Men and women gathered around a Rene Mouris semi-skeleton dial named after the mythological Greek hunter, Orion. The 44 mm automatic timepiece, powered by Miyota movement, with stainless-steel case and distressed leather strap, drew quite a lot of attention with its black dial reminiscent of Orion’s belt.
In another display of the 44 mm automatic collection, Corona, a hybrid of sporty and dressy styles named after the constellation Corona Borealis, also caught the eye of the crowd. Its solid stainless-steel casing has a genuine leather strap, with a multilayer, semi-skeletal dial that speaks of elegance.
“You buy a watch for its craftsmanship, engine and quality. With Rene Mouris, you get all that at an affordable price,” said Frank Ong of Zuri Trading, exclusive distributor of the affordable French luxury brand, Rene Mouris, in the Philippines.
Ong was at the annual Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), an international marketing arm of Hong Kong-based manufacturers and traders, when he first saw Rene Mouris timepieces. A collector of high-end brands, Ong instantly knew that the brand of watch he was holding is a work of art.
For the up-and-coming
Not only that, but it’s a watch up-and-coming young men and women in the corporate world could afford and fall in love with. After all, one can always start collecting affordable luxury brands before moving up to pricier brands.
“Our concept is to create luxury that is affordable—great quality at an affordable price. We want to introduce true luxury to everyone,” said Miguel Pereira, manager of the international department of Rene Mouris.
Watches today are fashion statements, capturing the character or mood of its wearer or what she or he wants to convey. By looking at one’s watch, said sales and marketing director Mehmood Javaid, you can tell if someone is off to a party or business meeting.
“Since many of our styles have a sporty elegance, our watches can be used from the boardroom to the golf club,” Javaid said.
The Philippines, said Pereira, has a huge chunk of watch aficionados. November alone saw at least four watch events and launches.
Watches—whether automatic, chronograph, Swiss movement, quartz or quartz chronograph—has become the hottest piece of accessory one can wear—even for women.
“These designs are classic, fashionable, suitable for today’s market trend. Women are now drawn to watches as much as the men. Women even wear men’s watches these days to make an even bigger statement,” said Pereira.
Rene Mouris was founded in 1975 in Paris, France, to fill the gap for those who value style that embodies both classical trends and functionality, Pereira said. This French approach to watchmaking creates a balance of design, superior technical execution and refined craftsmanship.
The engine, either from the Japanese Miyota, Swiss movement or a combination of both, is exceptional, such that the watches, with price points similar to other affordable luxury brands (between P20,000 and P30,000), carry a five-year warranty instead of the industry standard of just one year.
“That’s how confident the brand is in terms of quality,” said Ong.
A total of 16 collections were launched in the country.
Rene Mouris watches are available at White Meringue boutiques, City of Dreams, and soon at leading retail outlets nationwide.
