Robb Report Singapore August 2022

IN THIS ISSUE, we pay homage to the many scintillating triumphs in the field of timepieces and high jewellery. The endeavour, expertise and genius behind the beautiful pieces found in these pages is a reflection of the human condition. We want to evolve, to attain perfection and then dance among the stars as we look to elevate our very being with transcendental creations. From the record-breaking Richard Mille UP-01, an ultra-flat timepiece that now holds the reigning crown as the slimmest timepiece at 1.75mm, we learn of how technical ability can be allied with creative nous as the watchmaker reimagines how a watch might look and be worn. Tino Bobe, head of manufacturing for A Lange & Sohne, points out that the desire to improve is inherent in the manufacture: “If…

Need for Speed Hot on the heels of the revolutionary Maserati MC20 – the Trident’s first super sports car – comes its more aggressive, track-exclusive counterpart, Project24. Designed by Centro Stile Maserati, renderings depict a high-performance racer – composed of electric blue and a keen metallic sheen – exuding authority and finesse with its all-new carbon-fibre body, expansive rear wing and 18-inch forged aluminium wheels. Powered by an upgraded twin-turbo, 3.0-litre V6 Nettuno engine, Project24 harnesses a commanding 740hp – a stark 119hp increase from the MC20 – matched by a six-speed sequential racing gearbox and ventilated Brembo brakes. While avid speedsters eagerly await more substantial real-world images, it’s a shame that only a fortunate few will get to lay their hands on one of the 62 units slated for production. Easy…

RICARDO GUADALUPE IS a watch industry lifer, most closely associated with Hublot. The 57-year-old worked under Jean-Claude Biver during the brand’s electrifying revival that came with the launch of the Big Bang in 2005, and in 2012 he inherited the office of CEO from him. Since then, Hublot has gone from strength to strength, thanks to its constant material innovation and its many collaborations across various segments from art to sports to music. Guadalupe cuts a laid-back, unassuming figure for such a dynamic brand, and for someone who constantly rubs shoulders with various celebrities. We found some time to have a quick chat with him during the frenetic schedule of this year’s Watches & Wonders in Geneva. What’s the first thing you do in the morning? I’m getting old, so now I…

Balloon Monkey (Magenta) by Jeff Koons Auctioned by Christie’s in London for £10.1 million Sold by philanthropists Victor and Olena Pinchuk in order to raise funds for humanitarian aid in their homeland of Ukraine, Jeff Koons’ seminal sculpture Balloon Monkey (Magenta) is the largest and final piece in the American artist’s series of balloon animals. Crafted between 2006 and 2013, the mirror-polished stainless steel sculpture is a representation of childhood innocence and joy, and its absence from the lives of those suffering through war. Fish Market on the Beach by Hendra Gunawan Bidding commences on 28 August through Sotheby’s in Singapore For the first time in 15 years, Sotheby’s will host an auction in Singapore this month, presenting works by a selection of masters of Southeast Asian art alongside those of established and younger international…

BUYING A TIMEPIECE for someone is tricky. A veritable minefield I would suggest as, ultimately, it will say a lot about you (the giver) and even more about what you think of the receiver. Watches are very personal items, especially for those people, like me, who love them and consider them to be so much more than mere implements for signifying how late you are for a meeting. Some people judge books by their covers – I know I do – and many make assessments of individuals based on what they’re wearing on their wrists. Show me a guy in Bermuda shorts and a T-shirt wearing a watch with a mechanism so complicated that even the makers couldn’t remember why or how they started the project in the first place, and I’ll…

HIGH JEWELLERY REPORT 2022 Given how every new high jewellery collection usually comes after at least two years of hard work and patience, the 2022 season reflects much of what had preoccupied jewellers during the pandemic years. Citywide lockdowns and social distancing left a sense of isolation thick in the air, the yearn for travel and human touch all but unsated. It is these precious sights, sensations and experiences – once taken for granted – that formed the inspirational springboard for the jewellers of Place Vendôme and beyond. Seeking to bridge the distance between us and places around the world, or between us and nature in its multifarious forms, top jewellery maisons turned their vision towards our beautiful planet. A most familiar arena, indeed, and one frequently mined for interesting new ideas.…