Singapore celebrates its 50th year of independence in 2015 and Longines will mark this occasion with a limited edition Master Collection GMT world time with “Singapore” on the world time ring.

A tiny island nation that’s one of the richest states in the world, Singapore will celebrate SG50 in 2015. It will be exactly 50 years old on 9 August, half a century after it separated from Malaysia. First to announce a timepiece for Singapore’s 50th birthday is Longines, with the Master Collection GMT world time in rose gold.  Limited to 50 pieces, the Master Collection GMT has a 38.5 mm rose gold case, with a silver-plated, stamped barleycorn guilloche dial and blued steel hands. “Singapore” is highlighted in red on the cities disc, replacing the conventional “Hong Kong” for the time zone of GMT +8.

The cities disc along with a rotatable 24 hour ring allows the time in multiple cities to be read off the dial. Setting the second time zone and corresponding cities are done by rotating the  24 hour ring, unlike other world time watches that advance with a push of the button. Commemorative text is printed on the sapphire display back, with the ETA 2824 movement visible underneath. 

Fitted on a brown alligator strap and a rose gold deployant buckle, the Longines Master Collection GMT SG50 retails for 9990 Singapore dollars, including 7% tax (equivalent to US$7990 at current rates). They will be available only at the Longines boutiques in Singapore, located at Marina Square and Marina Bay Sands.

Luxury conglomerate Kering has appointed Antonio Calce Chief Executive Officer of the Sowind Group, comprising the brands Girard-Perregaux and JeanRichard as well as its movement manufacturing division. 

Less than a year after being told to leave by the owners of Corum, Antonio Calce has taken up the same role in a much larger enterprise, the Sowind Group. A subsidiary of Kering, the Sowind Group is made up of JeanRichard and the jewel in the crown, Girard-Perregaux. Famous for its unique Tourbillon With Three Gold Bridges, Girard Perregaux is one of the great but underrated brands in haute horlogerie. Both brands were rudderless for a brief period after former chief Michele Sofisti left for Gucci Watches (we spoke with him just before), and then resigned from Kering altogether. Sofisti’s departure was amidst significant management turmoil in Kering, with a string of replacements happening across its brands last year as reported by Bloomberg. We interviewed Antonio Calce in 2013, and will do so once he is settled in at Sowind. 

Girard-Perregaux Neo Tourbillon