Scorpio Worldwide has secured the first listing for the new Yamaha Factory Racing VR|46 Watch Collection by TW Steel with Hong Kong Airlines. The news was announced by Scorpio Worldwide Managing Director Ian Cowie on Twitter during the TFWA Asia Pacific exhibition last week.
As revealed on our Moodie Live feed during the TFWA show, Scorpio Worldwide held a competition to support the launch of the new collection. The lucky winner was Air Asia Group Head of Duty Free Inflight Ancillary May Kwong, who has won for herself two VIP tickets to the Malaysian MotoGP including pit lane passes, courtesy of TW Steel.
Speaking to trade media during the collection’s official launch in Singapore, Cowie noted how the Dutch brand has “shaken up the watch industry” since it was founded in 2005 by Ton Cobelens. Noting the trend of oversized watches, Cobelens designed and produced the first-ever TW Steel collection, comprising the TW01, TW02, TW03 and TW04.
“TW Steel is all about time with attitude; each model is a statement as well as a timepiece with bold, larger-than-life designs – visually stunning and premium in quality. Originating from the Netherlands, TW Steel has quickly become a global brand, found in over 5,000 retail outlets in 100 countries worldwide. Its aspirations as a brand are – we believe – perfect for travel retail,” Cowie underlined.
 |
Scorpio Worldwide Sales & Marketing Director Richard Kennedy presenting the new VR|46 watch collection by TW Steel at the TFWA Asia Pacific exhibition last week |
Scorpio’s admiration for TW Steel dates back to the brand’s early days, and discussions between the two companies have been underway for some time, Cowie revealed.
“It really was a matter of finding the right product and their collaboration with Yamaha Factory Racing and [Italian professional motorcycle racer and multiple MotoGP world champion] Valentino Rossi has given us that opportunity,” he said. It was Rossi, Cowie added, who had approached TW Steel about creating a watch collection with “all the quality and style attributes of the brand but at a more accessible price”.
The resulting Yamaha Factory Racing VR|46 Watch Collection was suggested to Scorpio for travel retail, and the company has now put together a limited-edition range exclusively for the inflight channel, with Scorpio as the exclusive distributor.
The collection comprises two main watch styles, both characterised by bright, colourful and sporty looks. The first is a chronograph with high-precision Japanese quartz movement, set in an ultra-lightweight, strong carbon case with silicon straps and a graphite dial. Water-resistant to 10atm, this model retails for US$179. The second style is a three-hand calendar watch – with all other specifications similar to the first – which retails for US$129.
Besides the Yamaha Factory Racing VR|46 Watch Collection, the TFWA Asia Pacific exhibition also saw Scorpio launching new lines from UK designer Karen Millen and new packaging concepts for Pierre Cardin jewellery sets.
Earmarking technology as one of the fastest growing categories for inflight, Scorpio also showcased several novelties in this area, including the Optimus smartphone virtual reality headset from thumbsUp, retailing for £40.
“All this is just a precursor to even more exciting announcements in Cannes later this year, I can promise you,” Cowie concluded.
For more information, contact Richard Kennedy, Sales & Marketing Director, Scorpio Worldwide; tel: +44 (0) 1293 848513 or e-mail: rkennedy@scorpioworldwide.com.
 |  |
The TW Steel Yamaha Factory Racing VR|46 Watch Collection features a three-hand calendar watch design (left) and a chronograph (right and below), available in four colours | |
 |  |  |
