A total of seven awards were presented at the 10th anniversary celebration of A Journey Through Time X, Tourism and Culture Gala Night: Watch and Jewellery of the Year Awards (AJTT X), which saw a host of luxury lifestyle connoisseurs and enthusiasts come together to celebrate artistry and craftsmanship at Starhill Gallery. 
 
The watch and jewellery event that was held earlier this month showcased a total of 30 discerning pieces from 15 distinguished brands, with nominees and winners selected by a panel of international judges that included horology experts and renowned collectors. 
 
“Our 10th anniversary is a true testament to our fruitful and long-standing partnership with The Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia, and collaboration with participating brands and event partners to reinforce Malaysia’s position as a leading luxury shopping destination of the region,” said the managing director of YTL Corp Bhd, Tan Sri Dr Francis Yeoh, before adding, “We have successfully made it a much-anticipated iconic event that now showcases the best of fashion, art, music and fine food complementing timepieces and jewellery for all who shares a common passion for excellence, artistry and craftsmanship.”
 
AJTT X opened its doors to opulence and glitz as British mezzo-soprano Carly Paoli performed a sensational set before the seven coveted awards were presented. 
 
The award categories comprised Starhill Gallery Favourite Ladies’ Watch, Starhill Gallery Favourite Men’s Watch, Starhill Gallery Watch with Complications in Movements, Starhill Gallery Timeless Jewellery, The YTL Spirit of Classical Art, The Ministry of Tourism and Culture Most Revered Award and The Judges’ Choice Award. 
 
Nautical styled Ulysse Nardin lead the way with four nominations for their Jade, Hourstriker Erotica, Freaklab and Ulysse Anchor Tourbillon models, while Hublot, HYT, Speake-Marin and Rebellion also dominated the categories with three nominations each across the board. 
 
The 10th anniversary was celebrated over an unprecedented 10-day period from Nov 4 to 13 and saw a debut by Malaysia’s first and only watchmaking company MASA Horlogerie showcasing their inaugural Kerabat Series — inspired by the history of the legendary Taming Sari — with up to 15 unique pieces ranging in prices from RM3,000 to RM30,000. Also debuting at the glamorous event was JeweLuxe® in Malaysia — a fine jewellery exhibition involving eight private jewellery houses and designers from America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia showcasing rare gems and jewel works of art through a curated series of thematic events. 
 
Other highlights included the Timeless Royal Weave exhibition featuring British designer Dame Zandra Rhodes — famed for dressing icons such as Lady Diana, Princess of Wales, and Queen’s Freddie Mercury — paying homage to the Malaysian Songket through contemporary dresses and Kraftangan Malaysia’s collection, as well as a retrospective exhibition of the past nine years of A Journey Through Time, and a portrait exhibition featuring 10 prominent Malaysian personalities sharing stories of their most-cherished priceless timepieces entitled The Legacy of Time, aptly tying in with this year’s Legacy and Icons theme.     
 
Deputy Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin who was present at the launch commended the organisers, saying: “Longevity in the retail, travel and tourism industry requires great planning and focus. The dedication and forward-thinking strategy of YTL and Starhill Gallery in creating A Journey Through Time nine years ago and elevating it year after year to boost the tourism retail industry is a great achievement. Both Tourism Malaysia and The Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia are extremely pleased to see the way the event has grown to be the longest-running watch and jewellery lifestyle event of its kind in the region and we look forward to the next 10 years.”