JUST FOR KEEPS

One of the questions that I regularly get asked by friends is: “What watch should I buy?” My default reply never falters: “Do you have at least 20 minutes to spare?”There’s a whole list of things to consider before any wise recommendation can be made: Are you an active person or do you consider bar-hopping a form of exercise? Does cocktails at Atlas sound like your kind of night, or would you rather be snacking out to the latest episode of Glow on Netflix? What’s your style; what’s in your wardrobe; and, more importantly, how much are you willing to spend? The list goes on and on… You see, the hunt for the perfect timepiece is quite similar to the quest for a life partner (except a watch will last several generations, if you’ve chosen right).You want a watch that fits into your lifestyle seamlessly and makes you look good.You want a companion that you can show off to your girlfriends, knowing that you’ll get their seal of approval (even better if it’s given with a tinge of envy).To borrow the words of Chin Bottinelli— who never leaves home without her watch; or drives home when she does so—you want a watch that completes you. Turn to “Girl’s Best Friend” on page 12 to find out how her love affair with horology started, and hear what advice Michelle Eng, Loh May-Han and Mae Tan have to give about finding the r ight timepiece. If that inspires you to start a collection of your own, flip over to “Stand Out Crowd” (page 24), where we’ve listed the 15 stellar timepieces that caught our attention this year. In addition to that, we’ve also CHARMAINE HO packed these pages with a plethora of choices to suit every Executive Editor budget, style and temperament. So take your time and enjoy. Who knows? You may just find a love to last three lifetimes.