EUREKA MOMENTS
WOW Singapore|Issue 74
Our extended look at gold in watchmaking comes to a close in this third and final part, with a look at five proprietary gold alloys. Of course, there are certainly more than five so we will leave the door ajar on going even further
ASHOK SOMAN AND JAMIE TAN
EUREKA MOMENTS

EVEROSE GOLD

These are all complicated points and we will be covering them briefly. We bring this point to the fore because fine watchmaking has been in the public eye itself recently for the investment angle. Specifically, some types of watches might qualify as alternative investment assets. To be clear, we have always argued (or at least cautioned) against this but we acknowledge reality and there are many of you, dear readers, who are intrigued by the potential of watches to not only retain value but also to grow it. 

Some years ago, before we dared to comment on the phenomenon of investing in watches, we hinted at what a dark world this might herald. It was an Editor’s Note with the catchy title Watches as Currency, and watches cased in precious metal are the personification of this idea. If gold, in particular, is a kind of currency, then wearing watches cased in this material will really be like having cash strapped to one’s wrist. Well, perhaps just a digital display that indicates how much the watch in question is valued at. A good way to grab the attention of thieves you say? Welcome to the world of those who rock all-gold watches, and Singapore might just be the safest place on earth to do this.

As a counterpoint, the watch-buying community knows all too well that the best deals available on the secondary market are timepieces cased in precious metals. That means any precious metal, not just gold. To be blunt, these are the types of watches that shed the most value, including examples from the biggest names in Swiss watchmaking. Generally speaking, the why of this is hard to explain, especially versus amped-up valuations on steel watches, but the hypothesis (from specialists, including us) is that the precious metal recommended retail prices have always been too high. This is especially true when any given brand also offers a model in a non-precious metal variant too.

MAGIC GOLD

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Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

WOW SINGAPORE DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
Hand-Finished Ceramic
WOW Singapore

Hand-Finished Ceramic

Once thought impossible, Blancpain demonstrates how to bring handcraftsmanship to ceramic cases and bracelets with the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Quantième Complet Phases de lune 5054

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2 dak  |
Issue 74
Quanta Of Time
WOW Singapore

Quanta Of Time

Just as hours, minutes and seconds are quanta of time, so too are days, weeks, months and years. We finally explore the story of the perpetual calendar in particular, in a year that invites such ruminations

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Issue 74
Twice Upon A Time
WOW Singapore

Twice Upon A Time

The world's greatest double tourbillon wristwatch, the Breguet Classique 5345 Quai de L'horloge is back, with new hand-finishing touches

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Issue 74
Coming In Thin
WOW Singapore

Coming In Thin

Bvigari’s releases for 2024 continue to stun the watch world with its trail-blazing innovation and sublime artistry

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Issue 74
Light The Night
WOW Singapore

Light The Night

Luminox celebrates 35 years of existence by drawing on its heritage in the realms of the air, land and sea

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Issue 74
New Frontiers
WOW Singapore

New Frontiers

The outgoing CEO of TAG Heuer Julien Tornare shares his management style and values. No doubt these will remain consistent in his new role as Hublot CEO, just as they were in his Zenith tenure

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Issue 74
Delighting To Surprise
WOW Singapore

Delighting To Surprise

Tissot CEO Sylvain Dolla weighs in on the novelties of 2024

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Issue 74
Machine Learning
WOW Singapore

Machine Learning

The mechanical calendar has been perfected over the last 100 years; it remains a challenge that invites multiple watchmaking and engineering approaches. We get into the nuts and bolts of how the perpetual calendar gets the job done

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Issue 74
Expedition Hublot
WOW Singapore

Expedition Hublot

A peek into the manufacture at Hublot reveals the amount of intricacies and technology behind the often quirky watches

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Issue 74
STRUCTURAL STYLE
WOW Singapore

STRUCTURAL STYLE

Parmigiani Fleurier CEO Guido Terreni explains the logic of the new Toric collection and takes us through his thoughts on style and elegance

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Issue 74