DFS group completes the 2013 Master Collection Series with the last great watchmaker event of 2013: Master of time

DECEMBER 7, 2013 – DFS Group (DFS), the world’s leading luxury travel retailer, today celebrated the opening of the fifth annual Masters of Time, Asia’s premier retail exhibition of Haute Horlogerie, in a long standing partnership with Shoppes at Four Seasons. More than 800 guests, including Asia’s premier watch enthusiasts and connoisseurs, joined Philippe Schaus, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, DFS Group, and representatives from 35 of the world’s most legendary watch manufacturers, at the rebranded T Galleria Macau at The Shoppes at Four Seasons. The exhibition of more than 400 exceptional timepieces opened with a dazzling gala event, and will remain on display and be available for sale through 15 February 2014.

“We are very proud to share the Masters of Time collection with our many distinguished guests and customers worldwide for the fifth year in a row,” said Mr Schaus. “One of the only independent retail exhibitions of this calibre and scale in the entire world, Masters of Time gets to the very heart of the DFS brand: It confirms our unique identity and expertise as a curator with the distinct capacity to marry delightful retail experiences with a discerning edit of products that showcasing the very pinnacle of luxury innovation today.” 

Timothy Jones, Vice President of Retail Development, Sands Retail, said “Masters of Time is a truly exquisite collection of Haute Horlogerie, and I can think of no better place to host it than at our Shoppes at Four Seasons. In hosting Masters of Time again this year, we hope our visitors will enjoy the unique opportunity it provides to experience the art of watchmaking at its finest; it’s part of our commitment to offer our guests a diversity of outstanding retail experiences.

The world’s most extraordinary timepieces make their Asia debut

The finely-curated collection introduces guests to the latest designs, technical advancements, and artistic creations in watchmaking today. The presentation also features numerous limited-editions and one-of-a-kind timepieces available for the first time in Asia after Baselworld. Among the breathtaking selection of timepieces on display are the luminous and one-of-a-kind Girard-Perregaux Cat’s Eye High Jewellery, a first-to-market piece. Representing the unique relationship between timepieces and the mastery of land, sea, and air – the theme of this year’s Masters of Time - are also the Richard Mille RM 59-01 Yohan Blake Tourbillon, Zenith Academy Christophe Columb “Hurricane” Fusee-Chain Transmission, and Jaeger-LeCoultre Rendez-Vous Celestial.

As always, Masters of Time – an exhibition renowned for its diversity and recognised as a reference of only the best in watchmaking every year – features a full spectrum of the latest and most extraordinary timepieces top watchmakers, including Blancpain, Breguet, Bulgari, Girard-Perregaux, Glashütte Original, Greubel Forsey, Hublot, IWC Schaffausen, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Richard Mille, Ulysse Nardin, Vacheron Constantin, and Zenith. The Franck Muller 10th Anniversary Crazy Hours Exhibition also made its first appearance in Macau at Masters of Time.

“To create an unforgettable experience that will delight watch enthusiasts, our expert merchandising team has searched passionately for the finest timepieces from the most prestigious watchmakers in the world,” said Mr Harold Brooks, President, Global Merchandising, DFS Group. “We are thrilled to once again bring our customers the newest and most exceptional creations by our long-time partners in the watchmaking industry, along with the enviable opportunity to engage with some of the very masters behind these exquisite pieces.”

Curated encounters: Masters and masterpieces

Bringing together both masterpieces and the masters who made them, DFS opened the exhibition by hosting an exclusive forum on watchmaking and collecting, featuring world-renowned collectors Eric Ku and SJX. In addition, DFS also highlighted three individuals whose achievements demonstrate why watchmakers continue to innovate for the fields of land, sea, and air – historically all areas closely tied to marking the passage of time. These intrepid figures were: Kevin Lin, ultramarathon runner who is the first man in modern day to run across the Sahara Desert; Brian Jones, the legendary balloonist who set the world record for circumnavigating the globe in a hot air balloon; and Vicky Song, currently sailing across the globe on a journey to become the first Chinese woman to sail around the world.

Guests then proceeded to T Galleria Macau at The Shoppes at Four Seasons, where they experienced in person the heritage, craftsmanship and artistry of the unparalleled collection. They encountered new watchmakers as well as esteemed industry leaders, and enjoyed the unique chance to visit special brand exhibitions hosted by DFS, featuring the master craftsmen and artisans behind several of the extraordinary watches on display.

The final Masters Collection event of the year

Considered one of the finest events of its kind worldwide, Masters of Time in Macau is the fifth annual run of the event and conclusion of the 2013 Masters Collection, a signature DFS programme of exhibitions that also includes Masters of Wines and Spirits, which took place last month in Singapore. Fulfilling its commitment to celebrating the pinnacle of luxury, the Masters Collection showcases DFS’ unique ability to define and merchandise the best of the best across all core pillars of luxury.

Participating Brands

Arnold & Son, Blancpain, Breguet, Breitling, Bulgari, Chanel,Chaumet, Chopard, Christophe Claret, Corum, De Bethune, Dior, Franck Muller, Girard-Perregaux, Glashütte Original, Greubel Forsey, H. Moser & Cie., Hermès, Hublot, IWC Schaffausen,Jaeger-LeCoultre, Jaquet Droz, Juvenia, Laurent Ferrier, Louis Vuitton, Montblanc, Omega, Officine Panerai, Richard Mille, Roger Dubuis, Tag Heuer, Ulysse Nardin, Vacheron Constantin,Van Cleef & Arpels and Zenith