A new Panerai boutique in Chadstone + Jaeger-LeCoultre & Omega exhibitions coming to NYC in November
Zach BlassAs journalists, we find ourselves invited to many events in which we get to engage with watches more intimately. So, anytime public exhibitions and fairs or new boutiques pop up, we like to highlight them for you.
Panerai comes to Chadstone
Chadstone Shopping Centre (or ‘Chaddy’ if you’re in the know) is the biggest shopping centre in Australia by both area and number of stores as well as one of the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere. It’s also one of Melbourne’s leading watch-shopping destinations, with brands including Breitling, Longines, IWC and Piaget all having opened up shop in recent years. Panerai is the latest name to join an increasingly stacked roster of watchmakers calling this luxury mall home, with the Italian brand holding a lavish Grand Opening last night.
The highlight of the night was the Radiomir Annual Calendar in platinum that attendees were able to see in the flesh – a rare opportunity (although for some attendees, being able to rub shoulders with Australian actress and model Megan Gale would’ve been a highlight, too…)
Visit the new Panerai Chadstone boutique at Chadstone Shopping Centre, Shop 438/1341 Dandenong Rd, Malvern East, Melbourne. Book an appointment here.
Jaeger-LeCoultre’s ‘Reverso Stories’ exhibition kicks off in NYC on November 3
From November 3 to November 22, people in the NYC area will have an ample chance to get intimate with the Reverso’s past, present, and future. Not only will rare older heritage models be on display, but also the full Reverso range that made its debut at Watches & Wonders 2023 Geneva and two new Reverso models that will launch alongside the exhibition. Visitors will also get to enjoy the 1931 cafe, short films, and hands-on watchmaking experiences (such as assembling a Reverso case from start to finish) that detail the over nine decades of history of the Reverso and the 180 crafts Jaeger-LeCoultre performs in-house within their manufacture.
The ‘Reverso Stories’ Exhibition will take place from November 3 to November 22, 2023, at IRON 23, located at 29 W 23rd Street, NY 10010. Entry is open to the public and free of charge. Appointments can be booked here. Walk-ins are also accepted.
Omega’s ‘Planet Omega’ exhibition arrives in NYC on November 9
At the Chelsea Factory in New York City, from November 9 to November 19, the ‘Planet OMEGA’ exhibition will offer visitors a chance to deep dive into five facets of the Omega story: Sports, Olympic Games, Ocean, James Bond, and, of course, Space. A host of the latest models will be available for viewing, but key historical pieces can also be seen as well. This includes Elvis Presley’s Omega with 44 brilliant-cut diamonds, John F. Kennedy’s Omega Slimline which he wore to his inauguration in 1961, the CK2998 Speedmaster worn by astronaut Wally Schirra aboard the Sigma 7 Mercury mission, a 1932 Omega Marine (often considered to be the first diver’s watch made for civilians), and much more. This is a rare opportunity to see prized Omega timepieces that rarely leave Switzerland.
The Planet OMEGA exhibition will remain open from November 9 to November 19, starting at 11am to 7pm, at the Chelsea Factory, 547 W 26th Street.
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Zach
Watch meme of the week: watch-fishing
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Renders can be a bit misleading at times in revealing the true wearing experience of watches: texture, hue, weight, and so on. This is why nothing beats handling a watch ‘in the metal’.
Wrist shot of the week: the unexpected king of Rolex
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The assortment of watches and ashtrays in front of Watchonista’s Marco Gabella is impressive. But the first snapshot of the carousel highlights the Rolex watch I would most love to add to my own collection next. The Genta-designed and Parthenon-inspired Rolex Cellini King Midas was a sleeper once upon a time. Unfortunately for me, these now sell for well over US$30,000…
Time+Tide Shop pick of the week: Norqain Wild One
We’ve just opened a Norqain Wild One exhibition in our Time+Tide Discovery Studio on Collins Street in Melbourne, so we can’t think of a better time to shine a light on this techy sports watch. It boasts a case made out of Norqain’s proprietary NORTEQ carbon fibre material, which is 6 times lighter than steel and 3.5 times lighter than titanium, within which lies a colour-matched khaki rubber shock absorber, which covers the titanium container that houses the NN20/1 Manufacture Calibre that powers this beast. Designed in collaboration with the legendary Jean-Claude Biver, the Wild One is stylish and capable in equal measures. Come through and check out the exhibition for yourself if you’re in town.
Order now in the Time+Tide Shop. Price: A$7,600
Our favourite Time+Tide coverage of the week
VIDEO: IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Top Gun Oceana
Borna makes the case that the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Top Gun Oceana, with its blue ceramic case, is the sleeper hit from IWC’s Watches & Wonders 2023 showcase. The Ingenieur was certainly the featured novelty, but go hands-on with the Oceana above to see why Borna wants the spotlight moved over to this blue ceramic pilot’s chronograph.
The Louis Vuitton x Akrivia LVRR-01 Chronographe à Sonnerie proves Louis Vuitton is a safe haven for independent watchmaking
The Louis Vuitton x Akrivia LVRR-01 Chronographe à Sonnerie, a two-dial chronograph with a chiming complication and five-minute tourbillon, debuted earlier this week as the inaugural entry within Louis Vuitton’s collaborative series of watches with independent watchmakers. There is a lot to unpack – Zach goes in-depth here.
The most interesting watches in David Beckham’s collection
“As soon as we got money, it was like, ‘I want to buy a nice watch,’” David Beckham recounts in the first episode of Netflix’s blockbuster new limited series, Beckham. Beckham has always been into his watches, and the man boasts a pretty impressive collection of timepieces (even if most of them are Tudors). Jamie has rounded up some of what he thinks are his most interesting pieces, some of which you might have spotted if you’ve binged the show already. Head here for the full rundown.