The Patek Philippe boutique, located at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands and operated by Cortina Watch, began operations in 2010. It came a year after Patek Philippe’s very first mono-brand boutique in Singapore located at ION Orchard, was opened back in 2009.
For the 152 square metre (1,636-square feet) Patek Philippe boutique at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, it underwent two-and-a-half months of renovation works. Finely-furnished with precious wood, luxurious leather upholstery, custom-made glass, Baccarat crystals and burnished brass finishings, the décor and feel of the boutique is in line with the brand’s concept at ION Orchard.
These include an exhibition area featuring a wall detailing key milestones in Patek Philippe’s history and even that of its partnership with Cortina Watch. For example, the 2015 highlight is Patek Philippe’s donation of three one-of-a-kind hand-enamelled dome clocks that were put up for private auction to commemorate Singapore’s 50th anniversary of its independence.
Patek Philippe’s partnership with Cortina Watch began in 1972, the very same year the watch retailer based in Singapore was founded by Anthony Lim, who is Chairman and CEO of Cortina Watch.
One of the dome clocks, “The Esplanade – Singapore” Ref. 1677M, which is hand-guillochéd in cloisonné enamel and depicts the skyline of the city including iconic landmarks like Marina Bay Sands, the ArtScience Museum and the Singapore Flyer, was actually acquired by Cortina Watch for SGD750,000 (equivalent to around USD518,000 based on exchange rates at the time of writing). The sale proceeds went to the National Heritage Board.
Though smaller in size and with similar décor, this Patek Philippe boutique holds rare “treasures” within. These include the extremely rare Patek Philippe Ref. 5370P and the Ref. 5204P which were sighted in the showcase. There is no guarantee that such prized timepieces will remain within the boutique but the main draw for us, that will surely remain, is the pièce unique Ref. 1677M dome clock which stands proudly on display within this boutique, an apt home since the beauty of Marina Bay Sands is the artwork depicted. This is one of the main reasons why fans of the brand should make this boutique a must-visit stop when in Singapore and at Marina Bay Sands.
“We have to thank Cortina Watch for trusting Patek Philippe for this [boutique] is a big commitment. We started young and we did make mistakes but that is how you learn,” says Thierry Stern, President, Patek Philippe, who was in Singapore in early December 2016 for the re-opening ceremony. “We are getting more mature and we can always do better but step-by-step,” says Stern in his characteristically humble manner.
Note: Patek Philippe’s newly expanded 265.48 square metre (2,857.6 square feet) boutique at ION Orchard, also operated in partnership with Cortina Watch, is currently the brand’s largest in South-East Asia, having undergone a fourfold jump in retail floor space. It was only recently relaunched in April 2016.
