Friday, January 31, 2020

Bon Weekend: 31 January 2020

We’ve made it through January. It was the longest month ever but I have a feeling February will fly by so I’ve pulled together a few things happening now and later in the month to give you time to plan ahead.

Don’t forget that The Winter Show will be close on Sunday, February 2, 2020. I took the photo above there when I stopped by last week. Antique and art fairs are great places to train your eye even if you can’t afford anything. There is an entry fee but it’s open to anyone.

The Kips Bay Decorator Show House Palm Beach opens Saturday, February 1st and runs through March, 1, 2020. I was supposed to go down this weekend for the opening and then to see my friend in Miami but I forgot the Super Bowl was happening so I have to figure out a less crowded weekend to visit. The Palm Beach show house always a nice breath of fresh air in the middle of winter.

If you want to see the iconic film Love Story on the big screen, it will be playing in theaters on February 9 and February 12, 2020 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the publication of the book by Erich Segal. You’ll have to check the website to see if it’s playing in your area but it would be a very special thing to do this February. Also, Oliver’s Story is not as good as Love Story but it does star a young Candice Bergen with Ryan O’Neal.

The 1815 novel Emma by Jane Austen has been adapted for the big screen many times in many ways but the newest version out in February looks the loveliest. This version of Emma who is “handsome, clever and rich” and meddles in the romantic affairs of her friends and loved ones was directed by Autumn de Wilde and written by Eleanor Catton and stars Anya Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn and Bill Nighy. The costumes by Alexandra Byrne and the estates at which it was filmed are sure to steal the show along with Bill Nighy who is always fun to watch. It opens in wide release on February 21, 2020 but will open early in New York on February 13, 2020.

I’m intrigued by the upcoming film The Burnt Orange Heresy mostly because it looks insanely chic. It stars Claes Bang as charismatic art critic James Figueras and his American lover (Elizabeth Debicki) who travel to the lavish Lake Como estate of powerful art collector, Joseph Cassidy, played by Mick Jagger. “Their host reveals he is the patron of Jerome Debney, the reclusive J.D. Salinger of the art world, and he has a simple request: for James to steal a Debney masterpiece from the artist’s studio, whatever the cost.” It opens in New York and Los Angeles on March 6, 2020.

Until it’s released, I suggest watching The Night Manager which stars Tom Hiddleston, Elizabeth Debicki, Hugh Laurie, and Olivia Coleman. I rewatched it recently and forgot how good it was.

Everyone from friends to television hosts are talking about Cheer on Netflix. The docu-series follows the ups and downs (see what I did there) of a college cheer squad. I don’t know if it’s for me but I have a little fomo so I feel like I should see what all the fuss is about this weekend.

I did watch the Taylor Swift documentary Miss Americana Friday night. I often think she’s insufferable but I did enjoy watching her process of writing songs. I just wish someone would get her new fashion and hair stylists.

If you happen to be out shopping in New York, stop into Goodmans, the mens’s store across from Bergdorf Goodman, for a libation at Goodman’s Bar on the second floor. The chic restaurant and bar put together with Michelin starred chef Austin Johnson of Paris’ Frenchie, as well as former Eleven Madison Park wine director Dustin Wilson, is a welcome addition to midtown.

Diane Keaton‘s new novel Brother & Sister: A Memoir will be published on February 4, 2020. The heartfelt memoir about her relationship with her younger brother is “a poignant exploration of the divergent paths siblings’ lives can take.”

It feels like everyone on Instagram is pregnant and if you are too or even if you’re not, check out designer Misha Nonoo’s collaboration with Hatch. The white shirtdress would be perfect for a resort trip or summer. I also love their collaboration with La Ligne and you really don’t have to have a baby bump to wear any of their pieces.

Start saving your pennies now for the lipstick collection from Hermès that will be released in March. It will be available in 24 shades and refills can be purchased for the colorful cases.

Bon week-end!

XOXO,

HC



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Experience a Rare and Timeless Masterpiece From Royal Salute

Inspired by the power of time, the limited edition Royal Salute The Time Series 52 Year Old Single Cask Finish is the finest addition to any collector’s repertoire. This winter the ‘King of Whisky’, Royal Salute, launches an ultra-rar...

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CAVIAR CYBERPHONE

Caviar that has recently introduced a modified version of the phone, inspired by Tesla’s Cybertruck

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Hilton Los Cabos Cabo en Vivo Eagles Concert Package

An unforgettable Memorial Day Weekend in Mexico is calling. Los Cabos’ Cabo en Vivo presents a once-in-a-lifetime, luxury resort...

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Inside Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar At Disneyland

Take a look inside Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar At Disneyland. Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, California is a Jungle Cruise-themed tiki bar with a playful atmosphere, kitschy cocktails and delicious food. Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar is a tiki-themed bar that opened in May 2011. Named one of […]

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Curious Traveler’s 3 Days In Orlando

Orlando: From Mickey to Tiffany to Airboats. The Curious Traveler’s Christine van Blokland shares the best things to do in Orlando for a 3-day getaway: Friday Night: You can’t go to Orlando without going to Disney, but here’s the grown-up version: Just do a short visit to Epcot, and stay at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. The lobby […]

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Inside Walt’s, An American Restaurant, at Disneyland Paris

Imagine. Having a martini or beer while overlooking Disney’s Main Street USA? Imagine no more. Just hop a plane to France and visit Disneyland Paris. Right on Main Street USA is Walt’s, An American Restaurant, dedicated to Walt Disney, the creator of the Walt Disney Company. It is known as one of the main restaurants […]

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Inside 21 Royal, Disneyland’s Most Exclusive Private Suite

Take a look inside the magical and ultra-exclusive 21 Royal Suite in New Orleans Square, the most extraordinary and private destination in the heart of Disneyland Park. The most exclusive address in Disneyland is now 21 Royal Street, discreetly perched above Royal Street in New Orleans Square. Upstairs from the famed Pirates of the Caribbean […]

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From the Global Wellness Summit: Ten New Wellness Trends For 2020

On January 28th, 2020 at a press event in New York, the Global Wellness Summit released its top ten wellness trends for 2020.  The trends emerged from the insights of the 550 experts from 50 nations that gathered at the recent 2019 Summit, in

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The Overhead Compartment With Michael Eaves

Shining a spotlight on celebrities and athletes who love to travel. Created and developed by Stacy Steponate Greenberg. For most, being a star athlete is a dream and very seldom a reality, but when sports are your passion and the NFL or NBA are not calling, what do you do? That was the question that faced […]

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Inside the (RED) Suite at Andaz London

Exclusive video inside the (RED) Suite at Andaz London. Take a tour of this classic and iconic space, and its for a great cause – 30% of the proceeds from the (RED) Suite go to fight the AIDS epidemic. Designed by Sir Terence Conrad, who said “The (RED) Suite is a reflection of how I […]

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Park Hyatt St. Kitts Presidential Villa

Take an exclusive look inside the $6,000 a night Presidential Villa at Park Hyatt St. Kitts. Located within the Christophe Harbour development on Banana Bay in the most natural and untouched region of this beautiful Caribbean island, Park Hyatt St. Kitts, a new luxury five-star resort, introduces the unparalleled Park Hyatt experience for discerning leisure […]

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Inside the Secret Masonic Temple at Andaz London

Step inside the Secret Masonic Temple at Andaz London. This stunning Secret Temple was recently discovered at the London boutique hotel. Andaz London on Liverpool Street unearthed this secret Freemason Temple. Hidden behind a wall for decades, this secret masonic lodge was only rediscovered during renovations. Opened as the Great Eastern Hotel in 1884 and […]

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Inside Andaz London

Take an exclusive look inside Andaz London on Liverpool Street, a luxury hotel from the Hyatt family in London City. Above, watch our video tour of Andaz London and step inside this luxury boutique hotel offering sophisticated style, locally inspired cuisine, and social areas showcasing a kaleidoscope of London culture. Andaz London is awarded the […]

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Inside Rake’s Café Bar at Andaz London

Take an exclusive look inside Rake’s Café Bar, a new destination located next to Liverpool Street station and on the cusp of East London. Below, we hook you up with the recipe for this amazing cocktail, The Marriage. Rake’s, a place to escape the city, is a day to night destination next to London’s active […]

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Top 5 Luxurious Things You Must Do In Los Cabos

Los Cabos offers a variety of activities, adventures and attractions for affluent travelers. From shops, trendy restaurants to stunning spas, Los Cabos, located at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, also offers an array of outdoor activities and experiences under the sun. One of the most popular spa and resort destinations in Mexico, the […]

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Animal Crossing: New Horizons gets a special edition Nintendo Switch

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is slated to launch on March 20, 2020, and Nintendo just announced a special edition Nintendo Switch system to go along with it.

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Top 5 things to do in Pembrokeshire

Ah, Pembrokeshire. Beautiful coastline, gorgeous towns and villages and plenty of things to do. We’ve put together a list of the top five things to do in Pembrokeshire. Trust us, you won’t get bored… Walk the coast path The first national trail in Wales, Pembrokeshire’s coast path is 186 miles of jaw dropping scenery. Discover […]

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Visiting Herculaneum, Italy – 9 Fascinating Herculaneum Sights

Herculaneum may be lesser known than its famous neighbour, but visiting Herculaneum is a great alternative to Pompeii. So should …

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The Bottega Veneta Spring 2020 Campaign: An Endless Summer

Showcasing the eternal signifiers of elevated luxury, idly floating through time, Bottega Veneta encapsulates the pleasure of the sun and sea, in its latest Men and Women’s Spring 2020 Campaign.

The Bottega Veneta Spring 2020 Campaign: An Endless Summer

The campaign which is anchored in sensuality and pure luxury, reflects Creative Director Daniel Lee and photographer Tyrone Lebon’s vision and hedonistic aspirations of an endless summer.

Featuring models Mica Argañarazand and Edoardo Sebastianelli accessorized in chains, opulent jewels, sequins, and leather staples on the top deck of a boat, the campaign exudes a calm, casual and confident aura – blending earthy tone with bold pops of colour.

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Thursday, January 30, 2020

In the digital age, Chrono24 has been an Important tool to the modern Watch Collector

 

The market for used or pre-owned watches is huge – some like European financial consultancy Kepler Cheuvreux put yearly estimates of the global secondary watch market at US$5 billion a year, which works out to be roughly 10% of the market for new watches of approximately US$45 billion a year. Others feel that the pre-owned watch market is close to double the conservative estimates at around 20% but what’s not in doubt is that at 5% annual growth rates, the pre-owned watch segment is growing at twice the speed of the market for new luxury timepieces.

It’s a new growth segment that large conglomerates like Richemont Group are finally engaging through recent acquisitions of pre-owned watch resellers like Watchfinder. In fact, fuelled by factors such as the rise of e-commerce, changing consumer tastes and growing communities of watch fans, more pre-owned watch e-tailers are jumping on the bandwagon but through it all, watch connoisseurs could rely on one steadfast pioneer of the pre-owned watch market – Chrono24.

Business of Luxury: In Watch Commerce, Big Data has become an Important tool to the modern Collector

Unbeknownst to many watch collectors, Germany-based Chrono24 has been one of the main eCommerce players of the watch market in the modern age. With offices in Asia and the USA, it is a leading global online marketplace for buyers and sellers of vintage and pre-owned watches with ambitions to work with the brands themselves and market brand new timepieces in the same vein as Mr. Porter.

But with slightly more than one million registered users making annual transactions worth a billion euros annually, the real advantage of Chrono24 hasn’t been in the literal retail of pre-owned or brand new watches either, the platform has been a goldmine of data on everything from consumer purchasing behaviour to market valuations and tracking of our most beloved watches.

Patek Philippe Sky Moon Tourbillion – the most interesting watch of 2016. Also available on sale for a cool $3.1 million on Chrono24

Big Data meets Watch Commerce

Founded by Tim Stracke and Dirk Schwartz, Chrono24 had been live since 2003, but it was the entrepreneurial duo who essentially transformed it from a rudimentary “watch forum” (many of which still exist today) into a central repository of watch valuations and also valuable information on almost every reference which has come out of a watch factory – often one can even find the rarest of timepieces offered on the platform – for a price of course. We digress, but with over 200 million clicks a year across an assortment of close to half a million watches, Chrono24 is essentially the confluence of big tech and watch commerce – a power player in big data.

Providing annual reports like ‘Most Popular Watches of the Year”, complete with brand ranking information and percentage clicks, Chrono24 has been providing watch collectors with real-time market information on the true perceptions and real “value” of the timepieces they own, stripped off all the marketing verbiage which often accompanies discussion of fine watchmaking.

More importantly, the report even drills down to the most popular references of each brand (according to clicks and search volumes – Daytonas, Submariners, Datejusts, Seamasters and Speedmasters – if you’re curious) – providing indications of interest. Heck, even the data points are very well analysed – rare watch references which typically wouldn’t get a lot of search volume and yet proportionally attract the most users saw the Patek Philippe Sky Moon Tourbillon crowned as the Most Interesting Watch of that year.

Controversially, the data cuts both ways and Chrono24 also released information on watches which “despite being plentiful in supply, failed to excite our visitors”. Hence, the eCommerce watch retailer has the power to not just provide powerful insights for the end consumer, there’s plenty of actionable information for the brands themselves – how else would Oris, Mido or Junghans learn that they had moved up in rank positioning that year because they had produced models which had resonated with watch collectors, sold out at traditional retail channels but available for resale online.

Recently launched Mido Ocean Star has been popularly received

Statistically speaking, the majority of watch consumers use Chrono24 for inspiration, price comparison and information before ultimately making a purchase – usually online at between 7,000 and 9,000 euros but as prices go up to the 100,000 euros and 1 million euro mark, the negotiations are done via the platform but completed off-site. Ultimately, the sales side of the equation finds that more than 90% of the resellers are not individuals but rather dealers like Govberg Watches (Govberg recently established launched a competitor to Chrono24).

Big luxury groups react to pre-owned watch disruption: LVMH & Audemars Piguet

Suffice it to say, whether it is $5 billion or $10 billion, this has been a burgeoning trade that has grown to a size that even major Swiss watch brands find hard to ignore. Driven by an industry-wide slowdown in sales, watchmakers themselves are looking for new revenue streams. 75% of Swiss watch sales are dominated by four main companies: The Swatch Group (28.6%), Rolex (including Tudor) (23.5%), Richemont (18.4%), and LVMH (7.9%).

in an interview with Reuters in 2018 Audemars Piguet CEO François Henry Bennahmias estimated that the pre-owned watch market could end up being worth 10 to 20 times the new watch market. As such, he announced that Audemars Piguet will be introducing a subsidiary business dedicated to selling and buying secondhand AP watches.

Jean-Claude Biver, LVMH’s former Head of Watchmaking, sees the pre-owned market as an indirect determinant of commercial success for a new watch. Biver revealed that Tag Heuer had set up a restoration department for its vintage watches, authenticating and certifying them, should owners request it saying, “It protects the vintage market and hence the history and legacy of the brand,” says Biver, who added that “the more collectors are interested in our brand’s history, the more young people will be interested in the brand’s future”.

But ultimately, where Chrono24 is ahead of the curve is their ability to use the data to discern what watch collectors really need – for example: the watch eCommerce platform is aware you’re in the market for an Omega Speedmaster, and while it serve you some Speedmasters, unlike bricks and mortar retailer, Chrono24 is going to be able to serve you similar models based on “technical proximity” based on your search data and make recommendations that a less-knowledgeable human sales agent might not otherwise be able. Speaking of sales agents, Chrono24 also offers personal “buying agent” of sorts, keeping track of listings and notifying you when a specific watch reference appears.

The internet has democratised horological knowledge, available in 100 countries, most if not, all watch enthusiasts have visited Chrono24 at least once when hunting down a particular timepiece. CEO Tim Stracke said that the site transacted 20% more in 2019 than he did in 2018. One ignores this segment or remains oblivious to it at your own peril.

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The New Louis Vuitton Maison Osaka Midosuji Houses an Exclusive Rooftop Café

Establishing its seventh store in Osaka and third Maison in Japan, following the Omotesando and Matsuya Ginza in Tokyo – the four-storey Louis Vuitton Maison Osaka Midosuji will officially open its doors on February 1st 2020.

The New Louis Vuitton Maison Osaka Midosuji Houses an Exclusive Rooftop Café

Designed in a close and imaginative collaboration by long-term friends and architects, Jun Aoki and Peter Marino, the French luxury fashion retailer’s latest space will house the brand’s very first exclusive rooftop café and restaurant – helmed by the esteemed Chef Yosuke Suga.

Working on the Maison’s exterior, Jun Aoki is known for his work on a number of landmark Louis Vuitton stores across the globe, including the brand’s iconic New York Fifth Avenue Maison. Through his optimal use of natural light, the new Maison Osaka Midosuii exudes a light and airy atmosphere, with each level illuminated to create a sense of calm and respite.

Featuring a façade inspired by the sails of traditional Japanese Higaki-Kaisen cargo ships, Louis Vuitton honors Osaka, as the Japanese island of Honshu’s largest port city and commercial center.

Combining a maritime aesthetic with the incorporation of traditional woodwork and origami washi paper – the Louis Vuitton Maison Osaka Midosuji reminisces the spirit of a yacht with wood-clad pillars and metal roofs, whilst wooden flooring creates the impression of decks. Worked to create varying volumes, the vast space presents a balanced mix of spectacular halls and intimate lounge corners.

With the ground floor dedicated to women’s accessories, the subsequent mezzanine floor offers a bird’s eye view of the palatial main hall whilst showcasing the Art of Travel through an array of luggage options. Browse the complete offering of Artistic Director, Nicolas Ghesquière’s women’s ready-to-wear collections on the third floor, and be enthralled by Men’s Artistic Director, Virgil Abloh’s work on the fourth. The Maison will also feature women’s products such as the mink hoodie, blue sapphire Tambour watch and B Blossom necklace during its exclusive opening.

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James Kerwin Depicts Beirut’s Troubling History of Bombardment in Paradise Lost

With a history of conquests, triumphs and crises, Beirut is one of the world’s oldest cities, dating as far back as over 5,000 years ago. Once at outpost of the ancient Phoenician Semitic-speaking Mediterranean civilization which included areas such as coastal Syria, and north Palestine – Beirut was eventually acquired by the Roman Empire shortly after the first century began.

James Kerwin Depicts Beirut’s Troubling History of Bombardment in Paradise Lost

Following a series of invasions from the Byzantines, Crusaders, Mamluks, Ottomans and the French, the Lebanese capital of Beirut was regarded as ‘the Paris of the middle east’, due to its French-colonial architecture and vibrant culture which drew masses of tourists, professionals and investors.

However, the bustling and picturesque cosmopolitan city’s unfortunate outbreak of civil war in 1975, has since brought severe consequence. With Christian and Islamic factions engaged in a brutal conflict, Beirut’s economy and infrastructure suffered under sporadic acts of violence throughout the 1980s, and then again, in 2006 – no thanks to the nation’s military dispute with Israel.

War-torn and seemingly stagnated by schism, Beirut may have been the last place on earth worth visiting…up till British fine art photographer specializing in hidden and abandoned architecture, plus travel and location images, James Kerwin documented his visit, in a collection of photographs entitled ‘Paradise Lost‘.

Chronicling the remains of what was once the most majestic mansions, Kerwin’s work features historical architectural elements amidst crumbling stone and rotting timber. Though eerily beautiful, his journey through Beirut, sheds light on the city’s troubling history of bombardment and current state of recovery.

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A Recap of the Patek Philippe Watch Art Grand Exhibition Singapore

Watchmaking is a living art, which is all too easy to forget given that a certain breed of watch collector focuses obsessively on supply and demand. There is an obvious reason for this. To some, the only watches worth buying are those with built-in demand because the companies making these watches cannot keep up with the market. Consequently, such watches typically become worth more than their weight in gold, even if they are cased in steel. They are lusted after by people who do not have the faintest clue why these objects are so coveted, which indirectly leads to higher prices in the pre-owned market. Clearly this is not a recipe for long-term success, and this brings us back to the living art part.

“It is an exhibition about educating people first rather than something commercial,” said Patek Philippe President Thierry Stern (below) of the Patek Philippe Watch Art Grand Exhibition. “Exhibitions like (this) also allow us to educate the next generation; they might enjoy an Apple watch but they also find mechanical watches appealing and perhaps one day, they might like to own one. I think it is important for them to come and really understand the value and provenance behind those watches.” Stern was speaking with us after the media preview of the exhibition, which also saw many Patek Philippe collectors take exclusive tours.

Thierry Stern

Patek Philippe is certainly a blue-chip watchmaker that ticks all the right boxes for collectors. A Patek Philippe watch projects and protects wealth, while also functioning as a sign of impeccable taste. Such a watch – whatever it is – is sure to be highly sought-after while being in short supply. Also in short supply are the rare handcrafts that Patek Philippe regularly deploys in some of its high-end pieces such as Ref. 5089 (wood marquetry on time-only Calatravas) and Ref. 5088 (hand-engraving and champlevé enamelling on time-only Calatravas and also Golden Ellipses). These are the sorts of watches that embody the living art of watchmaking, but I’m skipping ahead a few beats.

Brand Ambassadors

“This is the biggest Grand Exhibition that we have done in terms of size,” said Stern. “We took two years to prepare because of the real challenge of this market, the whole Southeast Asia region, is that not only do they deserve to have Patek Philippe here but that they’re such good, passionate and knowledgeable clients that they ultimately become our best ambassadors. I’ve seen them touring with their friends and explaining the exhibits better than we do.”

Anita Porchet

In my own address to our readers at the Patek Philippe Watch Art Grand Exhibition in Singapore, I was at pains to connect the worlds of rare handcrafts and technical virtuosity. These were two separate rooms at the exhibition, with wildly differing aesthetic cues, but they come together in the watches. This is most obvious in pieces such as the Grandmaster Chime but also in less singular offerings such as Ref. 5160 (featuring extensive hand-engraving alongside the perpetual calendar), and Ref. 7000 (a ladies’ model minute repeater with cloisonné enamel dial, pictured below).

“It takes three months to complete a single dial,” said master enameller Anita Porchet. “Six to eight hours a day with breaks in between to rest my eyes. It can take up to a year to finish a seriously complicated dial.”

Those who dropped in at the Watch Art Grand Exhibition on its opening weekend would have been able to converse directly with Porchet, who is a living legend in watchmaking. She is responsible for such iconic works as both Ref. 5531 and Ref. 7000, as well as other notable watches not made by Patek Philippe.

Safeguarding Legacies

This leads into an interesting fact about Patek Philippe’s CHF20 million extravaganza at the Sands Theatre in Singapore: it was not only Patek Philippe watches or handcrafts on show. Just as the culture of watchmaking is not only about one brand, or indeed one country, the rare handcrafts too do not belong exclusively to any one party. Instead, these arts are part of the human experience, and quite a number of brands have stepped up to protect them and ensure that they will continue to enrich future generations. These brands include Breguet (whose famous founder was Swiss but whose brand was arguably French) and Cartier (a truly multinational watchmaking brand right from the start).

Important historical watches on show – all from the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva – included a 1796 ship’s chronometer designed by Thomas Mudge, and completed by Pennington, Pendleton and others for the inventor’s son, Mudge II. Other notable watches were a Casper Werner pendant watch (Nuremberg, 1548) that features a movement without hairspring; a Pierre Sebeult pendant watch with fusee and gut string, also without hairspring (France, 1660); and a significant Ferdinand Berthoud repeating pocket watch with double balance and a Hamelin enamel painting (France, 1758).

Ferdinand Berthoud pocket watch

Perhaps nowhere was it more evident that the Patek Philippe Watch Art Grand Exhibition was more than a commercially driven show than the family days. Of course, the Geneva brand is family-owned and does enjoy talking up its family values; the Generations advertising campaign aligns quite nicely with these values, but there is a softer side to all of this.

Held on two Sundays over the course of the exhibition in Singapore, both days offered families a bit of horological fun, including some assembly of watch parts. This was done with what appeared to be a fun sort of kit, with parts quite a bit bigger than what watchmakers contend with in assembling mechanical watches. It was a lot like an abstract Lego play session, although there were other watchmaking-related arts and crafts to come to grips with. 

Family Day

So what does Stern, who took over the business from his father Philippe, think about family values and the value of a family business?

“I have been talking about (the succession) with my sons already, and it is very important that they understand I made my choice when I was young,” said Stern. “So the pressure I had on my shoulders, I choose to have it. You cannot be prepared, you can only learn by doing it and growing. But it was something I accepted because I really wanted to do it. Yes I would prefer them to take over but if you ask me to choose between my children or Patek, it is an easy question: it is definitely my kids. With Patek, I can find somebody to run it – perhaps a fantastic CEO will take over for a while and then the next generation will one day take the reins again. I don’t really want to see someone outside the family running Patek Philippe but if my son is going to be sad running it, it will not work.”

Singapore was the fifth city to host the Patek Philippe Watch Art Grand Exhibition after Dubai in 2012, Munich in 2013, London in 2015 and New York in 2017. The Watch Art Grand Exhibition Singapore 2019, held at the Marina Bay Sands Theatre, opened its doors to the public for 16 days in September and October this year. It drew record turnout of 68,000 – the best yet of any of the Patek Philippe exhibitions so far.

The Singapore exhibition showcased more than 400 exceptional watches, including its entire current collection and more than 120 historical watches, in 10 themed rooms covering more than 1,800 sqm. By comparison, the two most recent London and New York exhibitions were 1,700 sqm and 1,200 sqm respectively, making the Singapore show the largest by area as well.

Patek Philippe announced that the sixth edition of its Watch Art Grand Exhibition will take place in Tokyo, Japan in 2022.

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