MACAU, CHINA. DFS Group tonight began two days of celebration for Masters of Time, an annual event now in its 14th edition that celebrates outstanding watches and jewellery craftsmanship. This year’s theme is ‘Ignite the Moment’.
The event is being held at T Galleria by DFS, Macau, Shoppes at Four Seasons in partnership with a joint venture between Shoppes at Four Seasons and American Express. The Moodie Davitt Report is on location to report on this year’s edition.
Masters of Time is the world’s largest business-to-consumer watch and jewellery event, described by DFS as the preeminent connoisseur showcase for both horology and high jewellery aficionados.
It offers a curated presentation of the season’s most outstanding watch and jewellery showcases, coupled with personalised discovery into the craftsmanship behind these outstanding pieces.
It runs from 24 November until February 2024.
The event began with a media and KOLs welcome dinner hosted by DFS President Hong Kong and Macau Johan Pretorius.
“This event is not merely a showcase,” he said. “It’s a celebration of craftsmanship, innovation, and timeless elegance.
“We pride ourselves on being the authority in curating a unique and exclusive luxury travel retail experience for our customers. Masters of Time stands as a testament to our commitment to excellence, providing a platform with over 300 masterpieces from more than 45 prestigious houses converging in a harmonious display of artistry.”
Sands China Limited Senior Vice President Retail Tim Jones described the the 14th Masters of Time as “extraordinary”, adding, “It shows a vision of where we want to take our luxury retail offer. You will see over the months and years ahead some significant changes to both stores and the offer that sit within within Four Seasons, and none more so than in the watches and jewelry category. So keep your eyes peeled.”
Jones added, “The rationale behind all of this is the consumer who drives our lives is getting more and more demanding. And it’s the experiential side of the activity… they want engagement with the brands, they want to understand the history. They want to be immersed in the culture of the offer that they’ re interested in.”
Press and KOLs present voted on their favourite watches among five luxury timepieces tonight, with the popular vote (including The Moodie Davitt Report’) to the Cartier Santos-Sumont Skeleton watch, which combines a modern design with a pure movement.
This unique watch displays its own functions in the guise of a dial. It features, for the first time, a skeleton movement which is a tribute to the aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, for whom Louis Cartier designed the first modern wristwatch in 1904.
The reimagined timepiece incorporates a functional miniaturised oscillating weight in the form of a replica of the Demoiselle, a precursor aircraft designed by the pilot in 1907
Highlights and newness from this year include:
- A curated pop-up exhibition
- Press and KOLs’ Welcome Dinner with a vote for their favourite watch
- Masterclass activations
- Gala Event
Masters of Time 2023 showcases an exclusive portfolio of over 300 watch and jewellery pieces from more than 45 esteemed houses, including nine brands joining for the first time.
This year’s event is offering a new way of discovering and experiencing these masterpieces as the luxury travel retail presents them within its DFS World, described as “an innovative and virtual playground for luxury”.
Brand highlights
- Vianney Halter has personally unveiled just five of his singular timepieces, each described as a testament to his avant-garde ingenuity and mastery of mechanics.
- Moser & Cie. is also displaying its latest innovations, incorporating the blackest material to create a mystical illusion on the wrist. HYT showcases its latest liquid timekeeping novelty, the Moon Runner, implementing its revolutionary approach where ‘time’s flow and context is captured as opposed to an isolated moment’.
- Girard Perregaux is presenting the Neo Constant Escapement, a mechanism delivering remarkable rate stability irrespective of available energy.
- SevenFriday released the first ever 3D printed watch, specifically designed for Masters of Time event.
- Graff’s collection of some of the earth’s most exclusive gemstones.
- The nine new joiners include French jeweller Vever and London-based pearl specialists Yoko London. Vever brings its 200 years of artisanal knowledge in pioneering the Art Nouveau movement, while Yoko London is celebrating its 50th anniversary by demonstrating how pearl designs can be both classical and modern through dramatic redefinitions of the gem.
We will bring you a full report, post the Gala Event tomorrow. ✈
