Twenty years ago, The Hour Glass boldly launched “Tempus—The Great Watchscapade”, one of the first events dedicated to watch enthusiasts. However, Michael Tay, group managing director of The Hour Glass, emphasises that IAMWATCH is different from other events because he aims to innovate rather than replicate. Tay hopes to bring freshness to the global watch industry, which is where the idea of IAMWATCH originated.
Tay wants IAMWATCH to serve as a community-building platform for artisanal and independent watchmaking that goes beyond the appealing image associated with brands. For him, the people in the watch industry are of utmost importance. He says: “It’s not just about the watches; it’s the people who bring pleasure and emotion to the experience.”
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He takes pride in collaborating with intriguing watchmakers, a hallmark of The Hour Glass. His goal is to discover and introduce some of the most exciting watchmakers in the world to the watch community. According to Tay, the watchmakers attending IAMWATCH are among the best available globally; being selective about participants is what differentiates IAMWATCH from other events.
When The Hour Glass conceptualised IAMWATCH, it was to establish a presence in Singapore, which is why the event is being held here. Tay notes that Singapore is a crucial market in the watchmaking industry and one of the densest cities where communities of artisanal watchmakers and independent brands thrive, making the city-state an ideal platform for such an engaging event.
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“That’s why we are investing in Singapore, despite the possibility of organising this event in other cities or countries where costs might be lower,” he says. “Our aim is to ensure that people around the world appreciate Singapore’s significance in this niche of watch collecting, as Singaporeans have been pioneers in the field.”
How it all began
The concept of IAMWATCH was conceived during the Covid-19 lockdown, a time when many were perfecting new skills like baking sourdough bread. Tay, an avid reader, began contemplating the idea of IAMWATCH while researching 18th-century watches, noting how they often featured the Latin phrase “Invenit et Fecit”.
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Tay explains: “Many watchmakers from that era, whether French, British, or German, signed their creations with this phrase, meaning ‘invented and made.’ As I researched, I found it interesting that no one had used that term in watchmaking.”
Around the same time, Tay came across a book about the civil rights movement in Memphis, which featured an image of striking sanitation workers holding placards that read “I am a man”. This powerful image resonated with him, symbolising a demand for rights despite racial barriers.
Connecting the dots, Tay reflected on the phrases “I am”, “invented and made” and “I am a man” — ultimately leading to the name “IAMWATCH” as a meaningful and unique representation of the event.
Tay is committed to bringing fresh experiences to the watch industry, stating there is little value in repeating what has already been done. He highlights that IAMWATCH 2024 is more than just a showcase of artisanal watchmaking; it is a forum for meaningful engagement and discussion.
Visitors can anticipate an exciting lineup of events, including insightful lectures by writer David Rooney on the evolution of timekeeping, and designer Lee Yuen-Rapati on watch typography. Masterclasses led by Jean-Claude Biver and Maximilian Büsser will be held, along with conversations featuring watchmakers, designers, and tastemakers.
IAMWATCH 2024 offers a unique opportunity for collectors and enthusiasts to explore today’s horological landscape through lectures, masterclasses, and discussions.
• IAMWATCH opens by invitation on Oct 17, with a Private View from 3pm–5pm and a Vernissage from 5pm–8pm.
• Admission is free and open to the public from Oct 18 to 20, 11am–8pm.
• This event is e-ticketed and all guests are requested to pre-register. Registration is now open at https://iamwatch.com.
• IAMWATCH will be held at The Singapore EDITION hotel.
• Dress code: Double-wristed, resort casual; delegates are encouraged to wear watches on both wrists.
Maximilian Büsser
Lee Yuen-Rapati
David Rooney
Schedules and more
For those who are still undecided, here’s a sampling of the timetable.
Friday, Oct 18
• Markets, Morality, & Manufacture: Author David Rooney of About Time speaks on Amsterdam’s first stock exchange clock, modern financial timekeeping, the link between time and commerce, and how clocks and watches influenced manufacturing from the 18th century to Henry Ford.
• Blink And You’ll Miss It: Designer and renowned illustrator Lee Yuen-Rapati explains how to design a watch and makes a case for a wider appreciation of typography on watches: What role does type play, and why is it important?
• Masterclass On Watchmaking Entrepreneurship: Explore the mind of a watch industry visionary. MB&F founder and creative director Maximilian Büsser shares his incredible journey in the watch industry and the entrepreneurial lessons he learnt along the way.
• Masterclass On Watchmaking Entrepreneurship: The undisputed marketing legend of the watch industry, Jean-Claude Biver shares insights on leadership and brand building from his time at Blancpain, Omega, Hublot and BIVER.
• Evening GTG: Join us for a GTG, or Good Time Gathering, with the CEO of Girard-Perregaux and the managing director of Ulysse Nardin.
• Keeper Of Time Film Screening: The movie features the stories of four artisanal watchmakers — Philippe Dufour, Roger W. Smith, François-Paul Journe and Maximilian Büsser — along with interviews from leading scholars in the fields of theoretical physics and philosophy.
For more information on the venue and session timings, visit https://iamwatch.com/programme.
