Does your age determine what your watch collection looks like? According to these three Malaysian watch collectors, not really. Some people collect watches because it’s a way of connecting with a father who’d inducted them into the hobby. Others play the investment game. Here, we learn what makes our local collectors tick.

Koh Yu-Jin, 25, Project Manager

My first watch was a Flik Flak and it meant the world to me. But perhaps it was the Orient Sun & Moon that made me realise I was truly growing up when it came to this hobby.

The funny part about that watch is that I had initially intended to buy a cheap watch — one without any heritage. Thankfully, my dad was an avid collector himself, and he advised me to look into brands that had a bit more of a history. That was how I ended up getting the Orient. I still remember the feeling of walking into the store and not knowing what I was looking at. I am glad that I have since learned so much more about watches.

My dad has always been a huge influence on me. I remember one day when — just out of the blue — he gifted me a Rolex 6694. There was no big announcement. He just passed it to me like one would pass the salt, and knowing it was a meaningful gesture to him despite his casual demeanour just added to the sentimentality. It remains one of my most prized watches today.

A lot of the watches I own have stories behind them. Many are gifts that mark big occasions, too. The Longines Legend Diver 36 — for instance — was a graduation gift. The Oris Big Crown Pointer Date was passed down by my mum. The Grand Seiko 45GS was an impulse buy that reignited my interest in watch collecting.

Because of watches, I would go on and start my blog at Feed The Wrist. And it became a hobby that helped me meet new people, even though that was the last thing I intended.

The most important thing I have learned about this hobby is to find something that gives you pride. There is no point scouring for the rarest watch in the world if you do not enjoy wearing it. I would say I have everything I need, but of course — to a watch fan — a collection is never complete.

Dennis Ng, 28, Entrepreneur

The moment I got into watches, it would already be in the luxury range. I was about 19 years old when I started my own business, and a couple of years after that, I was fortunate enough to afford a Rolex Submariner. That was my first watch ever.

The ones who influenced my choice of watches would be my acquaintances, who are all into the luxury range themselves. That is why I have always had an expensive taste in watches. None of my family is into watches, so it is a hobby that I picked up totally on my own.

I know most of the watch references by heart, so I am very interested in the craft, but I also buy and sell — meaning I do not get too attached to any particular piece. The watches in my collection do not really hold much sentimental value to me, and every purchase I make is transactional in nature. To put it bluntly, I am aware that watches are a status symbol, so that shapes my buying decisions. To me, rarity is a plus as well, which is why I bought this Richard Mille RM 005. My watch collection is in a constant state of flux — it grows and shrinks. Right now, it consists of this Richard Mille. Naturally, the other brands I look at also offer rare models in their collections. These include Hublot, Ulysse Nardin, and Franck Muller. The model that has really piqued my attention for now is the Patek Philippe 5968R. Time will tell when I will acquire that.

Edward Teoh, 44, Entrepreneur

My first watch? That would be the Casio G-Shock DW5600 in my teenage years, some 30 years back. I remember the Casio G-Shock being all the craze at this time. The boys would wear the typical G-Shocks and the girls would wear Baby-Gs.

I have always enjoyed wearing a watch, and I was an active person who enjoyed having a tool on my wrist too. I stayed with this watch until I graduated school and joined the workforce. This was when I started looking for more appropriate watches for office wear.

That is why I ended up getting this old TAG Heuer Carrera. Besides watches, I was also very interested in cars, so this Carrera made for the perfect choice at the time. I still wear this watch from time to time, even after all these years.

I have since branched out to watches such as this Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph, and I am now also motivated by how much watches retain their value. Because besides being good jewellery, watches do not depreciate that much in price, provided you make the right choice. The watches can even rise in value, sometimes instantly. So even though I am a watch fan, I am also shrewd in that aspect of the hobby.

My watch collection remains on the smaller side, but I make sure to curate it based on the factors above.

Once you are done with this story, click here to catch up with our November 2024 issue.