A Journey Through Time VIII ends on a high note

KUALA LUMPUR, 2nd December 2014

British mezzo soprano Carly Paoli’s distinctive, and powerful voice reverberating throughout Starhill Gallery’s stylish Shook! Kuala Lumpur and capturing the hearts and soul of all present made for a fitting and memorable finale to A Journey Through Time VIII, Asia’s premier luxury watch and jewellery showcase.

The 25-year-old opera sensation, who has already performed for audiences across Europe at world-renowned venues including The Royal Albert Hall, St Paul's Cathedral, on board The Orient Express and The Lecce Opera Theatre in Italy, presented one of her best performances in front of dignitaries and distinguished guests present at A Journey Through Time VIII’s closing gala event this evening.

YBhg. Dato’ Haji Azizan bin Noordin, Deputy Director General (Planning) Tourism Malaysia graced the event as the Guest of Honour. Also present were YBhg. Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Francis Yeoh, Group Managing Director of YTL Corporation Berhad and Joseph Yeoh, Vice President, YTL Land & Development Bhd, YTL Hotels and Properties.

In accordance with tradition, the highlight of A Journey Through Time VIII’s closing gala was the Watch and Jewellery Awards presentation ceremony. A total of eight categories of Awards were presented during the evening, namely Starhill Gallery Favourite Ladies’ Watch Award (Bedat & Co Ref. 828.040.M04), Starhill Gallery Favourite Men’s Watch Award (HYT H1 Dracula Starhill Gallery Watch With Complications In Movement Award (Ulysse Nardin Stranger Musical Watch), Starhill Gallery Timeless Jewellery Award (Garrard Snowdrop Necklace), The YTL Spirit Of Classical Art Award (Cecil Purnell V-16 GMT Double Tourbillon), Ministry Of Tourism & Culture, Malaysia Most Revered Award (Breguet Classique 5335 Grande Complication Tourbillon Messidor), and The Judges’ Choice Award (Speake Marin Resilience).

The award winners were selected by an international panel of five qualified judges, namely Dr. Masanori Kondo, Mr. Yoichiro Ban, Mr. Thierry Gasquez, Mr. Su Jia Xian and Dr. Bernard Cheong, the lead judge who remains the only Asian who has presided over both the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie and the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie.

Joseph Yeoh, Vice President, YTL Land & Development Bhd, YTL Hotels and Properties said, “The level of excellence in terms of craftsmanship, quality and innovation showcased throughout the exhibits this year has been remarkable to say the least. It is indeed heartening to see A Journey Through Time evolve to become a serious platform where leading watch and jewellery houses the world over come together to present their very best.”

“Moving forward, Starhill Gallery is committed to seeing A Journey Through Time being recognised the world over as a powerful prelude to Baselworld. As a key event in the global watch and jewellery calendar, A Journey Through Time will play an important role to enhance the position of Malaysia as a destination of choice for luxury shopping,” he concluded.   

A Journey Through Time VIII took place from 21 to 28 November 2014 and showcased rare private collections, first-in-market editions and exquisite pieces from over 125 luxury brands. Spanning across two floors and 30,000 sq.ft of exhibition space within Starhill Gallery, A Journey Through Time VIII invited visitors to view exclusive pieces by internationally renowned watch brands such as Bedat & Co, Breguet, Cecil Purnell, Dior, Hermès, Hublot, Khronos, a multi-brand boutique which is home to a selection of brands, Maîtres du Temps, Omega and Ulysse Nardin. Premier jewellery brands including Carrera y Carrera, Ceres, Damiani, Garrard and Gübelin also participated.

This year, the showcase saw the unveiling of two exclusive pre-Baselworld 2015 pieces namely the V-16 GMT Double Tourbillon from Cecil Purnell and the Chapter One Guilloche Translucent by Maîtres du Temps. Visitors were also able to view the World Match Racing Tour Championship Trophy by Garrard which was displayed in Malaysia for the very first time.

The annual showcase saw performances by renowned singing sensation Carly Paoli, along with mezzo soprano singer, Laura Wright, at selected gala dinners held during the eight days. Also, as a reflection of its status as a premier event in Asia, A Journey Through Time VIII featured a host of Bollywood stars including Karishma Kapoor, Neha Dhupia and Shibani Kashyap.

Special talks and symposiums were also held for visitors to gain a deeper knowledge of timepieces and precious stones.  Visitors also enjoyed chic fashion parades and delectable cuisine prepared by Chef Matthew Ona, the Executive Chef at Shook!, Kuala Lumpur.