Author Archives: Timmy Tan

Longines: China’s best watch brand for gifting by men

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Longines is the only watch brand listed on Hurun Report’s Chinese Luxury Consumer Survey 2013. Shown above is the Longines Heritage 1940. Photo: © Longines

Longines is the only watch brand listed on Hurun Report’s Chinese Luxury Consumer Survey 2013. Shown above is the Longines Heritage 1940. Photo: © Longines

What Swiss watch brand do wealthy Chinese typically opt for when sourcing a gift for men? Well, according to the Hurun Report Chinese Luxury Consumer Survey 2013 released on 15 January 2013, Longines was the only watch brand among the list.

Longines was ranked 15th in the “Best Brand for Gifting by Men”. What was interesting from the survey was how Longines took the place of Rolex, a more expensive brand which was “dropped off the list altogether”.

The report noted that the “luxury watch industry has had a tough year, perhaps brought on by bad PR for the industry following cases involving financial difficulties of government officials and watch ownership”.

Hurun Report founder and Chief Researcher Rupert Hoogewerf explained that, “This year, there is a clear trend towards gifting more modestly-priced top luxury goods.”

Baume & Mercier is also another popular gifting brand. Above: Baume & Mercier Clifton. Photo: © Baume & Mercier

Baume & Mercier is also another popular gifting brand. Above: Baume & Mercier Clifton. Photo: © Baume & Mercier

While Longines is the top choice for the wealthy in China based on the Hurun Report, another Swiss watch brand popular as a gifting brand on a global basis is Baume & Mercier. According to Philippe Caron, managing Director, Baume & Mercier, South East Asia and Australia, “Around 60% of the brand’s timepieces are bought as gifts.”

Fortis Colors

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With the Fortis Colors Watch quartz movement module, you can have a choice of up to 10 different strap colours. Photo: TANG Portfolio

If time is running out, not because of the end of the world, but due to the fact that you haven’t bought a present for someone on your gift list, then one idea we would highly recommend is the Fortis Colors watch set.

The Fortis Colors watch concept takes its inspiration from the brand’s past when the Flipper, which was first launched sometime between 1967 and 1968, became its bestseller. Back then, with one automatic watch movement module, owners could “play” with interchangeable plastic straps in different colours. Subsequent models came with quartz movements.

Fortis owner and Managing Director Peter Peter revived the Flipper in the 1980s and Ron Wood was among its fans; he wore his Flipper during the 1982 Rolling Stones tour. American composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein (1918 to 1990), better known for his music in “West Side Story” was known to change the straps and the colour choice would depend on his mood.

What we like about the Fortis Colors Watch of 2012 in particular, is firstly, the rotatable bezel; secondly, the stainless steel butterfly folding clasp on the silicone strap and a choice of 10 colours to choose from. The watch features a quartz movement with a date display and the detachable module is water-resistant to 100 metres. This is, after all, a fun watch and one should be able to enjoy it even when in the pool.

Each coloured silicone strap for the Fortis Colors Watch features a rotating bezel (unidirectional) and a stainless steel butterfly folding clasp. Photo: TANG Portfolio

The Fortis Colors watch packages are offered in either a set of three interchangeable straps or ten and every set is supplied with one quartz watch movement module. Note: only quartz movement modules are available.

From what we understand, the set of three comes with black, white and transparent coloured straps and is priced at around US$300-plus. The set of 10 is definitely a better value deal at around US$700.

Another Fortis article from timewerke.com which may be of interest: Fortis B-42 Black Mars 500: Superluminova orange or red?