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Independents' Day

by Marc Almagro
13 Aug 2019

A rare horology event in Bangkok, Thailand, assembles 18 independent brands for an exhibition and a private auction in September

This year’s biggest independent watch and clock exhibition in Thailand is set to take place from September 4 to 8 at Gaysorn Village in Bangkok. Named Bangkok Independent Watchmaking Exhibition 2019, the event will present the latest output from 18 world-class independent watch brands.

Avid timepiece collectors will get a close glimpse of handcrafted pieces by renowned independent brands — rarely assembled in one event on this side of the world. Visitors will have an opportunity to interact with the watchmakers and obtain personal insights into high-level watchmaking. Budding timepiece connoisseurs will also benefit from this instructive event.

Independent watchmakers are hailed as bellwethers of watchmaking. Their ability to create and innovate without yielding to corporate or market demands elevates them as industry visionaries. Equipped with unique abilities to conceive and build original complications from scratch — handcrafting even the minutest parts, assembling them into powerful movements, and complementing them with unique design — sets them apart from watchmakers of popular commercial brands. Consequently, their output is notoriously small, in turn making them highly desirable collectibles.

Another outstanding aspect of the Bangkok Independent Watchmaking Exhibition 2019 is the Charity Auction in aid of the Kamlangjai (INSPiRE) Project initiated by HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati. The Project focuses its activities “on people within the justice system who are in need of opportunities” by supplementing government efforts in delivering assistance and care to female and pregnant inmates and their children. The invitation-only auction will take place at Crystal Box, 19th Floor Gaysorn Urban Resort on September 6, from 7pm.

Bangkok Independent Watchmaking Exhibition 2019 is jointly presented by Art of Time, Tourism Authority of Thailand and Gaysorn, and jointly organized by Singapore luxury timepiece partner Jimmie Tay, Caureen Too and their Thai partner Khun Kannikar Thientawai. Other event partners include Novotel Hotels & Resorts, and renowned auction house Christie’s, which will preside over the auction.

Charity Auction

Ateliers deMonaco Poinçon de Genève Wat Arun

Case: 18k yellow gold, 40.0 mm, height 9.2 mm Dial: Grand-feu, Champlevé & Cloisonné enamel Movement: Manual winding, dMc-708 caliber, Poinçon de Genève certified with patented ‘’Freebeat’’ regulation system, 38-hour power reserve Strap: Hand-stitched alligator leather Remarks: Piece Unique Reserve price: 2,310,000 Thai Baht

Azimuth Thailand Edition Piece Unique GT

Case: 316L stainless steel. Bonnet in blue by PVD treatment, 52 x 44 mm Function: Hours, minutes, seconds Movement: ETA Automatic winding caliber Strap: Genuine alligator with folding clasp Remarks: Piece Unique Reserve price: 165,000 Thai Baht

Christophe Claret Aventicum Thailand Edition

Case: 5N red gold and anthracite PVD-treated grade 5 titanium Dial: The Wat Arun Temple in Bangkok is engraved in 4N pink gold, along with a micro-engraving of an elephant Movement: Automatic-winding, caliber AVE15, feature ‘Mystery’ winding rotor in transparent sapphire adorned with 5 high-definition metalized elephants Strap: Black alligator Remarks: Piece Unique Reserve price: 2,458,500 Thai Baht

Kerbedanz Tribute to Thailand

Case: 18k rose solid gold, 46.0mm Dial: The base of the rose gold dial is micro-sculptured with a special blue treatment. The map of Thailand is a bas-relief in rose gold. Exclusively designed, manufactured, hand engraved and decorated by Kerbedanz Movement: Automatic movement, caliber KRB-03, 120 hours of power reserve Strap: Mississippiensis black alligator leather Remarks: Piece Unique Reserve price: 1,320,000 Thai Baht

Kudoke White Elephant Unique Piece

Case: Stainless steel, 42.0mm Dial: Skeletonized and engraved white elephant by hand Movement: Mechanical movement, manual winding, based on Unitas 6498, 46-hour power reserve Strap: Black alligator leather strap Remarks: Piece Unique Reserve price: 348,840 Thai Baht

Ludovic Ballouard Half Time Thailand Edition

Case: 750 red gold, 41.0 x 11.0 mm Dial: Inspired by Thailand flag and the coronation of the 10th King Movement: Patented manual winding complication by Ludovic Ballouard: caliber B02, 35-hour power reserve Strap: Alligator blue leather strap Remarks: Piece Unique Reserve price: 2,945,250 Thai Baht

Matthias Naeschke Clock Unique Piece for Thailand

Case: Walnut wood, hand-blown glass dome and rose gilded applications Dial: Chapter ring of sterling silver with hand engravings of Thai numerals Movement: Week-runner with spring drive, rose gilded skeleton movement, special in-house escapement with round ruby pallets and a big escape wheel, compensation pendulum beating 120 per minute Remarks: Piece Unique Reserve price: 1,031,700 Thai Baht

Perrelet Turbine Unique Piece for Thailand

Case: Gold (4N), 48.0 mm Dial: Gold turbine 12 blades, under-dial displaying Angel Guardian with gold leaf painting in a traditional Thai style pattern Movement: Automatic P-331/ in-house caliber, 42-hour power reserve Strap: Black alligator strap with PVD buckle Remarks: Piece Unique Reserve price: 965,340 Thai Baht

At A Glance

Event: Bangkok Independent Watchmaking Exhibition 2019
Dates: 4 to 8 September 2019
Venue: G Floor, Gaysorn Center, Gaysorn Village

Event: Auction (by invitation only)
Bangkok Independent Watchmaking Exhibition 2019
Date: 6 September 2019, from 7pm
Venue: Crystal Box, 19th floor, Gaysorn Urban Resort
Contact: Thailand – Kannikar +668-1816-4858
Worldwide – Jimmie Tay +65-9222-7889

Full Roster of Participants

Alchemists I Ateliers Demonaco I Azimuth I Christophe Claret I Cyrus I Czapek I Hyt I Kerbedanz I Kudoke I Ludovic Ballouard I Manufacture Royale I Matthias Naeschke I Paul Design I Perrelet
Romain Gauthier I Schwarz-Etienne I Speake-Marin I Strom