Kate Lim, regional managing director of Sincere Fine Watches Singapore, on leadership, legacy, and why the human touch matters most in the watch business
It has been just two years since Kate Lim stepped into the role of regional general manager at Sincere Fine Watches, coinciding with the company’s 70th anniversary. Appointed regional managing director in June, she now oversees Sincere Watch in Singapore and Malaysia, and Pendulum in Thailand.
Her new role comes at a time when Southeast Asia’s collectors are helping to shape the global conversation around watch collecting. The position demands more than operational expertise. It requires a clear vision of how horology should be experienced and presented. Yet when the opportunity arose, Lim’s focus was not on the title but on the responsibility that accompanied it.
“One of the first questions I asked myself was whether I had built a strong enough team and organisation to succeed without me being involved in every decision,” she recalls. The first people she turned to were her brother and husband. The former immediately understood the significance of the appointment; the latter has been a steadfast source of support throughout her career.
Leadership and watchmaking are deeply embedded in Lim’s story. She is the granddaughter of Anthony Lim, founder of Cortina Watch, and the daughter of Raymond Lim, CEO of Cortina Holding. For her, however, the promotion represents less a personal milestone than an evolution in leadership: shifting from overseeing individual decisions to setting the culture, vision, and direction of the markets under her purview.
What was the first ‘serious’ watch you owned?
The first brand-new ‘serious’ watch I owned was Rolex’s Yacht-Master, gifted to me by my grandparents when I joined the company. At the time, it represented my induction into the watch industry and the beginning of my professional journey. Today, it still carries those emotions. That is one of the wonderful things about watches. They can preserve memories and mark important moments in our lives. Every time I look at that watch, I am reminded of where my journey began.
If we peeked at your personal watch box, which piece would surprise people the most?
People would probably be surprised to find Chopard’s Happy Sport from the early 2000s. Most people assume my collection began when I entered the watch industry, but this watch predates all that.
It was originally a gift from my father to my mother, and she later passed it on to me, so it carries a lot of sentimental value. In fact, I once thought I had lost it and panicked; I started searching for a replacement. Fortunately, I found the original. Looking back, I realised that even if I had found a replacement, it would never have been the same. That experience reminded me that some watches are irreplaceable, not because of their value, but because of the memories and family history they carry.
How do you switch off after a long day in meetings?
The best way for me to switch off is to spend time with my dogs and plan my next holiday. Both force me to slow down in different ways.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received about leadership?
My father once told me, “You have to let people make their own mistakes.” At first, that was not always easy to accept. Over time, I realised that growth comes from experience and experience comes from making mistakes. That advice taught me the importance of trust, ownership, and giving people the opportunity to learn and develop for themselves.
Describe your leadership style.
I would describe my style as collaborative, empowering, and forward-looking. I believe a leader’s role is to create a clear sense of purpose and help people understand how their work contributes to a shared goal. Over time, I have learnt that leadership is less about having all the answers and more about building strong teams, giving people ownership, and creating an environment where they can grow. I encourage new ideas, but I also believe in accountability and execution.
What is the biggest shift you want to bring to the table in this next phase of growth?
The future of luxury retail lies in creating deeper connections, meaningful experiences, and a genuine sense of community around a shared passion for horology. The biggest shift I would like to bring is elevating the conversation we have with our clients. Products may spark interest, but relationships build lasting loyalty.
How do you see the role of the physical boutique evolving in an age of e-commerce and digital communities?
While digital platforms have made information more accessible, they have also created a great deal of noise and misinformation. A boutique offers something the digital world cannot fully replicate—the opportunity to experience a timepiece firsthand, gain informed guidance, and build meaningful relationships. Increasingly, its role is evolving from a place to buy a watch into a place to learn, connect, and engage with the world of horology.
If a client had to describe ‘the Sincere experience’, what do you hope they will say?
I hope they would say, “Sincere understands my tastes and consistently introduces me to watches I might not have discovered on my own.” That would tell me we are doing more than simply selling watches. It would mean we are combining expertise, curation, and relationships to help clients discover watches that resonate with them on a deeper level.
Sincere Fine Watches Singapore
This story first appeared in the August 2026 issue. Purchase it as a print or digital copy, or consider subscribing to us here