A CLASSIC EXAMPLE
From his tailored creations to his timepieces, less is more for this sartorialist.
DYLAN CHONG, 38 TAILOR AND OWNER OF DYLAN & SON
When we met Dylan Chong two years ago, the tailor
– who is distinguished by his minimalist palette and streamlined silhouette – shared his aversion to accessories:
“No pocket squares, bracelets, rings – these days I don’t even wear a watch – because I find them uncomfortable when I’m cutting.” Thanks to his recent engagement, however, Chong rediscovered his fondness for timepieces: “Last September, I proposed to my girlfriend, and an engagement watch made more sense to us than a ring.”
I’VE ALWAYS LIKED WATCHES,
but just did not get around to exploring them. My girlfriend [now fiancee] and I had previously talked about getting an engagement watch rather than the usual engagement ring. A watch made more sense to us since we will eventually get wedding bands, and we don’t want to have two rings.
I’D DESCRIBE MY STYLE
as classic – high-waisted trousers with braces, generously cut shirts, gently shaped jackets, dark over-the-calf socks and polished leather shoes. My suits are mostly in solid colours. My shirts are mostly whites and pale blues, with some striped ones thrown into the mix. I still don’t own a pocket square.
WHEN I LOOK AT WATCHES,
the design takes precedence over everything else. I’m not someone who fusses too much about movements and other technical intricacies. Size is a big consideration for me, and I favour small watches. Chunky sports watches and dress watches with many complications have zero appeal to me.
WHEN I FIRST SERIOUSLY GOT INTO WATCHES,
I did quite a bit of research, and sought advice from a couple of friends who are into the game. Two of my favourites are a Patek Philippe Gondolo from the ’70s and a Cartier Santos Galbee from the ’80s. I got them both online – the Patek is from
Chrono24, and the Cartier is from a Japanese website run by a watch store in Fukuoka.
THE PATEK PHILIPPE GONDOLO
has a mesmerising dial that just appeals to me. The stepped case adds an extra dimension to the watch. It’s the perfect size for my skinny wrist, and I love how slim the case is. I’m always in suits and dress shirts, and this slips perfectly beneath my cuffs.
I WANTED A BRACELET WATCH
to match more casual outfits. I was looking for a two-tone Cartier Santos Galbee with this chainlink bracelet, and finding one proved tricky. So when I found one in good condition, I jumped. I wear it more on weekends, with jeans and knitwear.