Business News: Patek Philippe Revamps Boutique in Singapore’s MBS

A gentle evolution of the familiar look.

Patek Philippe has just reopened its longstanding boutique in the Marina Bay Sands (MBS) casino resort in Singapore, after a renovation that gave the store a wall-to-wall makeover. Operated in partnership with Cortina Watch, a family-owned retailer that’s one of the brand’s biggest partners, the boutique features the brand’s latest store aesthetic that nonetheless remains recognisable with it use of dark and pale woods along with brass.

Located in a choice location near the entrance to the gaming floor, the boutique covers 262 sq m, or over 2,800 sq ft. As is increasingly the practice for watch stores, the space is not just a showroom to display watches, but also includes an exhibit on Patek Philippe’s history as well as a lounge area with a bar.

An enduring partnership

One of Southeast Asia’s biggest retailers, Cortina became a Patek Philippe retailer in 1972. Twenty-twenty tw0 marked Cortina’s 50th year with Patek Philippe, an occasion marked by the Calatrava ref. 5057G, one of the rare instances the Geneva brand created a reference specifically for a retailer.

Cortina established the first Patek Philippe boutique in Singapore in 2010, with the MBS story opening a year later. The retailer now operates more than half a dozen Patek Philippe boutiques in Asia, including stores in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

The Patek Philippe Calatrava ref. 5057G made for Cortina’s 50th anniversary in 2022

The MBS boutique is the first in Singapore to feature the brand’s latest store design, which is set apart from earlier boutiques with the black facade and script Patek Philippe logo that replace the pale colours and Calatrava cross of the previous generation.

On the inside, the evolution of the design is more gentle, with the interior retaining familiar materials and colours. Decked out in dark brown and beige woods, the store is also decorated with straw marquetry panels on the walls. A section of the store is dedicated to the brand’s history, which is illustrated with a detailed timeline with further information on the brand and its watchmaking contained within tablet computers.

Some details of the boutique, however, are unique to this store, specifically the triptych depicting the enamel panels of the Dome Clock ref. 20145M-001 “Singapore Skyline”, a unique piece that was made to mark Cortina’s anniversary in 2022 and remains in the retailer’s possession.