ZENITH X CORTINA EVENT @ SUNSET BAR SHANGRI LA TANJUNG ARU BEACH RESORT

An event was held recently to showcase Zenith's Basel 2015 collection and also a celebration of Zenith's 150 year history.
Organised by Zenith together with Cortina Watch, one of Zenith's Authorised Dealers here in Kota Kinabalu.

My watch of choice for the event...
One of my favourite... The Zenith El Primero Striking 10th.

Excellent setting for the night.
Cool sea breeze...
Excited to see the 2015 Novelties... so let's get started.

El Primero Chronomaster Night Vision with a ceramicised aluminium case on the left.
Zenith Pilot Type 20 Bronze on the left.

The new El Primero 36,000 VPH models.
Both black and white dial.
Clean... with overlapping subdials still but with a solution to reading the chronograph subdials accurately.

The El Primero Sport models.
Awesome look... not so awesome size... at 45mm... sigh...
A little smaller, I reckon it will give the Rolex Daytona a run for their money.

The all new Classics collection.
This one houses an El Primero movement.
I was hoping to see the 3 handed Elite 6150 version but it was not released yet according to Mr.Hugo Escude.
What's so interesting about the Elite Caliber 6150?
Well, it's a standard 3 hand movement with a double barrel setup providing 100 hours of power reserve... Not bad at all...

For the ladies, there is the Star Collection.
This particular dial has a hand painted flower over a mother of pearl base... Unique...

This model gave my wife butterflies in the stomach.
Nicknamed "Origami"
The dial is made to look like folded paper.
In real life, this piece looks beautiful.
With a retail price that is not too astronomical i might add.

This is the centrepiece... nuff said...

Breathtaking no?

Mr.Hugo Escude, Brand Director for the Asia Pacific region getting busy with the local media.
Nice chap to talk to. Highly passionate.

Overall, another great event, with great crowd and great watches.

HK TRIP DECEMBER 2013

December 2013... School Holidays.

Family trip... destination? Hong Kong.

This is my 3rd time to HK and 2nd time in the past 3 years.

Place is getting really REALLY crowded.

Manage to take some pictures while strolling around.

Oriental Watch Company.
These are almost at every corner.

Models that are hard to come by locally is readily available there.
Huge market in HK.
The Tudor Black Bay.

Giant billboards are everywhere.
Emperor Watch and Jewellery... also another chain of stores that are almost at every corner.

Saw this at JLC boutique at Heritage 1881.
The JLC Master Ultra Thin Perpetual Calendar in Stainless Steel.

Large selection of Audemars Piguet too.
The 40th Anniversary Royal Oak Jumbo.
Really love this one.
Hopefully I can own one in the future.

Plenty of Boutiques and ADs inside Harbour City.

Out and about town.

Feeling like a kid in the candy store.
Was looking forward to visiting the Zenith Boutique.
A small get together was organized with a local collector and 2 Malaysians that happen to be in HK.
Excellent conversations and friendly boutique staff.
Had a great time over a quick dinner and dessert.

HK is indeed a heaven for watch buyers.
There is no such thing as "No Stock"
If you have the money, they will have what you want. No joke.
Of course bargains are harder to come by since HK is mainly catering the China market... read "cash rich"
I got some bad experiences myself there but maybe it's just because they don't see me as a potential buyer.

CANOPUS @ SUPERSTAR AQUARIUS

Got to visit Star Cruise's Superstar Aquarius recently.

Looks like they have a small watch shop on board.

Being a WIS, of course it's my duty to check it out... lol

The shop is called Canopus Watches and Jewellery.

It's located on Deck 12 of the Superstar Aquarius.

I am quite impressed with the Rolex availablity.
Prices are fixed and non negotiable... they are nice enough to tell me that the watches are tax free.... erm... which applies to the whole of Malaysia actually. :-)

Some Frank Muller watches on display...
Pretty high priced stuff.
Lucky casino punters might pick up one if luck is on their side.

Besides Frank Muller and Rolex, they also have Raymond Weil and Tissot watches.

They also carry some gold and silver bars.

Some jewellery.

Aimed squarely at the casino goers, business seems brisk.

Well, spending winnings is easy right?

JLC / CORTINA JAEGER LE COULTRE EVENT @ LA VINTAGE KOTA KINABALU

Another year have passed and I have managed to attend the Annual Jaeger Le Coultre Event hosted in conjuction with Cortina watches in Kota Kinabalu.

Venue of choice this time around is La Vintage Bar and Grill at Wisma Kinsabina.

Place is oozing with some vintage vibes.

JLC Themed desserts anyone?

A very healthy crowd.

Registration counter with girls handing out doorgifts and Time Werke JLC Magazine.

Entertainment for the night.

After a brief speech by Cortina Watch General Manager Mr.Jason Tham and Jaeger Le Coultre Asia Pacific Managing Director Mr.Alexis Delaporte, a video is shown explaining about the JLC Manufacture and also JLC's watchmaking values.

Models joined in soonafter wearing the 2013 Novelties.

My wife spotted something she liked in this cabinet.

It's the latest Reverso Ladies Duetto.
Full gold case... ouch... Diamond set bezel... double ouch...

Pink mother of pearl dial on one side.

One side in Sunburst Guilloche Arabic Numerals.
A very well made and stunning watch.
Retail price is at RM72,000
There is also a stainless steel version with a blue mother of pearl dial that retails for RM36,000

Some Tourbillions and Ultra thins in this cabinet.

Finally got to see the Tribute to Deepsea Alarm.
At one point I was lusting for it.
Unfortunately now my focus have shifted elsewhere.
Retails for RM42,000

Last years Novelty the Rendez Vous Collection is shown as well as the usual Reverso and Squadra models.
There was a Reverso Men Duetto that I got to try but still could not carry.
Something about the case shape just does not fit my wrists.
My wife seconded my opinion that it does not look good.

Fortunately there is always the Reverso Squadra that I absolutely adore.
Maybe one day.

There are 2 Novelties in this cabinet.

1st up is the Deep Sea Chronograph in Cermet (Ceramic in JLC term)
Absolutely top notch. Cermet feels light.
A surprise that the 44mm case size does not wear that big at all!

2nd one is one that caught my attention.
Dubbed the "game changer" and a "paradigm shift" in various watch publications and blogs.
It's the Master Ultra Thin Perpetual Calendar shown here in Yellow Gold and White Gold.
Technical powerhouse and a very beautiful timepiece.
When one hears the perpetual calendar, one will be ready to pay at least a few hundred thousand ringgit for one.
This one?
The Yellow Gold model retails at RM94,000
The White Gold model retails at RM104,000
Some of you are asking what "game changing" traits this watch has?
Well, it comes in stainless steel as well!
The stainless steel model is reserved exclusively for the Boutiques only and retails in the region of RM60,000
Mind you that's a perpetual calendar we are talking about!
Having tried both the Yellow and White Gold models, I do find the Yellow gold model more attractive due to the off white dial giving the watch some character.
Both watches feel extremely comfortable on my wrist.

That's all.
I went home happy and felt sad in the morning.
Why?
My wife told me she started dreaming about the Reverso Duetto I was talking about earlier... dream on... :-)

Oh yeah... The door gift.

It's a powerbank.

All in all, a great event showcasing some excellent pieces from Jaeger Le Coultre.