For the brand's newest watch collection, unveiled in Basel earlier this year, it has hired Zhang Zilin, the first Chinese Miss World, as brand ambassador who is featured in advertising campaigns specially designed for the Chinese market.

Brand ambassadorZhang Zilin, the first Chinese Miss World [sina.com]

According to Swarovski family member Robert Buchbauer, Hong Kong has already become the No. 1 market of the new watch business, accounting for more than 30 percent of overall sales.

A limited-edition "Ostea Sport" watch model in red, the favorite color of Chinese people, has been created for the Hong Kong market. It features a clear crystal bezel and rubber strap.

This year also marks the 20th anniversary of Daniel Swarovski, the haute couture line of the 114-year-old Austrian jeweler, named after its founder.

Creative director Colin has thus created 20 pieces of jewelry and 20 bags, which also premiered at the Taipei event.

The anniversary collection includes oversized rings, glamorous clutches, precious evening bags and spectacular necklaces in the shades of elegant, feminine and timeless colors of black, gold and silver, paying homage to Daniel Swarovski's first collection created in 1989.

"However, the collection is not all about the past but also about our continuous innovation," Colin says. "For example, we have mixed stones from archives in a modern way, and we have also adapted a ring in the exact design it was in the past to the handle of a clutch bag."

Internationally known Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi was spotted wearing Daniel Swarovski jewelry pieces at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.

"With its amazing history and craftsmanship, I'm sure the couture collection will appeal to sophisticated Chinese customers," she says, adding that the limited-edition collection will be available in Swarovski boutiques in September.

"In difficult times, I believe that many consumers are still willing to buy but they are definitely looking for more sustainable products," says Buchbauer.

"With future collections, we will have to put more effort into products and details to live up to consumers' expectation. The disposable luxury time is definitely over," he says.

(Shanghai Daily July 18, 2009)