Products You May Like
The Shifting Sands of Time
In 1950, the Borneo Firm Ltd, an English firm with their headquarters in London was chosen for Rolex for British Malaya and acted on behalf of the Swiss model to nominate native watch retailers in Singapore, Malaya and Borneo, to signify the model. Of this unique collection of Rolex retailers, solely the legacy of Mr Tay Thuan Khee lives on. Mr Tay, a Chinese language immigrant who had arrived on Singapore shores from Shantou, Guangdong, based Lee Chay & Co in 1946. This was the start of a seven-decade lengthy household legacy that, with the founding of The Hour Glass in 1979, his son, Dr Henry Tay, and grandson, Michael Tay, proceed to uphold.
A yr after this inaugural group of outlets was appointed, Hans Wilsdorf, founding father of Rolex made his maiden journey to the Far East, which included a two-week stopover in Singapore to fulfill along with his new companions. This seminal go to in 1951 confirmed his long-held suspicions that the area was a seedbed for watch amassing. “These days, individuals (in Asia) need the perfect — the waterproof, self-winding watch that varies solely a second or two a day in any type of local weather,” Mr Wilsdorf, nearly 70 at the moment, instructed The Straits Occasions of Singapore.
“There have been solely a handful of Rolex retailers then, therefore the homeowners and their households along with members of workers had been invited to have dinner with him on the Capitol Blue room”, stated Dr Tay. “I keep in mind Mr Wilsdorf as an excellent man. He was heat and mild and smiled rather a lot. Regardless of my younger age, Mr Wilsdorf made positive that he made my presence snug that night. I used to be solely six years outdated, however it was an expertise I’ll always remember.”
The Hour Glass and Rolex: Partnership Constructed on Shared Values
Mr Wilsdorf’s eventful go to marked the start of normal journeys to Singapore by Rolex senior executives, together with Mr André Heiniger, former CEO of Rolex, who first visited in 1953 and who would finally assume management of Rolex a decade later. “After André Heiniger took over, he would journey to Singapore along with his spouse Odette yearly,” Dr Tay recalled. “He appeared to love horses and so forth one event, I had organised with Eddie Barker, Singapore’s first Regulation Minister after which Chairman of the Singapore Turf Membership, for us to occupy the Chairman’s field on the Turf Membership. Not one of the horses we backed received, however all of us had a grand time that evening”.
Dr Tay remained in shut contact with Mr Heiniger and would pay frequent visits to the Rolex manufacture in Geneva. It was by means of these common exchanges that friendship and belief was solid between The Hour Glass and Rolex, one which continues until this present day. All these years later, Dr Tay stays the only particular person in Singapore and the area to have engaged with each head of Rolex.
The Hour Glass: Enlargement All through Asia-Pacific
From the second The Hour Glass was established in 1979, Rolex was a foundational associate at its new boutique in Fortunate Plaza Purchasing Centre on Orchard Highway — a mall then deemed the top of luxurious buying in Singapore. Different authorised Rolex points-of-sale in Singapore with The Hour Glass adopted in fast succession with the Rolex boutique at ION Orchard in 2009 anchoring the partnership within the Orchard Highway precinct.
Buoyed by an enthusiastic regional watch amassing neighborhood, The Hour Glass appeared overseas, opening in Plaza Imbi in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1980, Marina Mirage within the Gold Coast, Australia in 1988 and the Promenade in Bangkok, Thailand in 1994.
Extra not too long ago, in 2020, The Hour Glass was appointed as an Official Rolex Retailer and associate for the Rolex Service Centre in Auckland, New Zealand.
The latest opening of the Rolex status boutique in Sydney, Australia, marked the most recent chapter of strategic partnerships for The Hour Glass and Rolex. Sited in a heritage constructing on the crossroads of Sydney’s busiest buying intersection, the 450 sqm Rolex boutique at 192 Pitt Road is arguably the jewel in The Hour Glass’ crown. It’s a testomony to the sturdy and enduring partnership the 2 firms have constructed over 70 years of watchmaking and watch retailing experience, and a mark of deeper ties to come back.
Michael Tay, Group Managing Director of The Hour Glass provides, “The Hour Glass and Rolex share many comparable values and beliefs. Our joint dedication to pursue a tradition of excellence in our respective firms kind the core basis for the partnership we’ve got developed collectively. As we’ve got progressed by means of the many years, we’re humbled by how this relationship continues to strongly, and positively, evolve. This solely serves to bolster our shared mission to uphold the unrivalled fame a Rolex watch has for high quality.”
Go to The Hour Glass website to search out out extra.