Publisher’s Note

Change is coming to the watch industry. Well, to be fair, we say it every year— everybody does. But 2019 is different, with more palpable changes and—now that the year is about to end—indications of even bigger changes on the horizon.

Take, for instance, the major trade fairs. Baselworld 2019 felt extremely different from previous years. It’s one thing to talk and write about it; actually seeing how the event unfolded was definitely shocking. And next year it will change yet again and take place back to back with the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie—which is now changing its very name. Planning for 2020, in terms of covering watchrelated news, is going to be interesting for sure. Which brings us to my next point...

Change is interesting. The watch industry has a rich history rooted in tradition. But, to borrow the words of Zenith CEO Julie Tornare (it must keep pace with the 21st century. More to the point, it must attract and maintain the interest of those living in the 21st century with 21st century sensibilities. So, things have to change. Will the new fair formats be a change for the better? As clichéd as it sounds, only time will tell...

But there’s another change that has been most welcome, which is the growing focus on Southeast Asia. This is most apparent from the high-profile exhibitions by major watch brands held in the region. Not too long ago, IWC Schaffhausen showcased its Pilot’s Watches in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Zenith chose Singapore for the first stop of its A Star Through Time exhibition. And then there was Patek Philippe’s Watch Art Grand Exhibition—its largest ever—also in Singapore.

If anything, these recent developments show us that the Southeast Asia market has not only grown significantly, but has also become more mature in terms of taste and appreciation for fine watchmaking. And now, we invite you to flip through this issue of DA MAN Caliber, and see for yourself the horological wonders from 2019. Happy reading...