Every collection begins with a single moment of intrigue, when a watch becomes more than an object and starts to hold meaning. In this story, Men’s Folio speaks to three collectors about how curiosity turned into commitment, and how a first purchase slowly evolved into a lifelong pursuit shaped by memory, taste and time.
Ashley Ang
What was the first watch that sparked your curiosity and set you on the path to collecting?
Back in my secondary school days, my brother had this Swatch chronograph with a brown case and khaki dial. Back then, I knew nothing about watches, so I was intrigued by the chronograph hands that moved when I pressed the pushers. I would steal it from my brother to wear it from time to time until he eventually decided to let me have it.
Do you remember what it was about the watch that resonated with you at the time?
I liked how the khaki dial and the white indices and sub-dials contrasted with the brown case, so it was purely aesthetic. It has stopped working, but I still keep it as it is a sentimental piece.
Do you remember what it was about the watch that resonated with you at the time?
It started with vintage tool watches, driven by my obsession with denim and vintage military workwear. That was until a close friend introduced me to a world of watches beyond the mainstream hype. Now, I find myself drawn to watches with unconventional, asymmetrical case shapes — pieces that are conceptually fascinating and deemed obscure to the majority. It’s been a journey from function to form.
When you look at your collection now, what do you think it reveals about you as a person?
An individualist. It’s been a journey of learning to collect watches that deeply resonate with me, rather than seeking to impress others.
Are there recurring themes, brands, or complications you find yourself gravitating toward?
I’ve always been in awe of vintage and neo-vintage watches. It was a period when the industry was far less technologically advanced than it is today, and brands relied on originality and creative risk-taking. This resulted in some of the most daring, unconventional watch designs I’ve ever seen. Some examples include the Patek Philippe Gilbert Albert references or some of the iconic pieces designed by Gerald Genta.
What kind of watches catch your eye these days, and why?
I’m drawn to avant-garde designs, which explains why the Anoma A1 Slate is my most recent acquisition. Its fluid, sculpted form resonates with challenging the status quo.
Is there a watch you once owned that you wish you never let go of?
Each watch acquired and sold in my collection has been a deliberate decision. I live by a favourite quote from The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift: “Life’s simple. You make choices, and you don’t look back.” For me, letting go of a piece is about making room for the next phase of my collection.
What’s one watch you missed out on that still lingers in your mind?
My late grandfather’s Rolex Day-Date. It would have been a nice family heirloom to inherit.
Is there a dream watch you’re hoping to add to your collection one day?
For sure, the Patek Philippe Aquanaut Ref. 5065A. I love its stripped-down look from the Nautilus into something far more utilitarian and raw. Its eight-sided porthole-inspired case contrasts with the military-like grenade dial, representing a collision of both form and function. It could very well be my “endgame” watch.
Beyond monetary value, what makes a watch truly worth collecting for you?
To me, the watch has to be visually pleasing.
Yasir Cottam
What was the very first watch that sparked your curiosity and set you on the path to collecting?
I noticed a kid at school wearing a SevenFriday watch, or it might have been a Bell & Ross, but I remember thinking, “Wow, that’s quite a nice watch for a 14-year-old.” It got me thinking about watches for the first time. Not long after, I told my mum I wanted one of my own. We ended up visiting a watch shop at One Utama, where she kindly bought me my first “proper” watch, a Victorinox Swiss Army. It wasn’t anything too extravagant, but I wore it proudly. I really loved it. So yeah, I would say that moment marked the beginning of my interest in the world of watch collecting.
Do you remember what it was about that watch that resonated with you at the time?
To be completely honest, there wasn’t any deeper reason. I was simply drawn to a watch that looked good and felt valuable to me.
How did your taste in watches evolve from that first piece to what you collect today?
If you asked me today whether I’d still buy that Victorinox, probably not, but that’s simply because my taste has changed since I was fourteen. They make perfectly solid watches, but I’ve since gravitated towards more mainstream brands. These days, I also think more practically, especially about resale value. I tend to look for pieces that hold their worth.
When you look at your collection now, what do you think it reveals about you as a person?
Looking at my collection now, I’d say it shows how much more intentional I’ve become. I choose watches I genuinely appreciate, while also being mindful of their long-term value. I guess that could apply to all aspects of my life, [laughs].
Are there any recurring themes, brands, or complications you find yourself gravitating towards?
Personally, I’m very much into variety and don’t really gravitate towards a particular complication. While I do like complicated movements, they’re not necessarily what I look for when adding to my collection. Lately, though, I’ve been really into F.P. Journe’s vertical tourbillon.
What kinds of watches are catching your eye these days, and why?
Definitely F.P. Journe. I really like the way they look, and they’ve got some of the best complications and craftsmanship, hands down. Even though it’s a relatively young brand, F.P. Journe has a lot of technical innovation.
Is there a watch you once owned that you wish you never let go of?
Yes, and I think about it every day. It was the 16713 GMT Sultan with a slate silver dial, a Jubilee bracelet, and a few ruby markers. I let it go at a good price, and I’ve never seen it since.
What’s one watch you missed out on that still lingers in your mind?
Without a doubt, the F.P. Journe Élégante Titalyt, which is a very special quartz watch. I remember seeing one priced at around USD 40,000 and thinking it was such a good watch, but I couldn’t quite justify it at the time because it was quartz, and I didn’t really understand the movement either. Now it’s going for about USD 100,000. Dang.
Is there a dream watch you’re hoping to add to your collection someday?
Most probably the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin in titanium and BMG, with a smoked ivory dial and Arabic numerals (2686XT). It’s limited to just 35 pieces, too. One day…
Beyond monetary value, what makes a watch truly worth collecting for you?
To me, a watch worth collecting is one that is rare, hard to obtain, and difficult to replicate.
Lennard Yeong
What was the first watch that sparked your curiosity and set you on the path to collecting?
Ironically, it was the Apple Watch. I had never really worn watches before. I was working as a private chef at the time. Cooking for events was often very chaotic because I had to prepare everything and complete many tasks. Instead of wasting two minutes staring and waiting for the vegetables to boil, I would work on something else before coming back to it. I often wished I had on an Apple Watch, so I could set an alarm or timer with a voice command to remind me when a task needed attention. That made me research Apple Watches, which led me to watches in general, and eventually down the rabbit hole of collecting. The first mechanical watch I got was the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Small Seconds in blue.
Do you remember what it was about the watch that resonated with you at the time?
Blue has always been my favourite colour. It was the combination of that stunning sunburst dial and the way the hour and minute hands were shaped that makes it look holographic, as if it were popping out of the watch. I don’t own the watch any more, but I still think it’s a stunning watch to this day.
How did your taste in watches evolve from that first piece to what you collect today?
It has evolved tremendously; it’s very hard to tell how you really feel about a watch until you spend time with it. I don’t mean staring at photos of it or watching 10 YouTube videos of it, and I don’t even mean trying it on in the shop. There are several watches in my collection that I didn’t really feel a desire towards when I saw photos of them, or even after trying them on for 10 minutes. That changed after spending real time with them and wearing them daily for different settings and activities. Your impression changes for sure, but you also change as a person, too. I would never have thought I’d enjoy wearing a loud, full gold watch when I started the journey, but I think it’s kind of fun sometimes now. That’s the beauty of watch collecting. Some days you want the watch to stand out, some days you want it to completely slip under the radar; it just depends on how you feel that day, and your watch can reflect that.
When you look at your collection now, what do you think it reveals about you as a person?
[Laughs] I don’t really know, I don’t really think what I wear on my wrist can or should define me as a person. As mentioned earlier on, maybe if you saw me wearing a gold watch you’d think I’m an ostentatious and loud person, but if you saw me wearing a tiny watch that barely peeks out from under a cuff the next day, you’d think I’m shy and reserved, and that’s the truth – I can be both depending on how I’m feeling at the time.
Are there recurring themes, brands, or complications you find yourself gravitating toward?
I like sports watches because I don’t have to worry about leather straps getting tarnished when I wear them while cooking. That said, although I only own one skeletonised watch, I think it is my favourite complication because it’s fascinating to see the watch’s inner workings. It’s terrible for legibility and readability, no doubt, but it’s very beautiful.
What kinds of watches catch your eye these days, and why?
I told my wife after my last acquisition that it would be my “one and done” and, surprisingly, I’ve managed not to set eye on any other watch since. I think my goal has never been to have a large collection; I always feel a certain guilt spending so much on these objects if they don’t get sufficient wrist time. I’m more than satisfied with what I have. If I had to pick, I’d say the A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk. It’s a marvel but probably a tad big for my wrist. I’d love to own a ghost dial Cartier Santso Carree for its simplicity some day.
Is there a watch you once owned and wish you never let go of?
No. There are watches I sold that, when I look back now, think, “I’d probably still wear that today”. I often sell to fund other purchases, and I wear all of them extensively, so there’s nothing to regret.
What’s one watch you missed out on that still lingers in your mind?
Up until I acquired it last year, it was the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openwork. I fell in love with it very early on, worked towards it, and when I finally got it, it didn’t disappoint.
Is there a watch you’re hoping to add to your collection?
None at the moment.
Beyond monetary value, what makes a watch worth collecting for you?
Every watch in my collection can, more or less, be purchased by anyone who saves up enough, as I did. Perhaps I view things with a very practical lens. If I ever needed funds to take care of my family in an emergency, I’d have no problem selling my watches, even the one I wore on my wedding day, because I know I can save up enough again to purchase it down the line. The one watch that I will never let go of is my father’s Omega Chronostop. He wore it every day. I have memories of him taking it off and carefully putting it in his drawer. He also wore it on this odd aftermarket bracelet, which I’ve not quite seen before. To me it’s something money can’t replace and worth keeping forever.
Once you are done with this story, click here to catch up with our February 2026 issue.