Master of Materials: Rado’s Art of Ceramic

A symphony of durability and comfort delivers, these protective creations are a perfect harmony of innovation, materials and design. Gentle, light and resistant to wear-and-tear, cases utilise such high-tech materials as Ceramos ™ and Plasma High-Tech Ceramic, as well as the monobloc construction – which fastens the primary movement components directly into the case, an attribution credited to only the Swiss maison – ensuring each piece can last until eternity.

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Producing such intricate designs can only come about through the meticulous production process – one that requires utmost precision, skill, and, above all else, loving care. The method begins by creating a mould which is then injected and heated at 1,450°C for several hours to reach its maximum hardness and colour intensity. For Plasma High-Tech Ceramic, the components then undergo an additional oven treatment to transform its stark white hue to a sleek metallic finish. During this process, the case shrinks by 23 percent, after which it is machined down to achieve the accurate final dimensions required.

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Moving onto the polishing, and the components are bathed in high-frequency vibrations to produce an exceptional shine, while precision-sandblasting bequeathes it an even matte finish. Meanwhile, the finer details of the case are further treated with engraving and lacquering processes as required before undergoing a rigorous inspection to ensure every piece meets Rado’s specific standards. The end result are timepieces that blend innovation and modern beauty with the finest watchmaking skills.

Lucky colours to wear on the first day of CNY

Start the Year of the Ox by welcoming in good luck, health and fortune with the lucky colours that match your zodiac sign. Whether you’re looking for love or a boost in your career, these auspicious colours to wear on the first day of Chinese New Year will bless you with a prosperous 2021.

gafencu magazine lucky colour chinese new year - Rat

Balmain Blazer; YSL blouse; Givenchy pencil skirt; Bottega Venetta chained pouch and hoop earrings; Omega Constellation watch

Year of the Rat

White = Good business
Gold = More wealth
Black = Safety
Blue = Calm emotions

gafencu magazine lucky colour chinese new year - Ox

Barena Venezia blazer; Berluti scritto messenger bag; Bottega Veneta belt; Giorgio Armani sweater; Prada trousers

Year of the Ox

Red = Good business
Gold = More wealth
Purple = Love
Earthy = Good health

gafencu magazine lucky colour chinese new year - Tiger

Versace gold medusa jacket and shoes; Giorgio Armani bag; green tourmaline ring; by Ryder Diamonds; Gucci necklace; Rado golden horse automatic watch

Year of the Tiger

Forest Green = Good business
Gold = More wealth
White = Love
Black = Good health

gafencu magazine lucky colour chinese new year - Rabbit

YSL cashmere and wool jacket; Marni small leather tote;  fancy yellow white earrings by Ryder Diamonds; Versace medusa necklace; ribbed trousers by Victoria Beckham

Year of the Rabbit

Blue = Good business
Gold = More wealth
Yellow = Ward off bad spirits
Orange = Love

gafencu magazine lucky colour chinese new year - Dragon

Marni knit dress; Burberry ankle boots; Hermès silk bag; Fenty Beauty gloss bomb

Year of the Dragon

Red = Good business
Yellow = More wealth
Purple = Love
Brown = Happiness

gafencua magazine lucky colour chinese new year - Snake

Marni knit pullover; Joseph leather leggings; Ports bag; Chaumet link necklace; Chopard happy hearts bracelet

Year of the Snake

Red = Good business
Gold: More wealth
Orange + Red = Love
Green = Happiness

gafencu magazine lucky colour chinese new year - Horse

YSL runway look and silk blouse; Giorgio Armani purse; Fenty Beauty gloss bomb

Year of the Horse

Red + Purple = Good business
Pink = Love
Green = Good health

gafencu magazine lucky colour chinese new year - Goat

Joseph Cenda wool and and cashmere jacket; Jimmy Choo heels; Astteria yellow diamond necklace; Marni small leather tote; Fenty Beaty gloss bomb

Year of the Goat

Orange + Red = Good business
Yellow = More wealth
Bright Yellow = Love
Beige = Good health

gafencu magazine lucky colour chinese new year - Monkey

Dior hoop earrings; Burberry sunglasses; shoes by Golden Goose; Buccellati Macri Classica diamond bracelets

Year of the Monkey

White = Good business
Gold = More wealth
Golden Brown = Good health

gafencu magazine lucky colour chinese new year - Rooster

Canada Goose sleeveless vest; money gold cloth mask by Silkism; Omega Trésor watch; Burberry gold-plated bangle; necklace by Ryder Diamonds

Year of the Rooster

Silver = Good business
Gold = More wealth
White = Love
Yellow = Good health

gafencu magazine lucky colour chinese new year - Dog

Chloe FW20-21 runway look; Bottega Venetta clutch; Breguet Reine de Naples watch

Year of the Dog

Red = Good business
Light Yellow = More wealth
Wine Red = Love
Brown = Good health

gafencu magazine lucky colour chinese new year - Pig

Kingsmen suit jacket and pants; Louis Vuitton long necklace; Cushion diamond ring by Ryder Diamonds; Berluti cashmere scarf

Year of the Pig

Black + White = Good business
Gold = More wealth
Light blue = Love
Dark green = Good health

Top five watches that would make perfect gifts this season

We’re simply in love with these top five watches that would make a perfect gift this season.

 Slender Splendour

top five watches

Piaget, the ever-innovative Swiss luxury watchmaker, has marked the 60th anniversary of its invention of the truly iconic Calibre 9P movement – a historic, ultra-thin hand-wound

watch mechanism – with the launch of the Altiplano Ultimate Concept. With a thickness of just 2mm, the company claims it is the world’s thinnest mechanical hand-wound watch. Fashioned from a cobalt-derived high-tech alloy, the timepiece also boasts a 0.2mm thick crystal cover, a 1.1mm alligator leather strap and a super-slender pin buckle. www.piaget.com

Rado Active

top five watches

Taking inspiration from the very finest – Mother Nature’s endless bounty – Rado, the Swiss watchmaker that famously produced the world’s first truly scratchproof timepiece, has incorporated water, earth and leaf motifs into its recently launched True Thinline collection. With individual watches dedicated to one of the three natural elements, buyers can choose between blue-hued Water, green-liveried Leaf and russetty metallic Earth, as their slimline wrist adornment of choice. Each watch comes with a quartz movement and a high-tech ceramic/stainless steel case and bezel. www.rado.com

Rolex Roll-outs

top five watches

Rolex’s much-loved GMT Master II collection has expanded somewhat with the addition of three classically-styled chronometers to its elegant ranks. These include the first two 18-carat rose gold incarnations of this most timeless of timepieces, as well as a model rendered in Oystersteel, complete with a rotatable bezel fittingly emblazoned with the brand’s iconic 24-hour graduated red-and-blue Cerachrom design. All three boast in-house calibre 3285 movements, and are clearly set to be fine additions to the collection of any true haute horology enthusiast. www.rolex.com

Pyramid Selling

top five watches

While pyramids will always first bring to mind the long-dead pharaohs of long-lost Egyptian dynasties, nuzzling into second place, in terms of three-dimensional triangle association, is surely Hermès, the Paris-headquartered high-end, high fashion brand. Not only were these pointy promontories a recurring motif in the marque’s truly memorable Fall/Winter 2018 collection, they are now the defining element of its newly-released and elegantly eye-catching Médor Rock collection of watches, with each model boasting a distinctly pyramidesque dial-mounted gem. www.hermes.com

Sign of the Time

top five watches

Maintaining its commitment to creating truly luxurious accessories, Harry Winston, the New York-headquartered haute joaillerie house, has unveiled The Precious Signature, the dual offering of a programmable automatic signature writing system (an automaton) and desk clock, all finely crafted in 18-carat white gold and zirconium alloy. For its part, the automaton can churn out pretty convincing takes on the signature of marque-founder Harry Winston or be reprogrammed to sign its owner’s name. Best to keep your cheque book in a different drawer maybe. www.harrywinston.com

One thing’s certain though – with these top five watches, you can woo anyone with a perfect gift!