TW Steel, Big in Oversized Watches, broke out in 2005 with chronographs and watches that are big in attitude and peerless in class. A decade and 300 designs later, it continues to make bold statements, creating function and form with Swiss quality standard. As it marks its sixth year in the Philippines, the Dutch watchmaker celebrates with a prestigious photo exhibit featuring TW Steel’s Timeless Pieces.
TW Steel launched the BIGTIME photography competition from July to September 2015 and was spearheaded by the well respected photographer and renowned portraitist, Ibarra Deri. Professional and amateur enthusiasts were asked to take product and lifestyle shots of their favorite TW Steel watches. Hundreds of entries were submitted, and the top 20 were chosen by some of the country’s noted photographers: Wig Tysmans, Bien Bautista, Jun Miranda, Menchit Ongpin, Mark Floro, and up and coming fashion photographer, Jack Alindahao.
To showcase the winning works, TW Steel has mounted the BIGTIME photography exhibit. “The purpose is to bring out and showcase the creativity of the Filipinos. We wanted to see how one would depict and capture those BIGTIME moments,” says Manuel Dacanay, Regional Marketing Director for TW Steel Asia. “I think it was a successful and well-executed activity. We’ll definitely come up with more campaigns as our way of thanking our many TW Steel friends in Manila.”
The exhibit was inaugurated in front of the TW Steel boutique on Level 2, Main Wing of the Shangri-La Plaza in EDSA.Co-founder and CEO Jordy Cobelens flew in from Amsterdam to award the grand winners together with the judges during the event.
Aissa Pery won in the Lifestyle Shot category while Paul Andrew Vito won the Product Shot prize. Each winner received P50,000.00 in cash and a TW Steel watch. The rest of the finalists each received a TW Steel Pilot watch and tokens from Canon Philippines, who sponsored the printing of all the photographs. The BIGTIME exhibit will remain open to the public until November 09, 2015.
TW Steel fans can also check out the newest collections of watches on display in boutiques and multi-brand stores in the country. The brand has unveiled a bold new Canteen collection, invigorating the style platform on which “The Watch in Steel” has been built. It features 45mm and 50mm case sizes, and each design comes in a 3-Hand, Chrono and Automatic movement edition. All models utilize a high precision movement. For a sporty look, the new leather-strap series features a big caliber chrono movement, with two chrono eyes with a sapphire layer on the crystals.
Another notable highlight is the use of vintage leather straps for a timeless antique look. Each 3-Hand version features a brushed steel case and bezel, while the Chrono sports a brushed steel case with a hammered steel bezel. The Automatic also features these plus an elegant steel piece on the leather strap.
The Canteen bracelet series comes in brushed steel, PVD rose gold plating, PVD yellow gold plating, and 2-tone combining steel and PVD plating. Each watch also features 3-Hand executions, incorporating a shiny bezel with shiny mid-pieces on the bracelet. The Chrono has a tachymeter on the bezel and a brushed steel bracelet. The Automatic has a hammered bezel and hammered mid-pieces.
The Canteen style remains such a favorite that TW Steel has created its limited edition, diamond-crusted Apex Canteen as its anniversary watch. “Personally, I take a great degree of satisfaction that ten years on, there’s still room to develop the range,” says TW Steel co-founder and Chief Design Officer Ton Cobelens. “Canteen has showed its staying power in the market. With the new adaptations, we’ve kept its DNA and enhanced its appeal.”
For a more rugged and industrial appeal, TW Steel adds five new pieces to the Grandeur Tech collection, noted for the construction that connects the bezel to the case back by using pillars and engine screws. All are 48mm, powered with the state-of-the-art Miyota 6S20 chronograph big caliber movement, with larger chrono eyes on the dial, reinforced mineral crystal, and a revised silicon strap featuring a pattern with two lines running the length of the strap, available either with red or grey accents. TS1 and TS2 come in steel cases, and a red dial and black carbon design dial respectively. TS3 and TS5 sport an affluent A-grade PVD rose gold plated steel case, one with a sunray blue dial, the other black. TS4 comes in a PVD dark titanium-plated steel case with black dial.
As Christmas comes nearer, it’s the perfect time to be in search of your next TW Steel favorite. Shop for TW Steel at The Podium, SM Aura, SM Megamall, EDSA Shangri-la Mall, SM North EDSA, SM Makati, Century Mall and in Chronos, Swiss Gear and Wristpod stores, and in Adora and Le Temps in Resorts World Manila.