Hot on the trails of the major Geneva watch fairs comes the second iteration of Singapore Watch Fair, the premier consumer watch fair in Asia. Founded by Ali Nael and Nelson Lee, the fair will bring together an impressive international line-up of 24 independent watchmakers such as Cultured Watch, Sartory Billard, Ludovic Ballouard, L’Epée 1839, LANG 1943, Zehua Tan and 2ToneVintage Watches amongst a host of retailers and industry professionals. The city only just hosted the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix, but it seems like visitors from all over will be streaming back in soon, this time for a bountiful taste of watchmaking savoir-faire instead. This year’s fair would be held at the luxurious Equarius Hotel at Resorts World Sentosa, nesting the fair in a private resort island. 

Exclusive Looks at Gems New and Old

The fair will boast a panorama of horological marvels new and vintage, valued at up to USD25 million. Standout pieces include the breathtaking Upside Down Osmium from Ludovic Ballouard. Those well acquainted with the Geneva independent watchmaking scene might have already heard of Ludovic Ballouard’s Upside Down collection, a quirky yet intriguing labour of love with its upside down numbers. The Upside Down in this case has its dial made from one of the most precious metals on the globe, osmium, and its numbers in onyx. The result is more precious gem than timepiece, the osmium fluctuating between silver and blue hues as it sparkles under light.

Those more interested in vintage beauties might be interested in The Essence of Time Museum put up by watch investment advisory firm FutureGrail with curation from former director and curator of the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva, Arnaud Tellier. Expect some of watchmaking history’s rarest pieces from the likes of Vacheron Constantin, Patek Philippe and Rolex. Of course, the added pleasure of appreciating the investment-grade collection alongside fellow horology aficionados. A sneak peak at some of the offerings from Christie’s Hong Kong’s autumn auction in November will also be on display for avid collectors in the crowd, promising fair-goers a holistic experience of the collecting world at large. 

Amongst Aficionados

Of course, what would a watch fair be without some talk of the very watches on display? The fair’s “Talking Time” panel sessions will bring together watchmakers, industry experts and veteran collectors together to share and discuss their takes on the horology and collecting world today, featuring renowned guest speakers like Gary Getz and Dr. Bernard Cheong. The fair also makes it a point to spotlight South Asian and China both with a joint discussion on the “Rise of Chinese Watchmaking” by Atelier Wen and Zehua Tan as well as the “Rise of Female Watch Collecting: Insights from The Middle East” led by TickTockBelles in collaboration with Dubai Watch Club Girls and Kuwait Watch Club Ladies.

Chang Chee Pey, Senior Vice President and Chief Experience Officer, RWS, says, “Luxury timepiece appreciation and collection has a strong appeal for both Singaporeans and tourists. Over five days in October 2023, Resorts World Sentosa will host watch collectors, retailers, and industry professionals from around the world who will gather to share their horological passions in a series of curated lifestyle events amidst the exclusive setting of Equarius Hotel. The Singapore Watch Fair is part of RWS’ year-round vibrant and thematic offerings that also include Michelin-starred dining and world class attractions.”

Singapore Watch Fair 2023 promises to be quite the treat for watch lovers, uniting niche watchmakers built on a passion for horology with a generation of discerning watch collectors hungry to connect on a global scale in a lifestyle festival designed to foster greater connections between watch lovers on both sides of the market. The fair will run from 18 to 21 October, the full itinerary and list of exhibitors available here. 

All photos courtesy of Singapore Watch Fair.

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