High Times

An intoxicating mix of the unusual, well made and affordable at Watch Wonderland

- Alvin Wong

The analogy ‘like kids in a candy store’ sounds a tad hyperbolic when describing the experience of shopping in a watch boutique. For one, a kid can probably trot home with bon-bons bulging in his pockets without taking a big hit to his (or his parents’) wallet. Also, a candy store stocks shelf upon shelf of surprises, while most conventional watch boutiques offer more of the same – you almost know what to expect even before stepping into the shop. Yet, when Watch Wonderland cofounder Sugiharto Kusumadi (‘Sugi’), describes his latest venture as such, he is spot-on

The thing that will excite the casual shopper (no, he doesn’t have to be a watch geek) is the spread of carefully selected brands on offer. “We have about 20 brands now, culled from a list of over 100 brands,” says co-founder Yang Minxiang, who shortlisted the names with Sugi and their marketing manager, Ben Ng. In fact, the boutique’s tagline states that it’s all about ‘Curated Horology’. Though ‘curated’ smacks of hipster-speak, the marques are truly fastidiously considered.