The fortnight saw the Singapore Grand Prix and the Editor attending a most unusual Press Conference. We bring you the significant horological event highlights of the fortnight ending September 20.
We begin with Girard Perregaux
Girard Perregaux introduces new CEO on September 8
GP Press Lunch to introduce new CEO Antonio Calce.
New CEO Antonio Calce was present to share his thoughts and plans for a new GP. His plans include aligning the collection, introducing key elements into the DNA and exercising a tighter control over the distribution with the aim to eliminate grey market.
GP also took the opportunity to showcase some of the watches they introduced in BaselWorld 2015. One of our favourites, the Girard Perregaux Minute Repeater Tourbillon with Golden Bridges was available on hand for guests to view, listen and admire.
The following evening, a Collector Event was held with Mr Calce. Both events were organized by The Hour Glass, Authorized retailer for Girard Perregaux.
Greubel Forsey Philippe Dufour Naissance d’une Montre project introduction September 16
The Sincere organized Press Lunch attended by the principals Stephen Forsey and Philippe Dufour.
The Naissance d’une Montre project is a special collaboration between Greubel Forsey and Philippe Dufour. We carried a short report on the press lunch here. The lunch was organized by Sincere Fine Watches.
The project resulted in a special timepiece, seen top left in the photograph. The watch was almost totally hand made by the Naissance candidate Michel Boulanger. The first watch to bear both the names of Greubel Forsey and Philippe Dufour, it will go under the hammer with proceeds going to the project by Christie’s in their summer sale in 2016.
Global Launch of Luminox Navy SEALs Colormark Nova September 17-19
Luminox ran a very special launch for its new Navy SEALs Colormark Nova, a series of four watches with different colours for specific applications at Langkawi, a resort island off the coast of Malaysia. To bring home the point of the ruggedness and utility of the watch, and that Luminox is the only watch endorsed for use by the US Navy SEALs, Crystal Time (distributor for Luminox in Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei) brought a group of 40 journalists to be undergo a day of training under former US Navy SEAL John McGuire.
SEALs Physical Training under former US Navy SEAL John McGuire.
The instructor, John McGuire was a former US Navy SEAL for 10 years before retiring to found his own company SEAL Team PT, which conducts physical training around the world. John’s own story is inspirational, and we will bring you the full story in an article in the near future.
The training was tough, and we learnt teamwork, leadership gained through exhausting physical training on the beach.
The actual product launch with Crystal Time‘s Pamela Tan and Luminox’s Martin Grossenbacher followed. The watches, though at an entry price point of less than S$600, and featuring quartz standardization movements are quite interesting for the intended application. More in the future article as well.
Luminox Global Product Launch for the Navy SEALs Colormark Nova. Note the US Navy SEALs emblem engraved on the caseback.
Oris meeting with Valtteri Bottas – Williams F1 driver September 18
As it was Formula 1 weekend in the Singapore Grand Prix, Oris sponsored driver Valtteri Bottas was present at a press conference.
Oris Press Conference with Valtteri Bottas and Michael Meier of Oris.
Arnold & Son preview of 2015 novelties September 18
Arnold & Son present Baselworld 2015 novelties.
Held at the Authorized Retailer for Arnold & Son: Sincere Fine Watches in their Hilton Boutique, the event showcased the novelties for 2015. A technical discussion on the Golden Wheel and the Constant Force Escapement was also conducted by Arnold & Son’s VP Sales: Fabien Dutriaux.
