From The Straits Times    |

Who could be better than multi-talented – and still damn good-looking – actor, singer and producer Andy Lau to embody the new Cartier Tank MC watch? Nobody, decided Cartier, obviously. The motto of this iconic watch – Never stop Tank – just as obviously matches Andy Lau’s entertainment career; one that just keeps getting stronger, and busier, year after year.

Andy Lau for Cartier Tank MC watch film DECOR EVENTSuperstar Andy Lau at the launch of his collaboration with Cartier, Never Stop Tank short film. Image: Cartier & Chan Kam Chuen

To show the world exactly what both the watch, and the superstar, are all about, Cartier and Andy Lau have created a short film that encapsulates the star’s life by incorporating his childhood memories to his empassioned championing of the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games; according to Cartier the film “portrays the Andy Lau philosophy of time and life as echoed in the Tank saga: the same drive to reinvent oneself, move forward and keep pace with the age.”

“Only time, with hard work, allows talent to shape the future. If Cartier Tank had not come to life, we might still be thinking that a watch has to be circular,” says Lau in the making-of film that goes with the creative short.

Andy Lau for Cartier Tank MC watch film CARTIER TANK MC WATCHThe icon’s newest look, the Cartier Tank MC watch. Images: Cartier & Chan Kam Chuen

First created in 1917, the iconic rectangular shape of the watch face integrated the case in the watch strap for the first time, helping it become the cult watch it is now. Over the years Cartier has added cutting-edge technology and numerous versions in various materials; but always keeping to the classic “tank” shape.

The newest version, the Cartier Tank MC watch is more square than previous versions and has a 1904 MC self-winding mechanical movement – this is the first movement produced by Cartier Manufacture.

WATCH NEVER STOP TANK STARRING ANDY LAU:

ANDY LAU TALKS ABOUT THE CARTIER TANK MC WATCH & FILM

Andy Lau for Cartier Tank MC watch film DECOR MAKING OF 2Scene from Never Stop Tank, the collaborative film between Andy Lau and Cartier.
Image: Cartier & Chan Kam Chuen

Q1: How will you spend your birthday this year?
A: I will spend it at home with my family.

Q2: Any particular wish for your birthday this year?
A: I only wish for good health.

Q3: Would you consider having another child?
A: What will happen, will happen.

Q4: Will your world tour affect your birthday celebration this year?
A: No, my schedule before used to be quite busy and tight, but this time the tour will be 4-5 days each location, with one week rest in between.

Q5: How did this collaboration with Cartier come about?
A: I don’t know. There is a long history to it. A friend, whom I met at a charity function joined Cartier and we’ve been keeping in touch. It was during one of the events in Shanghai that I was introduced to Cartier’s PR representatives, and that was when the collaboration took off.

Q6: You mentioned earlier that you spent a lot of money on Cartier products – what did you buy?
A: All watches. Back then I used to prefer antique watches. TANK is a men’s watch, and Crash is a women’s watch.

Q7: Do you have a lot of watches?
A: I don’t like putting my watches in the safe because watches often need to be cleaned and wiped down. One year there was a robbery, and I lost 40 + watches. I was quite heartbroken because I most of them were antique watches. Since then, I don’t collect antique watches anymore, and I wear watches less now. Most of the time when I do wear a watch, it is to match an outfit. Andy Warhol once said that when TANK came out, a watch was no longer a watch, but had become an accessory.

Q8: Do you think that watches can be passed from generation to generation?
A: I think all items can be passed down. But a watch can represent time, and its value is timeless. My father would tell me about his own watch, “This watch has been with me for many years. In the future, I will pass it to you”. So I believe that watches can be passed from generation to generation.

Q9: Do you have any items that you will pass to your daughter?
A: Even calligraphy can be passed to her. Who else can I give my items? Other than charity, all my things I can only give to her.

The Cartier Tank MC Watch is available from the Cartier boutiques located at ION Orchard, #01-20 & #02-10, Tel: 6732 0181; The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, #B1-39A/40 & #B2-38, Tel: 6732 0181 and Takashimaya Shopping Centre #01-33 & #02-02 to 04, Ngee Ann City, Tel: 6732 0181. For more information about Cartier timepieces, go to www.cartier.com/collections/timepieces. You can follow the brand on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Cartier, on YouTube at www.youtube.com/cartier and on Pinterest at www.pinterest.com/cartier. For more information about Andy Lau, go to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Lau. You can follow the star on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Andy-Lau.