Lim intends to keep interactions going with clients to build strong relationships (All photos: Sincere Fine Watches)
Sincere Fine Watches is celebrating its Platinum Jubilee with a year-long campaign aptly themed A New Era, to usher in a fresh chapter. To commemorate the occasion, it is releasing a number of limited-edition Platinum Jubilee timepieces until November.
Collectors can look forward to exceptional tributes from maisons such as Laurent Ferrier, Moritz Grossmann, Moser & Cie, Christiaan van der Klaauw, Czapek & Cie, Ferdinand Berthoud, Lang & Heyne and Franck Muller. They can also register for The Horology Lab to participate in a calendar of educational events, including workshops, fireside chats and lectures.
Since its establishment seven decades ago, Sincere has expanded its footprint to include 20 boutiques across Asia, including those by Pendulum Ltd (a wholly owned subsidiary in Thailand since 1992), with a diverse portfolio that encompasses more than 40 brands.
In March 2021, the company joined Cortina Holdings in a synergistic alliance that allowed the brand to fortify its market position and redefine luxury retail standards. Kate Lim, regional general manager and scion of the Cortina family, shares what’s in store for the business in the coming years.
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Options: What are some defining milestones over the past 70 years that have shaped Sincere Fine Watches?
Kate Lim: Sincere was at the forefront of introducing new brands to our markets. We onboarded Franck Muller in 1992, A Lange & Söhne in 1995 (and launched the world premiere of the Langematik in KL) and FP Journe in 1999, exposing customers to independent watchmaking early on.
In 2006, we won the Singapore Tourism Award for Best New Retail Concept for our Sincere Haute Horlogerie store dedicated to high-end mechanical and independent watchmaking. The concept was refreshed in 2022 as SHH to showcase unique products in a luxurious and comfortable place.
The Sincere Watch Academy was established in 2007 to educate, engage and empower enthusiasts by inviting participants on an exceptional journey through the world of horology. We provided hands-on workshops and lectures with the aim of enriching the watch culture and sharing the artistry behind each timepiece.
A new range of activities have been curated under The Horology Lab until November as part of the jubilee celebrations. Tell us more about it.
We wanted to bring back the concept of the Sincere Watch Academy in a fresh way. Collectors are now more informed and we need to add value to their learning journey. Instead of classroom-style lectures, we are focusing on more interactive sessions such as fireside chats and hands-on workshops, where expert watchmakers guide participants through the delicate intricacies of movement assembly and dial decoration. We are also bringing a lot of our content online to reach a global audience.
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You grew up in a household that lived and breathed watches. What is the common denominator across the generations before you and what values would you like to perpetuate?
Our household is very close-knit (we still have dinners together every Sunday), therefore we place strong importance in building and maintaining sincere relationships. This applies to our business partners, employees and collectors.
In the past, when the watch business mostly operated as mom-and-pop stores, owners sat in the store and made sales personally. It was easy for them to build relationships with customers. While we do not do that anymore, we often host events and meet clients personally at our stores to keep the interactions going. This is something I would like to perpetuate as it is relevant to all generations of watch lovers. This interaction will also allow us to make better business decisions for our customers.
What does the future hold for Sincere?
Sincere Fine Watches has always been known as Asia’s premier watch specialist and our plan is to re-enforce that position as we go forward. The past three years were focused on expansion and building the SHH boutiques across the region in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Taiwan. That establishes the “hardware” for our SHH concept. The coming years will see us focusing on the “software” aspect. This includes optimising our product offerings, focusing on having more Horology Lab-related events and ensuring excellent customer service.
For more information on Sincere's Platinum Jubilee celebrations, see here.
