The event Sort of Reporting live from Shanghai mainly by photos, hopefully, this can be re-organised to have more details and make it more coherent for readers at a later date (Today is the first evening, but the physical watch is yet to be unveiled) Well Since it is 3am in the morning after uploading all the photos here in Shanghai, I shall be brief and hopefully the event will be covered more by the photos than my descriptions.. (It is all happening here, the tallest hotel in the world) Tonight kicks off the FIRST event of a 2 day Girard Perregaux Enzo Ferrari Tourbillon World Premier in Shanghai. Dr. Gino Macaluso explained that Shanghai is an intriguing and exciting world class city. It is obvious that the guests had a great time with good food, free flowing drinks and a band performance from Canada(?) (A small section of a large venue, plenty of food and drinks to go around) Event is held at the most 'happening' place in Shanghai, the Pu-J at Grand Hyatt Shanghai, the tallest hotel in the World! (Band performance to entertain, and entertain, they did!) Retailers and Journalists around the world are invited to witness this important event ahead of SIHH 2004! (From left, Samuel Benjamin, Maurice Spiri - Directeur of Commercial du Groupe Sowind and Dimitri Aubert, a familiar face to all PuristS) Since I am literally has been without MUCH sleep since Saturday, i shall let the photos do the talking (Nash gave a warm welcome speech and an introduction to Dr. Gino macaluso) (Dr. Gino Macaluso, giving his speech pepperred with some Chinese. Describing humbly that he is speaking Chinese as bad as Italian spoken by Schuemaker, he was actually quite good and the crowd applauded wildly) (One of the singers, entertained the guests) (F.J. Benjamin founder Frank Benjamin and Cheryl Wee from BMI) (She could sing! and that's entertainment!) Come tomorrow (10/3/2004), the actual watch will be unveiled! Watch this space and hopefully, I still have the energy to report here ! Jaw     The presentation and the watch (Welcome to Shanghai, People's Republic of China) Just finished the Press Conference and the watch is unveiled! Well, this watch certainly deserves a more detail write-up at a later date, meanwhile, some photos just before I go for lunch. (Distinguished panel, from left, Mr. Dimitri Aubert - Asia Pacific Area Manager, Maurice Spiri - Directeur Commercial du Groupe Sowind, Dr. Luigi Macaluso - Chairman and owner du Groupe Sowind, Nash Benjamin - Deputy CEO, F. J. Benjamin Group, Tony Fung - Director and General Manager, F.J. Benjamin Hong Kong & Mark Koh - General Mangere, F.J. Benjamin) (Nash Benjamin gave the introduction to the watch and the man affectionately called Gino!) (An extreme watch for an extreme car, an ultimate tribute to the man and the car, Enzo Ferrari!) (Maurice Spiri gave an overview of the Sowind group history and corporate structure) (Dimitri Aubert, on the history of Girard Perregaux, the origin of Triple Bridges and its finer point) (The long awaited moment, the unveiling of the watch) (One of the most unusual and beautiful watch box cum winder, the end screw on the right is a an exquisite watch pusher when smoothly unscrewed) (Enzo Ferrari Triple Bridge Perpetual Chrono, the month and the minute counter subdial colour scheme is exactly the same as the car's speedometer) (Proud "Gino" holding his "baby" - An extreme watch box for an extreme watch ~Gino Macaluso~) (2 versions of the watches will be issued, The limited edition for the Ferrari owner and the regular edition. There is only 349 Enzo Ferrari cars, the number of watches will be 349 pieces or less and to be decided at a later date. In any case only a maximum of 15 pieces of both versions in total will be produced annually - Shown here is the limited edition dial) (For the first time and still exclusively to ThePuristS, this is the how the regular (non limited) edition dial will probably look like) There are certainly a lot to talk about this watch at a later date, but meanwhile and before I rush for my lunch. ENJOY!     The gala dinner After a memorable pre-launch cocktail and an official press conference launch, we were all looking forward to the Gala Dinner with anticipation: (1) THE VENUE: ("Grande entrance" is an under-statement. I slowed as I entered to relish the "feel".) The venue is the prestigious "shao nian gong" literally translated, "Youth Palace", a training school for exceptionally talented youth who have the potential to be be future Chinese leaders. (Giant, beautifully decorated stage, hint of excitement, air of anticipation.) The building is state-owned and generally unavailable for public events. My congratulations to The Girard-Perregaux, F.J. Benjamin and BMI teams for securing this exceptional venue. (What a tastefully decorated room.) (2) WATCHES ON DISPLAY: The full range was on display. Here are samples of what's available - (The set of 3 Operas.) (Triple Bridges everywhere, not one piece for me to wear.) (The Vintage Triple Bridges Tourbillon.) (The Tourbillon Magistral.) (Amazingly detailed fibre glass model of the Ferrari on display.) (2) THE PEOPLE: Important Retailers, Journalists and most of the who's who of Shanghai's VIPs were invited to this grand gala event in Shanghai. (Amy Ho from F.J. Benjamin [BMI] Hong Kong, one of the important team members who made the wonderful night possible.) (From Left, Dimitri Aubert - Asia Pacific Area Manager & Mark Koh General Manager F.J. Benjamin (BMI).) (From Left, Amornchai Nithiphark GM Watch, Chery Wee & Samuel Benjamin -F.J. Benjamin (BMI).) (Mr. & Mrs. Ted Chong, CEO of Shanghai Qishi Trading Limited.) (Samuel Raymond Benjamin from F.J. Benjamin (BMI).) (Keith Strandberg - Insync & Cheryl Wee - F.J. Benjamin (BMI).) (Dimitri Aubert, obviously happy with how things turned out so well.) (Mr. Moe and wife of Regent Watch, more respectfully and commonly addressed as Akong of Jakarta.) (Kevin Chau & Tay Liam Wee from Sincere Watch Limited.) (Dr. Luigi Macaluso's table.) (Akong with Raymon Lim from Cortina Watch.) SPEECHES: (Nash Benjamin from F.J. Benjamin (BMI) gave a warm welcome to the guests and introduced the President and sole owner of Groupe Sowind, Dr. Luigi Macaluso, or more affectionately called, "Gino".) (Gino obviously happy on his big night.) (Maurice Spiri gave the guests a brief history of Girard-Perregaux and Groupe Sowind.) (Dimitri Aubert on GP Complications and Triple Bridges Tourbillon.) THE ENZO FERRARI PERPETUAL CHRONO TOURBILLON UNVEILED! The unveiling process of the watch was one of the most stunning I've seen. Wish I could convey half the mystery and excitement of the evening. Imagine a series of watch and car images rapidly and repeatedly being flashed on 3 different vertical panels while you hear the cyclical roar of the Ferrari onstage. The 3 vertical panels merged to finally form a complete image of the WATCH to thunderous applause! Here are the images: Excited? Even before the applause could wind down, 2 giant doors opened up centre-stage as a Red GP watch box and a beautiful lady gradually appeared to even more energetic applause. (To look left or right, that is the question!) (Beauty and the feast. Which is which?) (Gino opened the box and presents the Enzo Ferrari Tourbillon to the world.) (Gino carefully passed the watch to the model as she walked down the stage, making a complete round for all to admire, before returning to the stage as the doors closed yet again.) If the dinner ended right there and then, there would've been no complaint. Everyone was happy and satisfied. Little did the guests expect that there was more to come! When the centre-stage doors swung open once more after the main course, the famed "Musicat" (think the Shanghai version of the more popular shi er nu zi yue fang from Beijing), an all-women pop group specialising in traditional International and Chinese musical instruments, performed to the delight of the guests. (The Musicat.) (Zhou Ying, winner of several Violin Competitions in Harbin and Heilongjiang province, has performed in Germany, France, Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan.) (Ziwei studies Guzheng - the instrument she's played since she was 5. She won the Long Yin Cup at the 1st Chinese Instruments Recital Competition of China in 2002.) (Zhou Ying again, charming the audience.) (Li Yueying on the left and Zhang Lei with Cello. Yueying studied the violin since she was 5 and was a student at the Central Conservatory of Music. Zhang Lei was also a student of the same school and has appeared in various TV performances, she is a part-time advertising model.) (Zhang Lei.) (Zhao Lei is a student of the famous Prof. Yu Mingqing and Namura. Even before she graduated from the prestigious Conservatory, she appeared in many performances such as a concert conducted by the Maestro Seiji Osawa.) (Li Yueying.) (Li Yueying & Zhang Lei.) THE LAST PHOTO: Photo of the dessert. A lovely sweet ending to a most memorable night.