Ivan Chua is a Singaporean entrepreneur and designer who founded Vario, an independent watch and accessory brand, in 2016. A native of Singapore, Chua’s interest in timepieces was initially fostered by a childhood tradition where his father would purchase him a new watch before the start of each school year. Although he moved away from wearing watches for nearly two decades in favor of mobile phones, he eventually returned to horology after experiencing phone fatigue and rediscovering his teenage watch collection.

Before entering the watch industry, Chua established a successful career in graphic and broadcast design. For approximately a decade, he ran his own design studio, working with prominent international media brands such as MTV, HBO, National Geographic, and the Discovery Channel. This professional background in visual storytelling and brand identity would later become a foundational element of his approach to watch design.

The inception of Vario was accidental, born from Chua’s frustration with the poor quality of replacement straps for his vintage watches. Utilizing his design skills, he created a series of graphic-patterned NATO straps and launched them via a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo in March 2016. The success of this initial venture, coupled with positive feedback and photos from customers pairing his straps with various timepieces, encouraged Chua to transition from accessories to full watch production.

In 2017, Chua released his first timepiece, the Bauhaus-inspired Eclipse. This was followed by a series of collections that draw heavily from 20th-century history and art, including the Art Deco-themed Empire, the 1918 Trench and Medic watches, and the nautical-inspired NAVI. His designs are characterized by a “neo-vintage” aesthetic that seeks to capture the essence of specific eras—such as the Space Race or World War I—while maintaining modern specifications and accessibility. In 2025, his VERSA Dual Time Reversible Watch received international recognition with an iF DESIGN AWARD.

Chua operates Vario as a family-run microbrand alongside his wife, Judy. The couple manages most aspects of the business, from design and product development to customer service and logistics, out of their studio in Singapore. Chua’s philosophy emphasizes direct community engagement, often using customer feedback to refine prototypes and future releases. Under his leadership, Vario has grown from a hobbyist strap business into a recognized name in the global microbrand community, with a significant presence in markets including the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia.