ZENITH CELEBRATES ITS PILOT WATCHES AND FELIX BAUMGARTNER

KEE@FSWMAG.COM
AS USUAL, ZENITH'S TIMING WAS PERFECT

THE WORLD AND HIS WIFE HAD JUST WATCHED WITH BATED BREATH THE DARING EXPLOIT OF FELIX BAUMGARTNER WHO JUMPED GOD KNOWS HOW MANY MILES FROM A SPECIAL HOTAIR BALLOON.

Then just 4 days later came this Zenith party at highclass Marini's on 57, KL's hot new stylish bar and restaurant and wateringhole! Would you believe Felix Baumgartner is Zenith's world wide ambassador! What a brilliant investment! Of course Zenith appointed him before he jumped! 

The only way for Zenith to go is up! Says Hugo Escude, Zenith's Brand Ambassador in tribute to Felix Baumgartner who broke several records when he sky dived 39,000 km


I really think Hugo Escude the Brand Director of Zenith should make me the new ambassador for the Chinese speaking world before I win the Noble Prize for Literature so I can mention Zenith in my acceptance speech. 

 
Vivian Lee, brand manager of Zenith and Hugo Escude, Brand Director of Zenith for SE Asia, Australia and South Korea

Hugo Escude with models wearing Zenith

Not owning a Zenith, Kee Hua Chee modelled his bling instead

Hugo Escude is as hot and sexy as a Zenith watch

With his movie star good looks, great bod (even when fully clothed) and matching cuff links, Hugo Escude is the best brand director Zenith can lay hands on

Unlike me, Hugo Escude never suffers from a bad hair day or running low on time as the best time is always on his hand

The hottest watch brand director and sexiest journalist in observable universe which Felix Baumgartner will definitely agree.


ZENITH CELEBRATE ITS LATEST PILOT COLLECTION & FELIX BAUMGARTNER

 WITH A LEGACY FROM THE GLORY DAYS OF AERIAL CONQUEST

Watch connoisseurs and stylish KL-lites let their hair down at a recent timepiece showcase hosted by Swiss watchmaker Zenith and its retail partner, leading watch retailer and distributor Cortina Watch. The timepiece collection in the spotlight is none other than Zenith’s Pilot collection, inspired by the world of aviation and aeronautical feats.

The hosts also dedicated the cocktail party to daredevil skydiver and brand ambassador Felix Baumgartner for successfully pushing the human limits in the Red Bull Stratos Mission that took place 14^th October 2012.

In the highly technical attempt, Felix Baumgartner made a free fall jump from an extreme altitude at over 120,000 feet or 39,000 kilometers, four times of the height a passenger plane typically fly, and made the first record in human history to break the speed of sound with human body alone. The free fall jump also tested Zenith’s El Primero Stratos Flyback Striking 10th Chronograph of its capability to withstand such a high extreme altitude assault when Felix had it on his wrist in the mission.

The evening took place in the super-stylish The Lounge @ Marini’s on 57. Its location was fit for the occasion, as guests were surrounded by the beautiful aerial view of Kuala Lumpur City Centre. Everyone was decked out in their party chic best as per the theme for the celebration.

“We are proud to introduce these stunning pieces to Malaysia’s watch connoisseurs and long-time Zenith fans,” says Mr Hugo Escude, Brand Director of Zenith SEA, South Korea and Australia. “Zenith was among the first to build aviation instruments, a fact that makes the Pilot collection apt for Zenith. Over the years, our watches have embodied our ambition for precision timing. The Pilot collection is made especially for lovers of aviation and its history as well as technical mechanism.”

Three watches were introduced to the guests during the launch – the Pilot Montre d’Aéronef Type 20, the Pilot Big Date Special, and the Pilot Doublematic. The Pilot Montre d’Aéronef Type 20 is a tribute to its inspiration, the original aviator watch. This new titanium version is updated with the latest technical triumphs and contemporary details like a 57.5mm-diametre case, a matte black dial with Superluminova-enhanced hands and numerals, and a calfskin strap withhand-sewn topstitching.

The Pilot Big Date Special 2012 echoes the historical chronograph watch from the 1960s to the 1980s with its modern elegance details and faultless functionality. Meanwhile, the Pilot Doublematic is perfect for the traveller – with its worldtime function, you can easily keep track of time zones while its brushed and polished steel or pink gold case as well as its 18-carat gold pink buckle or folding clasp reminisce of an individual with style.

Mr Wong Kok Leong and Mr Cheong Phin were the two lucky draw winners of the night to walk home with a journey of a lifetime to Zenith Manufacturing Facility in Switzerland. Of course it should have been me but these two must have plotted against me with some devious means  as the gods and goddesses are usually on my side. Anyway Buddha and Jesus Christ have amply compensated for this oversight by making Hans Wiedemann invite me to his world famous Badrutt's Palace in St Moritz, Switzerland to stay in the hotel's Presidential Suite which costs US$ 20,000 a night for 4 nights! Actually, it was a lucky draw at Royale Chulan hotel won by Princess Dr Becky Leogardo and of course she invited me to join her and will pay for my air ticket and food!

The night ended on a high note with guests thoroughly enjoying themselves. Indeed, it was a night to remember where great styles, outstanding quality and amazing people all came together to celebrate the brand new Zenith Pilot collection.

The Zenith Pilot collection is available at Cortina Watch. For more information on Zenith and the new collection, visit www.zenith-watches.com/pilot.

About ZENITH

Founded in Le Locle in 1865 by a visionary watchmaker, Georges Favre-Jacot, the Manufacture Zenith earned swift recognition for the precision of its chronometers with which it has won 2,333 chronometry prizes in a century and a half of existence – an absolute record in terms of pocket watches, onboard timers and wristwatches. Having earned fame thanks to its legendary El Primero calibre – an integrated automatic column-wheel chronograph movement launched in 1969 and endowed with a high frequency of 36,000 vibrations per hour that ensures short-time measurements accurate to the nearest 1/10th of a second – the Manufacture Zenith has since developed over 600 movement variations. All Zenith watches are now fitted with an in-house Zenith movement and are developed and produced from start to finish by the Manufacture in Le Locle. The latter currently stands at the exact spot where its founder built the first company workshop – thus physically embodying a continuity that is a rarity in itself.

About CORTINA WATCH

An established player in the luxury watch industry, Cortina Watch is a leading watch retailer and distributor in Asia carrying over 50 internationally renowned brands. Its commitment to bringing the world's best quality timepieces to the region, together with their personalized customer service, has built a strong branding to the Group as well as a loyal customer base.  Cortina Watch currently operates 20 retail outlets across Asia -  Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Thailand.

Hugo Escude looking good

Kee Hua Chee looking good and more so as his photo was taken by Hugo Escude as a favour

Kee Hua Chee's photo taken by Hugo Escude, brand director of Zenith, one of the world's greatest watchmakers

Kee Hua Chee with models dressed as pilots from the first golden age of flying circa 1940s

Shameless poser

Kee Hua Chee's slipper shoe was a sensation

Modesto Marini, owner of Marini's on 57

Modesto Marini and Kee Hua Chee. The famous Modesto cafe chain was named after this hunky Italian

I wonder why they are so pally-wally since they are supposed to hate each other as Lewin Tan is with RHB Bank and Lionel Leong is with Hong Leong so they are supposed to be rivals!

Still smiling and friends with each other; Lewin Tan from RHB Investment Bank and Lionel Leong from Hong Leong Investment Bank

Kee Hua Chee is friends with ALL bankers, like Lionel Leong

Pals Loke Jin Hien and Cheah Yoon 

Emcee Bernie Chan looking towards the heavens the same way Felix Baumgartner did 

Cool pilot

Hot pilot

Hottest pilots

Vivian Lee and Hugo Escude
Brand Manager and Brand Director of Zenith
The handsome and charming brand director of Zenith for SE Asia, Australia and South Korea

The new Zenith Pilot watch is reasonably priced

I know you cannot get enough of Hugo Escude so here is another shot of the sexy Spaniard

I must say Hugo Escude and Kee Hua Chee are the sizzliest guys ever created by God

These, however, were created by Man

END OF PART 1