At the Portrait, It’s About What Happens Before the Shutter Clicks

At first glance, the annual The Portrait event might read as a polished day of photography, this time with a male focus. But as Costigan Studio, Harry Rosen, and Frederique Constant demonstrated once again, this annual gathering is less about the camera and more about what happens before the shutter clicks. The finishing details of Swiss and Japanese craftsmanship from Frederique Constant, Alpina, Accutron, Citizen, and Bulova stood out. The evening proved why The Portrait has become a fixture by operating in a curated space where presentation meets intention.  

For those not in the know, The Portrait is an annual event that elevates the personal portrait to a more meaningful level, especially in today’s online world. Through one-on-one styling sessions with Costigan and Harry Rosen style advisors, participants are taken on an immersive journey with a powerful impact. Returning once again through the partnership of Costigan Studio, Harry Rosen, and Frederique Constant, the event also underscored that quality watches are more than styling afterthoughts; a timepiece is a central instruments of personal expression.  

This time, The Portrait was also a study in how timepieces function in real life, on real wrists, and worn by people whose days are shaped by decisions rather than deadlines. Each participant was presented with three pre-sized watches, curated from the portfolios of Frederique Constant, Alpina, Accutron, Citizen, and Bulova, specifically selected for them. Others were available for on-the-spot testing. As part of the experience, the process and selection allow wearers to feel how proportion, weight, and personality shift from one watch to the next, within an intimate setting where time itself is not of the essence. 

The presence of Frederique Constant anchored the experience in accessible Swiss watchmaking, while the broader selection highlighted different approaches to precision, heritage, and design. Mirroring today’s wrist trends, mechanical and quartz sat side by side, and the message was clear: the right watch is not all about heritage or hierarchy; it should fit the wrist, the work, and the rhythm of the wearer.  

With styling and grooming support from Harry Rosen, Costigan Studio, and Ivy Lam, the watches were integral to the personal process, as jackets were adjusted, cuffs considered, and sleeves rolled and unrolled. They might appear as small decisions, but change how a watch lives on the wrist and how confidently it enters the frame. Partners, including Tom Ford Beauty, The Macallan, and Mercedes-Benz, added atmosphere, but the day’s tempo was set by what ticked beneath the crystals. 

This year’s participants included Loop It co-founder Neil Sehra, leadership coach Paul Silva, and creative producer Alen Palander of Palander Studios. During the evening, they brought distinct professional rhythms to the table, and the watches they gravitated toward reflected a personal diversity. Some leaned toward classical restraint, others toward clean-cut modernity,  but none felt performative, and we’re sure some watches were keepers for the best, curated reasons.

In the final portraits, the watches do what the best ones always do. They ground the image. They offer context. They suggest how a person relates to time, responsibility, and presence. The Portrait works because it understands that a watch, when chosen with care, is more than an object. It is a quiet collaborator in how we present ourselves to the world. This is neatly encompassed in the Manufacture Classic Perpetual Calendar worn by Alen Palander in the shot above, a watch with a warm salmon dial and undisputed heirloom potential.  

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