Robb Report Malaysia: Bridging Swiss Horology and Gentlemen Motoring

On a bright and early Friday morning, the streamlined profile of Aston Martins - the quintessential British motoring icon - came into view at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club. The owners would emerge, clad in dark Girard-Perregaux polo t-shirts, the official timepiece partner of Aston Martin - a friendship which began in 2021.
The drivers were raring to go, on a drive which promised the freedom of the open road, a journey which combined automotive luxury and precision mechanics from a watchmaker which traces its origins to 1791, making it one of the oldest fine watchmaking manufactures still in operation today. In the present day, Girard-Perregaux’s savoir-faire in watchmaking is allied with the space-age technology in Formula 1, as in the case of the thrilling Laureato Absolute Chronograph AMF1 Edition in a titanium powder and carbon alloyed case, resulting in a much higher resistance to that of steel.
The convoy of 10 Aston Martins - as well as a support SUV in the form of the thrilling DBX707 - would soon push off for the island of Penang. Arriving at The Hour Glass - the sole and official retailer of Girard-Perregaux in Malaysia - the drivers had a chance to detune their senses following 300-plus kilometres of highways and thoroughfares. Here at The Hour Glass boutique located at Gurney Plaza, the guests enjoyed delicious drinks and sampled a selection of Mortlach single-malt whisky.
Welcoming the guests was The Hour Glass Malaysia’s general manager SK Teh who then handed the floor to Girard-Perregaux’s South-East Asian and Oceania regional brand director Vuong-Thong Nguyen. His presentation included a viewing of the sublime 45mm titanium DLC Neo Bridges Aston Martin Edition. This brand-new timepiece reimagines the famed bridges of Girard-Perregaux, transposed through the influence of the Aston Martin DB12 super tourer to reflect its sculpted contours and scintillating dynamism.
From the boutique, the fleet of Aston Martins would then find themselves in the modish and cool Macalister Mansion, a heritage building from 1880 which has undergone a dramatic restoration to house eight guest rooms, as well as lavish spaces including its fine-dine Blanc Restaurant.
It was here where the celebration continued, courtesy of delicious wines paired to the breathtaking cuisine of Blanc’s chef Benny Yeoh. A cured shima aji with citrus kosho segued to crispy marble goby and grilled wagyu beef cheek with smoked egg yolks and spring chicken with wild mushrooms and a rich sauce Périgueux, redolent with earthy truffles and Madeira.
The evening dinner would segue into an all-nighter with many of the guests enjoying the company of newfound and familiar friends, fellow drivers united by the enchanting drive organised by Girard-Perregaux and The Hour Glass, and savouring the unique reality of time, as lensed by the watchmaker’s partnership with Aston Martin.
Photography: Ken Lim / Momenz Creation
Videography: SK Seaw, Jason Khoo and Tan Wei Hsiang/ Momenz Creation
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Robb Report Malaysia magazine is the definitive authority and luxury resource on connoisseurship for the ultra-affluent.