SHANGHAI, Jan. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Months in the making and long-awaited by watch lovers, the CDV Group 2011 Watch Jury unveiled its selections on November 26, 2011 at the Venetian Macao. This first ever authoritative list of collectable watches was organized by the CDV Group and co-organized by Style Sina, our sole internet sponsor. We have invited altogether 9 top-notch collectors from Greater China to form the panel, including:
The first-rate Asian watch collector and critics Mr. Alain Chung, the watch teacher of Chinese, the founder of the CDV Group, has published "Watch Critics", "Watches Express", "Time & Art" and "PRC Import Manual" which are all leading titles on watches in the Chinese circle. Mr. Wang Chun Lung, owner of Wong Wing Cheong Watch Store in Taiwan, is a topmost watch collector as well as watchmaker in Taiwan whose colossal experience has been hard earned through over 30 years in the watch industry. In 1994, he made the first Taiwan pocket watch tourbillon "Wong No.1". Every Chinese connoisseur should have heard of his shop. Mr. Cheung Shu Sang, a Mainland collector you could have easily bumped into at all major auctions. He loves new watches and vintage watches alike. Mr. Fok Fei Lok, a collector based in Macau who is addicted to the mechanical hearts of watches. At his home there are completed tools and benches for watchmaking that allow him to create the first tourbillon wristwatch in Mainland China. In his hands, the mysteries of complications such as minute repeater and perpetual calendar are fully unveiled. Hong Kong collector Dennis Yu is a specialist in machine manufacturing, his professional knowledge makes him instinctive towards watch trends. He is particularly keen on new brands and very often, their first owners. His collection is the creme de la creme of the most valuable pieces. Charles Ip is a billionaire, the genuine toy tsar of Hong Kong, his professional background cultivates his interest in micro-engineering. A collector for 30 years, his collection is multifarious, with a preference for unique and sophisticated mechanism. There are also three experienced journalists from professional watch magazines who joined the panel. Mr. Simon Shia of "Ming Watch"; Mr. Wangji, Producer of "Time & Art" and Miss. Laura Lan of the Mainland watch magazine "Revolution".
During the selection process, every adjudicator received from the organizer the same form for filling in his choices, minimum two and at most three, for each award category. Watches longlisted by them were revealed only on November 26 when every adjudicator shared the forms of the other eight. They would next score every watch according to a 10-point scale. The lowest and the highest scores for each watch are removed before the average is taken. The watch with the highest score is the award winner. The adjudicator is not allowed to score his proposed watches. If in a certain category more than 3 watches get the same, then those watches are subject to a second round of scoring. The objective is to create the fairest and the most impartial list of the best collectable watches that will serve as a trend chart as well as buying guide for the Chinese speaking world.
Relevant criteria are tabled for the adjudicators before they select 11 annual best watches across 6 categories. Amongst the 6 awards, there will be only one Best of the Best Annual Watch. Two watches will be chosen for the other 5 awards though. The material and colors of dial need not be specified for the award-winning watches. Apart from the Best of the Best Annual Watch, other candidates must be readily available from the market. If it is a limited edition, the total quantity must be in excess of 1,000. If it has ceased production, its final year must be no earlier than 2000. 2012 watches previewed by brands will not be included in this year's selection. The award winners will be excluded from participation for the next 3 years. The 6 awards have very clear-cut definitions. Sport watches circa RMB 100,000: those suitable for rugged daily use, tough sports or casual wear, water-resistant to 100m or above (good for swimming) and have the outlook and characters of sport watches are eligible. The materials for the watches are non-precious metals such as stainless steel, titanium or PVD steel, etc. Daily gents watch circa RMB 200,000: precious metal case, non-bracelet, suitable for daily work or business occasion and with some pragmatic functions. Daily ladies watch circa RMB 200,000: Its case may not be of precious metal but must be set with diamonds or other gemstones. Suitable for daily wear and may have some pragmatic functions. Niche brands circa RMB 300,000 by small manufacturers or independent watchmakers with an annual production of less than 5,000 pieces. Though such brands will not be renowned amongst general consumers, their watches are fascinating. Classical style or avant-garde designs are equally welcome. Functional watches circa RMB 500,000: They would have complicated functions such as perpetual calendar, chronograph, fly-back chronograph, split-seconds chronograph, repeaters or an integration of several functions. The case must be in precious metal and it may bear a metal bracelet; a collectable watch with admirable aesthetics. At the same time, the comfort of wearing and its outlook must be taken into consideration. As for the Best of the Best Annual Watch, value for money is not a concern, nor its price level. We are after the highest complication, the most glamorous and the most luxurious. It can be the conglomerate of different complications and it may be set with various precious stones. After very severe competition, Patek Philippe Ref.5208P was bestowed the honour.
In the last round of selection, A.LANGE & SOHNE, BREGUET, ROLEX and a few other familiar names were on the shortlist. PANERAI PAM00382 and ROLEX Daytona in steel have finally won the awards for Sport Watches circa RMB 100,000. PATEK PHILIPPE Ref.4958 and BREGUET Reine De Naples 8908, both long-time favorites of ladies, have proudly won the awards in the Daily Ladies category. For Daily Gents watch circa RMB 200,000, A.LANGE & SOHNE Richard Lange Sweep Seconds and AUDEMARS PIGUET Royal Oak Selfwinding Cal.3120 are both award winners. For Niche brands circa RMB 300,000, H.MOSER & CIE. Perpetual 1 and LAURENT FERRIER Galet Micro Rotor are the unanimous winners. Last but not least, for Functional watches circa RMB 500,000, the winners are both chronographs that carry further complications, namely PATEK PHILIPPE Ref.5960 and A.LANGE & SOHNE Datograph.
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The official contact of the judging committee
Ciling
T: 021-62492700-613
E-mail: ciling@cdvmagazines.com
