Singapore Tatler Jewels & Time
DERRICK YEO, 34
Currently in love with his Richard Mille RM 055, the director at a manufacturing firm admits he fell in love with horology by accident. What started off as rewarding himself with a “decent automatic Swiss-made watch” at age 22 eventually grew into a full-blown obsession. “I love watches because they can last forever. While women have bags and jewellery, a watch is probably one of the most important accessories for men,” says Derrick. And being a millennial, he constantly documents his passion for watches on his Instagram account @trumpster.d—his posts about his collection and potential acquisitions have garnered him some 100,000 followers.
Your first watch purchase… I remember it’s a TAG Heuer Grand Carrera, one of its most high-end models about a decade ago. Back then, I was a big fan of American actor Leonardo Dicaprio, who wore a TAG Heuer watch and was also a global ambassador for the brand.
Acquisition criteria: design, brand or savoir faire? All of the above, to be honest. Craftsmanship matters a lot because I’m quite particular about the manufacturing quality and finishing of the watches. There has to be a certain level of finishing and finesse. As for design and brand, different watchmakers specialise in different crafts and aspects, and boast different qualities. There is a watch for every occasion, so I will choose my watches— and hence the brands—based on the event and theme.
The item on my current wishlist The new Rolex Oyster Perpetual Sea-dweller in yellow Rolesor, which is a combination of Oystersteel and 18K yellow gold. This is the first time Rolex has introduced yellow gold to the Sea Dweller range.