FOUR CHAPTERS OF THE SEA
Oan.Gio × DR Studio Watches
For this first collaboration with
Oan.Gio, we explore different chapters of Singapore's history, through four
hand-painted dials: from its mythical origins to the global maritime hub it is
today.
The sea as a common stage, the vessels
as a common thread.
Each chapter has been reinterpreted as
a miniature painting, carefully composed around the watch's unique dial
architecture.
Four individual timepieces, bringing
together history and watchmaking through art.
David Rodriguez
Artist & Watch Dial Painter
01 — THE OMEN OF SINGAPURA
According to legend, Prince Sang Nila
Utama survived a violent storm by throwing his crown into the sea.
Upon reaching the shores of Temasek,
he encountered a mysterious animal with a red body and a black head, which he
believed to be a lion. This encounter inspired the name Singapura, the Lion
City.
02 — A COLONIAL FREE PORT
In 1819, Sir Stamford Raffles
established a British trading post in Singapore, setting the stage for its
development into a major commercial port.
Inspired by 19th-century engravings,
this painting portrays the growing waterfront, where sailing vessels,
merchants, and warehouses reflect the island's expanding maritime connections.
03 — THE COLONY WEAKENED
On 10 December 1941, HMS Prince of
Wales was sunk by Japanese naval aircraft off the coast of Malaya,
alongside HMS Repulse.
The loss of these two British warships marked a
turning point in the region's history, exposing the vulnerability of colonial
power and foreshadowing the eventual end of British rule in Singapore.
04 — GLOBAL HARBOUR
From the shores of a mysterious island
to one of the world's leading maritime hubs, Singapore has continuously
reinvented its relationship with the sea.
This brings us to the present, where
container ships, port cranes, and the illuminated skyline reflect the island's
strategic position in global trade.
Once the setting of legends and
conflict, the sea remains at the heart of Singapore's identity.