Distinguished Malaysian retailer of luxury timepieces – Swiss Watch Gallery decided to treat the inhabitants of Kuala Lumpur with an exceptional exhibition of wonderful watches made by high-end watchmakers which it represents. The recently closed exhibition by the retailer, named Timepieces – Today, Tomorrow & Forever held at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur shopping mall, was organized to celebrate the company’s tenth anniversary. In its tenth year of existence, this retailer represents nearly 60 luxury brands which it sells in Malaysia and Singapore.
In order to adequately represent its success over the years, Swiss Watch Gallery decided to showcase great horological achievements, such as watches from limited editions, museum watches, high jewellery timepieces and grande complication wristwatches. Many of them have never before been seen in the country. The exhibition featured watches from seven top brands the company represents, six watchmakers: Cartier, Graham-London, IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Montblanc, Ulysse Nardin, as well as an exclusive product from a luxury cellular phone manufacturer, Vertu.
Gaetan Bessonet
Furthermore, the Timepieces exhibition offered its visitors a rare treat – a chance to see Ulysse Nardin Master Watchmaker Gaetan Bessonet in action. The head of the brand’s department of high complications, Bessonet, demonstrated the knowledge and the technique which are necessary to high-end watches. People who attended the exhibition were also to hear about the specifics of the Villeret collection by Mont Blanc from the company’s official Florian Brossard.
Displayed Horological Treasures – Three Collections by Cartier and Tourbillon-Chronograph Combination by Graham London
World renowned French manufacturer of jewelry and timepieces, Cartier, held the largest area of the show. It presented watches from three of its collection: the quartz-driven Delices series of gold watches decorated with diamonds, fine men’s mechanical watches from the Calibre collection, as well as various products from the Ronde series.
Graham London showed off its exquisite Silverstone Tourbillograph Full Black Watch. This exceptional watch features both a column-wheel chronograph and a tourbillon. The timepiece has Calibre G1780 self-winding movement that runs on the frequency of 4Hz, has 34 jewels, shock resistance and the power resistance of 48 hours. Its one-minute tourbillon, constructed in off-centre position, is displayed through the black dial. It has black steel with a PVD finish and a black croco strap. It is clearly a wonderful watch with looks, quality and resistance that allows it be worn in both extreme conditions or in a combination with a dinner jacket.
Graham Silverstone Torbillograph Full Black Watch
Perpetual Calendar and Spectacular Diving Watch by IWC Schaffhausen, Piece of History by Jaeger LeCoultre
IWC Schaffhausen showcased beautiful Portuguese Perpetual Calendar timepiece. This watch with an appealing midnight blue dial has an automatic mechanical Calibre 51614 movement with 62 jewels and a 7-day reserve, indicated on its face. The watch is set in a white gold round case, 44.2 mm wide, and it includes a perpetual calendar with a date, day, month, year indication and with the display of moon phases for both hemispheres. IWC also displayed Aquatimer Automatic 2000 mechanical diving watch that has the ability to withstand water pressure to 2000 meters bellow surface.
IWC Schaffhausen Portuguese Perpetual Calendar Watch
Jaeger Le-Coultre prepared something special for the visitors. It displayed iconic Reverso timepieces, unveiled for the first time in Malaysia. The legendary watches by the company were created precisely eight decades ago to meet the needs of British officers in India who demanded timepieces that would be able to withstand hard bumps that occur during a polo game. More than that, the brand made a watch with an immaculate Art Deco design that still persists. Through years, it included new sizes and complications, but kept its iconic status.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Watch
Two Faces within a Single Timepiece and Homage to Malaysia
Montblanc was represented with dial-shifting Metamorphosis watch, presented last year at SIHH (Salon International de la Haute Horologerie Geneve). The ingenious watch, conceived by Johnny Girardin and Franck Orny, owns its name to its remarkable ability to change the appearance of the face and functions. With a simple move of a slide, the Metamorphosis shifts from the usual time display to a chronograph! In its regular mode, this model indicates hours, minutes and features a peculiar round date display. Besides, the dial includes Roman numerals. However, once the slide is activated, the watch begins a breathtaking metamorphosis that changes the face of the watch which then has a face with a chronograph function. In this mode, the numerals are Arabic and the sub dial that displays date becomes the minute counter. This fantastic watch is constructed in a limited edition, consisting of only 28 pieces.
Montblanc Metamorphosis Watch
A special touch of the exhibition was the wristwatch dedicated to the country in which it was held. The limited edition of Ulysses Nardin, called 1Malaysia, was crafted as a tribute to the country which the late president of the brand, Rolf Schnyder, chose for his home. Scnyder, who died earlier this year, bought the ailing company in 1983, turned its fortune around and brought it to highly respectable position. The 1Malaysia features Malaysian territories and flag on its dial. It is the limited edition that consists of just 25 pieces in rose gold and 75 in stainless steel.
Ulysse Nardin Malaysia Watch
it’s fantastic idea to be able to look at master watchmaker doing his magic. great pieces at the exhibition too, especially the metamorphosis watch. it is very cool and its ability to have two completely different faces is brilliant idea. i’m guessing it was very hard to actually make something like that.