IWC Aquatimer Watches and the Sands of Time

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Sand painting artist Stacey Lee working her magic at IWC’s regional launch event for the brand’s 2014 Aquatimer collection (for the markets of Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand). Photo: © TANG Portfolio

Sand painting artist Stacey Lee working her magic at IWC’s regional launch of the 2014 Aquatimer collection (for the markets of Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand). Photo: © TANG Portfolio

The Aquatimer collection is IWC’s main highlight for 2014 and the new models were launched at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie held in January in Geneva, Switzerland.

The first IWC Aquatimer was introduced in 1967 and the name of the collection is derived by combining the words aqua for water and timer for timing.

Interestingly, sand is not just related to the sea but with time as it was used in early hourglasses; hence the term “sand watch” for the hourglass as well.

That probably explained why sand was a featured highlight when IWC held its regional launch of the Aquatimer collection in late March 2014 for the markets of Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.

Stacey Lee’s handpainted sand drawing of a diver and jellyfish. Photo: © TANG Portfolio

Stacey Lee’s hand-drawing of a diver and jellyfish using sand. Photo: © TANG Portfolio

Held in Singapore within the Mohamed Sultan Road area, a place known for its nightspots, sand painting artist Stacey Lee “drew” creatures of the undersea world and an IWC watch with sand before an attentive audience prior to the official unveiling of the watches.

Among the watches unveiled was the IWC Aquatimer Automatic 2000 (Ref. IW358002), so-named because its case is water-resistant to 200 bar or 2,000 metres (6,561 feet).

Such water-resistance is more than sufficient as recreational divers will only dive down to the maximum depth of around 30 metres (100 feet). In fact, most marine creatures can be found less than 15 metres (50 feet) underwater.

The IWC Aquatimer Automatic 2000 Ref. IW358002. Powered by IWC’s in-house Calibre 80110 automatic movement. Water-resistant to 200 bar or 2,000 metres (6,561 feet). Retailed at SGD Retailed at SGD13,900 (Singapore dollars) / RM32,000 (Malaysian Ringgit). Photo: © TANG Portfolio. 2014 Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie

The 46mm diameter  IWC Aquatimer Automatic 2000 Ref. IW358002 with the thickness of 20.5mm. Powered by IWC’s in-house Calibre 80110 automatic movement. Water-resistant to 200 bar or 2,000 metres (6,561 feet). Retailed at SGD Retailed at SGD13,900 (Singapore dollars) / MYR32,000 (Malaysian Ringgit). Photo: © TANG Portfolio. 2014 Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie

This is a point Edouard d’Arbaumont, managing director, IWC Southeast Asia including Australia and New Zealand, can attest to. While holidaying on the Malaysian island of Tioman with his family in 2013, he went snorkelling with one of his daughters.

Submerged and with diving face masks on, they (d’Arbaumont and his daughter Marine) were fortunate enough to spot a sea turtle swimming by. That was a moment both father and daughter will never forget, he notes. Of course, he will also not forget what was on his wrist at that time – an IWC Aquatimer (the IWC Deep Two, from what we gather).

Edouard d’Arbaumont, managing director, IWC Southeast Asia including Australia and New Zealand sharing his holiday experience in Tioman. He and his daughter, Marine, had the good fortune to sight a sea turtle while snorkelling in Tioman, a Malaysian island. Photo: © TANG Portfolio

Edouard d’Arbaumont, managing director, IWC Southeast Asia including Australia and New Zealand sharing his holiday experience in Tioman. In 2013, while snorkelling together with his daughter, Marine (and not forgetting the IWC Deep Two on his wrist), they had the good fortune to sight a sea turtle in Tioman, a Malaysian island. Photo: © TANG Portfolio

The regional launch event will be the last for d’Arbaumont in this part of the world as he will be embarking on a new adventure. d’Arbaumont will be moving on to the United States to take charge of IWC’s North American operations.

What he will take along with him include the experiences in this part of the world, among which is the wonderful underwater encounter.

Sand painting - another use for sand. Photo: © TANG Portfolio

Sand painting – the creative use of sand. Stacey Lee tells us she took up sand painting five years ago (in around 2009). Photo: © TANG Portfolio

 

Oris Calibre 110: One Hundred and Ten

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Oris celebrates the 110th anniversary of its founding in 2014. Its commemorative 110th anniversary timepiece is the Oris 110 Years Limited Edition featuring an in-house developed manual-winding movement with 10 days of power reserve and what the brand highlights as a patented non-linear power reserve display. Two versions have been created: one in steel and the other in 18K rose gold. The Oris 110 Years Limited Edition in rose gold, limited to 110 pieces, is priced at CHF14,800 (Swiss francs) / US$16,900 / 12,200 euros / SGD21,400 (Singapore dollars). Photo: © Oris

Oris celebrates the 110th anniversary of its founding in 2014. Its commemorative anniversary timepiece is the Oris 110 Years Limited Edition featuring an in-house developed manual-winding movement with 10 days of power reserve and what the brand highlights as a patented non-linear power reserve display. Two versions have been created: one in steel and the other in 18K rose gold. The Oris 110 Years Limited Edition in rose gold, limited to 110 pieces, is priced at CHF14,800 (Swiss francs) / US$16,900 / 12,200 euros / SGD21,400 (Singapore dollars). Photo: © Oris

In 1904, Paul Cattin and Georges Christian, watchmakers from Le Locle, acquired a former watch factory in Hölstein located in the north-western part of Switzerland.

Their objective was to create their own timepieces and the brand name they chose was Oris. Oris is a name derived from a brook found in a valley close to Hölstein. The etymological roots of the word “oris” are from the Celtish word Aurisa and Orusz in Latin, both of which mean “watercourse”.

It was in 1941, during the Second World War, that Oris began the production of alarm clocks. In 1949, Oris successfully launched its eight-day power reserve alarm clock. At that time, Oris was producing more than 200,000 watches and clocks per annum.

By 1970, Oris was among the world’s top ten watch companies, producing 1.2 million watches and clocks a year and employing 800 people.

Oris alarm clock publicity poster. Oris ventured into clock production in 1941 during the Second World War because its global distribution networks for its wristwatches were affected. In 1949, Oris successfully launched its eight-day power reserve alarm clock. In 2004, Oris produced an eight-day power reserve alarm clock that was packaged together with its Artelier Worldtimer as a limited edition set to commemorate the brand’s 100th anniversary of its founding. Photo: © Oris

Vintage Oris alarm clock publicity poster. Oris ventured into clock production in 1941 during the Second World War because its global distribution networks for its wristwatches were affected. In 1949, Oris successfully launched its eight-day power reserve alarm clock. In 2004, Oris produced an eight-day power reserve alarm clock that was packaged together with its Artelier Worldtimer as a limited edition set to commemorate the brand’s 100th anniversary of its founding (1904 to 2004). Photo: © Oris

In 1982, the general manager of Oris, Dr Rolf Portmann, and the head of marketing, Ulrich Herzog, undertook a management buyout. While quartz watches were becoming increasingly popular, Herzog decided that the future of Oris was to be built on mechanical timepieces.

Oris not only survived but thrived under the leadership and management of Dr Portmann and Herzog. Dr Portmann is today the honorary chairman of Oris while Herzog is executive chairman.

Oris has always been forward-looking with regards to its future. It was around the time of the brand’s centennial celebrations in 2004 that the brand began working with Swiss technical specialists L’École Téchnique Le Locle.

After around 10 years, the collaborative efforts resulted in the Calibre 110 manual-winding movement with the power reserve of 10 days once fully wound. Interestingly, a single mainspring barrel is used and the mainspring measures 1.8 metres.

The development of the Calibre 110 resulted from a collaboration between Oris and L’École Téchnique Le Locle and spanned over 10 years. The Calibre 110 utilises a single mainspring barrel and mainspring stretching 1.8 metres. Photo: © Oris

The development of the Calibre 110 resulted from a collaboration between Oris and L’École Téchnique Le Locle and spanned over 10 years. The Calibre 110 utilises a single mainspring barrel and a mainspring stretching 1.8 metres. Photo: © Oris

The Calibre 110 has been fitted into the Oris 110 Years Limited Edition wristwatch featuring 10 days of power reserve, an Oris patented non-linear power reserve display at three o’clock and a subsidiary continuous sweep seconds at the nine o’clock position.

Two versions of the Oris 110 Years Limited Edition are available: one is in stainless steel, very reasonably priced at CHF5,500 (Swiss francs); the other in 18K rose gold and selling for CHF14,800 (Swiss francs). Both are limited to 110 pieces.

The Oris 110 Years Limited Edition is a fitting 110th commemorative edition piece and the Calibre 110 is significant as this is the first movement developed in-house after some 35 years. [It was around the 1980s that Oris stopped production of its own calibres and focused on modular development instead.]

The 43mm Oris 110 Years Limited Edition in stainless steel. Limited to 110 pieces and priced at CHF5,500 (Swiss francs) / US$6,300 / 4,500 euros / SGD8,000 (Singapore dollars). The brand highlights that the edges of the movement are hand-bevelled and hand-polished while the industrial look of the bridges remain. Photo: © Oris

The 43mm Oris 110 Years Limited Edition in stainless steel. Limited to 110 pieces and priced at CHF5,500 (Swiss francs) / US$6,300 / 4,500 euros / SGD8,000 (Singapore dollars). The brand highlights that the edges of the movement are hand-bevelled and hand-polished while the industrial look of the bridges remain. Photo: © Oris

The main feature of the Calibre 110, which is the 10-day power reserve, is well in line with the brand’s legacy. Recall that the brand once made eight-day power reserve alarm clocks?

Even for its 100th anniversary celebrations (1904 to 2004), Oris made a limited edition eight-day alarm clock. The clock was offered together with the 100th anniversary commemorative Artelier Worldtimer limited edition timepiece.

Ten years later and for the brand’s 110th anniversary celebrations, all the power is focused on the wrist – and in a longer-lasting 10-day power reserve Oris wristwatch with an in-house developed manual-winding movement – the Calibre 110.