While Thailand's retail giants rival in organising local watch fairs, Malaysia's YTL Corporation Berhard has firmly established "A Journey Through Time" as the region's premier watch and jewellery showcase, hailing the eighth edition as a prelude to BaselWorld — the industry's biggest and most important event.
Held from Nov 21-28, "A Journey through Time VIII" attracted an increasing number of visitors to Starhill Gallery, listed by Forbes Traveller as "Asia's Most Beautiful Mall", located on Jalan Bukit Bintan, Kuala Lumpur's most prominent retail belt.
The annual event has reached such a prestigious status partially from the endorsement of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, which declared 2014 as Visit Malaysia Year. Promoting the country as a shopping destination is obviously one of the strategies to stimulate the economy.
"In celebration of Visit Malaysia Year 2014, this year's showcase was the most eclectic. Ultimately, our objective is to solidify it as a key event on the Malaysian calendar, not only to drive tourist arrivals and increase tourism spending, but also enhance the position of Malaysia as a destination of choice for luxury shopping and dining experiences," said Joseph Yeoh, vice-president, of YTL Hotels and Properties.
Joseph Yeoh, vice-president, of YTL Hotels and Properties.
The 2014 exhibition included rare private collections, first-in-market editions and exquisite pieces from over 125 luxury brands, many of them already retailing at Starhill Gallery, such as Bedat & Co, Cecil Purnell, Hermès, Omega, Hublot, Ulysse Nardin, Breguet, Maîtres du Temps, Gübelin, Carrera y Carrera, Ceres, Garrard and Damiani.
The occasion also welcomed an up-and-coming independent Swiss brand, HYT, the hydro-mechanical horologist, who are setting up a boutique at Starhill Gallery to present their time-telling innovations involving the mixing of mechanics and liquid.
Visitors had the opportunity to view exclusive pieces by these international watch and jewellery houses while the Pre-Baselworld 2015 unveiling included Maîtres du Temps Chapter One Guilloche Translucent with a bold, architecturally-inspired round case and a bespoke guilloche dial; and Cecil Purnell V-16 GMT Double Tourbillon featuring an in-house movement based on a double barrel, which ensures greater power management and time precision.
"The level of excellence in terms of craftsmanship, quality and innovation showcased throughout the exhibits this year has been remarkable to say the least," said Yeoh. "It is indeed heartening to see the event evolving to become a serious platform where leading watch and jewellery houses the world over come together to present their very best."
Experts also delivered talks for visitors to gain a deeper knowledge of watches and precious stones as well as how to invest in timepieces by revered collector, Dr Bernard Cheong, who also led a panel of judges in determining winners of awards under seven categories (see box).
The finale was the presentation of these awards, a watch and jewellery Oscar perhaps, to recognise the event's outstanding pieces.
Maîtres du Temps Chapter One Guilloche Translucent.
Favourite Ladies' WatchInspired by works of Art Deco artist, Paul Kiss, Bedat & Co Ref. 828.040.M04 applies the design of wrought iron on the dial enhanced by diamond-set bezel and crown protector.
Ministry of Tourism and Culture Most Revered AwardTourbillon Messidor, one of the Classiques Grandes Complications from Breguet, whose founder patented the tourbillon in 1801 as a regulating device to compensate for rate errors resulting from the effect of gravity on the moving parts.
Timeless Jewellery AwardFeaturing diamonds in different forms and settings, Snowdrop necklace by Garrard, the world's oldest jewellery house based in London.
Watch With Complications In Movements AwardInspired by a music box, Ulysse Nardin Stranger is a marriage of movement and music that plays the 1966 melody Strangers In The Night.
The YTL Spirit Of Classical Art AwardV-16 GMT Double Tourbillon by Cecil Purnell, a tourbillon-only watchmaker, who fitted this model with an in-house movement based on a double barrel to ensure greater power management and time precision.
Favourite Men's WatchH1 Dracula DLC from HYT, whose hydro mechanical horologists designed this vampire-inspired model with a time-indicating red fluid and red veins accents on the black alligator strap.
The Judges Choice AwardSpeake Marin Resilience, the name referring to the unfading quality of the oven-fired enamel dial in white which brings out the beauty of signature features: the heat-blued hands and a small blued steel screw above the 6 o'clock position.
