Passions Watch Exchange

Welcome to Passions of Singapore.

This company is founded by Jonathan Tee in 1991 & was formally established in 1997. It started as a small corner located in his mother's furniture shop in Sembawang Shopping Centre which was known as the "Collectors Corner".

It was a small corner trading antiques, collectibles, memorabilia & a few pieces of vintage watches from Jonathan's private collection.

He was only a 16yrs old student then. The products were displayed in an antique glass & teakwood showcase measuring just 4feet long that was bought for S$30 from a retired shop in Changi Village.

The Passions Story

In the early 1990s...

Collectors were fascinated by vintage curios with "local flavours" and mechanical watches. Jonathan scoured flea markets & old unrestored pre-war shophouses around Singapore to look for the little treasures. He made friends with dealers & collectors from back lanes to the museums. Along the way, he picked up skills & knowledge to identify and restore antiques and mechanical watches. Jonathan was trained as a Product designer and this gave him an astute taste and an obsession for quality products. To pursue his interest & improve the collection, he travelled around the region and later to Europe.

In 1997...

After a stint with the RSAF as a pilot trainee, Jonathan left the military. Instead of pursuing an architecture degree in Scotland, he decided to put his interest as a career and started Passions. He made a bold move to the town area in Clarke Quay that is next to the historical Singapore River. The central location was convenient for all and soon he established a reputation as the youngest antique & watch dealer in town.

In 1998...

The IT sector was booming and everyone was talking about the internet. It was a new marketing tool and a new era in business. Jonathan contacted some students and the first Passions website was set up. It opened the doors of Passions to the world. For the first time, people from US to Japan could view our products online and place orders at their home. Till date, we have reached out to thousands of clients from more than 50 different countries as far north as Greenland & down south as New Zealand and Japan to the Caribbean islands.

In 1999...

Passions moved to a larger premises in a nearby shopping mall specialising in IT products that is known as Funan the IT Mall where we still preside today. It was a strategic move but times have changed and people were no longer interested in antiques. So, in 2002, Jonathan decided to focus on his forte by dealing only in wristwatches and renovated the shop, becoming the first independent watch dealer in Singapore offering a different shopping experience. While others are offering the common brands that flood the market, Passions offered fine timepieces that were lovingly manufactured by prestigious watchmakers. This proved to be a phenomenal success and a steady group of regulars from the region visited us.

"The name Passions was selected because it symbolises our passion in this business."

We are licensed by the Singapore government to trade in brand new & pre-owned watches.

We do not officially represent any major brands & this enables us to give an impartial opinion on their merit.

Our business has earned recognition and we were featured in several local and international magazines, newspapers and television programmes including the Discovery Channel. Jonathan was also nominated for an entrepreneur award in 2003.

We have one gallery in Singapore and this website enables you to browse some of our collection. We carry more than 500pcs of watches from the 19th century to the latest model. There are more than 50 brands & some are not listed in this website or displayed in our gallery. Some are on consignment from our clients & agents.

We have very strict criteria for our watches and they are meticulously selected for their brand, model, condition, accessories and value for you.

Similarly, our website has been developed to give you superb graphics and outstanding descriptions unlike others. Now, take your time to surf and we hope you'll enjoy your "stay" with us.

Passions Watch Gallery

Featured here is our "Haute Gallerie" opened in July 2005. The first of it's kind in the region by an independent watch retailer. It has a floor space of 1000sqft with a luxuriously fitted VIP room for you to view & discuss our watches in privacy.

The carpet is knitted with the finest wool from Australia & Viennese crystal chandeliers adorn the ceilings.

In Oct 2008...

Passions opened it's first overseas gallery in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. We are the first independant watch specialist to venture overseas in the region. Our vision is to expand into major Asian cities & be the first Asian Luxury Goods Specialist, helping owners, buyers & dealers to broker their collection of luxury watches, jewelleries, collectibles, Art & perhaps cars.