Chanel Celebrates 25 Years of the J12 Watch With a New Blue Ceramic Collection

As the official press release reads, “It is not white, it is not black, it is bleu…”

In a striking homage to its illustrious past, Chanel unveiled the J12 Bleu in Hong Kong with great fanfare, captivating fans on a balmy evening in the city. A limited-edition collection celebrating the 25th anniversary of the iconic J12 watch, the launch drew the usual caravan of celebrities and society figures. However, we were fascinated by the latest model from a house more renowned for its fashion, accessories, and iconic No. 5 perfume than its timepiece collections, and this latest iteration strikes us with a bold bolt of blue—well, “bleu,” as they say—encapsulating the essence of modern luxury, marrying innovative craftsmanship with a maritime aesthetic, and marking a significant milestone in the evolution of haute horlogerie.

Chanel J12 was born at the turn of the millennium, an audacious blend of form and function that redefined watchmaking conventions. Its pioneering use of ceramic—a material not widely embraced at the time—set a new standard in durability and design. Suddenly, every celebrity was seen sporting the chunky white accessories on their wrists. Fast-forward to 2025, and the J12 Bleu emerges as a testament to the maison’s relentless pursuit of innovation, now encased in a matte blue ceramic that embodies a distinct nautical spirit.

Read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong.

Cartier Reimagines Its Emblematic Santos de Cartier Wristwatch In a Smaller Size

Not just for pilots or fashionistas, the latest accessory, now in a more petite size and available in a dual-tone colourway, is a must-have for the discerning collector.

Originally crafted for the pioneering aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont in 1904, the Santos de Cartier timepiece has oft been touted as the first modern wristwatch, breaking away from the pocket-watch tradition that had been the fashionable norm in the previous century. Its distinctive square case and visible screws—once a hidden aspect of horology—have become defining aesthetic elements of the singular design and collection. 

In 2025, Cartier introduces a new iteration of the Santos de Cartier, a smaller model that nonetheless reflects the proportions of the original designs. Measuring 27 mm x 34.5 mm, this latest design is available in both gold and steel, showcasing a blend of materials that enhances its elegance. Cartier maintains the design principles that characterise the larger models (as seen on Tom Cruise or Jake Gyllenhaal)—pure lines, precise shapes, and exquisite details—while contrasting these with the industrial allure of its visible screws.

Read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong.

Parmigiani Fleurier Releases its Tonda PF 36 MM Automatic in a New Stone Blue Colourway

A seamless accessory that will complement and enhance any look—an instant Swiss classic.

In an era where luxury is increasingly defined by simplicity and universality, the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF 36 mm emerges a refined emblem of sophistication, transcending traditional gender boundaries to appeal to discerning individuals who seek a versatile aesthetic. 

The Tonda PF captures the charm of vintage proportions, seamlessly melding it with a contemporary allure that speaks to today’s aspirations of quiet luxury. If ever an accessory spoke the adage “wealth whispers,” this seemingly innocuous watch signals such elegant taste among those in the know.  

Read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong. 

Breitling CEO Georges Kern on Celebrating 140 Years of Breitling and Expanding the Evolution of the Historical Watch Brand

A centenary Swiss brand is making waves in China—but what took so long? Longstanding Breitling leader Georges Kern answers this, and many other insights in a lengthy chat. It’s all about the right timing for Breitling CEO Georges Kern, who will soon be clocking 30 years in the horological industry. While passing through Hong Kong, he gave Robb Report Hong Kong an exclusive one-on-one chat about leading Breitling as it celebrates its 140th anniversary.

Marking “140 Years of Firsts,” Breitling unveiled not one, but three limited editions of its flagship models—the Premier, the Navitimer, and the Chronomat. Launched in Hong Kong to great fanfare to an assembly of collectors, connoisseurs, and celebrities, guest of honour, singer, and actor Raymond Lam joined hands with Kern to unveil the three novelties in Hong Kong.

But for watch enthusiasts, the cynosure of all eyes will perpetually be Kern, who, in his tenure as CEO, opened Breitling’s doors to China with a 2019 star-studded event in Beijing featuring brand ambassadors Brad Pitt, Daniel Wu, and legendary photographer Peter Lindbergh. Famed as an alpha-masculine brand for decades, Kern invited Charlize Theron to be the ambassador of a new collection and collaborated with Victoria Beckham on a special-edition Chronomat.

Read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong.

This One-of-a-Kind Patek Philippe is Heading to Auction—and It Can Be Yours for HK$78 Million

An all-out bidding war is expected for this rare “Heures Universelles” wristwatch.

 On 26 May, Christie’s Hong Kong will present a highly anticipated live auction when a rare Patek Philippe wristwatch will take to the stage. An intricate timepiece depicting a map of Eurasia on a polychrome cloisonné enamel dial, the dazzling 18-carat yellow-gold Dual-Crown World Time Wristwatch Ref. 2523, rendered in violet, turquoise, gold, dark blue, and green, is striking from every angle, and set to be one of the most coveted accessories in recent times as the estimated price hovers between HK$39 million and HK$78 million.

Read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong.

This Diamond-Studded Rolex Daytona Is Expected to Fetch HK$2 Million at Christie's Auction

As Christie’s prepares to ignite its first watch auction of the year, scheduled from 27 March to 9 April in Hong Kong for the 2024 spring season, the result of the local chapter is bound to set the tone for what lies ahead. 15 live and online auctions are in the offing in 2024, studded around the globe in various watch capitals, for enthusiasts and discerning collectors to congregate and bid as the hammer rises and falls with clockwork precision.

On 27 March, Christie’s is holding its online auction, with a live one following in May, and the attention of the watch world will be directed at the city for one simple reason: the numbers. Last year’s sales, particularly the ones from this past November, has made the Hong Kong chapter the cynosure of all eyes. On one autumnal evening, the auctioneers clocked in record global sales and participation from 39 countries spanning five continents. Important watches, those of historical value, the rarest of rarities, and mint collections were up for grabs; Christie’s presented three live watches auctions in Hong Kong and achieved a total of HK$222 million—the second-highest autumn sale at Christie’s Asia, ever.

Read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong.

Breguet’s New Classique Répétition Minutes 7637 Is an Elegant Tribute to Its Founder

 

Abraham-Louis Breguet is the inventor of the game-changing gong-spring.

Breguet’s new Classique Répétition Minutes 7637 has arrived on our shores with elegant ease, cloaked in a black grand feu enamel dial with Arabic numerals and a secret signature.

What’s not a secret is the remarkable craft and technical expertise that Breguet brings to the table, especially to the Classique Répétition Minutes 7637. In a world of over-the-top, jewel-studded glamour, the new timepiece presents a sedated respite to luxury watches. Dressed in all black with rose gold accents, it’s a nod to Swiss-French watchmaker and company founder Abraham-Louis Breguet’s adept abilities and aesthetic vision to create handcrafted instruments of impeccable and—pardon the pun—timeless quality.

Read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong. 

Hublot and Depeche Mode Just Dropped a New Monochromatic Big Bang Watch

This latest collaboration is music to our ears—and it’s all for a worthy cause.

We’ve seen designer drops, bejewelled wrist candies, and innumerable watches of every stripe and provenance come our way, but it has been a long time since we’ve laid eyes on a rock ‘n’ roll watch collaboration worthy of piqued interest.

Hublot and Depeche Mode have come together to release the new Spirit of Big Bang Depeche Mode, paying tribute to the legendary new wave band’s latest album—Memento Mori—and subsequent world tour. Sporting a skull motif with an overlaid hourglass design, the matte black watch conjures up notions of the passage of time, the symbolism of the inevitable transience of life, and the profound role we each play on Earth. For those looking at the literal more than the mystical, it’s just a really cool watch for the latent rocker in you.

You can read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong.

This Is the Van Cleef & Arpels Secret That Was Outed at Watches and Wonders 2023

 

Van Cleef & Arpels’s newest watch, based on the Ludo bracelet, is the best-kept “secret” in town.

Watches and Wonders 2023 held in Geneva showcased the best of the horological world and we’ve covered many finds extensively over the past few days . Above all, we had to take a moment to recognise the “wonder” provided by the fine folks at Van Cleef & Arples, who directed their gilded spotlight on the Ludo secret watch earlier this year. 

The story traces back to the revered maison’s Ludo bracelet, a sparkling accessory from 1934 reflecting the jazzy Art Deco vibe of the period. Look for the brick-pattern meshwork made so exquisitely and assembled by hand, and the symmetry and geometry of the repetitive pattern on its glistening strap that looks like a jewelled belt, designed “to deliver optimal articulation and flexibility,” as the brand states. It is a piece so well-liked, they named it after the co-founder Louis Arpels (called Ludo by those in his close-knit circle). 

Read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong.

IWC’s New Fully Luminous Pilot’s Watch Just Landed in Hong Kong

 

It’s slick, it glows in the dark, and it’s simply aces. 

There’s a technical finesse and imperative functionality to the latest Pilot’s Watch Automatic 41 Black Aces from the storied IWC Schaffhausen that’s worth a second look. Perhaps even a third. Wear it in a low-light setting and you’ll spot the remarkable feature immediately: a fully luminous white dial—consisting of a Super-LumiNova ceramic disc—that emits a bright light in a photosensitive soft green hue, ideal for night-time visibility.

Developed in collaboration with pilots from the “Black Aces,” a pilot squadron based in California, the dial came about after innumerable dark chamber tests where the durable material was shown to emit light for more than 23 hours. The matte-black colour of the zirconium oxide ceramic case doesn’t reflect sunlight, providing no distractions to flying pilots. For another nod to the fine men and women in the crew, the case back of lightweight titanium is engraved with the “Black Aces” twin-engine jet against a backdrop of spades. 

Read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong.

A Unique Roger W. Smith Series 2 Open Dial Watch Is Up For Sale Starting From HK$8.9 Million

 

Wristcheck is offering this British original for an avid collector.

As past luxury timepiece columns have revealed time and again, rare, collectible, more-often-than-not Swiss watches go under the hammer all the time in noted auction houses and on sale in notable stores. Staggering rates for vintage pieces are the norm; we barely raise an eyebrow when heirloom pieces are up for grabs after “death, divorce, and debt” (as Ted Loos so succinctly wrote in last year’s column about the auction market’s primary suppliers). Well, when it’s not the “three Ds,” nor an ancient relic from the alpine lands of horological excellence, we thought we should take a closer look at this lot.

Read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong.

H. Moser & Cie. Combines the Chinese Lunisolar Calendar and Gregorian Calendar in a Minimalist East-Meets-West Timepiece

 

Swiss maison H. Moser & Cie delivers another compelling and thought-provoking watch.

With only a 100 pieces made, the Endeavour Chinese Calendar Limited Edition timepiece by H. Moser & Cie—developed in partnership with Agenhor SA—is deceptively clever and a feat in ingenuity. Despite its complexity and high ambition, it looks effortlessly elegant. A technical marvel, the timepiece combines the Chinese lunisolar calendar with the Gregorian calendar in a fine balancing act. Displaying the 12 signs of the Chinese animal zodiac alongside moon phases on one side and solar phases on the other, it’s the perfect gift for any watch collector in the region, as we’re just months shy of the Year of the Dragon.

Read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong.

Eternal Elegance: What’s Behind the Cartier Tank Watch Iconography

 

The powerful, the famous, and the stylish have worn the Cartier Tank for over a century. Here’s why.

 

It’s hard to pinpoint when exactly we noticed the Cartier Tank in the public consciousness. Its striking simplicity doesn’t scream for attention, and yet, there it is, on Princess Diana’s wrist. The Crown has revived her image on social media platforms across the board and you can find the iconic Roman numerals standing out on a square-cut wristwatch, beaming below her reluctant smile. It’s the only accessory repeated often by fashion icon Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis; her Cartier Tank is unmissable in vintage black and white photographs. Clark Gable himself had such a unique one—the numerals on his dial were Arabic, not Roman. 

If Gable’s watch ever makes it to an auction house, the estimate figure will most likely reach in the tens of millions. After all, as we go to publish, at Christie’s, there’s a rare and unusual 18-carat-gold asymmetrical Cartier wristwatch with the “Crash” deploying clasp that experts predict will go for HK$1.6 million. Only 400 of them exist in the world. 

Read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong.

Prized Possessions: 4 Hong Kong Watch Collectors on Their Favourite Timepieces

 

We ask four of Hong Kong’s most avid watch collectors to give us a peek at their favourite timepieces.

You can read the entire feature up at PrestigeOnline.com here.
 

TBT: Watch Shoot Editorial

 

TBT: Watch shoot - with Conrad when he was visiting Hong Kong.