The Hour Glass
The Hour Glass is a publicly listed Singapore-based luxury watch retailer operating 23 boutique storefronts across eight Asia-Pacific markets, serving affluent collectors as an authorised retailer for over 30 premium brands including Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Hublot.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersSingapore, Singapore
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Hour Glass does
The Hour Glass Limited is a publicly listed (Singapore Exchange) luxury watch retailer headquartered in Singapore, operating a curated network of 23 physical boutiques across eight Asia-Pacific markets (Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Japan). The company is an authorised retailer for more than 30 prestigious watch brands, with foundational partnerships spanning seven decades with Rolex and Patek Philippe, alongside Hublot, Cartier, MB&F, F.P.Journe, Girard-Perregaux, Tudor, Ulysse Nardin, Akrivia, Piaget, Bvlgari, and Urwerk. Distribution is exclusively physical — the company explicitly does not transact online — with flagship stores including the Sydney Rolex Culinan House boutique (the largest standalone Rolex boutique in the Southern Hemisphere) and dedicated brand boutiques such as the MB&F Lab at Raffles Hotel Arcade in Singapore.
The business model is sales-led through boutique storefronts, generating revenue primarily through one-time retail sales of new luxury timepieces, supplemented by authorised after-sales servicing using genuine parts. Pricing is quote-based and brand-specific, with payment via cash, NETS, major credit cards, and mobile payments (Alipay, WeChat Pay) at selected locations. For FY2026, The Hour Glass reported S$1.34 billion in revenue (+15% YoY) and S$179.4 million in net profit (+32% YoY), with H2 net profit up 39% YoY — performance attributed to premium mix, exclusive brand allocations, and resilient Asia-Pacific demand despite broader global luxury sector contraction. The company is family-controlled, with Executive Chairman Dr Henry Tay (founder) and Group Managing Director Michael Tay, both descendants of original founder Mr Tay Thuan Khee.
Core customer segments are affluent individual watch collectors and corporate/VIP clients seeking authenticated haute horlogerie, expert consultation, access to limited editions, and authorised servicing. Marketing relies on physical retail experiences, brand partnerships, exclusive events (e.g., Watches and Wonders Geneva 2026), and content marketing through editorial "Stories," supplemented by Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube presence. There is no disclosed AI/ML capability or proprietary technology platform — the company's differentiation rests on physical retail curation, brand relationships, and specialist expertise rather than technology.
The Hour Glass firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Hour Glass
- Legal name
- The Hour Glass Limited
- Website
- https://thehourglass.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- The Hour Glass is a publicly listed Singapore-based luxury watch retailer operating 23 boutique storefronts across eight Asia-Pacific markets, serving affluent collectors as an authorised retailer for over 30 premium brands including Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Hublot.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Hour Glass industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Luxury Watch Retail
- SIC
- Watches, Clocks, Clockwork Operated Devices/Parts (3873)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Watch Retail (Authorized Dealers, Boutiques, Omnichannel) (CRAKADAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Luxury Mechanical Watches (CRAKADAA), Watch & Timepiece Retail (CRAKAGAD)
Keywords
Where The Hour Glass is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Singapore
- HQ country
- Singapore
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices8 records
Markets served
The Hour Glass business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Luxury Watch Retail: The company generates revenue primarily through the retail sale of luxury watches from prestigious brands including Rolex, Patek Philippe, Hublot, and other haute horlogerie manufacturers. Revenue is derived from retail margins on watch sales, with transactions occurring exclusively at physical boutique locations. The company reported S$1.34 billion in revenue for FY2026.
- After-Sales Service and Servicing: The company provides after-sales servicing including warranty services, with trained watch technicians using genuine parts for servicing watches submitted by customers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Luxury watch retail pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
The Hour Glass product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Hour Glass is a multi-brand luxury watch retailer operating an Asia-Pacific boutique network of 23 physical stores across 8 countries, serving as an authorized retailer for over 30 prestigious watch brands including Rolex, Patek Philippe, Hublot, Cartier, MB&F, and F.P.Journe. Sales are processed exclusively in boutiques through trained watch specialists, complemented by brand-authorized after-sales servicing, exclusive limited-edition releases, and immersive retail experiences. The company generates revenue through retail margins on watch sales, with no online transactions.
Product overview
The Hour Glass is a luxury watch retail enterprise operating across Asia-Pacific with a curated portfolio of over 30 watch brands. The core offering consists of physical boutique retail services selling prestigious timepieces including Rolex (as Official Rolex Retailer), Patek Philippe, Hublot, Cartier, MB&F, F.P.Journe, Girard-Perregaux, Ulysse Nardin, Tudor, Urwerk, Bvlgari, Akrivia, and Piaget. The company operates 23 boutique locations across Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, with flagship showrooms including the Sydney Rolex Culinan House boutique (the largest standalone Rolex boutique in the Southern Hemisphere) and dedicated brand boutiques. Services are delivered exclusively in physical boutiques with watch specialist consultation, after-sales servicing, and various payment options including credit cards and mobile payments.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Luxury Watch Retail Authenticated retail sale of luxury and haute horlogerie timepieces from over 30 prestigious brands including Rolex, Patek Philippe, Hublot, Cartier, MB&F, F.P.Journe, Girard-Perregaux, Ulysse Nardin, Tudor, Bvlgari, Akrivia, Piaget, and Urwerk, sold exclusively at physical boutique locations across Asia-Pacific.
- After-Sales Servicing Brand-authorized watch servicing and maintenance performed by trained technicians using genuine parts, with warranty support for timepieces purchased at The Hour Glass boutiques.
- Watch Specialist Consultation Personalized consultation by trained watch specialists in boutiques to guide customers on the technical aspects, craftsmanship, and selection of appropriate timepieces, with appointment booking available.
Quantifiable outcome
- Revenue grew 15% year-on-year to S$1.34 billion in FY2026 despite global luxury sector contraction
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The Hour Glass
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Hour Glass technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Hour Glass partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- HublotflagshipHublot partnered with The Hour Glass for an exclusive Classic Fusion Titanium Retroverse limited to 30 pieces per color, featuring a reversed-time mechanism and aged titanium case, available exclusively at The Hour Glass boutiques across Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. This partnership also included the Spirit of Big Bang Carbon Candy Pink limited edition (30 pieces), a world-first matte pink carbon fiber case.
- MB&FcoreThe Hour Glass operates MB&F LAB at Raffles Hotel Arcade in Singapore, showcasing Maximilian Büsser's avant-garde horological creations. The partnership includes exclusive video content featuring Maximilian Büsser.
- RolexcoreThe Hour Glass has a seven-decade partnership with Rolex, dating back to the 1950s when the Borneo Company Ltd was appointed as sole agent for Rolex in British Malaya. Since 1979, The Hour Glass has been an Official Rolex Retailer, with Rolex as a foundational partner at their first boutique. The partnership includes dedicated Rolex showrooms, official Rolex service centre, and the Sydney Rolex Culinan House boutique - the largest standalone Rolex boutique in the Southern Hemisphere.
- Patek PhilippecoreThe Hour Glass is an authorized Patek Philippe retailer, offering the complete range of Patek Philippe timepieces at dedicated boutiques including locations in Singapore (Takashimaya), Bangkok (ICONSIAM, Siam Paragon), and other regional markets.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves2 records
The Hour Glass competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Chronext: Online-focused luxury watch marketplace serving European collectors - represents the digital channel that disintermediates traditional authorised retailers. Relevant as the alternative buying channel younger affluent collectors increasingly use.
- Watchfinder & Co. Pre-owned luxury watch specialist (now part of Richemont) operating omnichannel across the UK and Europe. Relevant comparator as a Richemont-affiliated channel that captures trade-in and pre-owned demand adjacent to The Hour Glass's authorised retail business.
- Bob's Watches: Pre-owned luxury watch dealer and exchange platform; competes for the same affluent collector customer by addressing the secondary market that complements (or substitutes) authorised primary retail.
Direct peers
- Bucherer: Swiss-founded luxury watch and jewellery retailer with over 100 boutiques worldwide and a comparable authorised-dealer relationship with Rolex (Rolex acquired Bucherer in 2024). Overlapping portfolio (Rolex, Patek, Hublot, Cartier) and similar immersive boutique concept.
- Watches of Switzerland Group: LSE-listed luxury watch retailer with an authorised dealer network for Rolex, Patek Philippe, Cartier, and other brands across the UK and US. Closest publicly-comparable peer: similar brand portfolio, mono-brand boutiques (Rolex, TAG Heuer, Breitling), and after-sales service focus.
- Mayors Jewelers: US Southeastern authorised luxury watch and jewellery retailer (part of Birks Group) with multi-brand boutiques carrying Rolex, Patek Philippe, Cartier - comparable authorised-dealer footprint and customer profile to The Hour Glass across a different regional market.
- Cortina Watch: Singapore-headquartered luxury watch retailer with authorised Rolex and Omega representation across Southeast Asia - the most direct head-to-head regional competitor in the markets where The Hour Glass has the densest footprint.
- Sincere Watch Holdings: Hong Kong-listed luxury watch retailer with operations across Greater China and Southeast Asia, serving the same regional affluent customer base as The Hour Glass with overlapping brand partnerships.
- Tourneau: US-based authorised luxury watch retailer (now owned by Rolex) operating multi-brand boutiques and the largest Rolex 'New York' showroom - directly comparable authorised dealer model to The Hour Glass in a different geography.
- Goldsmiths (Watches of Switzerland Group): UK heritage authorised luxury watch retailer now part of the Watches of Switzerland Group, carrying the same brand portfolio (Rolex, Patek, Omega, TAG Heuer) with a strong in-store specialist consultation model mirroring The Hour Glass approach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Hour Glass social profiles
Digital presenceThe Hour Glass financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Hour Glass leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
The Hour Glass funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Hour Glass M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Hour Glass
What does The Hour Glass do?
The Hour Glass is a multi-brand luxury watch retailer operating an Asia-Pacific boutique network of 23 physical stores across 8 countries, serving as an authorized retailer for over 30 prestigious watch brands including Rolex, Patek Philippe, Hublot, Cartier, MB&F, and F.P.Journe. Sales are processed exclusively in boutiques through trained watch specialists, complemented by brand-authorized after-sales servicing, exclusive limited-edition releases, and immersive retail experiences. The company generates revenue through retail margins on watch sales, with no online transactions.
Is The Hour Glass a public or private company?
The Hour Glass is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was The Hour Glass founded?
The Hour Glass was founded in 1979. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is The Hour Glass based?
The Hour Glass is headquartered in Singapore, Singapore, in the Asia region.
How does The Hour Glass make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Luxury Watch Retail is the primary driver. The others are after-Sales Service and Servicing.
Who are The Hour Glass's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Chronext, Watchfinder & Co. and Bob's Watches. Direct peers are Bucherer, Watches of Switzerland Group, Mayors Jewelers, Cortina Watch, Sincere Watch Holdings, Tourneau and Goldsmiths (Watches of Switzerland Group).
Does The Hour Glass have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Hour Glass.
What industry is The Hour Glass in?
The Hour Glass's product category is Luxury Watch Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAKADAL, Watch Retail (Authorized Dealers, Boutiques, Omnichannel), with a secondary code of CRAKADAA, Luxury Mechanical Watches. Its SIC code is 3873.