Maurice Lacroix, the ‘Official Timekeeper of King of the Court (KOTC)’, recently travelled to Doha to provide Swiss precision timing for the KOTC Finals, which took place in Doha on January 11-14.
The winners are (l-r) David Ahman, Wies Bekhuis, Brecht Piersma, Jonatan Hellvig, with Marcel Gut of Maurice Lacroix.
Held over four days, a series of matches comprising quarter-finals, semi-finals and ultimately the finals, determined who would be named the Kings and Queens of the Court. This year David Ahman & Jonatan Hellvig from Sweden were crowned the Kings of the Court and Brecht Piersma & Wies Bekhuis from The Netherlands were named the Queens of the Court.
Second place winners Anouk Vergé-Dépré (Maurice Lacroix FOB) and Menia Bentele from Switzerland.
Anouk Vergé-Dépré, FOB Maurice Lacroix, and her teammate Menia Bentele finished second.
Recognizing their achievement, Maurice Lacroix presented each winner with an Aikon Chronograph King of the Court Special Edition watch. The watch is made from lightweight titanium and presented in the corporate colors of KOTC.
Mohammed Rasool Khoory & Sons and Rolex have opened a new boutique in Abu Dhabi.
Located in Yas Mall, the boutique is in the heart of the biggest mall in Abu Dhabi at Yas Island – one of the top tourism projects in the capital. It occupies the ground floor, near to the Fashion Parking.
The 235-square-meter flagship boutique offers professional expertise in an elegant setting, one that promotes a sense of harmony, discretion and intimacy with the brand.
“Having represented Rolex in Abu Dhabi for 53 years, we are very proud to be expanding the Rolex presence in Abu Dhabi. We have always upheld the highest standards of quality and service integral to the brand and our business. Our latest boutique is a peerless testament to the timeless perfection of Rolex watches,” said Mr Yousef Mohammed Rasool Khoori, CEO of the MRK group.
Rolex value
Every element of the interior design features the elegant Rolex aesthetic and radiates the values of the Rolex crown. Excellence, precision and attention to detail emanate from the careful calibration of colours and patterns in the fittings and furnishings.
Sensitive lighting accentuates the beauty of a selection of Rolex watches, which are displayed in refined showcases lined with beige leather and finished with bronze trims.
A striking emerald aqua wall highlights the rich Rolex heritage – its wave motif referencing the iconic Oyster, the world’s first waterproof wristwatch. This intense green is mirrored around the boutique, creating accents that harmonize a refreshed colour palette. The walls mix textures from walnut brown wood to beige-coloured stone and hand-crafted stucco panels with motifs crafted from resins covered in gold leather in a pattern that recalls the fluted bezel of the Oyster watch.
The 2022 Ocean Photographer of the Year (OPY) competition has drawn to a close with some stunning undersea images taken across the planet by dozens of talented photographers. Blancpain and Oceanographic Magazine revealed the names of the winners in all categories of the competition, including for the Female Fifty Fathoms prize awarded by Blancpain.
Ben Thouard of France wins Ocean-Photographer-of-the-Year 2022 with this surfer image.
The winning photographers were, in order, Rafael Fernandez Caballero (Spain), Mike Spencer (UK), Nicolas Remy (France/Australia), Simon Lorenz (Germany), Tom St George (UK/Mexico), Matty Smith (UK/Australia), Ryuta Ogawa (Japan/UK) and Steve Woods (UK/Canada).
The competition’s grand prix was awarded to Ben Thouard (France), along with the accolade of Ocean Photographer of the Year 2022. Based in French Polynesia, Ben Thouard was unanimously chosen for his breathtaking image of a surfer riding one of the world’s largest and most famous waves, Teahupo’o.
The second Female Fifty Fathoms Award (FFF) was won by Australian photographer Brooke Pyke.
The second Female Fifty Fathoms Award (FFF) was won by Australian photographer Brooke Pyke.
This announcement coincided with the opening of an outdoor exhibition of the winning photographs taking place along the banks of the Thames (The Queen’s Walk, London) from 5 to 27 October 2022.
The partnership between Blancpain and OPY is part of the Blancpain Ocean Commitment, which brings together all the Brand’s initiatives to protect the ocean. The programme comprises three separate but interrelated parts: raising awareness of the beauty of the oceans, scientific research into ecosystems and undersea phenomena, and introducing tangible initiatives for conservation, such as the creation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
Photo by Brooke Pyke.
Through the OPY competition, Blancpain and Oceanographic Magazine – the competition’s organiser – aim to reveal the splendour and fragility of the oceans to a wide audience. A powerful medium for conveying emotions, undersea photography has been an integral part of Blancpain’s ocean initiatives for nearly 20 years.
