Bangkok--3 Aug--M.O.Chic
"Central Department Store" Spends 60 Million Baht to Hold "Central International Watch Fair 2011" to Showcase The Latest Watch Collections Directly Importedfrom BASELWORLD, Switzerland with Special Offers,Aiming to Sweep Over 600 Million Baht in Sales
"Central Department Store" spends a budget of 60 Million Baht to hold "Central International Watch Fair 2011" to showcase more than 180 world-class watch brands including the masterpiece collections and the special collections which are produced with the limited edition to sell exclusively in the event. The preview sales will be held from August 12-23, 2011 at Lobby Lounge and the Piano Hall on the 1st floor of Central Chidlom before an official launch during August 24 to September 27, 2011 at the Event Hall on the 3rd floor of Central Chidlom and the Watch Department in every Central branch.
Yuwadee Chirathivat, President of Central Department Store Limited discloses that this year's "Central International Watch Fair 2011" is held for the 13th consecutive year to open a chance for Thai customer to meet new latest watch collections of 2011 from Baselworld in Switzerland as a very first country in Asia. The event will gather over 180 brands of the world-class famous watch worth over 5 Billion Baht to introduce to Thai customers who have a chance to be an early owner in the event.
"Holding the event this year, Central Department Store receives a good cooperation and support from all watch brands as well as the country's major credit cards to give special offers to real watch fan. Central Department Store has held it for the 13th consecutive year and is trusted by customer. It is an event that many are waiting for to be the latest watch collections’ owner before anybody else with special offers that Central Department Store gives. We target to have 600 Million Baht in sales from the event, an increase of 10% from last year,” Mrs. Yuwadee says.
The highlight of the event will be:
- PIAGET Limelight Kanthara, worth 62,000,000 Baht: With case and bracelet in white gold set with 183 baguette-cut and emerald-cut diamonds (51.77 ct), and dial set with 183 baguette-cut diamonds (3.03 ct), this dazzling masterpiece accounts for 366 diamonds, 54.8 carat, in total. It comes with ultra-thin hand-wound mechanical movement.
- SARCAR Le Carrousel, worth 12,744,000 Baht: This masterpiece features self-winding mechanic with 12 solitaire rotating hour markers (6.05 ct), sitting on a pave Mother-of-Pearl dial exuding rays of scintillating colors at each turn of the wrist. In white-gold and diamond-set bezel and complemented by a double-sided crocodile strap with Double Deployment gold buckle, it is indeed one creation that goes far beyond one’s dream. Only 1 piece in Thailand exclusively at this fair.
- CORUM Golden Bridge Automatic, worth 2,137,500 Baht: A model featuring a transparency that gives pride of place to the magic of time in motion, the Golden Bridge is equipped with Calibre CO-313 movement — white gold baguette movement with automatic linear winding. Housed by a tonneau-shaped case in 18k white gold and with a black dial parting in the middle, the entire movement is visible from the back through the see-through case protected by sapphire crystal. Boasting a 40-hour power reserve, it is issued in limited edition, of which only 5 pieces are available in Thailand.
- Franck Muller Double Mystery Four Seasons, worth 3,202,000 Baht: Offering a brilliant, elegant and refined interpretation of the four seasons, this highly vivid timepiece comes with coloured precious stones decorating the case and the dial, thus creating four harmonious colour combination, each representing a season. The white gold case is set with 338 diamonds and 273 round coloured stones. The white gold case is set with 338 diamonds and 273 round coloured stones.
- PARMIGIANI Toric Tourbillon Chronograph, worth 18,232,500 Baht: This precious timepiece from Parmigiani is the best testament to Michel Parmigiani’s regards as Gold Hands in the horology world. Combining tourbillon and chronograph, this masterpiece boasts an 18k platinum bezel with double knurling and a golden dial with “C?tes de Gen?ve” engraving.
Also featured in the fair are the world’s Exclusive Brands, showcased in Thailand only at Central Department Store, such as Louis Erard, Maitres du Temps, Montblanc, Sarcar, etc.
Besides the aforementioned exclusive brands and masterpieces, there are enough brands to satisfy wristwatch enthusiasts, catered to 3 groups as followed:
- Luxury: Blancpain, Carl F. Bucherer, Century, Corum, DeLaCour, Franck Muller, Glashutte Original, Grubel Forsey, Jacob & Co, Vincent Berrard, etc.
- Hi-end: Breitling, Charriol, Frederique Constant, Gucci, Hermes, Longines, Maurice Lacroix, Omega, Oris, Rado, Raymond Weil, Swarovski, TAG Heuer, etc.
- Mid Range: Casio, Citizen, Diesel, Emporio Armani, Glam Rock, Luminox, Seiko, Technomarine, Tendence, Tissot, TW Steel, etc.
In the "Central International Watch Fair 2011," there are not only the latest collections directly imported from Switzerland but also special offers from Central Department Store’s promotions including a discount of 10-50%, an additional discount of up to 15% from leading credit cards that join the promotions, an additional of another 10% from credit card points, instalment payment with an interest rate of 0% for up to 10 months when spending more than 5,000 Baht and free premium gift from leading credit cards when shopping on each credit card’s conditions.
Special offer is cash voucher when spending on the following conditions:
@ Cash voucher valued at 500 Baht for spending of at least 20,000 Baht
@ Cash voucher valued at 1,500 Baht for spending of at least 60,000 Baht
@ Cash voucher valued at 3,200 Baht for spending of at least 100,000 Baht
@ Cash voucher valued at 10,000 Baht for spending of at least 300,000 Baht
@ Cash voucher valued at 21,000 Baht for spending of at least 600,000 Baht
@ Cash voucher valued at 38,000 Baht for spending of at least 1,000,000 Baht
@ Cash voucher valued at 80,000 Baht for spending of at least 2,000,000 Baht
@ Cash voucher valued at 130,000 Baht for spending of at least 3,000,000 Baht
Any customers who have the top 2 highest spending each week will get free Toshiba # Libetto Notebook valued at 49,900 Baht a week. The 1 Card member will receive cash voucher valued at 100 Baht when accumulating every 800 points.
Mrs. Yuwadee also discloses that watch trend this year will be in a simple design, not striking. According to the market trend this year, watch manufacturers mainly focus on China, making classic watch with not so complicated mechanics or preferring Retro watch. The popular and in-trend colours are blue and orange or red gold which are mostly seen in many brands’ watch components like hands, winding knob, dial or band. Materials will be ceramic, different from the trend on the past few years that focused on luxury watch, decorated with high-value jewellery.
Sales of the Watch Department of all Central branches from January to June 2011 grew approximately 4% due to sales promotion at all branches to boost sales as well as Central Department Store’s emphasis on its leader in watch market. It expects sales by the end of the year will grow by 9% as targeted. Thailand’s watch market has high potential for growth, given an increasing number of imported watch and parts from Switzerland to Thailand every year consecutively. Lately, the imported watch and parts from Switzerland to Thailand from January — May 2011 was valued at 295,729 Million Baht, rising from 238,569 Million Baht in the whole last year (source: website of Department of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce). There are also many Thai watch collectors and consumer confidence improves, particularly after the general elections. The political climate eases up and every situation turns to a better direction. Also, economic stimuli will be gradually kicked off. All of these positive factors will improve overall purchasing power and increase a capability in purchasing a watch for a watch collection as well.
Please be invited to visit and experience the latest collections of the ultimate exquisite timepieces together with the best offers in "Central International Watch Fair 2011." The preview will be held from August 12 — 23, 2011 at Lobby Lounge and the Piano Hall on the 1st floor of Central Chidlom and the official launch during August 24 to September 27, 2011 at 10.00 — 22.00 hours at the Event Hall on the 3rd floor of Central Chidlom and the Watch Department in every Central branch.