Where: The Shoppes at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands, end June 2013. Was this the queue for a sneak preview of Parmigiani’s new stand-alone boutique? Note the wooden hoarding with the Parmigiani watch and branding. Photo: © Marina Bay Sands
Parmigiani’s presence in Singapore will be strengthened with the opening of a stand-alone brand boutique located at Marina Bay Sands.
Specialist watch retailer The Hour Glass, which became the exclusive distributor and retailer of the brand in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Australia from April 2012, is behind the management and operation of the boutique. Covering 368 square feet, this will be Parmigiani’s first stand-alone boutique in Southeast Asia.
Were there crowds of people, such as what was seen in the image above, waiting in line to be among the first to view the Parmigiani store?
Actually, had you been observant, you’d have noticed that it was a very young-looking crowd with many not wearing mechanical wristwatches let alone a wristwatch; hence, they don’t quite fit the profile of a typical Parmigiani customer… for now.
From what we understand, the youngsters were there to greet South Korean pop star, G-Dragon. He was in The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands on a special visit to the multi-label retail boutique, Salon by Surrender.
Salon by Surrender’s special guest at their official boutique opening in Marina Bay Sands was South Korean pop star G-Dragon. Photo: © Marina Bay Sands
The 1,600 square foot store offers high-end ready-to-wear apparel for men and women, jewellery and home ware.
G-Dragon’s presence was significant as he has a limited edition collection ranging from leather caps to necklaces made in collaboration with Japanese accessory brand, Ambush, which are also offered at Salon by Surrender. It is known as the G-Dragon x Ambush collection.
This is the second Salon by Surrender store in Asia; the first was opened in Shanghai in April 2013 and its founder is Earn Chen who is also the creative director.
Leanne Smith (Executive Director, retail marketing, Marina Bay Sands) with Salon by Surrender’s founder and creative director, Earn Chen. Photo: © Marina Bay Sands
In addition to Ambush, other brands retailed by Salon by Surrender include Viktor & Rolf, En Noir, Christian Dada, Thom Browne, Mad et Len and R13, among others. The concept of the store’s interior décor was inspired by tea salons of the 18th century.
Parmigiani’s boutique at The Shoppes in Marina Bay Sands hasn’t opened at the time of writing. From what we understand, the Parmigiani store will only commence operations in early August 2013.
Once opened, watch collectors will surely be welcomed with open arms at the store.
Speaking of open arms, one model that will surely be a draw for clients is Parmigiani’s intriguing Ovale Pantographe which utilises retractable hour and minute hands or telescopic hands which extend or contract to tell time as they follow the contours of the case.
Parmigiani Ovale Pantographe. The base calibre for this piece with telescopic hour and minute is the earliest movement made by Parmigiani, the PF110. With the retractable hand module mechanism, the manual-winding movement for the Parmigiani Ovale Pantographe is termed the PF111. Photo: © Parmigiani
The design and shape of the Parmigiani Ovale Pantographe was inspired by a vintage pocket watch with telescopic hands made by British jewellers Vardon and Stedman. This inspirational vintage piece was sent to Parmigiani’s restoration workshop in Fleurier in 1997.
Note: Did you know that the first partner Parmigiani made a limited edition timepiece for is none other than The Hour Glass? It was the Parmigiani Bugatti Super Sport limited to only 10 pieces. Check out: “Parmigiani”