Recently I visited Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia with friends and was very impressed with this vibrant city. Certainly, it is a mecca for luxury shopping and in the luxury malls, there is a range of exclusive watches for sale. One of the main highlights was the magnificent Petronas towers that were designed by renowned Argentinian architect César Pelli. This imposing structure is 451.9 metres high and was the world’s largest building between 1998-2004. In my opinion, this is one of the most impressive examples of modern architectural design that I have ever seen. This was one of the topics (as well as timepieces) I discussed with acclaimed designer Alessandro Baldieri via Skype.
Over the years I have spoken with many watch designers who have developed sophisticated concepts for high-end watch brands. In contrast, Alessandro Baldieri believes good design should be accessible to everyone and that is why he creates stylish affordable timepieces. Recently, he unveiled a new watch called the Vault under the label Trifoglio Italia. Interestingly this brand is co-owned by good friend Jessie Yeo who is married to Alvin Lye (Co-founder of Azimuth).
In my recent conversation with Alessandro, he explained in detail why he is exceptionally passionate about this new project. The Vault is the first watch to feature a secret compartment to store pills. This involved over a year of research and development to get the spring tension on the hinge correct. Essentially Alessandro came up with the concept to combat the demands of his globe-trotting lifestyle. On a monthly basis, it isn’t unusual for him to visit several different continents and encounter numerous time zones. For that reason, Alessandro carries melatonin pills that can be accessed easily.
As well as being a practical solution for travellers and consumers with medical conditions the Vault is also a great looking timepiece. Aesthetically the watch has an understated retro appearance that should appeal to a broad demographic. I love the matte black dial with contrasting luminous green markers. Other features include a refined 41mm 316L stainless steel case, K1 Mineral glass and high-quality brown or black leather strap. Powering the watch is a Japanese made Seiko VH31 sweeping hand quartz movement.
For more information about the Vault follow this link
