Edox Grand Ocean and the Extreme Sailing Series

The 45mm Edox Grand Ocean chronograph in steel with a blue PVD-coated case is powered by the Calibre 011 (Valjoux 7750) automatic movement. Photo: © TANG Portfolio

The 45mm Edox Grand Ocean chronograph in steel with a blue PVD-coated case is powered by the Calibre 011 (Valjoux 7750) automatic movement. Photo: © TANG Portfolio

The first race of the Extreme Sailing Series kicked off in February 2014 at Singapore’s Marina Bay area. Known as Act 1, it was held over three days and Ernesto Bertarelli’s Alinghi Swiss team finally claimed victory. It is estimated that this event attracted around 30,000 spectators.

The Extreme Sailing Series started in 2007 and it was only in 2013 that Edox became the Official Timekeeper of this “stadium-style” boat race featuring 40-feet multi-hull catamarans.

The Extreme Sailing Series held in February 2014 in Singapore is the very first for the new racing season. Edox became the Official Timekeeper of the Extreme Sailing Series in 2013. The brand is also one of the sponsors of the sailing team GAC Pindar captained by Seve Jarvin. Photo: © TANG Portfolio

The Extreme Sailing Series held in February 2014 in Singapore is the very first for the new racing season. Edox became the Official Timekeeper of the Extreme Sailing Series in 2013. The brand is also one of the sponsors of the sailing team GAC Pindar captained by Seve Jarvin. Photo: © TANG Portfolio

The brand obviously has a marine sports line and this is the Grand Ocean collection. One example from this collection is the 45mm Grand Ocean chronograph powered by the Valjoux 7750 automatic movement.

With its Extreme Sailing Series partnership, Edox has also created the 48mm Grand Ocean Extreme Sailing Series Special Edition chronograph. The brand highlights that this chronograph watch is inspired by the complex structure of a sailboat and it features a case made up of 60 components.

The 48mm Edox Grand Ocean Extreme Sailing Series Special Edition in stainless steel, blue PVD-coated with a big date display. Edox’s Calibre 45 is a base ETA 2892-2 automatic movement modified by Dubois Dépraz 4500. Water-resistant to 300m (900 feet), it is priced at around US$4,300 / SGD5,400 (Singapore dollars) / RM14,150 (Malaysian Ringgit) before tax. Photo: © Edox

The 48mm Edox Grand Ocean Extreme Sailing Series Special Edition in stainless steel, blue PVD-coated with a big date display. Edox’s Calibre 45 is a base ETA 2892-2 automatic movement modified by Dubois Dépraz 4500. Water-resistant to 300m (900 feet), it is priced at around US$4,300 / SGD5,400 (Singapore dollars) / RM14,150 (Malaysian Ringgit) before tax. Photo: © Edox

One version of the stainless steel case is PVD-coated in blue and another is in black. The Grand Ocean Special Edition has a big date display at the 12 o’clock position. Its engine is what the brand terms the Calibre 45, utilising an ETA 2892-2 base with modifications and add-ons by Dubois Dépraz.

In late 2013, Crystal Time became the official distributor of Edox timepieces in Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei. The Extreme Sailing Series in February 2014 was therefore used as a meaningful platform for Crystal Time to launch the brand’s new models for its Grand Ocean, Class 1 and ChronoRally collections in this part of the world.

Tan Soo Khoon, managing director of Crystal Time notes that the Extreme Sailing Series is an F1 equivalent type of water sport.

As for such a sport in Singapore waters, Pamela Tan, brand manager of Crystal Time, highlights that this is the only race held in Southeast Asia.

The Extreme Sailing Series will also be held in the Middle East, Russia, Europe and Australia. In 2012, the media value of the Extreme Sailing Series was 27.8 million euros (around US$38.2 million / SGD48.5 million).

Patek Philippe’s new booth at BaselWorld 2014: a luminous glass pavilion

Patek Philippe’s new booth at BaselWorld 2014. According to the brand, more than two years of architectural and engineering works were required to create this structure. Photo: © Patek Philippe

Patek Philippe’s new booth at BaselWorld 2014. According to the brand, more than two years of architectural and engineering works were required to create this structure. Photo: © Patek Philippe

Fans of Patek Philippe visiting the annual BaselWorld watch fair in 2014 in late March will be welcomed by the brand’s new booth, a luminous glass pavilion designed by architectural firm Ottavio Di Blasi & Partners from Milan.

While the ground area has expanded 9.5% to 630 square metres, the total floor area occupied by Patek Philippe has increased by 57%; from 955 square metres in 2013 to 1,500 square metres in 2014 as the pavilion takes up three levels.

A total of 125 tons of steel will be used for the structure which will hold 117 glass elements weighing 70 tons and covering 600 square metres of surface area.

The central structure inside the glass pavilion has 400 square metres of backlit Corian (a surface material made by DuPont) and it will be illuminated by 5km of LED lights. Hence, the luminous glass pavilion.

More importantly for fans of the brand will be the showcases where 198 timepieces from Patek Philippe’s collections will be on public display. It will include the new 2014 timepieces and 50 different calibres.

The year 2014 marks the 175th anniversary of Patek Philippe’s founding (1839 to 2014). Patek Philippe was founded by Antoine Norbert de Patek and this well-recognised global brand name came to be with Jean-Adrien Philippe joining in 1845.

From what we understand, the focus at BaselWorld will solely be on the brand’s 2014 novelties. The 175th commemorative anniversary timepieces, which are well-kept secrets, will only be revealed later during the year.

The previous structure used by Patek Philippe at BaselWorld had served the brand well, having been in use since 1999, or a good 15 years.

Patek Philippe’s booth has always been a BaselWorld highlight and a walk around the booth to view its fascinating exhibits is a tradition that began on our first visit to the annual watch fair back in the early 2000s.

Patek Philippe has been a part of the annual BaselWorld watch fair for 83 years, having first participated in 1931.

Other Patek Philippe articles on timewerke.com that may be of interest:
i. Patek Philippe Nautilus Travel Time Chronograph Ref. 5990/1A: the push for more
ii. Patek Philippe Annual Calendar Chronograph Ref. 5960/1A: A few firsts
iii. Patek Philippe Ref. 3417 Amagnetic: in demand, present “tense”