CROWN June 2016

Ong Weisheng Stylist Formerly an in-house stylist for a high-society magazine, Weisheng brings eight years of experience to his freelance work. Fond of constructing mini sets for his shoots, Weisheng believes in tailoring his style to suit the subject matter; an approach evident in his evocative watch and jewellery spreads. Brian Jones Writer A freelance writer and editor who was born in the outskirts of Washington, D.C. and is currently based in the outskirts of Seoul. Along with writing on all things horological, he’s been known to pen pieces on men’s fashion, sports and popular culture. When he’s not writing, he can be found traveling the continent, fumbling in his attempts to speak the local tongues. Charmian Leong Writer After seven years of full-time employment, four of them spent writing…

We thought we’ve seen it all. From a brand honcho dunking his tourbillon in a glass of water to prove how solidly built the watch is, to an extreme sky driver strapping a chronograph to his spacesuit and leaping off a capsule from the edge of space, the watch industry has never ceased to amaze us with its antics and exploits. Just when we believed that nothing more could shock us, a CEO from an independent watch company offered a tiny nugget of information that sent us reeling. At a press luncheon, the CEO revealed that his youngest customer is nine years old. NINE. For a watch that costs approximately US$19,000. At an age where boys are begging their parents for light sabres from Toys 'R Us, this young fella…

“BRING ANY NEW MATERIAL TO ME, AND I WILL DO IT!”Dick Steeman, master engraver, on challenging his limitS “Unnecessary aesthetics just put me off.”OLIVER EBSTEIN, CHRONOSWISS’ CEO, ON THE MERITS OF SIMPLE DESIGN “YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO COMPLAIN, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE COMPANY HAS GROWN BY EIGHT TIMES SINCE 2004.”Alain Delamuraz, Blancpain’s vice-president, on the slowdown in watch retail “People fork out 10,000 euros for a watch because it makes them feel something.”ANGELO BONATI, PANERAI’S CEO, ON THE IMPORTANCE OF EMOTIONAL APPEAL “Weekend. Holiday. Retirement.”PHILIPPE DUFOUR, MASTER WATCHMAKER, ON THE WORDS TO FORGET IF ONE WANTS TO BE A SERIOUS WATCHMAKER “You mean there isn’t already one?”Maximilian Spitzy, Fortis’ CEO, when asked what he would do in the event of a price war “When the feedback from everywhere is the…

We knew Glashütte Original had a winner on their hands when we saw the Senator Cosmopolite at BaselWorld 2015. This year, the sentiments were validated by the watch winning the ‘Golden Balance’, one of the most prestigious awards in contemporary watchmaking. A reader’s choice prize of sorts, the ‘Golden Balance’ was handed out after over 21,000 readers of Focus and Uhren-Magazin – a Germany-based news weekly and watch magazine, respectively – were polled. The Senator Cosmopolite took top prize – the 18th ‘Golden Balance to be handed out – in the premier category for watches over €25,000. For those who don’t know, the Senator Cosmopolite is a world-time watch par excellence. Boasting handsome aesthetics and utilitarian features, the watch, available in pink or white gold case, offers the user a…

You asked, they heard, and now the winner has been named. In early March, TAG Heuer launched the Autavia Cup Online to search for the model they would reissue at Baselworld 2017. The origins of the watch hark back to the glamorous days of both racing and flying. Named ‘Autavia’ as a marriage of the words, “automobile” and “aviation”, the model was first launched in 1933 as a dashboard instrument which ran for eight days without winding. The Autavia was also TAG Heuer’s first chronograph to be christened with a name unlike previous models, which went by reference numbers. In addition, it was the first of the watchmaker’s chronographs to feature a rotating bezel. Designed in 1962 by Jack Heuer, the Autavia was the first wristwatch he created to meet…

“Aye!” says Charmian Leong LUXURY TIMEPIECES ARE NOT PRACTICAL PURCHASES. People don’t buy them for utility, they buy them for emotion. So if things like pedigree and heritage light up your loupe-covered eyes, why shouldn’t they factor into your purchasing decisions? BUYING A MECHANICAL WATCH MEANS BUYING ITS STORY, and it’s usually a good one. Flying in fighter jets, scouring the ocean’s depths, walking through the resplendent halls on the wrists of long lost nobility — these are all timepieces that belong to brands that have been around long enough and survived to tell those tales. REASSURANCE ALSO PLAYS A PART. It’s safe to assume a company that has been operating for centuries will continue to do so. If they can survive world wars, they must be doing something right.…