The turning of the year is a time for reflecting on the past and celebrating new beginnings. Fittingly, international luxury watch brand OMEGA rang in 2010 with the opening of its latest Boutique in Connaught Road Central on 11 January, it also the first OMEGA Boutique in Central district . Commemorating the opening, and the launch of the OMEGA Museum Collection Number 8 and Number 9 , a vintage theme was selected for the launch, which was attended by well-known Taiwanese artist Ethan Ruan.

OMEGA officials Kevin Rollenhagen, Country Manager, The Swatch Group (HK) Ltd and Jimmy Mak, Vice President of OMEGA Hong Kong and Taiwan also attended along with David Lee, Chairman of Halewinner Watches Group, Peter Leung, Managing Director of Halewinner Watches Group and a coterie of Hong Kong and Taiwan 's premier celebrity models.

The officiating guests helped open the new Boutique by participating in a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Ethan at the shop front . Once inside, w ith inimitable OMEGA style, the moment was made even more special by a singing performance from two children dressed in vintage clothing. Jimmy Mak, Vice President of OMEGA Hong Kong and Taiwan , made some opening remarks before welcoming Ethan on stage for a chitchat session with the gathered media and guests.

"OMEGA is delighted to welcome 2010 with the launch of our eighth Boutique in Hong Kong , this time in the prestigious business area of Central. The selection of this venue is aimed to offer a more convenient and enjoyable shopping experience for the local market. In 2010, our expansion in Hong Kong and The Greater China will continue and we are confident that OMEGA enthusiasts and watch aficionados will not be disappointed," promised Jimmy.

During a chitchat session with guests and media, Ethan recounted his love of antique watches and expressed his great appreciation for the OMEGA Museum Collection as it offers the contemporary convenience of OMEGA's unparalleled precision and advanced technology to watch devotees everywhere who love classic designed timepieces.

OMEGA's Museum Collection is the result of the prestigious watchmaker's desire to combine the historic values of the brand with its ceaseless dedication to state-of-the-art horological standards. Each year, the Collection selects one classic timepiece - it has to be more than fifty years old - and honours it with a reissue blending its design excellence with OMEGA's tradition of innovative contemporary watchmaking.

During the chitchat, Ethan also revealed his passion for surfing and his New Year's resolution to take up snowboarding. His interest in winter sports was entirely apt as OMEGA is celebrating its long-term relationship with IOC and it will be the 24 th times that the brand as the O fficial T imekeeper of Olympic Games in the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

Ethan then joined the officiating guests in a ceremony for activating the latest OMEGA Co-Axial movement (props) o n the back drop; it not only echoes the achievement of OMEGA in the development of the Co-Axial technology in the last 11 years, but also symbolised the successful year ahead for the brand in 2010. After the unveiling, Jimmy Mak presented Ethan with a piece from the OMEGA Museum C ollection - N umber 8 for the appreciation of his attendance . Visibly moved, Ethan immediately put the new model on his wrist.

Ethan then led three of the hottest celebrity models: Ana R, Mandy Li e u and Maggie Wu, in a special catwalk show , all these 3 beauties dressed in vintage outfits that perfectly fit the motif of the new OMEGA Museum Collection watches and highlighted their timeless elegance. The performance was followed by a toasting ceremony with all officiating guests.

The launch of OMEGA's newest Boutique in Central and the unveiling of the latest OMEGA Museum Collection pieces rang in the New Year in auspicious style and marked the first of many memorable OMEGA moments in 2010.