Passions Watch Exchange

Welcome to Passions

Our company is founded in Singapore by a 16yrs old Jonathan Tee Kow Loke in 1991 when he was still a student. Passions began as a little antiques corner in his mother's furniture shop and offered a few pieces of vintage watches from Jonathan's private collection.

Today, Passions has reached out to clients from over 70 countries and is an internationally recognized company dealing in luxury branded watches that are new, pre-owned and vintage. We also offer horology books, magazines, watch tools, straps, winders and accessories. Our galleries are a one-stop shopping experience for watch collectors and we have two outlets in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

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 was known as Funan Digitalife Mall. It was a strategic move but times had changed and people were no longer interested in antiques. So, in 2002, Jonathan decided to focus on his forte by dealing with only wristwatches and renovated the shop, becoming the first independent watch dealer in Singapore offering a different shopping experience. While others were offering the common brands that flooded 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 each in Singapore and Malaysia with an office in Hong Kong while 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 60 brands & many watches are not listed in this website or displayed in our gallery. We also provide consignment for 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 in Funan

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

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

Oct 2008

Passions opened it's first overseas gallery in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. We were the first independant watch specialist to venture overseas in the region and the branch remains open in Bangsar Village Two shopping mall.

July 2016

Passions bidded goodbye to Funan as the mall was demolished for redevelopment. We were with them for a good 18yrs and one of the longest tenant in the mall. We moved to the prestigious The Fullerton Hotel by the Singapore River and had a good two and a half years with them in the lobby and basement one.

2018 onwards

Passions relocated it's HQ to Marina Square shopping mall and opening another branch @ Peninsula Shopping Center from April 2021 so stay tuned for more exciting updates & u may want to follow us on our Facebook too.