The Hour Glass Presents A Season Of Double Happiness in February 2016

Good things often come in pairs. The month of February 2016 anticipates 2 special seasons dear to Singaporeans and calls for a double celebration – the Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day. Polarizing in origins yet unison in spirit, both festive occasions share a common theme of happiness and the act of giving to loved ones.  The Hour Glass presents 4 special sets of His and Hers timepieces in a beautiful colour spectrum of dapper blue and alluring red, offering a tantalizing collection of timepieces for couples with varying tastes and interests.

Pairing the Chinese New Year outfits with these vivid timepieces, each watch is a talking piece and an extension of the wearer’s personality. Be spoilt for choice with an eclectic mix of sport-luxe chronographs, GMTs, dress watches to high complications as the timepieces complement the sartorial sensibilities of the wearer; a necessary and final accessory to complete the festive outfit. Finally, these timepieces are the soulful finishing touch to power the visual story and create emotional euphoria for the wearer, allowing him and her to shine and stand out as duo tastemakers during this season of celebrations.

HUBLOT
For Him: Classic Fusion Blue Chronograph King Gold
For Her: Big Bang Pop Art Yellow Gold Purple

Hublot’s iconoclastic philosophy “The Art of Fusion” appeals to the fashion-forward and bold couple. Exuding confidence and passion, this set of brightly coloured Hublot chronographs are superbly stylish and distinctively Hublot. Bearing the hallmark of Hublot are the 6 H-shaped titanium screws symbolic of the brand’s name, which means portholes in French. The fusion of rubber and alligator on the striking coloured straps is another unmissable trait of Hublot.

The Classic Fusion Blue Chronograph evokes a commanding presence in 45mm king gold case, enhanced by a blue sunray satin-finished dial. The chronograph counters add a sporty aesthetics to this gentlemanly Classic Fusion structure. The pairing of royal blue and king gold is a refreshed look from the usual stark black palette. The colour of steely masculine strength gives the Classic Fusion Chronograph an uplifting air of vivacity – perfect for the season of celebrations.

The ladies offering echoes the same positivity through its unbridled usage of colours in the Big Bang Pop Art. Bright and bold in a 41mm sized yellow gold case, the timepiece is inspired by the Pop Art movement, a veritable fusion between the worlds of watchmaking and modern art. The timepiece is delectably accentuated by the playful colours of the mat dark rose dial with bezel skilfully set with 36 purple amethysts.  The blue rubber and mixed coloured alligator strap adds a stunning finishing to this head-turning timepiece, a stand-out wrist companion for the confident lady.

ULYSSE NARDIN
For Him: Dual Time Manufacture
For Her: Dual Time Manufacture Lady

Rich in marine history and ground-breaking innovations in watchmaking for an astounding 170 years, Ulysse Nardin’s strive for independence comes to manifestation in the Dual Time Manufacture collection for the traditionalists and contemporaries alike. The Ulysse Nardin Dual Time collection is arguably most functional GMT timepieces on the market, allowing time zone quick-setting of the hour hand forward and backward via the pushers on the bezel. The Big Date display is also another proud invention of the Swiss maison; remaining ahead of the curve for more than 20 years when it was introduced in 1995. The Big Date double window display permits synchronized date changes with the hour hand adjusters, for the date moves automatically forward or backward when adjustments are made over midnight.

For the first time, the Dual Time collection is powered by the in-house conceived manufactured movement, featuring the top-notched Silicium technology. This testifies to the brand’s quest for independence and self-reliance in modern watchmaking. The Dual Time Manufacture in 42mm rose gold case features a bold blue face emphasized by a geometric rope motif, tying the watch to its nautical roots.

Its female counterpart, the Dual Time Manufacture Lady is a classic beauty – showing a fresh face and new movement. The timepiece features a 37.5mm rose gold case, offered in a pristine white mother-of-pearl dial and set with 32 diamonds bezel. The brightly coloured alligator wrist strap lends the timepiece a contemporary and refreshed dash of femininity. The ease of use and clever inventions of the timepiece will appeal to the pragmatic couple who favours function as much as form and jet-setters with a penchant for globetrotting.

PARMIGIANI FLEURIER
For Him: Tonda 1950 Tourbillon
For Her: Tonda 1950 Squelette

Minimalism has a magnetic draw for the artistic minds and eyes: championing clean lines and uncluttered design, this design tenet identifies beauty and harmony in design purity and simplicity. Understated, quiet strength, timelessness – the Tonda 1950 collection embraces simplicity at its finest – perfect for art-lovers and design mavens whose zeitgeist is “less is more”.

The Tonda 1950 Tourbillon presents a beautiful blue abyss with Côtes de Genève decoration on the dial and presents the world’s thinnest automatic flying tourbillon with micro-rotor (3.4mm). This feat of technology required 2 years of research and development. To economize on space, Parmigiani created a “flying” tourbillon whose special feature is a cage mounted on a single support bridge. The tourbillon of this ultra-thin model dances before the eyes to produce a captivating visual effect.

For the ladies, the Tonda 1950 Squelette reveals beauty through a subtly frosted dial, with a translucent misty effect. Underneath the frosted dial lies an incredibly complex mechanism of this extra-thin model. Each bridge and main plate of the movement has been open-worked entirely by hand, showcasing the accomplished craftsmanship and keen eye for detail which are a key part of Parmigiani’s philosophy. Featuring a 39mm white gold case set with 84 diamonds with a red Hermès strap, the timepiece is an allegiance to watchmaking tradition where simple lines are used to create timeless beauty.

GIRARD-PERREGAUX
For Him: Vintage 1945 XXL Large Date and Moon Phases
For Her: Cat’s Eye Tourbillon with Gold Bridge

Girard-Perregaux adds another joyous event to its illustrious oeuvre of milestones: the celebration of its 225^th anniversary in 2016. Watchmaking emotionality and passion for the crafts have run through the bloodline of Girard-Perregaux for over two centuries. Combining momentous periods important to the Swiss marque, these timepieces showcase Girard-Perregaux’s expertise in passing down age-old traditions with a contemporary outlook – ideal for the grandiose couple who admires exquisite craftsmanship and watch complications ingenuity.

A collection that pays homage to the Art Deco period, the Vintage 1945 XXL Large Date and Moon Phases reveals for the first time, the complexity of its movement, thanks to a transparent dial carved in sapphire. This offers the wearer a fascinating mechanical spectacle of the movement artistry, all arranged in a perfectly-orchestrated system. The rectangular watch case reminiscent of Art Deco-inspired aesthetic code is marked out by its strong character and elegant sense of style.

The highly coveted Cat’s Eye Tourbillon with Gold Bridge epitomizes expertise in watchmaking and jewellery. Its feminine curves sparkle with 308 beautifully set diamonds from the bezel to the lugs, and on the crown. Its distinctive oval case in white gold frames a superb dial of meticulously decorated white mother-of-pearl delicately carved with a floral motif. Reigning majestically on the exquisite dial is the iconic Gold Bridge, which propelled Girard-Perregaux to the peak of watchmaking in the 19^th century. Containing 174 parts decorated, adjusted and assembled by hand, its perfect finishing reflects the exacting standards of Girard-Perregaux.