To commemorate the 85th anniversary of the death of Mr. Xu Zhimo, Steven, Ma Chun Wai, who has always been passionate about performing arts and Chinese culture, spent more than seven months and successfully created a stage play based on Xu Zhimo's story - " By Chance - Xu Zhimo” and brought to the stage of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in 2016. He has also performed in the mainland China in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xiamen. In 2018, Steven re-enacted the stage play and decided to perform publicly from the end of June to July. Although the stage play is on the way, as a producer, screenwriter, director and protagonist – Steven did not stop to rest, but once again challenged himself. And as a designer he collaborates with Memorigin, the Hong Kong Tourbillon watch brand, to create two watches based on Xu Zhimo’s two new poems: " By Chance " and " Saying Goodbye to Cambridge Again ". The verses were carved on the dial, as if the "love", "freedom" and "beauty" expressed in Xu Zhimo 's poems, the simple lines and colors accentuate Xu Zhimo 's character.
The emotions in the poem have always relied on the meaning of the lines from multiple readings. When your first read it, you only know the surface. It was only after you learned more about it that you understood the feelings of the poet. Knowing Xu Zhimo’s life, Steven understands the delicate emotions expressed in his poems. Although Xu’s life is only a rush for thirty-four years, every word that leaves a verse is extremely vital. As a designer, Steven has a deep understanding of Xu Zhimo. He understands that poems are carved through words, and that emotional richness is more fascinating to teach people to read. So, he hopes to use fonts of different sizes to engrave on the dial of the watch which makes the poem more powerful and dynamic. Every time you look at the watch and read it at different time and different occasions, you will have a deeper understanding of it. In terms of color matching, Steven loves black and white, and the stainless-steel square case is matched with black alligator strap. It likes the feeling of calligraphy and ink painting on paper. Although this is only poetry carving, the artistic conception is the painting in the poem. The watch design is closed to the image of this contemporary "literary youth".
Memorigin selected the tourbillon with a frequency of 28,800 oscillation per hour for this series of watches. The “Saying Goodbye to Cambridge Again “with a traditional hand-wound movement, full of classic flavor. Another one “By Chance” with a barrel-shaped case, the specially made self-winding tourbillon movement giving the watch lovers greater flexibility, both the pleasure of manual winding and the convenience of automatic winding. The power reserve of the two watches is 40 hours each. Although the time has passed, the "love" expressed in the poem is eternal, such as the wine, the more delicate the more mellow.
About Poem Series - By Chance
Retail price: HKD $44,800
Model No.
MO 1026
Case
Barrel-shaped stainless steel case
Watch size: approx.45 x 41mm
Watch thickness: approx.15mm
Both sides sapphire crystal
Water resistance: 5ATM
Movement
Flying tourbillon
192 pieces of subassembly module and 18 jewels
Frequency: 28800 Oscillation/Hour
Features
40 hours power reserve
The tourbillion located at 6 o'clock rotate at a speed of 60s for one circle
Automatic, self-winding mechanism(Bi-directional winding)
Dial
The poem of By Chance (偶然) is engraved on the dial
12 pieces of black diamonds as indexes
Strap
Alligator strap
About Poem Series - Saying Goodbye to Cambridge Again
Retail price: HKD $38,800
Case
Stainless steel case
Watch diameter: approx. 43mm
Watch thickness: approx. 13.5mm
Both sides sapphire crystal
Water resistance: 5ATM
Movement
Flying tourbillon
155 pieces of subassembly module and 18 jewels
Frequency: 28800 Oscillation/Hour
Features
40 hours power reserve
The tourbillion located at 6 o'clock rotate at a speed of 60s for one circle
Manual winding mechanism
Dial
The poem of Saying Good-bye to Cambridge Again (再別康橋) is engraved on the dial
12 pieces of diamonds as indexes
Strap
Alligator strap
About the stage drama of By Chance- Xu Zhimo (偶然．徐志摩)
In 2018, By Chance- Xu Zhimo (偶然．徐志摩) was replayed in Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. As the supervisor, scripter, director and main actor, Steven Ma always strived for excellence performance beyond the original script. In addition to the new design on the stage, lighting and clothing, the actors will be a new super combination, bringing the audience more freshness. The performance, in addition to Mr Steven Ma, is also honored to invite Ms. Nancy Wu, Mr. John Chiang, Ms. Alice Fung, Mr. Li Lungkay, Mr. Brian Wong, Mr. Lam Kingkong, Mr. Wong Kawai, Ms Wu manshan, Ms Wong Xinxin, Ms Phoebe Fung and Ms Virgo Wong to participate in the performance. Mr. Ma Weiwei has always insisted on promoting Chinese culture and stage art, he will continue to nurture new actors.