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ANNICK WOUNGLY, the designer behind the senora sol y estrella by Cuervo y Sobrinos

When Cuervo y Sobrinos decided to create a new lady’s watch, it looked to its spiritual home for inspiration. The Señora Sol y Estrellas refers to the sun and stars which look down on Havana’s inhabitants.
ANNICK WOUNGLY, THE DESIGNER BEHIND THE SEÑORA SOL Y ESTRELLA

The model was designed by female watch designer, Annick Woungly, who was born in Havana, close to Cuervo y Sobrinos’s inaugural boutique.

With the advent of the Señora Sol y Estrellas, Annick has sought to reference the clear skies of Cuba and capture the vibrant hues synonymous with life on this idyllic Caribbean island where sleep is not a priority.

As the sun descends and seemingly melts into the horizon, daylight begins to disappear. In most parts of the world, this period signifies the end of the day, a time to retire and enjoy some rest. However, in Cuba, the arrival of darkness indicates the party is about to begin.

When the sun vacates the clear skies, the stars come out to play, illuminating Havana’s streets with a warm glow. The humid night air, the smell of home-cooked food and the sound of latin beats provide the backdrop for this enchanting tapestry of colour, dance, vitality and, most of all, life. Havana never sleeps, merely the tempo changes ever so slightly.

 

Annick Woungly, a female watch designer, was born in Havana, close to San Rafael Avenue where Cuervo y Sobrinos opened its first boutique in 1882. Today, she lives in the Jura, close to the Swiss Manufacture. One day a friend told her about a Swiss watch firm with Cuban heritage and she wanted to know more, culminating in her making contact with Massimo Rossi, the CEO of Cuervo y Sobrinos.

The meeting of both parties was fortuitous as Massimo wanted to create a new lady’s watch designed by a female designer. Moreover, like Cuervo y Sobrinos, Annick has a deep understanding of both Cuban culture and Swiss watchmaking. The synergies were clear to see.

The meeting of both parties was fortuitous as Massimo wanted to create a new lady’s watch designed by a female designer. Moreover, like Cuervo y Sobrinos, Annick has a deep understanding of both Cuban culture and Swiss watchmaking. The synergies were clear to see.

The Señora Sol y Estrellas is offered in four dial variants, some more vibrant than others. Each version features a depiction of the sun at the centre of the dial, a reference to the orange orbe in the sky that influences life on the Caribbean

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HUBLOT LOVES TOKYO! Swiss luxury watch brand Hublot celebrates its 40th anniversary with another Big Bang!

Swiss luxury watch brand Hublot celebrates its 40th anniversary with another Big Bang! After Place Vendome in Paris, Rue du Rhône in Geneva, 5Th Avenue in New York City, New Bond Street in London, Heritage in Hong Kong Tsim Sha Tsui district, now comes Chuo-dori Street in Tokyo for the brand world’s biggest Flagship Boutique.

HUBLOT LOVES TOKYO!


In 2020, Hublot is turning 40! During this anniversary year Hublot has a reason to celebrate, as on May 26, its largest flagship store, the Hublot Boutique Ginza, will open. After Place Vendome in Paris, Rue  du Rhône in Geneva, 5Th Avenue in New York City, New Bond Street in London, Heritage in Hong Kong, now comes Chuo-dori Street in Tokyo.The swiss luxury watchmaker is now present on an iconic location on Chuo-dori Street. The new boutique, also called the “Hublot tower” thanks to its 56-meter-high dynamic façade, will offer Hublot a stylish, luxurious and open space. The Hublot Boutique Ginza perfectly expresses The Art of Fusion, the brand concept focused on the blending of materials and ideas. Across three floors, customers will be immersed in the world of Hublot. Visitors will find the whole collection displayed on the ground floor, the VIP experience room on the second floor and the exhibition area on the third floor.

“We are honored to celebrate the opening of our new flagship Boutique in Tokyo. In only 40 years, Hublot has seen many firsts and many successes, and today is again another milestone for our Maison. We have long had presence on the most prestigious streets in the world’s metropolises and from today in Japan too, our number one market. The “Hublot Tower” is a symbol of the fusion of modernity and tradition that we ardently pursue and uphold in all our actions.” -Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO of Hublot

The 56-meter high dynamic façade is the most idiosyncratic and artistic façade of the brand’s boutiques. The laminated glass panels scattered with mirrored pieces exhibits different sights: it reflects sunlight to create a beautiful glitter during the daytime, and at nighttime a luxurious glow appears to emanate from within.

The interior of the boutique, boasting the brand’s largest retail space at 330 square meters, reflects one of the important elements of Hublot’s watchmaking—its unique use of materials. The spacious boutique expresses on three floors the contemporary style so dear to Hublot: leather chairs, ebony tables, floors of marble or carpet, and an impressive staircase with sides made of zigzag laser-cut mirrored stainless steel.

Another highlight of the boutique is the crystal chandelier installed on the vaulted ceiling reaching more than 9 metres high, which can be rarely found in Japan. The entrance hall is full of a sense of openness and welcomes customers.

Each floor of Hublot Boutique Ginza expresses the fusion of quality materials and contemporary, luxurious beauty by boldly displayed pop artworks depicting Hublot timepieces and movements on the walls, stretching from floor to ceiling.



Hublot Boutique Ginza Overview
            Opening:                                                                     May 26, 2020
            Address:                                                                      5-9, Ginza 3-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
            Telephone:                                                                  03-3538-5055
            Business hours:                                                          11:00 – 20:00
            Total store space                                                         330 m2
            Floors                                                                            3
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Four leading ladies join OMEGA in Shanghai for the launch of the new Constellation “Manhattan”

Four leading ladies join OMEGA in Shanghai for the launch of the new Constellation “Manhattan”

An unforgettable night with Cindy Crawford, Nicole Kidman, Alessandra Ambrosio and Liu Shishi.

It was an evening of true star quality, as OMEGA launched its new Constellation “Manhattan” collection at a special event in Shanghai. Hosted at the city’s dazzling Expo I–Pavilion, the celebrations introduced a full makeover for the iconic Constellation timepieces and also brought four of OMEGA’s most inspirational women to the stage.

Cindy Crawford, Nicole Kidman, Alessandra Ambrosio and Liu Shishi arrived as the glamorous guests of honour for the evening – each representing the beauty, sophistication and excellence that the Constellation collection is known for.

Standing alongside the four OMEGA ambassadors was Raynald Aeschlimann, President and CEO of OMEGA, who said, “The Constellation has always been admired by women all around the world. No matter the country, it has appealed to ladies of all backgrounds and styles. To celebrate that spirit, we’ve been lucky to have not one, but four of our closest friends here together. Having Nicole, Cindy, Shishi and Alessandra at one single event shows how much love there is for the Constellation.”

The Constellation collection has long been OMEGA’s symbol of unrivalled precision and elegance in watchmaking. It was the “Manhattan” design in 1982 that introduced the modern look and today’s new collection has enhanced many of the most famous features. More than 100 new models will be made available to customers, each of them with subtle updates including bevelled edges for a refined feminine look, slender bezels and the iconic “claws”, which now fit more snugly to the case. More dial colours and case sizes have also been created, including watches in 25 mm, 28 mm and 29 mm.

Stepping inside the venue, it was clear for guests to see the evening’s inspiration, with an exquisite backdrop of white and gold that mirrored the “Manhattan” skyline. Amongst the many shapes and textures, the new timepieces were on display and ready for a close-up look.

Cindy Crawford has a very unique connection to the Constellation, as she was part of the collection’s redesign in 1995. Speaking in Shanghai, she said, “I’ve now seen this collection evolve over the past several decades and I’m always impressed by OMEGA’s new designs. It’s such a classic watch, yet these new models prove just how relevant it remains today.”


Alessandra Ambrosio, one of the world’s most recognised super-models, said, “I love fashion that is timeless. The Constellation is the perfect example. It has history and style, and it’s a watch that never loses its charm. That’s the sign of a truly great design.”

Nicole Kidman is another watch fan who knows OMEGA and the Constellation very well. Speaking to guests, she said, “I’ve known OMEGA a long time and they’re a brand that cares about quality and advancing their products. We can clearly see that in the Constellation. These watches are made especially for women and they have been able to adapt and change in the most subtle and elegant way.”


The Chinese actress, Liu Shishi, one of OMEGA’s newest ambassadors, said, “It’s my honour to welcome everyone here in my home country. It’s a privilege to be in Shanghai and to share the stage with such great women.”

The special evening concluded with a musical performance by the pianist Stephen Ridley as well as the revelation of OMEGA’s new Constellation advertising campaign. The imagery, shot by renowned photographer Damon Baker, features Cindy, Nicole, Alessandra and Liu Shishi, all together in one powerful and beautiful portrait.

For the evening, Cindy, Nicole, Alessandra and Shishi each wore a model from the new Constellation “Manhattan” Jewellery Collection. These 28 mm timepieces are distinguished by their dials made from Australian white opal. The hours are marked by 12 baguette-cut ruby indexes – beautifully matching the red dresses worn by the OMEGA ambassadors.

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