Welcome back to an aBlogtoWatch original series, where we discuss important stores that sell watches all over the world. Each store we profile has an interesting story to tell about where they operate and who they sell to. Whether you buy watches from brick and mortar retailers or prefer to buy watches online, these are the stores that help shape our watch culture around the globe. There is a long list of stores to cover, but if there is a retail location in your favorite city that we simply can’t miss, let us know in the comments below. Here is a map of stores we have covered so far.
Where to buy watches in Vancouver, British Columbia?
A city that is consistently named as one of the top five worldwide for livability and quality of life started in 1867 as a makeshift tavern that had been set up on a plank between two stumps (to serve the workers of the Hastings Mill). It only took 9 years for it to be renamed “Vancouver” and incorporated shortly thereafter as a city.
These days, Vancouver is one of the most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities in Canada; 52% of its residents have a first language other than English. And as Canada’s 3rd largest metro area it has some of the best weather and city scenery in Canada.
In this cosmopolitan city, we find Siba Jewellers which has three locations in “Van.” They first began selling watches around the end of 1997, just a couple of years after they opened for business in 1994 at the Pacific Centre. They have since moved into a bigger location within that mall and opened additional stores in the Richmond Centre and the Oakridge Centre.
aBlogtoWatch: What types of watches are popular in your market? What makes Vancouver a unique place to buy watches?
Siba Jewellers: Vancouver is a very sophisticated luxury market, prompted mainly by the mix of local “old-time wealth” and by the more recent influx of affluent newcomers mainly from Asia, but also Europe and the Middle-East.
The demand for the best Swiss watch brands has grown dramatically over the last 5 years, especially due to the Chinese economic boom, giving Vancouver a new type of consumer, particularly fond of fine timepieces.
Our customers tend to fall into two groups: those who appreciate unique design, trending towards dressy gold and diamond watches, and those who appreciate fine watch-making and complicated movements.
Because of the breadth of our market, Vancouver is one of the few places in the world that caters to such a diverse customer profile and offers such a wide selection of Swiss luxury timepieces at all price levels.
ABTW: What would you tell watch lovers in other cities that watch lovers in Vancouver like?
Siba Jewellers: Vancouver watch-lovers tend to travel the world, and many come from Asia due to our location along the Pacific coast. Our customers are therefore very familiar with all the international brands and are highly knowledgeable about the craftsmanship involved in fine watch-making. Vancouver women increasingly seem to be interested in more complicated watches as well, with a much higher demand for women’s automatic and mechanical watch movements than in the past.
Watch-lovers in Vancouver form a considerable part of the local market and always desire the latest novelties and designs.
ABTW: Do you serve mostly locals or tourists, or is it a good mix? Also, what percentage of your customers would you call “knowledgeable watch collectors?”
Siba Jewellers: Our customers are 70% locals and 30% tourist. As Siba Jewellers is well established and known for carrying only luxury timepieces, most of our customers are “knowledgeable watch collectors.”
ABTW: What is Vancouver best known for? What do visitors have to do, see, or eat while there?
Siba Jewellers: Vancouver is famed for its beautiful natural setting; the city between mountains and ocean where one can ski and go to the beach in the same day. Most locals and many visitors engage in a wide range of outdoor activities to enjoy the stunning local nature.
The city is also identified as being one of the greenest, thanks to its numerous parks, gardens, tree-lined streets and waterfront recreational areas. This helps make Vancouver such a pleasurable place for locals and visitors, and contributes to its ranking as one of the best places to live in the world each year.
Its array of different neighbourhoods, each with their own unique style and character, help give the city a diverse and vibrant urban spirit. They also create a small community atmosphere while offering different kinds of eateries, bars and shops.
Visitors will enjoy the many attractions the city has to offer, such as world-famous Stanley Park, Granville Island, the Vancouver Aquarium, and Science World, to name a few. They will also find great food everywhere in town, with a very wide selection of quality international and local cuisines.
ABTW: As a business, do you sponsor or participate in any local events, watch-related or otherwise?
Siba Jewellers: For many years, Siba Jewellers has been a proud participant in the Face the World Fundraising gala by donating a luxury timepiece to the soiree’s silent auction. The funds raised are distributed to local charities, with a particular focus on organizations that support battered women, abused children, the elderly, and the homeless.
ABTW: What are some of the watch brands you are known for carrying? If you could pick a watch brand or model that epitomizes the culture or style of Vancouver what would it be?
Siba Jewellers: Siba Jewellers has a very strong relationship with Richemont, and we have developed a strong reputation for representing their most prestigious brands including Cartier, Piaget, Vacheron Constantin, and Baume & Mercier. As well, we carry other famous Swiss brands such as Omega, Chopard, and Tag Heuer.
As our customer base and product offering is so diverse, it is difficult to identify one watch brand or model that represents the culture of Vancouver.
However, we can state that some of our best sellers are Piaget’s Altiplano, Cartier’s Ballon Bleu and Omega’s De Ville. SibaJewellers.ca
