Ulysse Nardin

 

This week here in Kuala Lumpur, the Starhill Gallery shopping area opened up their annual Journey through Time exhibit for 10 days.  I missed it last year, and couldn't wait until the weekend, so I ran over at lunch.

I've lived all over the World and find Malaysia to be one of those Wonderland places for horology on an average day, but what a treat today to see Breguet double tourbillions and a dozen or more repeater variants, split second chronos, etc plus Richard Mille, Dewitt, Blu, AP, etc.  At least a dozen watch companies had brought in more than the typical good selections that one sees daily in this city.

So, what made my day?  I stroll up I stroll to the UN boutique where there is always something interesting, and the first watch in the window was this.  The salesman was very generous and took it out for me to handle and photograph (in the plastic).  What a heavy piece!  The MOP segmented dial is really neat.

 

But Wait!  It got even better, Triple Jack and Forgeron Minute Repeaters, a Platinum Hourstriker, a Blue Phantom, the Kremlin Set....and so on.

I took pictures of my favorites...unusual that the perpetuals, sonatas, and so on sort of sat in the background today.  They did have three variants of the new Classico as well which was good looking.

Thanks for sharing your travels.  Jeff

NT

Quite a bit of gold there, but a nice feel.  I was wearing my Gold Duometre and it was heavier than that.  I should have put the two of them next to each other for perspective.

Superb selection.

I'm still waiting to see in the flesh the Moonstruck...

I saw it very shortly at the Salon des Belles Montres, but wasn't able to spend some time to admire and analyze it.

You have here one of the nicest and finest choice among UN watches.

Thanks for sharing.

Best,

Nicolas

ive seen this plastic wrapping a lot in east asian countries like South Korea, China, Malaysia and Singapore and dread it.

Looks cheap and takes away from the watch. Each store should have a valid demo unit for you to test/feel.

Lovely watches though and starhill gallery is great

thanks for sharing.

... having a demo unit that is free to be scratched and blemished, is not really an option in this kind of business. First, the shop has to pay in advance for all the goodies, and it really makes a difference if you take one or two 100,000 Euros watches in stock. Now multiply this with all other high end brands and individual models you offer, and you realize this being a purely fictional demand. If you, as a customer, are spending a lot of money for a watch, you would not be happy with a piece that shows apparent traces of handling by both, the staff and previous customers.

However, I fully agree that this particular style of "protective condoms" is spoiling the appearance of the watch. Maybe it can be taken off quickly, and it is left to the sales staff's discretion if the customer's interest is so dedicated that it makes sense to peel off the plastic.

In Basel, plastic covers have become standard with most brands, since it is extre,ely expensive to repolish all the watches that have been exhibited. Sometimes, even complications are damaged as a result of improper handling - especailly repeaters are common victims of this. The protective plastic hull prevents this, while leaving at least some impression. Only us photographers are not happy.

Regards,
Marcus

I think it is correct the practice is largely here in Asia; certainly in KL and Manila where I have lived versus my USA home.

The upside is the stock I see here is pristine. I can't say that is always the case elsewhere.

Further, the salesperson is usually very agreeable to unwrapping the piece once you ask to look at it.

This was a UN boutique with hundreds of watches. I suspect directly owned? Even then it seems scratched pieces would be costly.

Dave

Having a demo piece is an option. Even Porsche showrooms have demo units (the twin turbo models too). Sure, if its a very limited edition peice than I can understand but wrapping submariners and GMt iiCs and everything in the store is not logic. In this area , most shops (not limited to watch stores) will have a showroom peiece for handling. This is how one can feel the watch, get a good touch out of it. Believe me, watch companies are quadropling the cost to increase thier profit margin. The AD can easily keep a demo piece of every regular watch. And most places I visited had several layers on the watch rendering it impractical to remove.

... it is normally difficult to see more than two, or three of the highlights in one shop.

The Moonstruck is indeed a marvel!

Regards,
Marcus

Delicious timepieces.

 

Thanks for sharing.

 

 

 

Vte