TIME ON THE MOVE

       The red carpet will be rolled out once again to welcome some of the world's most prestigious watch brands when they parade their latest collections to showcase at this year's Central International Watch Fair (CIWF)2009, Southeast Asia's biggest retail event for watch-lovers and collectors. This must see event will be held at the Event Hall of Central Chidlom from August 25 to September 27.
       "As the region's leading watch fair organiser, Central has selected new collections and top-brand timepieces including limited edition designs premiered earlier this year at BaselWorld 2009 expo in Switzerland to showcase at this year's Central International Watch Fair," said Yuwadee Chirathivat, president of Central Department Store."We also team up with leading credit cards to offer the best deals to customers through special campaigns and other promotions."
       Gracing this year's CIWF are some of the most celebrated names in watchmaking, including A. Lange & Sohne,Audemars Piguet, Blancpain, Breguet,Carl F. Bucherer, Cartier, Chopard,Corum, Franck Muller, Glashutte Original, IWC, Jager-LeCoultre, Montblanc,Parmigiani Fleurier, Piaget, Ulysse Nardin, Vacheron Constantin and Vincent Berard.
       One of this year's hottest trends from the watch world is the white-strap watch.Many of the world's luxury watch brands have launched white-strap designs for ladies, but this new trend isn't reserved for them alone. Fashion-forward gentlemen can also update their look with oversized, white-strap watches, versatile accessories that go with a variety of clothing styles.
       "Fashion is forever changing, and a constant flow of new trends adds colour,fun and liveliness to the business of dressing up," said Tinakorn Asavarak, a veteran of the fashion scene and one of the most stylish men around.
       "Watch fashion, too, is always on the move, in terms of the technology behind the working parts and the design and materials that inspire new collections,which introduce new trends to the fash-ion world. Accessory trends are dictated by couture fashion, and in turn both clothes and accessories trends influence watch fashion."
       According to Tinakorn, colour is very important this year, especially white,the symbol of purity and elegance.
       "White is the coolest colour this summer and white-strap watches go well with colourful clothes," he says."They look great when mixed with white gold,rose gold or yellow gold. The straps themselves are available in a variety in materials, from classic leather to bleached crocodile to white ceramic or plastic, all of which look very cool and trendy."
       Leading watch brands unveiling stylish designs for ladies at Central International Watch Fair 2009, include:
       Cartier Baignoire Hypnose, a highjewellery design with two oval faces,one inside the other, mounted on an 18k gold case and surrounded with diamonds. The classic design is enhanced by Roman numerals and white canvas strap with 18k white gold clasp. A quartz timepiece set with 4.15 carats diamonds,it is priced at 2,010,000 baht.
       Vacheron Constantin presents Kalla Lune in round white-gold case set with 134,36mm baguette diamonds weighing 7.86 carats. A single rose-cut diamond adorns the crown while the flange glitters with 24 baguette diamonds each weighing 1.36 carats. The dial is paved with mother-of-pearl mosaic, with the pieces intricately put together in a concentric semi-circle pattern then polished until they become one piece, and set with 141 rose-cut diamonds at 9 o'clock. The price is 8,033,000 baht.
       Corum highlights its 2009 collection with the sculpture-like Golden Bridge Lady, only five of which were produced worldwide and only one imported to Thailand. It features a see-through,41mm x 34 mm dial made of red or white gold set with 76 baguette diamonds, and black or white crocodile leather strap with red or white gold tongue buckle. The price is 7,175,000 baht for white gold and 7,093,000 baht for rose gold.
       Paula Taylor with the trendy whitestrap Corum watch. The Little Lange 1 Moon Phase: Moonstruck from A. Lange & Sohne is available in a daytime and a nighttime version, and only 150 of each were produced. The daytime version features a 36.8mm white gold case, silvery white mother-of-pearl dial set with 58 Wesselton diamonds, and white crocodile strap. The nighttime version has a blue mother-of-pearl dial and matching blue shagreen strap. The price is 1,950,000 baht.
       The embodiment of gentle femininity,Blancpain Ultra-Slim has a 26.2mm diameter ruby and diamond encrusted mother-of-pearl dial mounted on a gold case set with double rows of diamonds on the bezel and crown. An automatic self-winding timepiece, it comes with 100-hour power reserve.
       Central International Watch Fair 2009, August 25-September 27 at the Event Hall,3rd floor,Central Chidlom, tel 02-793-7420.