GE 2025 is happening next week, and it’s shaping up to be one of the most keenly contested ones in history. From a four-corner fight in Tampines GRC to the Workers’ Party sending their all-star team to duel DPM Gan Kim Yong in Punggol GRC, this year’s General Elections will serve as a litmus test for PM Wong’s new tenure at the helm of both the PAP and Singapore.
While watching some of the press conferences, I couldn’t help but notice interesting timepieces on the wrists of some candidates. I previously wrote a similar watchspotting article for GE 2020, and it ended up being one of my most viewed articles of 2020. As such, I’ve decided to do another (longer) iteration for this year’s electoral candidates as well.
Disclaimer: The opinions I expressed here are my own and are in no way meant to support/disparage any particular candidate or party. All photos are also taken from the candidates’/party’s official Facebook accounts.
1) Lee Hsien Loong
Despite stepping down as Prime Minister, SM Lee is still contesting this year’s General Elections in Ang Mo Kio GRC. He wears a humble Seiko 5, a watch that he has been on his wrist for decades.
On the wrist: Seiko 5 SNKK87
Price: $150
2) K. Shanmugam
Aside from Lee Hsien Loong, Minister Shanmugam is the only other candidate who first entered parliament before 2000. He’s also probably the only candidate who double wrist, wearing an Apple Watch on one wrist and the (mightily impressive) Glashütte Original Senator Excellence Perpetual Calendar on the other.
On the wrist: Glashütte Original Senator Excellence Perpetual Calendar, Apple Watch
Price: $31,700 (for the Glashütte Original Senator Excellence Perpetual Calendar)
3) Chan Chun Sing
Among all the candidates, Minister Chan is known for wearing one specific watch: the ubiquitous Casio F-91w. He famously said, “The watch fulfils the purpose of telling time. Never needed anything more than that”, and even replaces the strap (instead of the watch) when it breaks.
On the wrist: Casio F-91w
Price: $20
4) Lam Pin Min
Former Senior Minister of State Lam has been seen making his rounds in Sengkang GRC to wrest it back from the Workers’ Party. Interestingly, he wears a similar watch to current Sengkang MP Jamus Lim (more on him later) – a vintage Tag Heuer 2000.
On the wrist: TAG Heuer 2000
Price: ~$500 (market value for quartz variant)
5) Ong Ye Kung
Minister Ong also has an impressive watch collection, often sporting his trusty Omega Seamaster Professional 300 during his walkabouts.
On the wrist: Omega Seamaster Professional 300
Price: $9000
6) Jamus Lim
The current oppa of Sengkang GRC, Assoc. Prof Lim has been seen doing his walkabouts with his trusty TAG Heuer 2000 – the same model as Mr. Lam, but with a silver face.
On the wrist: TAG Heuer 2000
Price: ~$500 (market value for quartz variant)
7) Dennis Tan
The incumbent for WP stronghold Hougang, Mr. Tan, is often spotted with his trusty G-Shock DW-5600 during his walkabouts.
On the wrist: G-Shock DW5600
Price: $150
8, 9) Andre Low and Ong Lue Ping
The Workers’ Party has fielded an impressive slate of newcomers this election, with two standouts being Mr. Andre Low and Mr. Ong Lue Ping. The former was a lawyer from Drew & Napier who worked under Senior Counsel Davinder Singh, and was spotted wearing the indie cult hit Christopher Ward Bel Canto on his wrist. The latter is currently serving as a Senior Principal Clinical Psychologist at the Institute of Mental Health, and was seen wearing the Moonswatch Neptune. Interestingly, both seemed to be conscious choices by the candidates to represent something blue on their wrists.
On the wrist(s): Christopher Ward Bel Canto (Andre Low), MoonSwatch Neptune (Ong Lue Ping)
Price: $5200 (Bel Canto), $380 (MoonSwatch)
Mr. Low’s Bel Canto takes the cake for me as it shows that he’s a bona fide watch enthusiast, and a man of taste. His pairing of the watch with his light blue uniform is simply icing on top.
10) Alfred Tan
The SDP candidate for Sembawang GRC, I spotted Mr. Tan with the MoonSwatch Jupiter during the recent party political broadcast.
On the wrist: MoonSwatch Jupiter
Price: $380
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