CROWN Malaysia

As we bid farewell to 2022 and head into a brand-new year, we can say, without a doubt, that it’s been a fantastic 12 months for horology. And we at CROWN have certainly enjoyed all the great and innovative watches that landed on our desks during that time. It is fitting then that we begin the final issue of our calendar year with a CROWN tradition. The editors of the various editions of CROWN from Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia pick their favourite watches of 2022. The feature reflects our personal tastes and preferences, perhaps revealing a little more of ourselves to you. Alternatively, take a deep dive into our analysis of noteworthy releases, such as Cartier’s refreshing additions to the Santos-Dumont collection or Audemars Piguet’s sumptuous Code 11.59 tourbillons. If you’re…

When I make a watch, I do it to please myself. Maybe it is a little selfish, but I want a watch that is in accordance with my aesthetic and with what I want, and that is classic yet contemporary. I’m a guy who puts pressure on myself because I want to evolve. It isn’t about pressure from other people. I wake up in the morning knowing I can do better because I’ve learned something new the day before. The process is never finished. That’s why I like watchmaking: You can always do better than the last time. I am a big dreamer, and I follow my dreams. I started my workshop at 25, which is young, but maybe, for the better. At that age, you don’t understand what’s happening and you…

Someone said our designs make it difficult to tell the time. We decided to take their advice and create a watch that makes telling the time easier. With the UR-120, we moved the time indicator vertically to the right, so you can easily read the time when it slips out from under your cuff. We nicknamed the UR-120 ‘Spock’ purely by accident. It wasn’t done for marketing purposes. When we were looking at the watch in the workshop, someone mentioned that the hour indicator’s split looks like Spock’s hand gesture, and that’s how the nickname came about. I don’t like being called more mature. Last year, we wanted to create something more elegant and the UR-120 is more refined, more detailed. As to your understanding, that’s more mature. Maybe we’ll go back…

Last month, Rolex unveiled the brand’s very first titanium timepiece, the Oyster Perpetual Deepsea Challenge. Rolex has resisted the trend towards new and modern materials for its cases and bracelets in the past, but this debut timepiece takes the brand forward. The Deepsea Challenge breaks Rolex traditions in every way. First, the dive watch has a water resistance of 11,000m (36,090ft), or approximately seven miles, the depth of the Challenger Deep, the deepest point of the Mariana Trench. The trench, located in the western Pacific Ocean, is the deepest point in the world. A decade ago, Rolex Testimonee James Cameron made headlines when he became the first human to submerge into Challenger Deep on a solo mission, collecting scientific data, specimens, and a visual record of the deep trench. Of course, no…

As a talented actress and producer, Deepika Padukone has the entertainment world at her feet. Since her Bollywood debut 15 years ago, she has won accolades and awards for her work in movies such as Cocktail, Chennai Express, Happy New Year and Piku. Earlier this year, she was selected to serve on the jury for the 75th Cannes Film Festival. When not busy on a film set, Padukone wears other hats, most notably as a philanthropist. Of all the charitable causes that she devotes her time to, the Live Love Laugh Foundation, which she founded in 2015, is the closest to her heart. Its expertise lies in raising awareness about mental health in India and reducing the stigma associated with the illness. And now, Cartier has named Padukone as its new ambassador,…

Jacob & Co has teamed up with Binghatti, a major Emirati property development company, for an ultra-luxury skyscraper of over 100 floors in Dubai. Located at the heart of Business Bay, the city’s main financial district, Burj Binghatti Jacob & Co Residences aims to set a new record as the tallest residential building in the world. The architecture is reminiscent of Jacob & Co’s meticulously cut gemstones, with materials, details and finishes conceived and designed in collaboration with the brand’s team. Of note are the penthouses, Fleurs De Jardin, Astronomia and Billionaire, whose interior design is directly inspired by the aesthetics of their namesake flagship watches. Apart from being involved in the development’s entire design process, Jacob & Co plans to offer exclusively designed watches and jewellery—likely limited editions or one-of-a-kind pieces—that…