Singapore – As the Republic celebrates 60 years of independence, a unique group of voices has gathered to reflect on the meaning of time. From pioneering retailers to independent watchmakers and journalists, Singapore’s horological community reveals how watches are far more than instruments of precision – they are storytellers, memory-keepers, and testaments to a nation’s evolving identity.
Kate Lim, regional general manager of Sincere Fine Watches, likens time to currency. Her most meaningful watch, an Omega Seamaster James Bond 50th Anniversary Limited Edition given by her father, became a family heirloom and symbol of legacy. She envisions a truly Singaporean watch as versatile, innovative, and subtly rooted in heritage – practical yet forward-looking, much like the nation itself.
For Sugiharto Kusumadi, founder of Red Army Watches, time is a journey. His SG60 commemorative piece, limited to 388 watches, draws inspiration from Singapore’s founding era and bridges generations with its design. He hopes the local watch culture will grow more inclusive and less bound by convention, while continuing to honour individuality and creativity.
Christopher Long of Azimuth Watch sees time as fleeting yet filled with possibility. His creation “Mr Roboto” embodies joy and imagination. Long believes Singapore’s next wave of watchmakers will move toward bespoke creations, shifting consumer perceptions of value and establishing a uniquely Singaporean presence in global horology.
Artisan strapmaker Hughes Low of Hughes Handcrafted views watches as memory keepers. His Cartier Asymetrique, purchased during the year of his child’s birth, represents both personal milestones and design elegance. His hope for the future is clear: a new generation of Singaporean independent watchmakers who will one day be mentioned alongside the greats of Switzerland.
For Kenneth Kuan of Delugs, time cannot be bought back. His Seiko Presage Starlight marked the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey, as the first watch he paired straps with. He sees microbrands as crucial drivers of innovation and believes the next generation of Singaporean watch entrepreneurs will be bolder, more confident, and less reliant on external validation.
Journalists Celine Yap and Su Jia Xian offered perspectives shaped by decades of chronicling watch culture. Yap highlighted the Rolex Oyster Date her father-in-law entrusted to her – a reminder of endurance and heritage. She underscored the Singapore collector’s eclectic taste and global importance. Su Jia Xian reflected on how the community has grown in sophistication, evolving alongside Singapore itself, and called for the country’s watch scene to cultivate a distinct cultural identity that sets it apart.
Together, these reflections form a portrait not only of watches, but of time itself – precious, fleeting, and deeply tied to memory and meaning. As Singapore looks to SG100, its watch community envisions a future defined by innovation, inclusivity, and global recognition. In their stories, the tick of each second becomes a reminder that time, ultimately, is what we choose to make of it.
