EDITOR’S NOTE

Just how important are the millennials to the watch and jewellery industry? In 2018 alone, the cohort born between 1981 and 2000 represented some 47 per cent of global personal luxury goods consumers, according to a report by Bain & Company. The management consulting firm also predicted that the younger generation (compromising the millennials and Generation Z, those born after 2000) will make up about 55 per cent of the luxury market by 2025. This group of young people is the primary engine of the future growth of the luxury market and they will account for a considerable part of the global demand for watches and jewellery.

In this edition of Jewels & Time, we featured watch and jewellery enthusiasts, cover personality Derrick Yeo, property executive Carmen Ow and non-profit organisation founder Sonia Ong, (page 56), all of whom know the history of myriad brands and are well-updated on the latest releases. What is particularly interesting is that all three of them prize quality and craftsmanship over design and even brand equity. Their perspectives, while surprising, mirror the views expressed by millennial respondents in a 2017 Deloitte study. Clearly, young consumers are not buying blindly. They spend considerable effort to understand the market and do sufficient research before making an acquisition.

On the topic of craftsmanship, the maisons' high jewellery creations on page 46 are impressive. The artisans from the different houses have pushed their own limits, innovating with novel materials and trying unprecedented gemstone combinations. Each collection's inspiration is a breath of fresh air too— ideas are plucked from the sky (literally), the desert and even the world of cinema.

Over on the horological front, the brands are no slouches either. We see notable commemorative watches and mind-blowing technical innovations—an indication that the watch industry is picking up steam after two slow years.

Finally, what is Jewels & Time without a homage to our local jewellers? Their sparkling creations demonstrate how creative and skilled our homegrown jewellers are. Find out who made it to this year's Tatler 10 Best Jewellers list on page 64.

Meanwhile, stay tuned to singaporetatler.com for more news and events from the watch and jewellery world.