Time for a fashion statement
MANILA, Philippines - These days, we wear a watch no longer just as a timepiece. After all, the cellphone can easily tell us the time. Fact is, watches are more than just timepieces. They are a fashion statement. That is perhaps the crystal-clear reason why Swarovski ventured into watches.
Swarovski is well-known for making precision-cut crystals made for eye-catching jewels, lighting, architecture and interiors. The brand has been providing glimmer for anything that requires a little extra oomph. It’s a mystery then why Swarovski hasn’t ventured into timepieces sooner. But Chris Neff, Swarovski head of emerging markets — Southeast Asia, said that it was only matter of time. “Watches are a natural addition,” Neff said, “When you look at a beautiful woman dressing up with jewellery, with the necklace and the earrings from Swarovski, then she should obviously complement her outfit with a watch. And the watch should be the same design language using crystals that sparkle from a distance in order to complement the outfit for the evening.” Swarovski then makes it easier to pair watches for every woman’s needs with three new lines from their 2012 Collection.
This year, Swarovski introduced their new line of watches, perfect for evoking effortless elegance without breaking the bank. After all, Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour said that, “(The democratisation of luxury) means more people are going to get better fashion. And the more people who can have fashion, the better.”
Emerson Yao, managing director of Lucerne, the exclusive distributor of Swarovski in the Philippines, says, “Whether you prefer elegant, fun or sporty, Swarovski’s new watch collection has one for you.”
The Octea Chrono is the flagship model of Swarovski watches. This year, Octea Chrono gets a colour make-over in two shades. The Octea Chrono Anthracite is in classic gray while the Octea Chrono Fuchsia is in a more playful shade of purple. This watch is more for the everyday woman, a sportier glamour kind of accessory. It has three counters in the dial indicating minutes, seconds and tenths of a second. The hands of the watch also carries the signature luminescence that Swarovski is know for. Octea Chrono is the perfect watch for the woman who wants a little sparkle in her everyday life.
The Octea Sport is similar to the Chrono, but comes in more colors than the flagship model. While both have the same unidirectional bezel, Chrono’s bezel is from a single piece of crystal while Sport’s is made of white ceramic. The Octea Sport has a more modern appeal with it’s rubber straps adorned with white ceramic elements. This line is available in both in white rose-gold, ocean blue and lilac.
A new addition to the Swarovski watch collection is the Lovely Crystals range. The watch has 16 Swarovski stones arranged on the bezel closing in on the watch’s dial. It’s versatile; it can be used either for an everyday setting or for an elegant evening out. The new watch line comes in striking colours of white, black and magenta and can either have a stainless steel or calfskin leather bracelet.
The third line from Swarovski is the best-selling Elis range. For this year, two additions have been brought into the Elis line: the Elis Mini Silk Diamond Touch Light and the Elis Lady Provence Lavender Diamond Touch Light. Compared to the last two lines, the Elis line promises luxury, effortless elegance and femininity. It’s the perfect final touch for a glamourous night on the town. It’s a watch reserved for that special occasion, and a personal favourite of Mr. Chris Neff.
Swarovski in Manila
Swarovski officially launched their newest watch lines recently in Salon de Ning at the Peninsula Manila. Guests were treated to champagne and a variety of hors d’oeuvre before waiting for the unveiling of the Swarovski watch collection 2012. Neff presented actress and model Solenn Heusaff with a new timepiece from the Swarovski line. As the glass cases containing the beautiful timepieces were unveiled, guests were encouraged to take a closer look. But people didn’t even have to approach the watch to appreciate it. Their brand promise of sparkle and brilliance spoke volumes even from a distance.
“(Swarovski’s) uniqueness is the sparkling effect of the crystals and this is part of the design DNA of every watch that we have in our range. That makes it very special and can definitely not be offered by any other brand.” Neff says. “The range that we offer is an an affordable price range. So it’s a luxury brand but it’s an affordable luxury.”
Swarovski is available at Rustan’s.
