Window to high art of watchmaking

FOR the first time ever, Malaysians will have the rare opportunity to get up close with the finest contemporary timepieces of the year as contenders for the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) make a pit stop in Kuala Lumpur.

The trophy presented to GPHG winners is a gilded bronze hand to symbolise skill and mastery, both key to all watchmaking trades.From now until Oct 8, watch aficionados can marvel at 84 of the 90 nominees that are up for the world-renowned GPHG awards that is set to take place in Geneva, Switzerland, next month.

The GPHG exhibition, hosted by watch retailer The Hour Glass, at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur gives visitors a unique look into the high art world of watchmaking.

The Hour Glass group general manager Norman Ho said this marked the first time the travelling exhibition made a stop in Malaysia, the only South-East Asian country in this year’s itinerary.

“We are immensely proud that Kuala Lumpur has been chosen as one of the stops for this prestigious event.”

He said the nominees had been shortlisted from hundreds of the finest watches and would compete for one of the highly coveted GPHG awards.

“Each timepiece is a testament to the watchmaker’s skills and dedication, allowing us to explore the creativity and stories behind these exceptional timepieces,” Ho said at the exhibition’s opening.

Valérie Boscat from the Foundation of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève thanked The Hour Glass for its long-standing relationship with GPHG.

The shortlisted timepieces were unveiled to the Malaysian public at a cocktail event, where several hundred guests got an exclusive first-look at the creations.

The timepieces were presented in the categories they were nominated for, giving guests a comprehensive and orderly view of the horological excellence on display.

(From left) The Hour Glass group managing director Michael Tay, Boscat, The Hour Glass Malaysia general manager (engagement marketing) Amy Chia and Ho.

Categories include Men’s and Ladies’, Complications, Iconic, Tourbillon, Calendar and Astronomy, Mechanical Exception, Chronograph, Sports, Jewellery, Artistic Crafts, Challenge and “Petite Aiguille”.

The nominees in the remaining category — Mechanical Clock — are not shown here.

Guests were treated to an energetic performance by New York native Q Sound (right) and Malaysian powerhouse vocalist Aisha Retno.

To wrap up the night, guests were treated to an energetic performance by New York native Q Sound, a multi-instrumentalist, producer, recording artiste and composer. Accompanying his 21-piece ensemble was Malaysian singer-songwriter and actress Aisha Retno.

Held annually, this year’s edition of GPHG will see 84 watches and six clocks competing in 15 categories, with a chance to win 20 awards including the Aiguille d’Or – the watchmaking industry’s highest honour.

The event, created in 2001, aims to showcase the international art of watchmaking.

The awards ceremony will be held on Nov 9 at the Théâtre du Léman in Geneva.

Other cities in the nominated watches’ world tour are Hong Kong, Macao and New York, before returning to Geneva.

In conjunction with the event, The Hour Glass will be hosting interactive activities at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, such as a watch photography workshop, a DIY mechanical clock workshop and a colouring session with Hublot for children to cultivate an early appreciation for the art of watchmaking.