MICHELLE ENG

The timepieces in Michelle’s 30-piece strong collection read like a “who’s who” of the watch world. From Patek Philippe’s Twenty~4 and Aquanaut, to Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Reverso and the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona that she wears for the photo shoot, it’s a list that covers the beloved icons of each brand. And with good reason. “It’s like my husband says, if you’re going to buy a watch, buy a good watch; and not just for how nice it looks. You have to think about its mechanism, you have to think about its value. Look at classic pieces; ones that can stand the test of time.When he first explained this to me, I thought:‘It’s just a watch,’ but it makes sense to me now,’” she recalls. It’s very sound, practical advice for anyone looking to start building their own horology collection. Especially since it’s coming from someone who has the distinct and relatively unusual privilege of naming Gerald Genta as the timepiece that kickstarted her horology adventure.“It was a Gerald Genta Mickey Mouse watch that my mum gave me when I first started working because I always thought it was really cute. It’s pretty meaningful as well because it’s something she had always worn and I have really liked it since I was a child.What makes it even more special is that it’s out of production; I don’t wear it anymore because I’m afraid I’ll damage it.” It’s a good thing, then, that she has another Gerald Genta—a Retrograde that was a birthday gift from her parents—to fall back on when the mood strikes her.“A watch is definitely a statement piece; and it tells a lot about your personality. Ladies who wear very dainty watches tend to be more feminine and ladylike. For me? I prefer bigger watches because, well, I’m tall so a small watch would be lost on me. Besides, I don’t like to come across as too girly. So I always wear one accessory that’s a bit edgy and funky to make it less feminine.”