TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE
A-Listers David Ng, Matthew Lim and Sherman Lau offer a glimpse into the world of timeless prestige
What are your favourite watches among your personal collection?
I don't have a particular favourite, but there are a few pieces that I adore. They are unique on their own, and they are incomparable. Among my favourites are the Rolex Daytona half gold, the Patek Philippe Nautilus, as well as the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak White/Silver Dial. These watches exude a very different vibe from one another, and I would wear them depending on the situation, location, and dress code. I would say that these three are my everyday watches.
What is your approach to watch collecting?
Every timepiece has its own story, and the stories are very close to the heart. Every time I make a purchasing decision, it’s often a goal that I set out for myself to achieve. Whether it's within the next six months, one year, or even two years, I'd put in the hard work to achieve it. I am rewarding myself for the hard work that I’ve put in, and it has always been like this for the past 12 years.
I've never been much of an impulse buyer. Once I've set my eyes on a watch, I’d give it my time. Because there must be a greater reason aside from merely wanting to splurge. I realise that if I were to do that, I’d regret my decision the moment I walk out of the store. Aside from monetary value, impulsive buys have nothing substantial to offer.
What other pieces do you have in your collection?
Even though I have parted ways with several of my watches, there is a few that I will always treasure. I still have my Rolex Deepsea, a Royal Oak Offshore, as well as a TAG Heuer Carrera. I could not find it in me to trade my TAG Heuer Carrera off because of what it means to me. While it is not extravagant, the sentimental value that it has is priceless.
I bought the watch back in 2008. I was a student in Liverpool, and I was working a part time job. I remember walking past a watch shop and there was this lovely watch sitting in there. The hype for the watch was surreal, as the brand had Lewis Hamilton in all of its promotional campaign. Because I was a student at the time, I decided to give myself some time to save up. Within a year, I managed to save up enough and I went ahead with purchasing the timepiece.
The watch has accompanied me through various milestones in my life. It was with me during my final year of pursuing my degree, my masters, and when I started my business. It always reminds me of the good old days.
Are you open to vintage watches?
I love vintage watches. As I grew older, I started to have more appreciation towards vintage timepieces. Like I said, every watch has its own story ‒ When did they buy it? Was it for a special occasion? or was it a gift to celebrate a career milestone? Just imagine, the stories that it has, considering that it accompanied an owner through a large chunk of his life.
I was searching for a watch that was quite hard to get in the market. I started asking around, and eventually I got in touch with this person in Hong Kong, who has the watch that I was looking for. During the process, I got to know who he is, how long he has kept the watch, and how he got into watch collecting. There is so much to talk about, buying from another collector, as opposed to a shop. Although it’s very nice to feel pampered when purchasing from a boutique, the experience of purchasing pre-owned watches is something that watch collectors should not miss out on.
If you could offer one piece of advice to new watch collectors, what would it be?
Understand the importance of delayed gratification because there is immense value in that. We should always celebrate the things that we are proud of, and the successes we have achieved. When you acquire a timepiece under the right circumstances, then it becomes something that is immeasurable. Every timepiece has its story, what do you want yours to be?