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MTF's report from the 2007 Starhill Gallery Watch Awards offers a fascinating glimpse into a significant regional horological event. This post not only highlights the award winners but also provides context on the growing luxury watch market in Kuala Lumpur, making it a valuable historical record for collectors interested in the industry's global expansion.
Starhill Gallery Award Judges (red font) and Guests
Clockwise from 11 o'clock:
Tan Sri Dato’ Dr Francis Yeoh, CBE – CEO of YTL Corporation, Chief Judge.
Yang Berhormat Datuk Victor Wee, Secretary General of Ministry of Tourism, Malaysia.
Tan Sri Yeoh Tiong Lay.
Dato’ Mokzhani Tun Dr Mahathir, entrepreneur, connoisseur and son of Malaysian ex-Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir.
Dr. Bernard Cheong, renowned speaker, writer, connoisseur and collector of fine watches.
His Excellency Dr Urs Stemmler, Ambassador of Switzerland to Malaysia.
Datin Azrene Abdullah, entrepreneur, connoisseur of fine jewelry and daughter-in-law of Malaysian Prime Minister, Dato Seri Abdullah Badawi. (not pictured)
Mr Jean-François Meyer, Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry.
Eli Manasseh (Nash) Benjamin, Group CEO of F.J. Benjamin - luxury goods distributors (including Girard-Perregaux, Jean Richard and Bell & Ross) .
Datuk Siti Nurhaliza, Malaysian pop icon and multi-award winning songstress.
The Starhill Gallery Watch Awards trophy was created by famous Malaysian artist, Abdul Muthalib Musa, in honour of the craftsmanship of the reverend global watchmakers.
Starhill Gallery Active Lifestyle Watch Award 2007, was presented by Dr. Bernard Cheong. Internationally recognized by Tatler, Harper’s Bazaar, Chronos Japan, The International Herald Tribune and WatchTime USA, as among the most influential collectors in the world. Dr Cheong, has widely been acknowledged as instrumental in defining the new era of watchmakers as artists versus artisans through his championing of the independent watchmakers.
The award went to Villemont for their Arctic Explorer Limited Edition Lewis Pugh timepiece. The watch was named after Lewis Pugh, the man who swam in the Arctic to demonstrate the effects of Global Warming. Pugh wore this limited edition timepiece during his swim and it withstood rough and extreme conditions.
Genii Koh accepts award for Jaquet Droz
Starhill Gallery Favourite Ladies' Watch Award 2007 went to Jaquet Droz Tiger Eye Petite Heure Minute, a beautiful mechanical timepiece with double barrel 22-carat gold oscillating Weight and an 18-Carat white gold dial with silvered sub-dial.
Dato’ Mokzhani Tun Dr Mahathir (right) presented the Favourite Man's Watch Award.
Starhill Gallery Favourite Men’s Watch Award 2007 went to Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore “Jalan Bukit Bintang” Chronograph. This piece was especially dedicated to the “Jalan Bukit Bintang” AP Boutique and was made in a Limited Edition of 100 Pieces - all are sold out! [MTF note: I know...as I missed out on the last piece by sheer vacillation for 30 minutes - "He who is hesistant......."]
Tan Sri Dato’ Dr Francis Yeoh, CBE presented the Innovative Design Watch Award to Richard Mille representative
Starhill Gallery Innovative Design Watch Award 2007 went to Richard Mille for his RM012 Tourbillon. This Hand-wound tourbillon is an architectural marvel and has tubular construction base plates and bridge construction.
Starhill Gallery also presented a unique award called the YTL Spirit of Classical Art Award 2007 to honour the art of timepieces. This award went to Van Cleef & Arpels for their Lady Arpels Centenary (below).
Award was presented by Tan Sri (Dr.) Francis Yeoh, to Guillaume Willk-Fabia, General Manager of Van Clef & Arpels - a beautiful, artistically handcrafted Daum vase.
Starhill Gallery Watch with Complications in Movement Award 2007 went to a timepiece which has won many awards. The Jaeger LeCoultre Reverso Grande Complications á Triptyque is a creative and extremely unique piece with aesthetic and technical appeal. This timepiece surpassed expectations as it displays three time dimensions - civil, sidereal and perpetual - on three faces. The legendary reversible case houses a manually wound mechanical movement offering remarkable horological complications.
The final award of the night was the Tourism Malaysia Most Revered Watch Award 2007. This award presented by Yang Berhormat Datuk Victor Wee, Secretary General of Ministry of Tourism, Malaysia - acknowledge the brand which had unveiled something unique that the world has not seen and which made a statement in its design and movement.
The award went to Mr. Bernhard Lederer for his Blu Majesty T3 , a beautifully constructed timepiece, which awed everyone who laid eyes on it. It was a befitting award for the tall but extremely humble man who attributes his success to his beautiful wife, Ewa Lederer.
Famous songstress, Ning Baizura, leads the celebrations
The six winning representatives led by Bernhard Lederer of BLU, who had to kneel to get in-frame 
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WINNERS FROM PURISTS EVERYWHERE!
BLU Majesty Tourbillon
Blue minutes hand is NOT the finished component as there was insufficient time to attach the real hand for the exhibition
Close up of movement
Open, airy case allows viewing of the flying tourbillon. As the tourbillon platform is smaller than the balance wheel, the "cage" is minimised.
Caseback
Bernhard and Ewa Lederer
Text copyright Starhill Gallery, 2007.
Photos copyright Dr Melvyn Teillol-Foo, 2007.
This message has been edited by MTF on 2007-12-15 14:19:48The Richard Mille RM 012 Tourbillon is a highly complex and visually striking timepiece, notable for its innovative tubular movement architecture. This model represents a significant departure from traditional movement construction, with its components appearing to float within the case, connected by a series of slender, polished tubes. The design emphasizes transparency and lightness, allowing for an unobstructed view of the intricate mechanics.
The movement, a manual-winding tourbillon, is constructed from titanium and features bridges and baseplate made of ARCAP P400, an alloy known for its exceptional resistance to corrosion and magnetic fields. The case is typically crafted from platinum, measuring 48mm x 39.30mm x 12.80mm, with a tonneau shape characteristic of the brand. The flying tourbillon is prominently displayed at 6 o'clock, contributing to the watch's open and airy aesthetic.
Introduced in 2006, the RM 012 was a limited edition of 30 pieces, quickly becoming a highly sought-after collector's item due to its groundbreaking design and technical prowess. It exemplifies Richard Mille's philosophy of pushing the boundaries of watchmaking, combining advanced materials with avant-garde engineering to create a timepiece that is both a technical marvel and a work of art.
by all. Congratulations to all the winners and to Villemont; whose watch I was priveledged to see in design with Olivier Muller this summer--the gentleman accepting the award. Why is Dr. BC always in rooms with great watches and beautiful women, he has all the luck!! Tim
LOL! No - it's not just Dr BC; there were a bunch of PuristS guests from USA, UK, Singapore and (of course) Malaysia present too. It was a joint affair between Starhill Gallery and Tourism Malaysia to increase awareness of the horology purchasing environment in Kuala Lumpur. Apparently, the affluent Middle Eastern tourist numbers have grown tremendously in the last 5 years and they are pretty interested in luxury tourism right now. There is 0% tax on luxury watches in Malaysia and most of the ho
over the years in Europe, Japan and the US I know the venues well. I still see Dr. BC in more of these photo essays than anyone else. He is a Lucky guy, who has worked endless hours to get where he is and widely admired. Keep the reports coming, they are all great. Thanks, Tim
Thanks for the coverage. The event looks fantastic. Cheers
care about other brands? BLU Majesty Tourbillon? AP JBB Ltd Edn? Regards, MTF
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