When Singapore marked 50 years of independence in 2015, several luxury brands released limited edition pieces for the occasion. Five stood out: a red Louis Vuitton bag and watch, a crystal Swarovski Merlion, and a pen and a watch from Montblanc. Prices below are those quoted in 2015.
Louis Vuitton: the bag and the watch
The Petite Malle monogram rouge was priced at S$7,050 in 2015 and was offered from July of that year. The classic monogram bag was given a striking red trim, and it was embossed with the words “Limited Edition Singapore Jubilee 2015”. Only 38 were made.
The matching Tambour monogram watch was announced at S$3,800 in 2015. It had a red monogram canvas strap and a red monogram dial, and the edition was limited to 25 numbered pieces. Both items were planned for Marina Bay Sands, Ngee Ann City and Ion Orchard.
The house also marked the year with a far costlier piece. The Escale World Time SG50 was a nine-piece variant of the Escale World Time, and its GMT +8 zone was marked “SIN” instead of “BEI”. It was priced at S$90,800.
Swarovski: the Crystal Myriad Merlion
Swarovski reinterpreted the Merlion as part of a wider SG50 collection, with prices starting from S$4,800 in 2015. Each figure was set with 15,793 crystals in clear crystal, Crystal Aurora Borealis, Crystal Moonlight, Crystal Silver Shade and White Opal.
Artisans spent 83 hours hand-setting the crystals using the brand’s Pointiage technique. A further 23 hours went into hand-crafting the base, which used a ceramic material called Ceralun, mixed with colours to imitate a blue and white marble base. That makes 106 hours in all.
The Merlion was sold exclusively in Singapore, in an edition of 20 pieces. It came in an anniversary box with a Certificate of Authenticity.
Montblanc: the pen and the watch
The Meisterstück White Solitaire pen was done in white lacquer with red gold fittings. Prices started from S$1,190 in 2015, and the edition was limited to 500 pieces across ballpoint, fountain and rollerball styles. It was one of a trio of limited edition writing instruments Montblanc created for the occasion.
The Star Classique Singapore Special Edition was the brand’s watch for the jubilee. It is a slim 39mm watch with a mother-of-pearl dial. The city-state’s lion emblem sits on the seconds sub-dial, alongside a tiny “SG50”. The skyline of the city centre is printed on the underside of the sapphire crystal on the case back. Inside is an ETA 2892 automatic movement.
Only 50 were made. Reported prices differed: the early listing said from S$13,000, while watch-trade coverage in July and August 2015 gave S$14,200 including taxes. The edition was available at Montblanc’s Singapore boutiques from August 2015.
Part of the proceeds from the SG50 watch and pens went to Pathlight School’s Poor and Needy Fund, which helps children with special needs. Montblanc also ran a pop-up at Ngee Ann City in August 2015 showing the pieces alongside artwork by Singaporeans.
Why these pieces mattered
The five were small by design: 20, 25, 38, 50 and 500 pieces. The limited runs made them collectors’ items almost on release. Red, white and the Merlion or lion motifs tied each one to the nation’s flag and emblems. Eleven years on from 2015, they remain a record of how luxury houses joined the jubilee.