The region’s leading purveyors of luxury watch brands curate a diverse collection of horological marvels for enthusiasts
These luxury watch retail leaders on Asia’s Most Influential list give truth to the enduring appeal of premium timepieces in the region. These entrepreneurs have grown their companies from single-location timepiece boutiques into networks of speciality stores which bring the most coveted creations by Omega, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Patek Philippe, Rolex, IWC and more to Asia’s watch collectors and enthusiasts. Demand for these precious timepieces continues to soar, with luxury watch revenues in the region pegged at US$26.36 billion in 2023 and growth predicted to rise by 2.93 per cent each year. We'd like to think that this thriving market is testament to the intrinsic value of a good watch: in a world drowned by digital distractions, the rhythmic ticking of a well-made watch is a reminder to be grateful for the time you have.
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Emerson Yao, managing director, Lucerne Group (Philippines)
“We embarked on a path no one wanted to take... which meant carrying what was intended only for a niche market: Swiss luxury brands,” said Emerson Yao, managing director of Lucerne, to Tatler. During the quartz revolution of the ’80s, Yao’s father Ye E Chiu bucked the trend, eschewing the popular Japanese quartz watches in favour of timepieces with heritage. The gamble paid off, with Ye E Chiu’s shop in Ali Mall in Quezon City growing into Lucerne, the leading luxury watch retailer in the Philippines.