Experience Asia Like Never Before

Explore the wonders of Vietnam and Cambodia and the sights of Ho Chi Minh City from the back of a motorbike.

Article by T Australia

A chef making nigiri sushi. Photography courtesy of APT.

Travel company APT Touring is offering travellers 20 ways to discover Asia with its Best of Asia sale.

Explore the wonders of Vietnam and Cambodia aboard the Mekong Serenity, experience the sun rise above Cambodia’s Angkor Wat or exploring the sights of Ho Chi  Minh City from the back of a motorbike on APT Luxury Travel’s Spiritual Cambodia and the Mekong land and river cruise tour.

This year’s Asia sale also offers opportunities to explore Japan, South Korea, India and Sri Lanka. APT’s 12-day Enchanting Japan journey involves a tour through megacities and regional hubs, including three nights in Tokyo, four nights in Kyoto and stays in Hakone, Takayama and Kanazawa.

There’s also South Korea, Sri Lanka, Colombo and Kandy to discover.

The sale ends 31 May. Visit aptouring.com.au/discover/asia-sale.

Meet The $350,000 “Grand Central” of Watches

The timepiece embodies the spirit of innovation and craftsmanship and is a show of high jewellery and haute horlogerie.

Article by T Australia

Independent Swiss watchmaker Franck Muller has unveiled a number of new creations including a Grand Central Tourbillon Skeleton watch which retails for $350,400.

According to the watchmaker, the piece is an exceptional timepiece that embodies the spirit of innovation and craftsmanship.

At the heart of its design lies the tourbillon, gracefully positioned at the centre, and each component has been expertly machined to fit together with demanding precision. Hand-set with diamonds on the case and the inner bezel, the timepiece is a show of high jewellery and haute horlogerie.

An Interview With The Artist, Yiyun Kang

A large-scale art installation by the artist, commissioned by Jaeger-LeCoultre, will be staged in Sydney’s Martin Place.

Article by T Australia

One of the most active and talented Korean digital media artists in today’s international art scene, Yiyun Kang is recognised for her immersive audio-visual installations that recast space with moving image and sound.

As one of the Makers in the Jaeger-LeCoultre Made of Makers program, she has created an immersive video sculpture that responds to the brand’s Reverso timepiece, which, launched in 1931, has become a classic of 20th-century design.

Originally created to withstand the rigours of polo matches, its sleek, Art Deco lines and distinctive reversible case make it one of the most immediately recognisable watches of all time.

Some of the pivotal elements of Reverso’s design Art Deco and the Golden Ratio (one of the most common mathematical ratios in nature).

“Rather than focusing on the decorative element of the Golden ratio, I aimed to translate the origin of the Golden ratio which is reflected in nature’s pattern of life and connect it to the fundamental beauty of Reverso,” says Kang.

Here, she answers some more questions about her work of art for Jaeger-LeCoultre: “Origin: A 3D Video Sculpture”.

Q: How do you see the link between nature and digital work?

“I think nature has always been the greatest source of inspiration for artists. In my case, my major concern is more focused on the relationship between nature and humanity in the age of Anthropocene, and I weave my thoughts through digital languages. I do this because digital is the technology that runs our time, as well as the language that connects the world.”

Q. Do the large formats you work on have an impact on their perception?

“A lot. That is the reason why I love to create large-scale, site-based work. As they are able to wander through the installation, viewers are physically immersed in the work of art. Large-scale installation outside of the white-cube turns ordinary into extraordinary. I believe the sensorial perception and immersive experiences eventually lead the audience to think about the message behind the work.”

Q. What is the importance of sensations, perceptions, emotions in your work?

“Sensations, perceptions, and emotions are very important in my work because that is how I invite the audience into my work. I want them to sense and experience it first, and then think about it.
I hope my works make you feel, move your mind, and finally reach your cognitive system. I like to use the term, ‘thought-provoking experience’ because it connotes everything; perception, emotion, sensing, perceiving and thinking. I wish my work to be thought-provoking.”

Q. Before your collaboration with Jaeger-LeCoultre, was the notion of Golden Ratio something familiar to you?

“Yes. What I found interesting is the Golden ratio patterns found in the plants. The leaves and petals in some plants follow the sequence of Fibonacci numbers. It seems to me that the natural system organically implements the phi for progress. I see the Golden ratio as the pattern for evolution and pursuit of an ideal.”

Q. What elements of nature / landscapes inspire you the most?

“Nature’s growth, cycle and its recovery are genuinely inspiring. In nature, everything is profoundly related. Everything has a causal relation to everything else, and we are part of it. It is so important to mind that we are just one of the entities in this ecosystem. That is the reason why I continue talking about these issues.”

Watchmaker Jaeger-LeCoultre is hosting an immersive experience Sydney from 10-19 May enabling visitors to immerse themselves in the world of watchmaking craftsmanship and design.

“Reverso Stories” takes visitors on a journey to discover the history, craftsmanship, innovation and design behind the Reverso models, and includes rarely seen archive timepieces, modern-day High Jewellery and miniature-painted models to highlights of the current collection, along with the world’s first wristwatch with four functioning faces, the Reverso Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185 ‘Quadriptyque’.

The “Reverso Stories” experience will be staged in Martin Place, in the heart of Sydney’s CBD, from 10–19 May 2024.

John Mayer’s Watch for Audemars Piguet Is “Like Looking Up at a Moonless Sky”

Singer and watch collector John Mayer teamed up with Audemars Piguet to design the very last Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar.

Article by T Australia

The Stellar Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in collaboration with John Mayer.

Music artist John Mayer is known for many things. Famous romances that inspire songs? Tick. Being ridiculously good looking? Tick. But the “Your body is a wonderland” and “Daughters” singer is also a watch collector.

He recently teamed up with Swiss watchmaker Audemars Piguet to design the very last Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar or quantième perpétuel (QP for short). 

A long-lasting friend of the brand, Mayer lent his collector’s eye, taste for precision and aesthetic beauty to the design, working hand in hand with the AP teams. The distinctive timepiece, limited to 200 pieces, is equipped with the manufacture’s self winding Calibre 5134 and has been created in 18-carat white gold, enhanced by a deep blue dial evocative of the sky.

“My favourite watches have dials that you can stare endlessly at,” he said. “A great watch dial feels like a picture window – you look into it, not at it. In the case of this QP, it’s like looking up at a moonless sky. There is a true sense of nature in it.” 

The "Daughters" singer is an avid watch collector. Photo courtesy of Audemars Piguet.

The Grammy Award-winning artist went on to say: “And when you couple that sense of depth and vastness with the complication of a perpetual calendar, it is a very powerful combination of technical prowess and aesthetic design.”

To enhance the watch’s legibility and aesthetic harmony, Mayer has brought subtle modifications to the perpetual calendar display that only become apparent on closer inspection. While the number “31” of the date subdial is usually red on modern Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar models, here it is printed in white.

And for the first time, the “Swiss Made” inscription is printed in white at the bottom of the moon phase subdial rather than on the dial’s outer edge at 6 o’clock. 

Said Mayer: “The perpetual calendar is for me the ultimate complication, the benchmark for high horology, and though there are complications that are more complex, the historical footing of the QP in the history of watchmaking is what makes it stand out.”

Kennedy Brings The Patek Philippe Party to Melbourne

From December 1 – 3, Kennedy are hosting “Patek Philippe Passion For Workmanship” – an exhibition at The Ritz Carlton in Melbourne.

Article by Luke Benedictus

Patek Philippe x Kennedy Gala Dinner - State of PlayPhotograph courtesy of Patek Phillipe.

To try and grasp what a big deal Patek Philippe is in the watch world, consider the following. In a list of the most expensive watches ever to be sold at auction, Patek Philippe occupies nine out of the top 10 spots.  The only interloper to prevent a total monopoly is Paul Newman’s Rolex Daytona that comes third on the list – but its $US17.75 million price-tag stemmed more from its celebrity provenance than its horological pedigree.

How Patek came to occupy such a hallowed position in the industry stems, in part, from their technical mastery. During its 180-year history, the brand was responsible for inventing the perpetual calendar, which automatically adjusts to allow for leap years as well as the different number of days in a month. In addition, Patek was also responsible for introducing the minute repeater and double chronograph in a tradition of innovation that’s been crowned by over 100 patents.

"Patek Phillipe A Passion for Workmanship".
"Patek Phillipe A Passion for Workmanship". Photograph courtesy of Patek Phillipe.

In addition, Patek has a peerless reputation for their painstaking attention to detail. Every component of their watches from the dials to the movements are hand-crafted in-house before being subjected to a meticulous level of finishing. The stringency of these standards prompted the brand to set up their criteria for quality control. Established in 2009. the Patek Philippe Seal guarantees the upkeep and maintenance of any of their watches for their entire lifetime, regardless of the date when they were produced.

“Patek Philippe is a brand that really speaks to watch enthusiasts,” explains Debbie Kok, General Manager of Kennedy, the multi-brand retailer that’s sold Patek since the 1980s. “Patek’s history, art and craftmanship really resonate with our market.”

Patek Philippe x Kennedy Gala Dinner - State of Play - 30th November16
Patek Philippe and Kennedy Gala Dinner. Photograph courtesy of Patek Phillipe.
Patek Philippe x Kennedy Gala Dinner - State of Play - 30th November11
Patek Philippe and Kennedy Gala Dinner. Photograph courtesy of Patek Phillipe.

Keen to share this tradition, Kennedy are hosting the Patek Philippe Passion For Workmanship exhibition at The Ritz Carlton in Melbourne. Unveiled at a gala dinner this week, the exhibition was essentially a chance for the public to see Patek’s 2023 Novelties and main collection that included a range of pieces from Calatrava, Aquanaut, Golden Ellipse and Nautilus families among others.

Among the 100 timepieces on display, highlights included two new ladies’ Nautilus references decked out with dials in blazing magenta. The richness and shimmer of this eye-catching colour emanate from the dial base being coated with more than 50 layers of translucent lacquer before being embellished with the Nautilus’ trademark wave pattern. First seen, earlier this year in the new Calatrava, the extension of the colour to other collections suggest Patek’s purple patch is set to continue.

Patek Philippe x Kennedy Exhibition Space- State Of Play - 1st December _GRIFFIN SIMM_Finals_7
"Patek Phillipe A Passion for Workmanship". Photograph courtesy of Patek Phillipe.

“They’re increasing the usage of that really prominent magenta / purple colour, and this is the first time it’s been extended to the Nautilus,” Kok explains.

“Patek Philippe A Passion for Workmanship” is exhibiting at Level 2, The Ritz Carlton, from Friday December 1 – Sunday December 3. 10am – 4pm. Book tickets here.

Van Cleef & Arpels Adds Stealth to the Mechanics of Timekeeping

Our resident watch expert Luke Benedictus steps behind the scenes for the jewellery house’s whimsical Secret Watch collection.

Article by Luke Benedictus

It’s like stepping into a fairytale. Ostensibly, I’m entering the Van Cleef & Arpels booth at Watches and Wonders, the Geneva trade fair and media event for Switzerland’s most well-known industry. Except this space is different to anything I have encountered elsewhere.

For starters, it’s designed to evoke the feel of an enchanted forest at twilight. Sprawling vines of oversized glass beads in green and blue hang from the ceiling and the walls comprise dark lacquered panels etched with mystical gold-leaf images of flora and fauna. Van Cleef & Arpels, it’s fair to say, is not like other watch brands. “One of our sources of inspiration that has been there from the very first years is of a benevolent form of nature that’s a bit dreamlike, with a touch of imagination and poetry,” explains Nicolas Bos, the chief executive and creative director.

Founded in Paris in 1906, Van Cleef & Arpels soon developed a reputation as a luxury jewellery house, and its highly decorative aesthetic informed its expansion into watches in 1916. Consequently, it doesn’t make watches as such, but rather, as the brand puts it, “jewels that tell the time”. A notable expression of this sentiment were the “secret watches” that concealed their timekeeping ability behind bejewelled facades. Part of the reason for this obscuration was that it was considered ill-mannered for a lady to look at her watch in the middle of a glamorous soiree. A secret watch was disguised as a bracelet, necklace or pendant that would discreetly reveal the time to the wearer’s eyes alone.

While social mores brought about the first secret watches, the technical challenge of concealing a watch mechanism within a piece of jewellery soon became another incentive, offering a craftsperson the chance to demonstrate their ingenuity and skill. “Maybe I shouldn’t say this at a watch fair,” Bos admits, “but I think that some designers thought that a watch dial wasn’t as nice to look at as the jewellery-work and that it would disrupt the integrity of the bracelet or the brooch. So they thought: ‘Let’s hide it.’ ”

The undercover tradition continues at Van Cleef & Arpels this year with the Ludo Secret Watch. At face value, it’s a belt-like bracelet made of rose gold and bedecked with 185 pink sapphires. So far, so spectacular. Press the two sides of the buckle together and a mother-of-pearl watch dial peeks out. Further clandestine horology is revealed in the brand’s Perlée Secret Pendant range. The six pieces in this collection are each worn on a long necklace and hide their dials beneath rotating covers emblazoned with coloured gems or extravagant cabochons. Behind all this glitz, there’s perhaps a deeper message here consistent with Van Cleef’s romantic vision. A secret watch takes the relatively humdrum business of timekeeping and subordinates its importance to the celebration of beauty.

“Don’t worry about being late for that appointment,” it whispers. “Stop and marvel at the sunset instead.” “Don’t be a slave to time,” it insists. “Remember you’re the person in charge.” It’s a magical idea with a seductive allure. Albeit one that might not stand up to scrutiny outside the realms of a fantasy kingdom.