Our newsletter this week is a special one because we’re highlighting a unique project that has been in the works for a while. Tatler Asia and Geneva‑based watch magazine GMT have embarked on an exclusive collaboration to create Tatler GMT, a premier horology magazine celebrating the best of watches, with a mission to become the ultimate resource for watch communities in Asia. From stories shared by collectors to insights from industry experts, the publication is a must-read for watch enthusiasts everywhere.

For Tatler GMT’s inaugural issue, it explores the rise of Asian watchmakers on the global stage, the hottest brands to know, and more. Plus, get to know a Singapore watch collector who was once the youngest MB&F owner in the world.

Other newsletter highlights this week:

• How Mercury retrograde in Virgo will affect every star sign
• Inside 6 artistic cafes in Penang’s historic buildings
• Farfetch’s Elizabeth von der Goltz knows what you’ll wear next summer
• The most stylish ballet flats to add to your wardrobe now

Have a great weekend!

Andrea Saadan
Digital Editor

Vacheron Constantin has a long and close association with the retrograde complication. This year, the maison extends its legacy with three novelties featuring the function. Take a look at the new Vacheron Constantin timepieces that make a convincing case for the maison’s mastery of elegant design and the retrograde complication.

Read story here.

While Wagyu katsu sandos are found everywhere, nothing beats savouring the delicious versions in their birthplace of Tokyo, Japan. From high-end yakiniku restaurants to dedicated katsu sando speciality stores, here are a few favourites selected by Tokyo-based food enthusiast Tokyo Halfie.

Read story here.

Surrounded by lakes and a dense forest, this waterfront villa in Shenzhen by Ace Design is both an enviable retreat and an art collector’s private paradise. The house is envisioned as a “city within a city”, with a series of differentiated spaces that are structured to take its inhabitants on a journey that’s anchored by statement works of art.

Read story here.

The Blue Water Heroes is back for its second edition. Powered by Tatler Gen.T, the annual awards organised by ONE°15 Events Management recognises individuals who are dedicating their lives to protecting and conserving the coastal and/or marine ecosystems in Southeast Asia.

The awards is a key programme of the three-day Blue Water EduFest, with the winners being announced during a gala dinner at ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove held on November 3. 

Each winner will receive a cash prize ranging from S$10,000 to S$25,000. They will also gain access to industry experts and collaboration opportunities with ONE°15 Marina and Tatler Gen.T that will help catalyse their impact.

Ten finalists will be invited to pitch their work to a panel of judges on October 10. The judges include Dr Toh Tai Chong, senior lecturer and associate director of studies at the National University of Singapore; Winston Chow, associate professor of Urban Climate at Singapore Management University; Christine Amour-Levar, founder of Her Planet Earth and Women On A Mission; Janet Shum, sustainable investing specialist for APAC at Citi Private Bank; Paul Foster, actor, television personality and environmentalist; Arthur Tay, CEO of SUTL Group of Companies; and Chong Seow Wei, regional senior editor at Tatler Gen.T. 

Three winners will be selected and presented with their prizes during the November 3 event.

To find out more about the selection criteria and to submit a nomination, read this article. Nominations for the Blue Water Heroes 2023 close on August 28.

It is rare to find an artist with extraordinary talent and passion for one art form, and even rarer to find one with the flair for two. Contemporary dancer Joan (say “Joanne”) Dwiartanto has only in recent years found film‑making a fruitful creative avenue, but you wouldn’t guess it—the Juilliard graduate approaches the camera with the self‑assured vision and the attention to detail of a more seasoned director. 

Read the story here.

It has been three years since Clare Waight Keller wrapped up her acclaimed tenure as artistic director of Givenchy, but now the British fashion designer is making a comeback—at Uniqlo, of all places. The Japanese fashion label has announced the launch of Uniqlo: C, a new women’s label that will be spearheaded by Keller.

View the collection here.

At the onset of his career, Melvin Chee knew he did not want a typical 9-5 job. At 18, he did his first internship with a startup founded by his cousin, Fong Wai Hong, in Melbourne. He went on to also intern for Groupon Malaysia and the online learning platform Udemy in the US. In San Francisco, he got a taste of the startup life in Silicon Valley. He became captivated by the innovative culture and dreamed of bringing that experience back to Malaysia.

Read story here.