indicator.

As far as contemporary timepieces go, sports watches are all the rage. In particular, partnerships between luxury car manufacturers and horology houses have spawned some interesting timepieces. Several are on show at Masters of Time, including Roger Dubuis’ Excalibur Aventador S (featured in Gafencu’s November issue) and Hublot’s Techframe Ferrari 70 Years King Gold Tourbillon Chronograph.

The true feather in DFS’ cap, though, is the special edition Carrera Calibre Heuer 02T Automatic Chronograph 45mm from Tag Heuer. This one-of-a-kind timepiece was created especially for Masters of Time, with its hands, hour markers and strap all outfitted in the luxury retailer’s signature red.

Sadly, this watch is no longer on the market, having been snapped up by an eager collector before the exhibition even began.

With so many watches on display, it’s hard to characterise Masters of Time in a singular way. Suffice it to say, a trip to the exhibition is an illuminating lesson in the sheer diversity that exists in the world of modern watchmaking.

Text: Tenzing Thondup
Images: DFS