There’s only one thing watch lovers love more than buying new watches, and it’s talking about watches. Because at the end of the day, are you really a watch geek if you’re not into the watchspeak? I mean, that’s precisely why everyone’s got no fewer than 10 different watch groups, Whatsapp group chats, and Clubhouse channels right?
Now you can add the Esquire Singapore monthly news round-up to your horology feed. We’ll keep you apprised of the latest happenings, the coolest product drops, and the biggest celebrity scoops just before the month ends, so you’ll never run out of things to talk about no matter when, where, or with whom.
These are the top stories for the month of May.
Vacheron Constantin unveils a new collaboration with the Louvre
As an official partner of the Louvre, Vacheron Constantin had the privilege to go up close and personal with four of the museum’s most emblematic masterpieces in the creation of its latest Métiers d’Arts collection, Tribute to Great Civilizations. A selection of four five-piece limited editions, the watches touch upon four great civilisations in human history.
Each piece feature decorative arts inspired by historical artifacts, from Roman mosaics and bas-relief Greek sculptures to Babylonian-inspired bricks and coloured glazes, even an Egyptian coffin. A secret engraving linked to each Louvre masterpiece has been carefully etched on the watch crystal. These watches are available exclusively at Vacheron Constantin boutiques.
Cartier announces Jisoo, Austin Butler, Paul Mescal as brand ambassadors
The Cartier tribe just got stronger with the announcement of three new global brand ambassadors representing different aspects of the maison. The first one came during the Cannes Film Festival – BAFTA TV Award winner and Emmy nominated actor Paul Mescal. Next up, huge news for K Pop fans as Jisoo was officially named brand ambassador for the Cartier Panthère. And finally, Cartier introduced actor Austin Butler who is set to star as Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s upcoming biopic, Elvis.
Omega welcomes Zoë Kravitz
Known for her edgy-chic style, Zoë Kravitz is now a part of the Omega family of strong beautiful women which to this day includes Nicole Kidman, So-hee Han, Zhou Dongyu, Kaia Gerber, Kiko Mizuhara, legendary athlete Allyson Felix, and of course the original supermodel, Cindy Crawford. Kravitz’s standout performances in such blockbuster movies as The Batman, Mad Max, and Fantastic Beasts earned her a firm spot in Forbes magazine’s 30 under 30 list. She wears a 28mm Omega Constellation with coloured dial and diamonds.
TAG Heuer accepts cryptocurrency payments online
It’s a sign of the times for sure and while this is only applicable to the US market for now, TAG Heuer’s entry into the cryptocurrency space is a significant step not just for the company but the industry at large. With no minimum spend and up to US$10,000 per transaction, the brand accepts a total of 12 cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Dogecoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Shiba Inu, and more, as well as 5 USD-pegged stable coins. Its e-commerce platform is supported by BitPay.
Says CEO of TAG Heuer, Frédéric Arnault, ““As a luxury brand we had to ensure that our entrance into Web3 would meet our standards of excellence and thanks to our nimble teams in-house and with the support of BitPay we are able to dive into this new financial world in the best way possible. This new crypto payment feature is just the beginning of many exciting projects for TAG Heuer in the Web3 universes.”
The world’s first Montblanc Haus opens its doors
Located in Hamburg, right next to the brand’s global headquarters, Montblanc Haus is a dedicated space offering an immersive brand experience that tells the full story of Montblanc writing instruments, from its foundational years to the men and women behind its handcrafted products. Set across three levels, it is designed by Nieto Sobejanos Arquitectos and inspired by Montblanc heritage.
Dive deep into the world of handwriting. Discover the role Montblanc has played in inspiring generations of thinkers and dreamers to leave their mark on the world. You’ll find 30 original handwritten notes from writers and creators such as Ernest Hemmingway and Albert Einstein, Frida Kahlo and Spike Lee. There is also a café and a boutique stocked with exclusive Montblanc products.
Kim Woo-Bin stars in Jaeger-LeCoultre short film ‘In Perpetual Motion’
Time and its relationship to two natural environment, lakes and the celestial space, goes under the loupe in this captivating video by Jaeger-LeCoultre. Dedicated to the new Polaris Perpetual Calendar, it stars Friend of the Brand Kim Woo-Bin who narrates an evocative text that reflects on concepts of perpetual motion and action.
"When we immerse ourselves in nature and really notice its rhythms, we understand time in a different way," he says. "And this understanding adds so much meaning to every watch that we wear, but especially the Polaris Perpetual Calendar, as it translates the rhythms of the celestial bodies into days, months and years."
Audemars Piguet presents Mark Ronson featuring Lucky Daye
Great news for fans of Mark Ronson. Audemars Piguet has embarked on a long-term collaborative program with the seven-time Grammy Award winning artist and the preliminary results have just been revealed. The first of a three-part episode entitled Syncing Sounds had the Audemars Piguet ambassador work with Lucky Daye on their new song Too Much. Get a glimpse of Ronson’s recently refurbished New York studio and check out the new track described by the duo as “a bop that’s going to make you feel refreshing again; a big bop that will turn back the hands of time.”
An exclusive Blancpain Fifty Fathoms for Cortina Watch’s Golden Jubilee
Blancpain makes only one limited edition model annually and that highly coveted spot this year goes to this special edition model made exclusively for Cortina Watch in celebration of the luxury retailer’s 50th anniversary. The Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe is one of the brand’s most popular references and here it arrives in a combustive pairing of titanium and Sedna gold.
As a gesture of appreciation, Cortina Watch shines the spotlight on Blancpain this month with a thematic exhibition at the Paragon main atrium which runs from 23rd May to 5th June. Open from 11am to 8pm daily, it shares the origin story of the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, the world’s first true diving watch born in 1953.
Cortina Watch X Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe exhibition
Paragon main atrium from 23rd May to 5th June, 11am to 8pm daily.
Richard Mille finally makes a pink watch for Bubba Watson
Richard Mille’s latest timepiece for Bubba Watson is a dream come true for the golfer, who has been badgering the watchmaker for a pink watch for years. RM38-02 Tourbillon Bubba Watson was purpose built for the rigours of the golf course and for the stresses of hard stops and drastic accelerations made by a great hitter such as Watson. Now dressed in pink, Watson’s lucky colour, it will be doubly outstanding on the green and goes perfectly with the golfer’s iconic hot pink Ping driver. This 50-piece limited edition is the third tourbillon calibre developed by Richard Mille for Watson.
Hublot introduces the Big Bang Tourbillon Samuel Ross
Artistic collaborations are the lifeblood of Hublot, a brand that formulated its DNA on the unique Art of Fusion concept. This new Big Bang Tourbillon dons a completely different aesthetic courtesy of British artist and designer, Samuel Ross. Ross’s signature use of colour and love of stark geometry culminates in a bright orange palette set against satin-polished titanium perforated with little hexagons to create a honeycomb mesh. Only 50 pieces will be produced, each priced at S$163,000 and available in Singapore at The Hour Glass.
Bulgari creates a Ducati-themed Aluminium Chronograph
Iconic design meets powerful mechanics in this high octane partnership. Made of aluminium, titanium, and rubber, the new Bulgari Aluminium Chronograph Ducati Special Edition inspires you to take the road less travelled and craft your own adventures. With a 40mm case, the watch is perfectly comfortable for everyday wear, and Ducati’s signature red hue dresses the dial which has sub-dials in black echoing the black bezel with classic double Bulgari logo. This is a 1,000-piece limited edition model is available at Bulgari boutiques as well as online.
