Celebrity Life

The temporary retail concept (open to the public until late May) celebrates a handful of "historically significant" watches, principally from Rolex and the venerable house of Audemars Piguet. Moreover, each hails from the personal collection of Austen Chu or Ivan Hon -- two big names in the zeitgeist of horology.

It's only been open to the public a few short months, but Belowground (a new retail/cultural destination in the belly of The Landmark) has already played host to a diverse lineup of retail partners. To date this has included: a Japanese design firm, leading international gallery, and local designer toy artist. Now, the hybrid retail space is getting its first watch-themed pop-up, for which it's enlisted the expertise of two emblematic figures from the world of #Watches. Entitled 'Time Capsule', this newest addition to the Belowground directory has the look & feel of an archival sneaker edit -- and that's no accident.

Orchestrated by AP collecting heavy Austen Chu (better known by his online sobriquet @Horoloupe) with assistance from local Rolex collector/educator Ivan Hon, Time Capsule's central emphasis is on connecting buyers with a mixture of vintage and pre-owned watches that have been selected for their quality, complexity, and historical import.

According to Chu, the pieces which made it into his and Hon's final edit are all "timeless heirlooms that can tell stories beyond [their] current generation" -- a lateral reference to the fact that some of them were even sourced from his or Ivan's own private collections.

To talk shop for a moment, the watches themselves are a robust mixture of the classic and cult-y, straightforward versus complicated. For fans of the Coronet, there are various 4 and 5-serial iterations of the GMT-Masters and Day-Dates that have made Rolex a household name up for grabs; though the most desirable pieces are almost certainly those Royal Oaks sourced in conjunction with Wristcheck -- Chu's own platform for trading certified pre-owned ('CPO') opening later this month.

For a taste of what's to come, you'll find radical, apocalypse-proof evocations of the original Offshore collection (i.e. the Offshore 'Survivor'). Or how about the elegantly compact Ref. 25920: to date, the only Royal Oak AP has ever produced with an annual calendar. Pieces such as these go a good deal beyond the rubric of hype, and are at the heart of explaining why Belowground have chosen to partner with Hon and Chu. From one community, to another.

Originally opened in December 2020, Belowground is the latest retail/lifestyle concept from Hongkong Land (developer behind other premium sites like Basehall and the Landmark shopping complex). Intended to 'bridge' the space between traditional retail and contemporary culture, the sprawling 6,000 sq.ft. space is currently home to an eclectic mix of music, apparel, vintage memorabilia and casual dining courtesy of Rollin. For information about upcoming events, you can visit the official Belowground Instagram.

Horoloupe's Time Capsule is located inside the Belowground annex, operating from 11am-8pm daily.

Belowground, Basement, Landmark Atrium, 15 Queen's Road Central, Central, Hong Kong, info@belowground.hk

The post Horologists lead the way at Time Capsule, a pop-up dedicated to watches inside Belowground appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Bridgerton has been the talk of ‘the ton’ since it launched on 25th December - over 63 million households tuned in to watch the Netflix period drama in its first 28 days.

Inspired by Anthony Bridgerton’s trusty pocket watch and the eclectic mix of characters; pre-owned watch specialist Watchfinder & Co. has put their learned skills to the test to determine what each character would likely wear in 2021. Don’t worry no spoilers here, just pure unabridged fantasy!

Anthony Bridgerton

Anthony Bridgerton is a busy man. Juggling the responsibilities of taking over from his father as the head of the Bridgerton family, seeing his sister through her first social season, finding time to call in on his songbird mistress Sienna and still managing to drop by the gentleman’s club and take in a few boxing matches is no easy feat. Today, Anthony would rely upon something like the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso. With its interchangeable style, thanks to its reversable face, this watch can adapt to many social setting. On top of this the Reverso also keeps to the most accurate time, ensuring Anthony can continue to keep all those plates spinning a little longer.

Buy the watch – JAEGER-LECOULTRE REVERSO DUO

Benedict Bridgerton

Aspiring artist and all round dreamer, Benedict, is the second eldest of the Bridgerton siblings and yearns for something other than the endless society balls he finds himself attending. Benedict dreams of turning his artistic hobby into a full-fledged career, and soon finds himself looking outside the world of ‘the ton’ in order to achieve it. Nowadays Benedict would likely wear something like a Franck Muller Vanguard. A watch brand that has enjoyed its own artistic journey. The Vanguard blends a classic watch case style with modern artistic colours and materials outside the normal canon of watchmaking – a perfect blend of watchmaking and artistry. How perfectly Benedict.

Buy the watch - FRANCK MULLER VANGUARD

Colin Bridgerton

The witty and charming Bridgerton brother, Colin, may well have taken a liking to the newest young lady in town but his heart belongs to travel. A Patek Philippe World Time is the obvious watch choice for this aspiring globetrotter – one of the signature complications from the Maison and much sought after by travellers around the world. The World Time allows the wearer to track the local time of 24 capital cities simultaneously, whilst still being quintessentially elegant – much like any other Patek Philippe. It’s the indispensable sidekick for any would be grand tourist.

Buy the watch - PATEK PHILIPPE WORLD TIME

Daphne Bridgerton

The picture-perfect young debutante who packs a punch (literally). Daphne has been waiting her entire life to make her grand debut on the marriage mart and does so with such aplomb that she is named the diamond of the first water. But there is more to Daphne than meets the eye – beautiful and demure on the outside but Daphne is also smart and determined and strives for absolute perfection… Much like the bejewelled work of the Piaget Altiplano which carries a complex manual movement encased within an exquisite case of white gold and diamonds.

Buy the watch - PIAGET ALTIPLANO

Eloise Bridgerton

Certainly the most vocal of the Bridgerton household, Eloise is not one for pomp nor ceremony. Having no interest in following in the footsteps of her sister Daphne, she has an incurable sense of curiosity, a lust for education and has little time for the restrictive gender roles of the period. Eloise would be perfectly paired with a Grand Seiko - a Japanese brand known for throwing two fingers up at the rest of the watch world in the 70’s when it fundamentally changed the status quo of the watch industry by introducing new and progressive technology that left many of its peers at the wayside. And whilst this titanium 43.5 MM is technically classified as a men’s watch… who is Eloise to be restricted by convention?!

Buy the watch - GRAND SEIKO SPRING DRIVE

The Duke of Hastings

Rife with scandal, intrigue and glamour, the new Duke of Hastings, one Simon Basset, is the most sought-after bachelor in London. His impeccable appearance, taste and style (although he wears too much black according to Lady Danbury) juxtaposes his distinct lack of interest in his title, society, or taking a wife. A true enigma. He is reserved and keeps his emotions close to his chest, but morally upstanding and values honour. The obvious watch pick for Simon Basset is a 2020 Rolex Submariner in steel and sleek green ceramic - a watch that is as sought after as it is scarce. Produced in very much finite numbers, the current demand for the modern take on perhaps the most iconic wristwatch ever produced far outstrips its supply, with waiting lists of up to 5 years long…

Buy the watch - ROLEX SUBMARINER 126610LV

Queen Charlotte

The veritable tastemaker of London society, Queen Charlotte. It’s only fitting that a modern day monarch pick something made by the ‘Jeweller of Kings, and the King of Jewellers’ – Cartier. Exclusivity is the currency of luxury so a limited edition befits Queen Charlotte – perhaps the baroque themed Cartier Tortue minute repeater. Produced in an extremely limited run of just 25 pieces. This classically designed wristwatch, in 18k yellow gold, is a true feat of watchmaking, and with its iconic chiming system it ensures all eyes will be on the owner!

Buy the watch - CARTIER TORTUE MINUTE REPEATER

Lady Portia Featherington

For Lady Featherington it’s all about show. From the brightest dresses to the tightest corsets, Lady Portia Featherington is entirely focused on keeping up with the Joneses and wearing her wealth and style (read: poor credit and broken promises) for the whole world to see! The Hublot diamond set Classic Fusion would be an obvious go-to for posey Portia, given its confident, unrelenting and flashy nature, this diamond encrusted device has the natural born will to dazzle all those who look upon it.

Buy the watch - HUBLOT CLASSIC FUSION

Penelope Featherington

The youngest and perhaps most vicarious member of Featherington family; Penelope is an intelligent girl with a sharp wit and kind heart. She would prefer to quietly sway near the perimeter of any ballroom rather than take centre stage. And whilst she is able to move through most social settings without stirring much attention or fuss, she is not one to be overlooked or underestimated. Penelope’s pick is the Rolex Oyster Perpetual. It’s not just any watch, the Perpetual is a direct descendant of the original Rolex Oyster - the world’s first waterproof wristwatch. Smart and sophisticated yet entirely unassuming – the green dial even provides a subtle nod back to her mother’s lust for all things green!

Buy the watch - Rolex OYSTER PERPETUAL

The post Modern-Day Bridgerton: The Watches They Would Wear appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

The first major tennis tournament of the year is in full swing, and some of the fan favorites are still in the hunt for the Norman Brooks Challenge Cup (men’s trophy) and Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup (women’s trophy). Players like Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic, Naomi Osaka, and Raphael Nadal are all looking to take home […]

The post Rolex and The Tennis Players Who Wear Them, Australian Open 2021 Edition appeared first on Upscale Living Magazine.

Express your love in a... timeless way.

The post A Lady’s Gift Guide for a Timeless Valentine’s Day appeared first on LUXUO.

Endurance motorsport racing challenges every aspect of the cars, drivers, and teams as they push the limits over a series of 12- and 24-hour events. The Rolex 24-Hours of Daytona is one of the three most popular races, starting in the evening and continuing all throughout the night until the sun rises again. The mental […]

The post 2021 Rolex 24-Hour Daytona Winners Awarded Rolex Daytona Cosmographs appeared first on duPont REGISTRY Daily.

Because the Palais Garnier is still currently closed to the public, the annual inaugural 2021 opening season fundraiser of the Paris Opera Ballet could only be held digitally this year. But this is all good news for us, as this means we can now all view the ballet from the comforts of our own homes.

This year's gala is a particularly meaningful one as it is the first time the ballet dancers have been able to gather on the stage to perform after a prolonged period of absence.

This year's programme opens with the spectacular "Défilé du Ballet", which sees the entire company's dance troupe and students at the Paris Opera's ballet school take to the stage. The entire Corps de Ballet strides down the stage of Palais Garnier all the way into the depths of the mythical "Foyer de la Danse", paying homage to the grand architectural vision of Charles Garnier.

A series of short pieces follow, including the "Grand pas classique" by Victor Gsovsky, which is a brilliant pas de deux featuring costumes by Chanel; "The vertiginous thrill of exactitude" by William Forsythe, and "In the night" by Jerome Robbins.

The evening, which premiered on the 27th and is now available to watch online, is made possible thanks to the exceptional support of Chanel, patron of the Paris Opera Ballet season, and Rolex, Timepiece of the Paris Opera, and the generous donors of the Honorary Committee.

Watch the Paris Opera Ballet Opening Season Gala here.

The post An Open Invitation to the Paris Opera Ballet appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.