Hidden Time, a concept timepiece by South Korean industrial designer Jung Ji Woong, uses a gradually shifting colour gradient to denote the time, in place of an hour hand.
Hidden Time, a concept timepiece by South Korean industrial designer Jung Ji Woong, uses a gradually shifting colour gradient to denote the time, in place of an hour hand.
01 HYPER SPACE
A revamped watch wonderland awaits at Ion Orchard.
After four months behind cardboard walls, the Patek Philippe boutique at Ion Orchard has re-emerged bigger and brighter than ever – over four times bigger, to be exact. The newly renovated store now boasts 265 sq m of horological goodness.
It looks no less plush than it did when it first opened in 2009. Birdseye maple, Indian rosewood and burnished brass are the building blocks and accents of choice, with a three-tier Baccarat chandelier casting its glow on the numerous timepieces on display in the welcome area. The showrooms are now noticeably larger, and the store includes three sales desks and a waiting lounge with a Patek Philippe library. VIPs have access to a private room where sliding doors may be closed for discreet perusing.
The boutique will be operated by local retailer Cortina Watch, as the two companies have had a 44-year relationship. (These longstanding ties are highlighted in a small exhibition area in the VIP room.) “This relationship holds special meaning to the two families and extends beyond a manufacture and retailer relationship,” says Cortina’s executive director, Jeremy Lim.
02 HOME BASE
With new boutiques come new boutique exclusives to collect. Fresh on the South-east Asian scene is Glashutte Original, which just opened its regional flagship at Marina Bay Sands. Inside the 34 sq m store, you will find blue - dialled versions of the Senator Perpetual Calendar and the Senator Panorama Date Moon Phase, as well as the Pavonina ladies’ watch in white gold. The recently released Sixties Iconic Collection in five new shades can also be found here.
03 SLIGHT OF HAND
To celebrate Hermes’ newest watch collection, Slim d’Hermes, a travelling exhibition has been making its rounds in major cities. Titled Orchestration Of Time and designed by artist Eric Vernhes, the exhibition will be making a stop in Singapore at Marina Bay Sands (the Grand Colonnade South atrium on level one) from June 16 to 26. Expect themes of simplicity and motifs of the Slim d’Hermes’ numeral font – designed by Philippe Apeloig – as well as video presentations surrounding the displays of 11 watches.
04 SMALL MIRACLE
Three years ago, Greubel Forsey placed inside a watch’s crown a sculpture so tiny it could fit on the head of a pin. That was the Art Piece 1 made in collaboration with micro-sculptor Willard Wigan. This year, the miniature magic returns with the Art Piece 2, which features a nano-engraved sketch of the Double Tourbillon 30 mechanism – the brand’s first invention, as well as the highlight of the very watch the sketch is held in – on a wee sapphire crystal plate. Just like in the Art Piece 1, the miniature masterpiece can be seen through a magnifying lens through the crown. A pusher just below it activates the time indicator in the fan-shaped aperture on the dial.
