LOREM IPSUM
Our Heritage
19th century
Pioneering Beginnings
1869
A Pocketful of Gems
At 19, Balage Porolis de Silva left Galle, Ceylon, on a journey that would take him across continents in search of opportunity. Travelling with a pocketful of gemstones and an eye for beauty, his voyage eventually brought him to Singapore in 1869, where the foundations of a family enterprise would take root.
1872
A House is Founded
After a few years of the business, Balage Porolis de Silva established the very first B.P. de Silva Jewellers atelier on High Street, Singapore. Built on a love of beautiful objects, fine gemstones and craftsmanship, the business became the beginning of a family legacy that would grow and evolve across generations.
20th Century
Expanding Excellence
1928
A New Chapter in Time
B.P. de Silva became the first agent for Omega watches in Singapore, marking the family's entry into the world of Swiss watchmaking. It was the beginning of a relationship with horology that would become an enduring part of the Group's story.
1942
Safekeeping a Legacy
As war reached Singapore, Titus de Silva, then entrusted with the family jewellery business, quietly removed its most precious jewels from the company safe and buried them beneath a nearby tree for safekeeping. When the war ended, he returned to recover them, helping B.P. de Silva begin again. His courage and foresight safeguarded not only the company's treasures, but a family legacy that could be carried forward for generations.
1976
RISIS: Preserving Beauty
RISIS was established with the idea of preserving the fleeting beauty of nature through craft, transforming real orchids into enduring objects finished in precious metal. Its creation was a natural extension of B.P. de Silva's longstanding appreciation for craftsmanship and beauty, and its belief in creating things that stand the test of time.
1986
A Meeting of Family Legacies
B.P. de Silva became an official agent for Audemars Piguet, beginning a relationship between two independent family businesses united by a respect for craftsmanship, heritage and long-term thinking. As Audemars Piguet's international presence grew, so too did the partnership, with B.P. de Silva later opening Audemars Piguet's first standalone boutique in the world, marking an important chapter in a relationship that has endured across generations.
1996
A Partnership in Swiss Watchmaking
Building on decades of experience in Swiss watchmaking, B.P. de Silva entered into a joint venture with the Swatch Group through a relationship built on mutual trust between Nicolas G. Hayek and Sunil Amarasuriya. Hayek invited Sunil to join him at Swatch, and when Sunil chose to remain with his family business, the two instead built a long-term partnership together. The venture grew to oversee the distribution and marketing of Swatch Group brands across Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, and reflected a shared belief that enduring businesses are built not only on strategy, but on relationships and trust.
1997
The Founding of Senso Group
Senso Group was established, extending the family's entrepreneurial interests into new areas while continuing a tradition of building businesses for the long term.
21st Century
New Milestones in Luxury & Sustainability
2010
B.P. de Silva at Raffles Hotel
B.P. de Silva Jewellers opened a boutique at the historic Raffles Hotel Arcade, bringing together two Singaporean names with histories stretching back more than a century. It was a fitting home for the jeweller, sharing a sense of place, heritage and enduring hospitality with one of Singapore's most recognisable icons.
2016
A New Home for Singapore Tea
The 1872 Clipper Tea Co. opened its flagship standalone store at ION Orchard, introducing its first in-store speciality tea bar and creating a contemporary home for the ritual of tea. Bringing together tea, craft and hospitality, the space offered a new way for a younger generation to discover and enjoy the Singapore tea brand.
2022
150 Years, Looking Forward
B.P. de Silva Jewellers celebrated its 150th anniversary, honouring five generations of craftsmanship while looking towards what the next 150 years might hold. The milestone year saw the unveiling of five High Jewellery creations, alongside the opening of the House's flagship at 14C Dempsey Road, a sunlit space surrounded by greenery and conceived as a welcoming home for jewellery, stories and craftsmanship. B.P. de Silva Jewellers also became a Certified B Corporation, reflecting a belief that longevity is not simply about enduring, but about building responsibly for the generations that follow.
2026
RISIS: 50 Years in Bloom
RISIS celebrates its Golden Jubilee, marking 50 years since it first transformed the natural orchid into an enduring expression of Singaporean craftsmanship. The anniversary looks both backwards and forwards, honouring the artistry that made RISIS an icon while reimagining the orchid for a new generation through the Jubilee Capsule Series, 50 Years. 50 Orchids.
