Our monthly round-up of watch news from Malaysia and the rest of the world
Watch lovers in the north of Peninsular Malaysia will be happy to know that The Hour Glass finally made its debut in Penang. Located in Gurney Plaza in George Town, the design takes its cues from the island with the use of natural stones and timber, the latter decorating the ceiling in wavy patterns. Accents around the boutique echo the soft, shimmery beauty of seashells and corals.
It's also the first Hour Glass boutique in Asia to feature a store-in-store concept with a dedicated Hublot space. Other brands calling it home here are Breitling, Girard-Perregaux, Grand Seiko, Nomos, Sinn-Spezialuhren, Tag Heuer, Tudor, and Ulysse Nardin.
The boutique also features a private space complete with a full kitchen and dining space called the Apartment for discreet viewing of the watches.
Rolex recently announced an official programme to purchase pre-owned watches that are certified and guaranteed by the watchmaker itself. This brings added value to existing supply of pre-owned watches, which were already made with durability in mind. This service has rolled out in Bucherer boutiques in Switzerland, Austria, Germany, France, Denmark, and the UK. More participating retailers will be announced from spring 2023.