In recent times, Singapore has develop into well-established as one of many world’s prime export markets for watches, boasting among the world’s most engaged lovers and collectors. As curiosity in horology continues to blossom right here, it’s inevitable that tastes develop past superficial curiosity within the normal prime producers. It is just pure that an urge for food for classic timepieces and impartial watchmakers is burgeoning. In recognition of the more and more numerous tastes in Singapore, Ali Nael and Nelson Lee started the Singapore Watch Truthful (SWF), with the aim of serving to set up Singapore as a regional hub for watchmaking and accumulating. Since founding the Truthful in 2017, it has grown, mirroring the island’s development as a watch export market: from initially being the watch element of the luxurious pageant Jeweluxe to changing into a standalone occasion, supported by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Resorts World Sentosa (RWS).
This 12 months’s occasion, happening at Resorts World Sentosa from 2-6 October, is about to construct on the success of final 12 months’s, with each STB and RWS persevering with their help. Focus-wise, SWF may even proceed to closely characteristic impartial watchmakers, while that includes extra appearances from prime manufactures, amongst different shows of watchmaking savoir-faire. Watches will stay the central sights however this present isn’t just for collectors; there will probably be one thing for everybody as SWF demonstrates how and why lovely watches are central to Singapore’s cultural panorama.
In our latest chat with pageant director Nelson, he mirrored on the story of SWF so far, and the brand new experiences attendees can anticipate to look ahead to at this 12 months’s version.
Does the world want one other watch honest?
Nelson Lee: Sure – particularly one which is ready to bridge the geographical distance between Switzerland and the area – not simply when it comes to bringing watchmaking experience to Singapore, but in addition having the ability to collect regional curiosity in a single place. There have been stellar examples of such occasions previously, however there hasn’t actually been one that’s constantly held on an annual foundation.
Furthermore, given how Singapore has cemented itself as a prime export marketplace for Swiss watches, there positively is native demand for such occasions to be held in Singapore, which final 12 months’s SWF proved. So, it wouldn’t be a lot that the world wants one other watch honest, however extra that the area wants an annual watch honest in Asia to look ahead to every year – one which caters to native pursuits, and that is ready to type some extent of convergence for the very best of horology and devoted aficionados within the area.
A key focus of the SWF is that we’re all the time trying in direction of the long run – this underlines our dedication to showcasing a wide range of impartial watchmakers yearly, which stems from our perception that these independents symbolize the way forward for watchmaking, as an example, Krayon and L’Epee 1839…
Why has it taken so lengthy for there to be a standalone watch honest in Singapore?
Nelson Lee: To start with, I imagine it’s solely previously 5 or so years that widespread curiosity in impartial watchmakers and classic accumulating has begun to solidify and take off. As with the remainder of the world, the worth and enchantment of watches solely actually entered the mainstream consciousness throughout the COVID interval of socio-economic volatility. Within the years since, tastes have solely developed and diversified to incorporate appreciation for the fantastic work of impartial watchmakers. The SWF has all the time primarily centered on impartial watchmakers and classic accumulating – areas the place we felt demand was concrete, and a platform on which we might showcase how far watchmaking has come, and the way it might develop, via the juxtaposition of timeless classic items with the best craftsmanship and avant-garde innovation that up to date watchmaking has to supply.
By way of practicality, it was solely in 2023 that we have been capable of safe the help of a second key accomplice, Resorts World Sentosa. Even then (and the help of STB since 2017), even though we’re extra motivated by ardour than by revenue, the associated fee issue shouldn’t be one thing that may be simply ignored.
How is the SWF bettering upon the success of final 12 months’s occasion?
Nelson Lee: In 2022 and 2023, the panel discussions spotlighting girls who gather watches – carried out by TickTock Belles’ Stephanie Soh and Deborah Wong, amongst others – proved to be very talked-about. We see this as a mirrored image of change inside the collectors’ demographic – the place girls at the moment are keener to create an area for themselves in what’s a historically male-dominated sphere, so we’re positively retaining that and bringing extra participating views from our feminine collectors.
In addition to the varied watch panels and plenary classes, we’re additionally trying to ramp up the interactivity of the occasion: via new, on-site, immersive audio-visual pushed launches and dinners, in addition to a brand new interactive exercise pushed by watch knowledgeable Carson Chan, maybe higher recognized on social media by his IG deal with @watchprofessor.
By way of a extra hands-on expertise, there may even be a strap-making workshop carried out by grasp craftsmen, which we hope will spotlight the innovation and complicated craftsmanship of an oft-underrated side of watchmaking.
We’re additionally trying to usher in two extra established worldwide watch producers, so as to add a special dimension to the craftsmanship and innovation experience that the impartial watchmakers will carry.
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