Cortina Watch

Cortina Watch is a Singapore-based luxury watch retailer and distributor serving the premium and haute horlogerie segments across Asia-Pacific. Founded in 1972 by Anthony Lim Keen Ban, the business began as a single-store family enterprise at Colombo Court in Singapore. Its English name was associated with the Ford Cortina, a popular car model at the time, while its Chinese name, 高登, was adopted from the name of the department store at its original location. The company’s early development was rooted in specialist retail: presenting established luxury watchmakers to customers through a dedicated store rather than operating as a general department-store watch counter. In 1982, Cortina Watch opened its first boutique outside Singapore in Malaysia, establishing the regional expansion pattern that later became central to the business. It subsequently developed a network of multi-brand and mono-brand boutiques in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Australia. Cortina Watch’s assortment is built around high-end mechanical and luxury timepieces. The brands associated with its retail and distribution activities include Rolex, Patek Philippe, Cartier, Chopard, Franck Muller, H. Moser & Cie, Parmigiani, Tudor, and other international watchmakers. The company therefore operates less as a conventional single-brand product label than as a specialist luxury retail platform, combining brand presentation, authorized distribution, boutique management, and access to collector-oriented products. The corporate structure became more formalized when Cortina Holdings, the parent company, was listed on the Singapore Exchange in 2002. Cortina Watch remained the group’s principal international luxury-watch retail identity, while related companies and businesses broadened the group’s distribution and brand portfolio. In 2021, Cortina Holdings acquired privately held Sincere Fine Watches. The transaction expanded the wider network to more than 40 boutiques and added the Sincere brand in Singapore and Malaysia and the Pendulum brand in Thailand. Within the resulting group structure, Cortina Watch continued to emphasize international luxury brands, while Sincere Watch focused more on boutique watch offerings. The group also obtained exclusive distribution rights for Franck Muller in 13 Asia-Pacific countries. Through Pacific Time Pte Ltd, another subsidiary, it manages distribution activities for brands including H. Moser & Cie, Moritz Grossmann, and Singer Reimagined. These arrangements give the broader Cortina organization a role beyond retail storefronts, linking market distribution, brand development, and specialist watchmaking channels. In 2022, Cortina Watch marked its fiftieth anniversary with exhibitions and other events held in collaboration with several watch brands. The anniversary program involved Patek Philippe, Blancpain, Cartier, Chopard, Corum, Franck Muller, H. Moser & Cie, and TAG Heuer, and presented 16 limited-edition models created for the celebrations. The program illustrated the company’s positioning as a multi-brand luxury-watch specialist with longstanding relationships across different segments of the watch industry. As described in the available reference material, Jeremy Lim served as chief executive officer in 2021. Cortina Watch’s current operating model combines regional retail outlets, mono-brand boutiques, multi-brand stores, and group-level distribution capabilities. Its identity is consequently tied to the Southeast Asian luxury-watch market and to the curation and distribution of premium mechanical timepieces rather than to watches manufactured under the Cortina name.

Cortina Watch was established in Singapore in 1972 by Anthony Lim Keen Ban. The business began as a family-run store at Colombo Court. Its Chinese name, 高登, was taken from the department store associated with that location, while the English name referred to the Ford Cortina, a well-known car model of the period. The company expanded beyond Singapore in 1982 by opening its first Malaysian boutique. This marked the start of a broader regional strategy built around specialist luxury-watch retail. Over time, Cortina Watch developed both multi-brand locations and mono-brand boutiques in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Australia. Its retail portfolio has included major international names such as Rolex, Patek Philippe, Cartier, Chopard, Franck Muller, H. Moser & Cie, Parmigiani, and Tudor. Cortina Watch operates within Cortina Holdings. The parent company became publicly listed on the Singapore Exchange in 2002, while Cortina Watch continued as the group’s luxury-watch retail and distribution brand. The group’s activities extend beyond storefront sales to the distribution and market representation of selected watchmakers. A major corporate development occurred in 2021, when Cortina Holdings acquired Sincere Fine Watches. The transaction broadened the group’s network to more than 40 boutiques. Sincere Watch continued under its own name in Singapore and Malaysia, while the Pendulum name was used in Thailand. The group also held exclusive distribution rights for Franck Muller in 13 Asia-Pacific countries. Pacific Time Pte Ltd, another group subsidiary, handled distribution for brands including H. Moser & Cie, Moritz Grossmann, and Singer Reimagined. In 2022, Cortina Watch celebrated 50 years in business. The anniversary included exhibitions developed with Patek Philippe, Blancpain, Cartier, Chopard, Corum, Franck Muller, H. Moser & Cie, and TAG Heuer. Sixteen limited-edition models were presented as part of the anniversary activities. The program reinforced the company’s role as a regional platform for established luxury-watch brands and collector-focused launches. The available reference material identifies Jeremy Lim as chief executive officer in 2021. Cortina Watch’s history is consequently characterized by gradual geographic expansion, increasing integration with group-level distribution, and a continuing emphasis on premium mechanical watches and international luxury brands.

• 2022

  Fiftieth-anniversary program

  [1]Cortina Watchen.wikipedia.org

  Cortina Watch celebrates its fiftieth anniversary through exhibitions and 16 limited-edition models created with partner watch brands.

• 2021

  Sincere Fine Watches joins the group

  [1]Cortina Watchen.wikipedia.org

  Cortina Holdings acquires Sincere Fine Watches, expanding the group’s boutique network and retail brand portfolio.

• 2002

  Parent company lists on the Singapore Exchange

  [1]Cortina Watchen.wikipedia.org

  Cortina Holdings, the parent company of Cortina Watch, becomes a publicly traded company on the Singapore Exchange.

• 1982

  First overseas boutique opens in Malaysia

  [1]Cortina Watchen.wikipedia.org

  Cortina Watch begins its international expansion by opening its first boutique outside Singapore in Malaysia.

• 1972

  Cortina Watch is founded

  [1]Cortina Watchen.wikipedia.org

  Anthony Lim Keen Ban establishes Cortina Watch as a family-run luxury-watch retailer with its first outlet at Colombo Court in Singapore.

A regional luxury-watch specialist combining authorized multi-brand retail, mono-brand boutiques, and high-end watch distribution, with a particular focus on Swiss and international mechanical timepieces.

• Luxury watch retail · 1972

  Multi-brand luxury watch retail

  Cortina Watch’s core offering is a curated selection of high-end watches from multiple international brands. Its assortment has included Rolex, Patek Philippe, Cartier, Chopard, Franck Muller, H. Moser & Cie, Parmigiani, Tudor, and other premium makers. The format is designed for customers seeking established luxury names, fine mechanical movements, and collector-oriented models through specialist retail channels.

• Luxury watch retail

  Mono-brand boutiques

  Alongside multi-brand stores, Cortina Watch operates mono-brand boutiques associated with selected watchmakers. These locations provide a brand-specific environment for presenting a manufacturer’s collections, identity, and specialized product range. The mono-brand format supports the group’s role as a regional retail partner for international luxury-watch companies.

• Watch distribution

  Regional watch distribution

  Through the wider Cortina Group and its subsidiaries, the business participates in regional distribution for selected watch brands. The group has held exclusive distribution rights for Franck Muller in 13 Asia-Pacific countries and has managed distribution for brands including H. Moser & Cie, Moritz Grossmann, and Singer Reimagined through Pacific Time Pte Ltd.

• 2022Cortina Watch 50th Anniversary

  Singapore · Malaysia · Thailand · Indonesia · Hong Kong · Taiwan · Australia

  Cortina Watch commemorated five decades in business with exhibitions and anniversary activities developed with Patek Philippe, Blancpain, Cartier, Chopard, Corum, Franck Muller, H. Moser & Cie, and TAG Heuer. The program featured 16 limited-edition models made specifically for the anniversary celebrations.

  Outcome. The anniversary program highlighted Cortina Watch’s long-term relationships with luxury watch brands and its regional multi-brand retail positioning.

  Source

• 2021

  Acquisition of Sincere Fine WatchesM&A

  Background

  Cortina Holdings pursued the acquisition to enlarge its regional boutique network and broaden the group’s luxury-watch retail presence.

  Action taken

  The parent company acquired privately held Sincere Fine Watches. Sincere continued operating under its own name in Singapore and Malaysia, while Pendulum remained the group’s brand in Thailand.

  Aftermath

  The wider group’s network grew to more than 40 boutiques and its portfolio was differentiated between Cortina Watch’s international luxury-brand focus and Sincere Watch’s boutique-oriented offering.

  Source

1. 1Cortina Watchen.wikipedia.org