Jaeger-LeCoultre international executive
director Jean-Marc Keller presents the art of watchmaking throughout the company's 172 years of history. Until tomorrow visitors can discover enamel painting, gem setting, engraving and watch-making on the fourth floor "city square" of the Taipei 101 shopping mall.
Taipei Times: Why did Jaeger-LeCoultre hold this exhibition in Taiwan?
Jean-Marc Keller: Well, over the years Taiwan has been a very important market for this company. We've been represented here for more than 20 years. We have been planning this exhibition for more than a year and this event, from my personal point of view, is a mini watch-manufacturing exhibit.
We have brought over four important technicians directly from Switzerland to demonstrate their magnificent expertise. The exact process of manufacturing watches is also shown to the public step-by-step in the other rooms.
TT: What is the main idea behind all these activities? How can a visitor learn from such an exhibition?
JK: The basic idea is to give visitors an idea about the art of watchmaking. The exhibit can be divided into three domains: historical presentation, classic display and technical demonstration, and watch-making classes.
While visitors are looking at Jaeger-LeCoultre watches and antique clocks produced from different periods, they are in fact walking through the company's history of development since 1833 and will therefore appreciate the craftsmanship involved. In the "classic area," our skillfully-designed watches such as Gyrotourbillon, Minute Repeater, Reveil, Reverso, Compressor Chronograph and Atmos clock can be found. Every watch displayed has its own uniqueness and this is what collectors are looking for since they are all produced in limited editions.
For instance, our Master Minute Repeater has been named "Watch of the Year" by many major magazines in the world and is limited to 200 pieces only. Meanwhile, we also use this opportunity to offer six classes to local watch lovers and help them enjoy the experience of designing watches through computer software and assembling watches through a manual procedure. At the end of each class, participating students will be issued a certificate and a personal work robe by the company's watch factory.
TT: How do you view the luxury watch market in Taipei?
JK: Like Hong Kong and China, the market in Taipei has always been very good for us. People in Taiwan are very knowledgeable about watches. When I was talking with some of the local watch lovers the other day, I had the feeling that we were talking the same language. They are interested in mechanical watches and are looking for complicated watches like the Gyrotourbillon or Minute Repeater watch. You know, what usually happens is that when we come with limited edition of watches, the first one who jumps into buying new sophisticated watches is Taiwanese. You have a lot of collectors here in Taiwan.
TT: How has your company's performance been so far this year?
JK: Very good, indeed. We have had a two-digit growth rate so far and are doing well. Whenever we have new products, we always come to Taiwan to inform Taiwanese collectors. You know, many of them have 20 or 30 costly watches in their collection and they are constantly looking for new ideas and new functions or innovations in watch products.
TT: What is your marketing strategy for next year?
JK: Well, we have a very clear vision for the next 10 years. Our vision is to a maintain fine watch-making art and to strive for products of the highest quality. Our goal is to become the most innovative and elite watchmaker in the world. The market strategy in Taiwan goes along these lines and we keep on communicating with our clients here by bringing out products with innovation and creativity. The exhibition held here is part of a strategy to lift up our company's visibility in Taiwan and to reach out to [Taiwanese] and to other potential customers. We have about 20 partners in Taipei. We'd like to increase our local market share by working closely with them.
TT: Do you see any difference of preferences between people in the East and the West?
JK: Yes, certainly. In terms of taste, the European market seems to have developed a stronger taste for yellow or gold watch series, whereas in Asia, white gold or platinum is appreciated. For the ladies, Europeans go for quartz or movement watches. In contrast, the Asians favor mechanical watches and are more color-conscious.
TT: What kind of new watches did you bring to Taipei this time?
JK: The Minute Repeater watch I mentioned before was introduced this year in Geneva and is winning many awards. The Chronograph watch comes with a new strong pressure-absorbing function, which is very suitable for sporty-type people. One unique watch for the lady that we call "101 Caliber," is quite impressive in that it has the smallest mechanical movement of any in the world. And yet we are showing it at Taipei 101, which is the tallest building in the world. Can you imagine such a coincidence?
When nature calls, Masana Izawa has followed the same routine for more than 50 years: heading out to the woods in Japan, dropping his pants and doing as bears do. “We survive by eating other living things. But you can give faeces back to nature so that organisms in the soil can decompose them,” the 74-year-old said. “This means you are giving life back. What could be a more sublime act?” “Fundo-shi” (“poop-soil master”) Izawa is something of a celebrity in Japan, publishing books, delivering lectures and appearing in a documentary. People flock to his “Poopland” and centuries-old wooden “Fundo-an” (“poop-soil house”) in
For anyone on board the train looking out the window, it must have been a strange sight. The same foreigner stood outside waving at them four different times within ten minutes, three times on the left and once on the right, his face getting redder and sweatier each time. At this unique location, it’s actually possible to beat the train up the mountain on foot, though only with extreme effort. For the average hiker, the Dulishan Trail is still a great place to get some exercise and see the train — at least once — as it makes its way
Jan 13 to Jan 19 Yang Jen-huang (楊仁煌) recalls being slapped by his father when he asked about their Sakizaya heritage, telling him to never mention it otherwise they’ll be killed. “Only then did I start learning about the Karewan Incident,” he tells Mayaw Kilang in “The social culture and ethnic identification of the Sakizaya” (撒奇萊雅族的社會文化與民族認定). “Many of our elders are reluctant to call themselves Sakizaya, and are accustomed to living in Amis (Pangcah) society. Therefore, it’s up to the younger generation to push for official recognition, because there’s still a taboo with the older people.” Although the Sakizaya became Taiwan’s 13th
Each week, whenever she has time off from her marketing job, Ida Jia can be found at Shanghai Disneyland queuing for hours to spend a few minutes with Linabell, a fluffy pink fox with big blue eyes. The 29-year-old does not go empty handed, bringing pink fox soft toys dressed in ornate custom-made outfits to show the life-sized character, as well as handmade presents as gifts. Linabell, which made its debut in Shanghai in 2021, is helping Disney benefit from a rapidly growing market in China for merchandise related to toys, games, comics and anime, which remained popular with teenagers and young
RSS