Every year The Business times will publish a supplement ( 28 Aug 2009 ) section called the 'The Business of Time'. This is where you can find articles, write ups and useful information on watches ranging from the low to the high end. There is absolutely everything for everyone who love watches. So do enjoy these articles that was painstakingly researched and put up. All articles and pictures are property of Singapore Press Holdings. Enjoy!
Keep up with the times
YOU can literally feel the impact of the global downturn on the watch business by just holding this supplement. It feels much lighter, whereas last year it was a whopping 74 pages thick.
Major watch brands and retailers have cut back on advertising and promotion, after the business downturn spread and deepened in 2009. But while watch makers from Switzerland and Germany to Japan and China have reduced production, they have not stopped creating new models.
Even new independent players have jumped on the bandwagon. In any case, none saw the recession coming in the boom years when they planned upcoming timepieces.
So while BT's 2009 Watch Supplement is down to 40 pages, there is no lack of new watches for men and women to choose from among those we showcase here. There are even watches produced exclusively for Singapore, though the market here posted a 30 per cent drop in imports from Switzerland in the first half of 2009.
Patek Philippe launched a limited edition of ultra-thin platinum pieces with enamel cloisonne dials depicting the "Year of the Rat" for Singapore.
And Franck Muller has tied up with the Singapore Formula One race to unveil a new chronograph in two limited editions - gold and titanium.
While production fell, watch prices have soared despite the economic slowdown. Some of the pieces featured here cost more than $1 million each, while many of the steel watches cost over $10,000. Even Swatch, famous for creating affordable fashion pieces, has introduced a deluxe mechanical pair costing up to nearly $20,000.
The luxury brands with the heavy price tags are not only Swiss or German made. The Japanese, who almost killed the Swiss mechanical watch industry with cheap quartz offerings in the 1980s, are pushing to make their presence felt at the high-end spectrum, as one of our contributors notes.
But the budget-conscious who cannot afford a new luxury timepiece this year need not fret. Another contributor tells us there are many value-for-money items in the mid-range. If all else fails, add a new strap or bracelet to your collection.
It can make a big difference to that old watch on your wrist, says one writer. Elsewhere in the supplement, we have contributions on watch-collecting, restoration and vintage pieces.
A change from the past is a bigger spotlight on the people behind the timepieces. And as for the ladies, we tell you how they are starting to make a splash in the male-dominated watch business.
Major watch brands and retailers have cut back on advertising and promotion, after the business downturn spread and deepened in 2009. But while watch makers from Switzerland and Germany to Japan and China have reduced production, they have not stopped creating new models.
Even new independent players have jumped on the bandwagon. In any case, none saw the recession coming in the boom years when they planned upcoming timepieces.
So while BT's 2009 Watch Supplement is down to 40 pages, there is no lack of new watches for men and women to choose from among those we showcase here. There are even watches produced exclusively for Singapore, though the market here posted a 30 per cent drop in imports from Switzerland in the first half of 2009.
Patek Philippe launched a limited edition of ultra-thin platinum pieces with enamel cloisonne dials depicting the "Year of the Rat" for Singapore.
And Franck Muller has tied up with the Singapore Formula One race to unveil a new chronograph in two limited editions - gold and titanium.
While production fell, watch prices have soared despite the economic slowdown. Some of the pieces featured here cost more than $1 million each, while many of the steel watches cost over $10,000. Even Swatch, famous for creating affordable fashion pieces, has introduced a deluxe mechanical pair costing up to nearly $20,000.
The luxury brands with the heavy price tags are not only Swiss or German made. The Japanese, who almost killed the Swiss mechanical watch industry with cheap quartz offerings in the 1980s, are pushing to make their presence felt at the high-end spectrum, as one of our contributors notes.
But the budget-conscious who cannot afford a new luxury timepiece this year need not fret. Another contributor tells us there are many value-for-money items in the mid-range. If all else fails, add a new strap or bracelet to your collection.
It can make a big difference to that old watch on your wrist, says one writer. Elsewhere in the supplement, we have contributions on watch-collecting, restoration and vintage pieces.
A change from the past is a bigger spotlight on the people behind the timepieces. And as for the ladies, we tell you how they are starting to make a splash in the male-dominated watch business.
A new face for Lange
While the complications continue to impress, few really stand out from the rest this year. But one notable exception is the Guy Ellia Tourbillon Magistere II, a beautiful skeletal creation. This may be the hot one to watch.
Also noteworthy are Azimuth's SP-1 Twin Barrel Tourbillon and Back In Time, the world's first single-hand watch that run anti-clockwise. These should be of interest to watch fans here since Azimuth was started by two enterprising Singaporeans.
The sports timepieces fall into three categories - for racing, diving and flying. An interesting but exclusive offering is Jaeger-LeCoultre's AMVOX2, available to owners of the Aston Martin DBS sports car. It has a built-in gadget that can trace your car as well as open and close its doors. Another piece, the Breitling Chronomat B O 1, is a chronograph driven by a movement made in-house for the first time by Breitling.
Omega's Seamaster Ploprof 1200m is an improved version of the company's cult-diving watch.
Also noteworthy are Azimuth's SP-1 Twin Barrel Tourbillon and Back In Time, the world's first single-hand watch that run anti-clockwise. These should be of interest to watch fans here since Azimuth was started by two enterprising Singaporeans.
The sports timepieces fall into three categories - for racing, diving and flying. An interesting but exclusive offering is Jaeger-LeCoultre's AMVOX2, available to owners of the Aston Martin DBS sports car. It has a built-in gadget that can trace your car as well as open and close its doors. Another piece, the Breitling Chronomat B O 1, is a chronograph driven by a movement made in-house for the first time by Breitling.
Omega's Seamaster Ploprof 1200m is an improved version of the company's cult-diving watch.