A Year-End Note From Leon
As the year comes to a close, I wanted to take a moment to write to you directly and say thank you.
This past year wasn’t an easy one. The uncertainty around tariffs affected not just us, but many of you as well. We had to adapt along the way, sometimes imperfectly, and find solutions that worked for everyone involved. Introducing flat-fee shipping that includes taxes and duties became an interim step. It takes a little longer to reach the U.S., but it has been reliable, transparent, and without surprises. What stood out most through it all was your patience, understanding, and continued trust.
Despite the challenges, it was also a meaningful year. We returned to Windup San Francisco and finally had the chance to meet collectors from across the U.S. in person again. Back home in Singapore, we took part in the Outdoor Fair for the third time, joined Boutiques Singapore for the first time, and worked closely with Cycle Project Store on something a little different.
Together with Cycle Project Store and type designer Mark De Winne, we introduced the Dabao Cycling Club and Le Tour de Makan. It was a light-hearted celebration of Singapore’s cycling culture, local flavour, and the simple joy of riding hard and eating well. For us, it was a reminder that adventure doesn’t always mean distant places. Sometimes it’s just around the corner, at your favourite hawker stall, shared with friends after a good ride.
On the product side, we chose to move thoughtfully rather than rush. Early in the year, we introduced the colourful Titanium+ Odyssey series, followed later by the Titanium Odyssey Orca. We refined the Field Medic with a more legible layout, refreshed the Rally, updated the Black Dragonfish with a new chapter ring to better separate GMT and local time, and reworked the Singularity with a darker dial and upgraded X1 lume that extends fully to the edges of the hands. We also marked our 8th anniversary with the Odyssey Steel, featuring three full-lume dials. Each update came from listening closely and improving with intent.
Collaborations continued to be an important part of our year. Locally, we worked with Obbi Good Label on the autOGLactic Field Watch, a small-batch project rooted in a shared belief in making gear with intention, durability, and care. We continued our work with Worn & Wound and Matt on the RTCC project, which collectively raised over USD 60,000 for the Ride to Conquer Cancer and marked an important evolution of our Fighter Project. We also partnered with GMT751 on a collaboration inspired by resilience and perseverance, with all proceeds supporting DI.DI, an organisation empowering disabled riders. Each of these projects reminded us that the most meaningful collaborations are built on shared values and real stories.
This year also came with loss. We lost our watchmaking mentor, Bannes Lee — the teacher who shaped how we work, how we think, and how we continue to learn. His influence still guides us every day. His presence is still deeply felt, and he continues to influence the way we work every day.
Alongside the challenges were moments that reminded us why this journey matters. We created a custom dial in memory of a customer’s beloved dog. We worked on dials for military groups. We heard from a collector who wears his Black Dragonfish every single day. We engraved countless casebacks this year, each carrying messages of love, remembrance, and celebration. These moments never feel routine to us. They are personal, and they stay with us.
Most of all, I want to thank you, our customers and community. You’ve kept this business going not just through purchases, but through conversations, referrals, photos shared, watches spotted on wrists, and stories passed along to friends. Many people discover BOLDR because someone they trust took the time to share their experience. That kind of support means more to us than we can properly express.
BOLDR has always been about curiosity, resilience, and making things with intent, at our own pace. We weren’t as active on social media this year, partly due to loss, and partly because our focus shifted to what mattered most. We hope that care and attention came through in the watches themselves, and in the way we showed up when you reached out.
Looking ahead, the year to come feels quietly exciting. New collaborations, fresh concepts, playful colours, and a continued focus on building functional tools for everyday adventure. We’re heading into the new year focused, curious, and open to experimentation.
Thank you for being part of this journey with us, for wearing our watches as part of your own stories, and for continuing to share that journey with others.
Wishing you and your loved ones a meaningful, healthy, and fulfilling year ahead.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Leon
Founder