These Singaporean Watch Brands Are The Future Of Watchmaking And Here’s How They Are Doing It
The founders of homegrown watch brands talk about community, weaving pride into their products and the future of Singapore’s watchmaking.
By Brandon Chia - published
There’s no denying that Singapore is a watch hub. Just last year, The Hour Glass hosted its very first IAMWATCH, an unparalleled convention gathering dozens of the best independent watchmakers and collectors from around the world.
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This year, Audemars Piguet doubled down on its 150th anniversary efforts on our sunny island with the opening of both AP House and the only existing AP Café at the iconic Raffles Hotel, underlining the importance of the Singapore market.
On the other side of the hotel at the shopping arcade, local watch strap brand Delugs opened its first physical boutique in April, after years of hustling from a humble online start-up to an internationally recognised force within the industry.
Founder Kenneth Kuan of Delugs plans to open more boutiques in Hong Kong, London and New York in the next 10 years.
“There’s still a very strong sense that unless you open a retail store, you’re never really quite legit. People have said opening a space like this really shows our commitment to being in the industry—the business, the brands we work with and our customers,” says Delugs founder Kenneth Kuan.
Customers are exactly what Kuan attributes to the growing success of the brand and the watch scene in Singapore—and it’s not about spending power.
Through his strap business, Kuan has met an extensive calibre of collectors, from the mainstream and independent enthusiasts to the purveyors of haute horlogerie, all of whom have a real hunger for watches and the savoir faire behind them.
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“When we asked the brands we work with about the difference between Singaporeans and collectors from other countries, they would say that the level of knowledge we have is very high,” said Kuan.
He continues: “We come in knowing what we [want to] see, we just want to experience the watches in person and fill the gaps.”
Kuan also noted that this thirst for watches has transcended mere collecting with the growing number of local smaller brands since the pandemic.
“There are a few reasons why there are so many microbrands now. I don’t want to generalise but our proximity to manufacturing centres in Hong Kong and China makes it easy for us to source for parts,” Kuan explains.
He adds: “The second reason is how early microbrand founders from Azimuth and Zelos are sharing their expertise and experience, allowing us to learn and grow together as a watch community.”
Vario’s 1918 Merlion Trench features a symbol of our iconic landmark at 12 o’clock as a love letter to Singapore.
Community is a big motivator and source of inspiration for Vario founder Ivan Chua, who designed a special edition NAVI watch for RedBar Singapore, a prominent local watch collecting club, featuring a red Tiger’s Eye dial and white details as an homage to the colours of our flag.
National pride is the tenet across all Vario timepieces. The 1945 D12 tells the story of the importance of self-defense; the 1918 Pilot pays tribute to the first flight into Singapore and its upcoming release—1918 Merlion Trench—marks the 60th anniversary of our independence.
“Whenever I am abroad, my Singaporean identity is always stronger and it is nice to wear a Singaporean watch and tell our story to others as a way to break the ice,” states Chua on what sets locally made watches and brands apart from the masses.
The LC-2 Vanda Tourbillon watch by Arcturus Watches was designed with stone dials housed within a steel case.
Like Vario, Arcturus wears its Singaporean roots on its sleeves. With timepieces like the Lion City 1 and the LC-2 Vanda Tourbillon, the brand founded by Alexander Loh and Sattish Segaran draws inspiration from our history, architecture and even our national flower—the Vanda Miss Joaquim.
“Singapore is a beautiful melting pot of rich and vibrant cultures, giving us a treasure trove of inspiration. There’s also a certain pragmatism and precision in the way we work—something you see reflected across industries here,” remarks Loh.
Another common trait with microbrands is the drive to keep as much of its production as local as possible—we’re talking business teams, creatives, craftsmen and beyond.
The “Lotus” watch by Feynman Timekeepers was the first metiers d’art watch from Singapore to be presented at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève in 2021.
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Feynman Timekeepers, started by Lim Yong Keong, has a mission to champion Singaporean craftsmanship on a global stage. The brand works with local artisans such as enamellers and engravers to produce unique pieces such as the metiers d’art watch dubbed “Lotus”, which was submitted to Grand Prix d’Hologerie de Genève in 2021.
“We’re here to prove that with passion, stories told through time can come from unexpected places—and speak to horologists everywhere. We also hope that people would take local brands more seriously through our work,” Lim explains.
As these homegrown brands look towards the future, one goal is clear: To make Singapore not just a capital for collectors but a watchmaking mecca with deep histories, capable of competing with European and American brands.
“If we continue in this trajectory, we could very well build an ecosystem for watches and create industry jobs in Singapore, and perhaps one day be like the Swiss of the East,” states Chua.