Our Collector’s Circle members joined Watch Advice, Glashütte Original and Monards at Iris Rooftop in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley for an evening of cocktails, conversation and some exceptional German watchmaking!
Photos courtesy of Alessia Ferraro
Glashütte Original has a way of bringing together traditional German watchmaking and some rather distinctive designs, which made for an interesting evening when Glashütte Original joined us in Brisbane last week. From the asymmetrical dials of the Pano collections to the more classical Senator models and the retro Sixties and Seventies, there was a lot for our Collector’s Circle members to explore, including the new Meissen Cherry Blossom, which proved to be one of the evening’s talking points.
Held at the Sunset Lounge at Iris Rooftop in Fortitude Valley, the cocktail evening was organised in collaboration with Monards, Glashütte Original’s local retail partner, and brought together around 60 guests for a closer look at what the manufacture has to offer.
To get things underway, Watch Advice founder Chamath Gamage welcomed everyone and spoke about the beautiful watches Glashütte Original produces, drawing on his own experience visiting the manufacture earlier this year. It was a chance to share some of what he had seen in Germany with our guests before handing things over to Martin Goh, Monards Marketing and Operations Manager, to give a brief introduction to both Monards and Glashütte Original, before introducing Kenneth Tan, Glashütte Original’s Regional Brand Manager, who had travelled from Singapore for the occasion.
Kenneth took guests through some of the brand’s history and the watches that have shaped its identity, while also explaining why Glashütte Original deserves a place on the radar of collectors looking to add something different to their collections.
Once the formalities were out of the way, everyone was free to spend time with the watches, try on different models and chat with Kenneth about the collections. The entire Watch Advice team was there throughout the evening, alongside the team from Monards, who helped guests get to know the watches a little better.
Among the collections on display, the Pano range attracted plenty of attention, with its distinctive asymmetrical dials and layouts offering something a little different from the more traditional designs in the catalogue. The Sixties and Seventies also gave guests a chance to explore Glashütte Original’s more vintage-inspired side, while the newly released Senator Chronographs brought a contemporary take on the brand’s classical watchmaking.
Another standout was the new Senator Meissen Cherry Blossom, which proved popular with both the men and women in attendance. Created in collaboration with the renowned German porcelain manufacturer Meissen, the watch features a hand-painted porcelain dial depicting cherry blossoms, bringing a different kind of artistry to the collection.
It was great to see guests drawn to the piece, particularly given how different it is from many of the other watches on display. And if you are not familiar with the watch and the work of Meissen, then have a read of coverage of the Senator Meissen Cherry Blossom here.
As the evening continued, the watches provided plenty of conversation, with guests moving between the collections, comparing favourites and taking the opportunity to learn more directly from Kenneth and the Watch Advice team.
That access is a big part of what makes these gatherings worthwhile, giving our Collector’s Circle members time with the people who know the watches best, while bringing together a community of enthusiasts who share the same interest. And it feels like with each event, we see more and more people who have joined our community with a shared interest in watches.
A big thank you to Glashütte Original and Monards for joining us in Brisbane, and to everyone who came along and made the evening such an enjoyable one. We look forward to bringing more of these experiences to our Collector’s Circle members in the future.
If you want to be a part of watch events in your nearest capital city, then sign up to become a member of the Watch Advice Collector’s Circle here, and it’s totally free!
For more information on Glashütte Original, head to Glashuette-original.com
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